Mission and objectivesUNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. In all of its work, UNICEF takes a life-cycle based approach, recognizing the particular importance of early childhood development and adolescence. UNICEF programmes focus on the most disadvantaged children, including those living in fragile contexts, those with disabilities, those who are affected by rapid urbanization and those affected by environmental degradation. UNICEF was created with a distinct purpose in mind: to work with others to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a childโs path. We advocate for measures to give children the best start in life, because proper care at the youngest age forms the strongest foundation for a personโs future. We promote girlsโ education โ ensuring that they complete primary education as a minimum โ because it benefits all children, both girls and boys. Girls who are educated grow up to become better thinkers, better citizens, and better parents to their own children. We act so that all children are immunized against common childhood diseases, and are well nourished: no child should suffer or die from a preventable illness. We work to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among young people because it is right to keep them from harm and enable them to protect others. We help children and families affected by HIV/AIDS to live their lives with dignity. We are UNICEF, the United Nations Childrenโs Fund.
ContextThe fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does โ in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to childrenโs rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life โ in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions โ her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a societyโs most disadvantaged citizens, not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations. The Nepal Country Office is currently implementing its Country Programme Management Plan for 2023-2027. The Communication, Advocacy and Partnership section is responsible for engaging with UNICEFโs external relations with the objective to promote awareness, create understanding, support, and respect for childrenโs rights and support for UNICEFโs mission, priorities and programmes. This section is also accountable for deepening collaboration with key stakeholders and provides an interface for environmental scanning, knowledge exchange, resource mobilization and policy influence.
Task DescriptionUnder the general supervision and guidance of the Chief of Communication, Advocacy and Partnerships and in collaboration with the programme sections, the IUNV Partnerships Specialist will contribute to the implementation of UNICEF Nepalโs partnerships strategy. The primary responsibility of the IUNV Partnerships Specialist will be to support the office in protecting, expanding and exploring partnerships with public and private donors. This role involves consolidating information for proposals and reports, conducting research to identify potential partners, and assisting in the development of new partnership opportunities. The objective is to leverage investments for children and facilitate the office's resource mobilization efforts. 1. Support the preparation of high-quality donor reports and proposals (50%) ๏ง Develop concept notes, proposal and report templates aligned with donor and internal requirements and standards. ๏ง Consolidate inputs from different sections and ensure consistency with the donor's requirements. ๏ง Coordinate communication and visibility commitments for the proposals and reports. ๏ง Submit the consolidated proposal or report for internal review and incorporate feedback. ๏ง Follow-up with programme colleagues to gather additional input or clarifications as necessary. ๏ง Prepare the final proposal or report and submit it to the Chief of Section and/or Deputy Representative. ๏ง Participate in donor partner meetings to discuss the proposal or report, capturing feedback for further revisions. ๏ง Provide support for the follow-up once the proposal or report is approved, including timely submission in the systems. 2. Support donor partner engagement, including events and visits with donor partners (30%) ๏ง Conduct research on donor partner priorities and strategic focus in preparation for meetings. ๏ง Develop and update donor partner profiles. ๏ง Attend meetings with partners to understand their expectations. ๏ง Assist in preparing briefing documents, including agenda, for the partner event or visit. ๏ง Support logistics coordination for the event or visit. ๏ง Ensure communication and visibility for donor partners. ๏ง Accompany the visiting team in the field, if needed. 3. Support private sector engagement (20%) ๏ง Assist in expanding existing private sector partnerships to create more shared value through innovation, co-creation, and collaboration, especially with global institutions, global multi-national companies, high-net individuals and foundations. ๏ง Contribute to content development, advocacy efforts, networking activities, and building partnerships with the private sector. ๏ง Aid in operationalizing the private sector engagement plan, including activities such as donor prospecting, profiling, producing pitch documents, communication, proposal writing, and reporting. ๏ง Collaborate with the Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP) Division and Regional Office Asia to explore larger partnerships with pre-qualified global partners. ๏ง Engage with multi-stakeholder platforms to identify and foster potential partnerships with the private sector. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities: โข Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day). โข Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country. โข Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities. โข Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc. โข Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers. โข Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible. The IUNV Partnerships Specialist support will play a vital role in enabling UNICEF to not only explore new partnerships but also enhance and strengthen existing partnerships with donors. These partnerships are crucial for advancing child rights and ensuring positive outcomes for children. By strengthening partnerships with donors, UNICEF can leverage additional resources, expertise, and innovative approaches to effectively address the multifaceted issues affecting children in Nepal. This collaborative approach will enable UNICEF to implement evidence-based interventions, drive sustainable change, and promote the rights and well-being of every child in the country. Specific results: โข Donor Reporting: Overseeing the donor report calendar, coordinating inputs with different sections, quality assurance, design, and timely submission in the donor reporting system (around 60 donor reports per year). โข Support with Donor Engagement: Mapping donor partner priorities, developing and updating donor profiles, preparing for donor partner events and visits. โข Support private sector engagement: Mapping potential global private sector donors (foundations, faith-based organizations, high-net worth individual), developing an engagement strategy, developing tailored concept notes.
Competencies and valuesProfessionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNICEF; political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with UNICEFโs external relations; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially. Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNICEF in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organizationโs interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour. Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues. Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent responsibilities. Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff, volunteers, counterparts coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups. Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNICEFโs mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.
Living conditions and remarksNepal is nestled in South Asia between India and the Tibetan region of China. Its stunning views of the Himalayan range attract people from around the world, particularly to locally-called โSagarmanthaโ or Mount Everest. Nepal can be divided into four distinct regions. From north to south they are: (a) the Himalayan range with an altitude of over 5,000 m including Mount Everest (Sagarmatha in Nepali), 8,848 m; (b) the hills at an altitude of 500 to 5,000 mt. with long terraced slopes leading to fertile valleys such as Kathmandu and Pokhara; (c) the Inner Terrai with its low river valleys; and (d) the fertile Outer Terai between 180 and 350m. The Himalayan range accounts for a third of the total land area whereas the Hills and the Terai occupy roughly 45 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively. Nepal moved from a monarchy to a parliamentary democracy in 1951. The country was strife with civil war in the 1990s and early 2000s and ultimately replaced the worldโs last Hindu monarchy with a secular government in 2008. The 2018 new constitution shifted powers from the centralized parliament in Kathmandu to its seven provinces as the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. The Nepalese people, also referred Nepali, are a diverse mix of over 125 ethnic groups with almost as many languages between them. They are deeply spiritual, and the practices of Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity and other indigenous and folk religions have left their mark on their customs and festivals. Nepal has four distinct seasons that vary according to its region. Spring is warm with rain showers and temperatures around 22ยฐC, lasting from March to May. Summer is the monsoon season and lasts from June to August/September, with temperatures in the low 30โsยฐC in the day and about 20ยฐC at night. Rain is rare and scattered outside of this season. Autumn is the season that attracts most tourists interested in trekking. September to November is cool with clear skies with average daily temperatures of 25ยฐC and cool nights as low as 10ยฐC. The winter months of December to February get cold and may have sub-zero ยฐC temperatures, although maximum temperatures can rise to 20ยฐC. The climate in Kathmandu is agreeable. Nepal, including Kathmandu is generally safe, including for families and solo female travellers. Crime is low; however petty theft is a risk like anywhere. The Nepalese are known for being friendly and helpful towards foreign travellers. While it is generally fine to walk at night, be aware of your surroundings and exercise caution when doing so, especially in urban areas.