Consultancy Title: Country Engagement Consultant (Lusophone and LAC)
Division/Duty Station: Hosted Funds/Sanitation and Water for All UNICEF, NYHQ
Duration: 01 September 2025 โ 31 July 2026
Home/ Office Based: Remote
About UNICEF
If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines fordeveloping countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.
BACKGROUND
Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:
Under the direct supervision of the SWA Programme Specialist, Country Engagement, the consultant will provide support for partner engagement to Lusophone and LAC SWA countries, with a particular focus on Heads of State Engagement, High- Level Meetings, as well as the Mutual Accountability Mechanism.
The deliverables will directly be focused on the government partners
Scope of Work:
Support the CPLP Secretariat and Dominican Republic to organise joint events for Lusophone countries and LAC countries Support Lusophone and LAC partner countries to engage in High-Level Meetings including the 2025 Sector Ministersโ Meeting and 2026 Finance Ministers Meetings in LAC and in Asia (tbc) In collaboration with the HM, contribute to strengthening government-led multistakeholder processes in 2 Lusophone countries โ Angola and Cabo Verde; and 1 LAC country (Colombia or Mexico) Support the outreach and mobilization of political decision-makers to increase priority accorded to water, sanitation and hygiene at Head of State/Government level in 3 Lusophone countries โ Angola, Cabo Verde, and Timor Leste and identify 3-5 countries in the Latin America and Caribbean region for initial outreach and mobilization towards the Heads of States Initiatives Support the implementation of the Mutual Accountability Mechanism (MAM) in Lusophone and LAC countries Prepare stories to communicate outcomes of country engagement in the Lusophone and LAC partner countriesTerms of Reference / Key Deliverables:
Work Assignment Overview/Deliverables and Outputs/Delivery deadline
Deliverable 1: Support the CPLP Secretariat and Dominican Republic to organise joint events for Lusophone countries and LAC countries
Organise at least 4 coordination meetings with the CPLP Secretariat and Sao Tome and Principe to organise an event on Heads of State Initiatives during the CPLP Summit. 30 Sept 2025 Prepare a concept note, agenda, run of show and briefings for speakers to attend the Heads of State event on the Heads of State Initiatives during the CPLP Summit in Sao. 15 Sept 2025 Engage with Dominican Republic and develop 1 action plan on collaboration around the SWA strategic objectives on the 2025/26 Latinosan and 10th Summit of the Americas. 31 Oct 2025 Arrange 2 side events at Latinosan with the government of Dominican Republic and IDB focusing on the Heads of State Initiatives and on the LAC Finance Ministers Meeting โ this includes developing 2 concept notes, preparing the agenda and run of show as well as inviting. 20 Oct 2025Deliverable 2: Support Lusophone and LAC partner countries to engage in High Level Meetings including the 2025 Sector Ministersโ Meeting and 2026 Finance Ministers Meetings in LAC and in Asia (tbc)
Draft one action plan outlining 3-5 activities for countries to engage ministers and other political leaders around High-Level Meetings, including the LAC Finance Ministers Meeting in 2026, the Asia Finance Ministers Meeting (date to be announced) and the global Sector Ministers Meeting (2025). 30 Sept 2025 Prepare one set of background briefing materials on preparatory activities for the engagement of ministers and other political leaders in the above High-Level templates for government and constituency preparations at country level, and coordinate with partners to identify and roll out 3-5 relevant preparatory activities such as National Finance Dialogues Interministerial dialogues. 30 Dec 2025 Invite countries to participate in 4 webinars (2 of which will be global, 1 regional and 1 ministerial roundtable), organise and hold at least 3 bilateral calls per country (14 countries in total) and other activities where the above will be presented, ensuring participation of at least 10 countries. 30 March 2026 Provide written and oral inputs into in- country, multi- stakeholder dialogues (at least one every second month per country -14 countries in total) and into at least 6 country briefs. 30 March 2026 Identify 2 specific opportunities for Brazil to support regional convenings including possibly the LAC FMM, or other processes such as the COP30 and provide Brazil with relevant briefings toย ensure their active participation. 15 Dec 2026 Organise 1 post SMM follow-up webinar with participating countries. 30 March 2026 Update the SWA database for Ministers at least 5 times including the list of national focal points. 30 March 2026Deliverable 3: In collaboration with the HM, contribute to strengthening government-led multistakeholder processes in 2 Lusophone countries -ย Angola and Cabo Verde; and in 1 LAC country (Colombia or Mexico)ย
