UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, hope

The purpose of this consultancy is to carry forward and anchor the effort around setting up a Youth Advisory Group on UNICEF’s Engagement with Business, designed to provide an independent perspective on how UNICEF engages with Business and help inform the organization’s high-level approach on private sector engagement, advocacy with business, and resource mobilization. This includes fine-tuning and rolling out the above-mentioned Advisory Group, in consultation with key PFP and other UNICEF teams, including operationalization of its composition, governance, initiating meeting cycles for the Group and providing secretariat support for the Group its interactions with various UNICEF teams in giving independent advisory support on UNICEF’s private sector engagement strategy.

How can you make a difference?

Scope of Work: Coordinate and implement the establishment of the Youth Advisory Group on UNICEF’s engagement with Business by:

1. Roll out and implement the approach defined in the first phase for the proposed Youth Advisory Group based on existing draft To Rs, governance and composition proposals and previous discussions with key PFP and other divisional stakeholders (PG, DGCA, etc.)
2. Develop materials, briefings, presentations and training to continue and extend the on-boarding of identified and proposed members of the advisory group, liaising with other teams hosting or leading youth consultation mechanisms (e.g., Youth Advisory Council etc.)
3. Support the Youth Advisory Group in implementing its high-level workplan, including reviewing, updating and adjusting priorities, ensuring internal consultation mechanisms are in place and active, and serve as continuing Secretariat support for the interactions between the Group and UNICEF PFP leaders and teams.
4. Organize additional rounds of consultation on advocacy, engagement and policy priorities for children and youth on how UNICEF deploys its private sector engagement, to inform overall strategy and upcoming strategic planning efforts at PFP level (OMP) and organizational level (Partnerships Cone contribution into the upcoming Strategic Plan).

Work Assignments Overview & Deliverables:

1. Coordinate the development of a Youth Advisory Group workplan including identified deliverables and topics.
   - Finalized and socialized Youth Advisory Group workplan with time-bound deliverables identified and scheduled. By 15 May 2025
2. Organize two to three follow-up meetings and consultations on identified topics and/or related to Youth Advisory Group Workplan.
   - Support the group in organizing, and facilitating, an initial kick-off workshop for youth/children (attending virtually) to interact with PFP Senior Leadership on private sector engagement strategy setting and present their suggestions for priorities, positions and strategies in working with the private sector. By 15 June 2025
   - Two to three follow-up meetings are facilitated and organized by 15 October 2025
3. Provide Secretariat support to the Youth Advisory Group.
   - Secretariat support to the Youth Advisory Group is provided ensuring continuing support to the Group’s, by 15 July 2025
   (i) priority setting and logistics to define and update its agenda of priorities, support implementation of its defined meeting cycle. By 15 August 2025
   (ii) outputs and deliverables, including update reports / priorities statements meeting notes from internal / external consultations and liaison with PFP teams. By 15 September 2025
4. Long Term Mechanism for Youth Participation and Engagement Consultation and Proposal, by 15 October 2025.
   - Organize a specific and separate consultation with the Youth Advisory Group on long-term mechanism for PFP consultation of youth voices and develop a proposal / adjusted approach to existing model, incl. lessons learned report from the initial two phases.

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

Education:

1. An Advanced University degree in one of the following fields is required: International relations, International Development, Humanitarian Affairs, Law, Social Sciences (Psychology, Social Work, etc), Public Policy, Economic Affairs, Human Rights.
2. Alternatively, a first-level university degree in combination with additional two (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

1. A minimum of (5) years of relevant professional work experience at the national and international levels in programme planning, management, monitoring and evaluation in youth advocacy, youth engagement and action, with emphasis on working for and with young people, technical support, and partnerships is required.
2. Experience in working with UNICEF, at global, regional or country level, is an asset.
3. Knowledge of UNICEF’s work in private sector partnerships is an asset.
4. Familiar with the UNICEF mandate and youth engagement is an asset.
5. Experience in developing and implementing adolescent and youth engagement and participation programs in international development contexts is required.
6. Demonstrated experience with global policy advocacy and supporting young people’s advocacy is an asset.
7. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills is an asset.
8. Experience in developing funding proposals, briefs and reports is an asset.

Language:

1. Fluency in English is required.
2. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) would be an asset.

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 in USD 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.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce , and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.