UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture., coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to peace

The Division of Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP), based in Geneva, aims to achieve sustainable impact for children – income and influence at scale – by maximizing UNICEF's private fundraising, partnerships, and engagement activities, including collaboration with National Committees (NatComs), regional, and country offices, for the realization of children's rights. The Humanitarian Funding Unit within the Private Sector Fundraising and Partnerships (PSFP) section of PFP supports NatComs and Private Sector Fundraising (PSFR) Countries and leads global efforts across the organization to maximize funding opportunities through and for humanitarian crises and sudden-onset disasters.

Over the last 5 years, on average, 66% of private sector funding has gone to only 3 HAC appeals – many of them high-profile, media-covered emergencies. Although we will continue to leverage media-driven crises, our universal mandate requires a more sustainable and equitable distribution of funding across emergencies, particularly for Chronically Underfunded Emergencies (CUEs). Chronically Underfunded Emergencies are crises characterized by long-term humanitarian needs that often span years or even decades. These emergencies typically occur in regions affected by chronic displacement, ongoing conflicts, or recurring natural disasters such as drought.

Closing the funding gap for chronically underfunded emergencies from the private sector requires bold action and seamless collaboration across UNICEF. This includes aligning efforts between country and regional offices, PFP, and NatComs to ensure a unified approach. In 2024 and early 2025, the UNICEF PFP Humanitarian Funding Unit conducted three co-creation workshops in three focus regions in Africa and the Middle East: ESAR, WCAR and MENA - which have consistently shown the greatest humanitarian funding needs and gaps. The outcomes of the workshops are outlined in the CUE Engagement Playbook, including the Portfolio Management Framework, which is built on three pillars: (1) Cross-regional engagement strategy, (2) Regional portfolios and engagement tactics, and (3) Unified, insight-driven collaboration process. CUE Engagement Playbook 2025.pptx.

To ensure effective implementation, monitoring, and scaling of the 7 identified engagement opportunities across global and regional levels, the CUE Project is already operational, with a fully functioning CUE Working Group established and actively driving implementation CUE Project.

One of the 7 identified initiatives is the Sahel Youth Voices. The Initiative seeks to mobilize additional resources by spotlighting how youth are driving change—innovating, leading, and building resilience in the face of climate-induced humanitarian challenges. It invites donors to invest in a future where children and youth are not just beneficiaries, but active agents of transformation.

PURPOSE OF ASSIGNMENT:

The consultant will provide technical and organizational support to UNICEF WCARO and its partners in planning, coordinating, and delivering a high-impact donor roundtable. The roundtable will focus on elevating youth voices in climate action and humanitarian response in the Central Sahel (Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso), with the aim of mobilizing resources and fostering sustained partnerships for youth-led innovation in chronically underfunded emergencies.

How can you make a difference? 

SCOPE OF WORK:

Duties will span as follows:

a) Planning and Coordination

• Develop and update a detailed work plan and timeline for the donor roundtable, in consultation with UNICEF WCARO and initiative stakeholders.
• Coordinate with UNICEF country offices, youth representatives, NatComs, and external partners to ensure inclusive participation and alignment with initiative objectives.
• Support the identification and invitation of key donors, including institutional, public, philanthropic, and corporate partners, ensuring a diverse and strategic audience.

b) Content and Event Design

• Contribute to the design of the roundtable agenda, including session formats, youth-led presentations, and donor engagement strategies.
• Liaise with youth advocates and country teams to curate and prepare presentations on youth-led climate and humanitarian innovations.
• Draft briefing materials, concept notes, and event communications for internal and external stakeholders.

c) Logistics and Implementation

• Oversee logistical arrangements for the roundtable (venue, hybrid/virtual platform, interpretation, travel and accommodation for youth, catering, and event materials).
• Coordinate technical support for virtual/hybrid participation, including interpretation and accessibility needs.
• Ensure all event materials (presentations, briefing packs, translations) are prepared and disseminated in a timely manner.

d) Donor Engagement and Follow-up

• Support pre-event donor outreach, including preparation of tailored invitations and follow-up communications.
• Facilitate donor-youth exchanges during the roundtable, ensuring meaningful engagement and opportunities for feedback and co-creation.
• Document key outcomes, donor commitments, and youth recommendations for post-event reporting and sustained engagement.

e) Other duties, as required.

WORK ASSIGNMENTS OVERVIEW:

• Develop a detailed work plan and timeline; conduct stakeholder mapping.
• Coordinate with COs, youth, NatComs, donors; design the agenda and sessions.
• Draft and circulate event materials; confirm logistics and technical support.
• Oversee event delivery (venue/virtual, interpretation, youth presentations).
• Document outcomes, donor feedback, and recommendations.

DELIVERABLES:

Deliverable 1: 2 to 8 January 2026

• Approved work plan and stakeholder list.

Deliverable 2: 9 to 22 January 2026

• Finalized agenda, session formats, and invitations.

Deliverable 3: 23 January to 12 February 2026

• Event materials, logistics plan, and technical checklist.

Deliverable 4: 13 February to 12 March 2026 (Event)

• Successful roundtable event; attendance records.

Deliverable 5 by: 13 to 31 March 2026

• Post-event report and donor follow-up communications

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in international development, event management, communications, social sciences, public relations, or a related field.
• A first-level university degree, combined with two additional years of qualifying experience, may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible experience in event management, donor engagement, partnership building, or resource mobilization, preferably in the humanitarian or development sector.
• Demonstrated experience in organizing high-level events (virtual, hybrid, or in-person) involving multiple stakeholders, including donors, youth, and international organizations.
• Experience working in or with the Sahel region, or on youth empowerment, climate action, or humanitarian programming, is a strong asset.
• Proven ability to coordinate complex projects under tight deadlines, with attention to detail and quality.
• Experience preparing high-quality written materials (agendas, reports, concept notes, presentations) for diverse audiences.

Skills and Competencies:

• Excellent organizational, planning, and coordination skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively in multicultural teams and engage with youth and senior stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently, demonstrate initiative, and deliver results with minimal supervision.
• Proficiency in English and French.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and virtual event platforms (e.g., Zoom, Teams).

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

Remarks:  

Please indicate your all-inclusive (lump sum) fees against the deliverables listed above, including all associated administrative and travel costs (if applicable), in the cover letter. The office selects the individual based on best value for money.

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts. 

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.