Identify country multi- stakeholder processes in the Lusophone and LAC countries and provide the countries with 1 package of relevant materials from across the SWA partnership, including on how they can use the Mutual Accountability Mechanism. 28 Feb 2026 Conduct 2-3 workshops, 1 in Cabo Verde, 1 in either Colombia or Mexico, and 1 in Timor Leste to build the capacity of SWA partners (government and constituencies) to conduct a Country Self- Assessment and engage on the HOSI. 28 Feb 2026Deliverable 4: Support the outreach and mobilization of political decision-makers to increase priority accorded to water, sanitation and hygiene at Head of State/government level in 3 Lusophone countries: Angola, Cabo Verde and Timor Leste, and identify 3-5 countries in the Latin America and Caribbean region for the outreach and mobilization.ย
a. Prepare six political analysis documents, mapping out pathways to reach the highest levels of politics - Head of State or Government and draft the most appealing arguments in support of each pathway. Potential countries include: Angola, Cabo Verde,ย Timor Leste, Mexico, Colombia and Ecuador. 30 Jan 2026
Develop and update 6 strategic documents with specific areas of action towards developing Presidential Compacts on WASH in each of the six countries above, incl. proposals, briefings and jointly developed action plans for high-level political engagement and initiate its first steps. 28 Feb 2026 Provide technical support to Angola leading to the development of 1 Presidential Compact or similar initiative. 20 April 2026 Provide technical assistance to 2 LAC countries leading to the preparation of a draft compact or similar initiative. 20 April 2026 Provide technical assistance to Timor Leste towards the development of a Presidential Compact. 20 April 2026Deliverable 5: Support the implementation of the Mutual accountability mechanism (MAM) in Lusophone countriesย
a) Provide technical assistance to 5 countries to table or report progress on their commitments, working with them to use SWA templates to prepare SMART commitments. 15 Nov 2025
Deliverable 6: Prepare stories to communicate outcomes of country engagement in the Lusophone and LAC partner countriesย
b) Draft up to 8 stories (news articles, social media posts) for SWAโs website on the ongoing work. 30 March 2026
Travel โ anticipated travel to Colombia; Mexico; Spain; Brazil;
Qualifications
Education:ย Advanced university degree (masterโs degree or equivalent) in environmental sciences, foreign relations or other relevant fields.
Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:
A minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience working in or for in high-level multilateral and multi-stakeholder platforms and partnerships, incl. international agencies, governmental authorities, private sector or NGOs Experience in WASH is required Experience working with national government(s) and their strategic partners in areas related to good governance and policy analysis is strongly desirable Excellent inter-personal and communication skills Excellent drafting and communication skills. Ability to work independently but in collaboration with a variety of stakeholders Flexible Detail-oriented and driven to achieve results Communicates effectively Able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment Sets high levels of quality and productivity for selfRequirements:
Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and
- Upload copy of academic credentials
- Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :
the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference. travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR. Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable. Indicate your availability- Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
- At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
- Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory 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.
U.S. Visa information:
With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultantโs household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.ย ย
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process
For every Child, you demonstrateโฆ
UNICEFโs core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at:ย Here
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.ย
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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.ย
Remarks:ย ย
Individuals engaged under a consultancy will not be considered โstaff membersโ under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEFโs 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. Consultants 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.ย
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.ย