UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save childrenโs 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 โ 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.
Visitย our websiteย to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.
For every child,ย the right toย hopeย
The Global Muslim Philanthropy Fund for Children (GMPFC) was jointly launched by UNICEF and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) in 2019 as a Shariah-compliant financing mechanism to mobilize Islamic philanthropic resourcesโincluding zakat and sadaqahโin support of vulnerable children across OIC member states. The Fund was conceived as a strategic platform to channel Muslim philanthropy at scale, align it with development and humanitarian priorities, and strengthen partnerships between multilateral institutions and Islamic donors.
While the GMPFC generated strong initial interest from stakeholders, its implementation has faced a number of challenges, including complex governance arrangements, limited donor activation, and gaps in operational readiness. These constraints have affected the Fundโs ability to transition from concept to scale and to deliver a compelling, investable proposition to donors.
In response, UNICEF and IsDB have undertaken internal governance and donor engagement reviews to better understand these challenges and identify options for course correction. These reviews have converged on the need for a deliberate and jointly owned process to reposition and revitalize the GMPFCโclarifying its strategic intent, strengthening governance and accountability arrangements, sharpening its donor value proposition, and defining a realistic pathway for relaunch and operationalization.
How can you make a difference?ย
The consultant will support a structured, time-bound co-creation process aimed at moving from diagnosis to decision-making. It will support the design, facilitation, and documentation of a one-day joint UNICEFโIsDB working-level workshop, complemented by targeted analytical preparation and post-workshop synthesis.
The consultancy will also support the translation of workshop outcomes into a concrete, jointly endorsed UNICEFโIsDB Action Plan.
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Main tasks:
Workshop Design and Strategic Preparation
Review key background documentation, including: GMPFC Charter and Operations Manual Governance Review and Donor Engagement Review reports Relevant UNICEFโIsDB meeting notes and strategic inputs Synthesize key findings from the Governance and Donor Engagement Review reports into a concise technical summary to establish a shared analytical baseline for the workshop discussions. ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ยDeliverable:
Concise technical summary note (3โ5 pages) synthesizing the key findings, recommendations, and open questions from the Governance and Donor Engagement Review reports. Technical Synthesis Note: A concise analytical synthesis (3โ5 pages) drawing from existing governance and donor engagement reviews, providing a shared baseline for decision-making.ย
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Deliverable:
Content will include:
key findings and constraints affecting GMPFC implementation; strategic options and trade-offs. unresolved issues and priority decision points for joint consideration.ย
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Design a one-day co-creation workshop aligned with agreed objectives, focusing on:Session formats and techniques to drive alignment and outcomes
Governance and product readiness Donor strategy and market positioning Conditions required for a credible relaunch of the Fund Support refinement of workshop objectives, scope, and expected outputs.Deliverable:
Workshop Concept note including the following elements:
Workshop purpose and objectives Key outputs Key guiding questions Proposed facilitation methodology Sessions output/format (plenary, breakout, working groups) Decision points and techniques to drive alignment and outcomesWorkshop Facilitation
Facilitate the one-day workshop in a neutral, inclusive, and structured manner, taking into consideration the following:
Guide Discussions Toward Practical Outcomes and DecisionsSession-level outputs should be captured during the workshop, including:
Clearly articulated options Emerging agreements Defined decision points Documentation should reflect a shift from discussion to actionable conclusions rather than exploratory dialogue.Deliverable:
Successfully facilitated a oneโday UNICEFโIsDB co-creation workshop, conducted in a neutral, inclusive, and structured manner, ensuring balanced participation and effective time management.
Alignment Between UNICEF and IsDB PerspectivesDocumentation should capture alignment between UNICEF and IsDB on:
Governance arrangements Roles and responsibilities Sequencing of actions and expectations Identification of outstanding issues requiring escalation or further resolution.3. Donor- and Impact-Focused Framing
Consolidated set of donor- and impact-focused principles emerging from the workshop, including:
Key considerations for donor confidence and credibility Feasibility constraints and enabling conditions Inputs that inform realistic next steps for GMPFC relaunch and donor engagementDocumentation, Action Planning, and Follow-up
Prepare a concise post-workshop summary note capturing: Areas of agreement and convergence between UNICEF and IsDB Key risks, constraints, and outstanding issues Agreed next steps, assigned responsibilities, and indicative timelinesย
Deliverable:
Concise post-workshop summary note (maximum 5โ7 pages)
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In close coordination with UNICEF and IsDB and building on the workshop discussions, develop a joint UNICEFโIsDB Action Plan for GMPFC revitalization that provides the following: Clear strategic direction for GMPFC revitalization Priority governance and donor engagement actions Sequenced activities with defined ownership and indicative timelines Structured set of inputs for senior-level decision-making required from UNICEF and IsDB leadershipย
Deliverable:
UNICEFโIsDB GMPFC Action Plan, developed in close coordination with both institutions.
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Deliverables- Acceptance criteria:
Reviewed and cleared by designated UNICEF and IsDB focal points. Concise, analytical, and explicitly decision oriented.ย
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will haveโฆย
Minimum requirements:
Advanced university degree in development studies, international relations, Islamic finance, public policy, or a related field (or a first-level degree with additional relevant professional experience) Minimum 10 years of professional experience in partnership development, philanthropic financing, or resource mobilization. Demonstrated experience facilitating high-level strategic workshops involving multilateral development banks, UN agencies, and/or philanthropic platforms. Strong familiarity with Islamic social finance, including zakat, sadaqah, and Shariah-compliant financing mechanisms. Proven ability to navigate governance, partnership, and institutional sensitivities. Strong analytical, facilitation, and drafting skills.For every Child, you demonstrate...
UNICEFโs Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter:ย UNICEF Values
The UNICEF competencies required for this post areโฆ
(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with othersย
[add the 8thย competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role].ย
Familiarize yourself withย our competency frameworkย and its different levels.
UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children.ย The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.
UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer aย wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks andย reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpageย Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.
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.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.
Remarks:ย ย
As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.
UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce.
Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally requiredย to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.ย
UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicantsโ bank account information.
Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEFโs Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.
All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.
Additional information about working for UNICEF can be foundย here.