Partnerships Specialist

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. UNICEF Malawi Country Programme (2019-2023) is aligned with the Government of Malawi’s Growth and Development Strategy (MDGS III) and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF). The programme supports the Government of Malawi to meet its commitment to respect, protect and fulfil children’s rights in line with international conventions and standards. The country programme is guided by the principles of children’s rights, equity, gender equality, inclusion and resilience, and supports evidence-based, integrative and innovative programming. The vision is that ”all girls and boys in Malawi especially the most disadvantaged and deprived, realize their rights”. The programme focuses on early childhood (parenting, high-impact social services, early stimulation and learning), middle childhood and adolescence (learning, multi-sectoral services, active citizenship), communities (decentralized services and systems, community ownership, social norms), programme effectiveness (monitoring, evaluation, HACT, Innovation, Social Protection and Social Policy and External Communication. The programme is based on “leaving no child behind”, realizing ‘rights for all children in Malawi’.

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. UNICEF in Malawi seeks to identify and scale up sustainable approaches to funding, financing, and investing in children with both public and private sector capital, to sustainably accelerate impact for children. An increasingly core component of our efforts to maximize sustainable revenue is through developing and implementing Innovative Financing mechanisms which will address core deprivations which impact the well-being and rights of children in Malawi. These initiatives will address critical issues such as climate change, health systems strengthening, nutrition improvement, protection of children, disaster risk reduction and inclusion, targeting the most vulnerable and marginalized children and adolescents. An international UNV with the relevant experience is required to assist in this role of supporting resource mobilization with a focus on alternative mechanisms, and international financial institutions and non-traditional donors for UNICEF in Malawi.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Chief, Communication, Advocacy and Partnerships (or her designated mandated representatives), the UN Volunteer Partnerships Specialist will perform the following responsibilities, but not limited to: 1. Resource Mobilization (new fundraising initiatives) - Lead the process to update the Resource Mobilization Action Plan for the Malawi Office, ensuring the plan incorporates strategies to secure financing and funds from all sectors, including non-traditional sources. - Develop and implement a strategy for the Malawi Office, which includes exploring mechanisms and models such as climate financing, debt restructuring/swaps, and enhanced south-south cooperation - Explore and develop new fundraising initiatives to strengthen resource mobilization, including in emergency situations. 2. Partnership Development and Management - Strengthen partnerships, maintain effective relationships, and identify new opportunities with international financial institutions, including the African Development Bank (AfDB), World Bank, and other relevant organizations. - Identify and pursue engagement opportunities with Foundations that have potential interest in supporting initiatives in Malawi. - Lead the identification, development, and management of high-value partnerships for Malawi Office, providing up-to-date regional and global intelligence and knowledge to the Senior Management team of the non-traditional partnership opportunities. - Maintain an updated list of high-priority opportunities, focusing on those that deliver both financial and non-financial benefits to the Malawi Office. - Serve as the primary relationship manager for high-priority regional partnerships, ensuring effective stewardship, and opportunity for renewal, and/or expansion of the partnership. 3. Advocacy and non-financial partnerships - Facilitate partnerships that leverage business expertise, supply chains, technology, and platforms to advance children’s rights. - Work with the Communications team to design visibility and recognition plans for non-traditional partners. 4. Internal Coordination and Capacity Building - Work closely with all programme sections to ensure coherence and complementarity in all resource mobilization strategies and actions. - Contribute to office-wide planning, reporting, and resource mobilization deliverables as required. 5. Leveraging global and regional partnerships - Ensure alignment with UNICEF global guidelines and strategic priorities. - Lead the roll-out and institutionalization of the Business for Results (B4R) methodology across the Malawi Office. - Promote knowledge sharing and document lessons learned to strengthen office-wide practices. - Collaborate with ESARO and PFP Geneva to maximize partnership outcomes. 6. Internal Coordination and Capacity Building - Ensure coherence and complementarity in all resource mobilization strategies. - Contribute to office-wide planning, reporting, and resource mobilization deliverables as required Results/expected outputs As an active UNICEF team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNICEF and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: - Completion of an updated Resource Mobilization Action Plan (2026 / 2027), which includes actionable strategies to secure financing and funds from all sectors, including non-traditional and South-South Cooperation within two months of appointment. - Development and completion of an Innovative Financing Strategy within 4 months of appointment. - A report on at least two new mechanisms or models explored to be shared to Chief CAP and SMT within two months of appointment. - At least one new fundraising initiative targeting non-traditional donors and emergency situations designed and rolled out by end of Q1 2026. - Formal engagement with at least three international financial institutions established or renewed (e.g. AfDB, World Bank) by 30 April 2026. - Identify and initiate contact with at least five new Foundations aligned with Malawi Office priorities by February 2026. - Maintain and update a prioritized list of high-value partnership opportunities quarterly, starting December 2025. - Relationship Management and Stewardship: Serve as primary relationship manager for at least three high-priority regional partnerships and complete annual partnership reviews by Sept 2026. - Provide guidance to Communication Officer(s) on how to develop visibility and recognition plans for non-traditional partners by January 2026. - Ensure alignment of resource mobilization strategies through monthly coordination meetings within first month of appointment Contribute to quarterly office-wide planning and funding tracker including presentations for Country Management Team - Business for Results (B4R) Rollout: Lead the institutionalization of B4R methodology across all programme Sections teams, with full rollout completed by end of Q2 2026 - Collaborate with ESARO and PFP Geneva on partnership opportunities, particularly non-traditional opportunities. Ensure that UNISON - a customized Salesforce Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system designed for UNICEF which provides comprehensive support for partnership management - is updated and maintained. - Development and review of proposal