International consultant to support in securing funding for child sensitive social protection.

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, a future. 

Mindful Futures aims to combine the mandate and normative expertise of the United Nations with the financial know-how and practical expertise of investment bankers to pursue investment in sustainable development priorities that accelerate development progress in Bhutan. Through this consultancy, Mindful Futures aims to identify and capitalize on investments that generate innovative finance and new funding streams to advance comprehensive, inclusive and child sensitive social protection schemes for vulnerable children and women.

• Undertake the cost-benefits analysis of investing in social protection, linking the benefits to the long-term benefits such as improved health, education, reduction in inequalities, and productivity of children as they grow into adults.
• Articulate the cost efficiencies of investing in early years of a child as it prevents more expensive interventions later in life by addressing issues early on.
• Articulate the cost of inaction to avoid any future costs on health, educational consequences, inequalities and social instability.
• Review the business case idea and refine it to deliver a final investment-ready proposal-Business Case.
• A visually compelling PowerPoint presentation summarizing the business case.

• Carry out a comprehensive review and analysis of national policies, strategies, and documents relevant to child-sensitive social protection to inform the proposal design.
• Conduct bilateral in-country consultations and convene meetings with relevant stakeholders to ensure the systematic collection of critical inputs for the development of the project proposal.
• Map and assess the donor landscape to identify funding opportunities and align the proposal with the strategic priorities, guidelines, and requirements of potential donors.
• Draft the project proposal and present it to stakeholders for validation and feedback through both in-country mission and virtual platforms. The project proposal should have critical components as follow:

Travel International: The consultant is expected to undertake an in-country mission at the start of the project. This mission to Bhutan is estimated to last 5 working days. Additionally, the consultant will conduct another mission to a potential donor country, also lasting 5 working days. The costs associated with these missions must be included in the financial proposal.

• 15% upon submission and acceptance of the inception report, including the approach/methodology and work plan of the assignment and a solid business case on child sensitive social protection and acceptance by UNICEF.
• 40% following submission of a comprehensive project proposal, incorporating all the comments and feedback from the stakeholders and endorsed by UNICEF.
• 45% following submission of the final investment report and upon acceptance by UNICEF.

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

1. Qualification:

• Minimum of a master’s degree in finance, business administration, economics, social protection or any other related field.
• Specialized certifications in CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) and or CAIA (Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst) and or Certificate in Blended Finance or Impact Investing

• Minimum five (7) years’ work experience in the areas of development finance, investment banking, impact investing, Public-private partnerships (PPPs) and business administration.
• Track record of success in financial modelling, innovative financing tools, structuring deals, capital mobilization and impact measurement
• Proven experience in developing business cases, financing strategies and fundraising.
• Good understanding of social protection systems, particularly social protection financing models and options.
• Experience in formulating proposals, particularly on social protection financing
• Successful experience in engaging/pitching with investors and securing funding for projects.
• Excellent competencies of communication, drive for results, working with people, pitching with investors/donors, translating technical finance into policy-relevant language and building partnerships and negotiation skills.
• Experience working with UNICEF, UN agencies, Governments, or multilateral institutions, Foundations or philanthropic funders
• Familiarity with the work of UNICEF is an asset.

• Consultant’s qualification and experience with detailed CV.
• Approach and methodology that will be followed in executing the assignment.
• A lump sum fee in – USD indicating a breakdown of professional fee for the anticipated number of working days, including fee for travel of 5 estimated working days to Thimphu, Bhutan and another 5-day mission to one of the potential donor countries to meet with the potential donors/investors.
• Name(s) of collaborator(s) with CVs (if applicable) with their full curriculum vitae.
• Reference to similar work (final products or links to previous work can be shared along with the proposal).

Selection will be done by UNICEF Bhutan as follows:

1. Technical Evaluation (70 points)

• Education Qualification – 15 points
• Work Experience – 30 points
• Proposed methodology and work plan – 15 points
• Communications, presentations and writing skills in English – 10 points

Note: candidate should score minimum of 49 points out of 70. 

2. Financial Evaluation – 30 points

Procedures and Logistics

1. The consultant is expected to use his/her computer. UNICEF Bhutan will provide an office space and internet connection while the consultant is in Bhutan. However, the consultant will arrange his/her own transportation for travel.
2. The consultant will report the progress periodically to the Social Policy Specialist, who will monitor the progress, provide further directives and endorsement of the report.

Remarks: 

1. The candidates must submit the financial proposal along with the technical proposals.
2. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

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. 

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. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility jobs-near-me.org UNICEF.

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.

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. Consultants and individual contractors 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. 

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.