Investigations Consultant – Donor Reporting & Compliance, Office of Internal Audit and Investigations, Office of Internal Audit and Investigations (OIAI), New York. Req# 589061

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.

Consultancy: Investigations Consultant – Donor Reporting & Compliance, Office of Internal Audit and Investigations

Duty Station: Office of Internal Audit and Investigations (OIAI)

Duration: 26 January 2026 – 25 January 2027

Home/ Office Based: Remote

 

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

The Office of Internal Audit and Investigations (OIAI) reports to the Executive Director and is responsible for providing internal audit and investigation services to UNICEF.  OIAI provides UNICEF with independent and objective assurance, investigative and consulting services through internal audits and investigations. 

OIAI’s Investigations Section assesses and conducts investigations of allegations of misconduct, such as fraud, corruption, retaliation, workplace harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), or other violations of UNICEF regulations, rules and administrative instructions, involving UNICEF staff and non–staff personnel.  The Investigations Section also assesses and investigates allegations of fraud, SEA or other wrongdoing by UNICEF implementing partners and vendors. 

Within the Investigations Section, Investigations units based in New York, Nairobi and Budapest handle investigations and certain complex assessments.  The Strategy, Intake and Analysis unit is responsible for overall management of the hotline for reporting allegations; conducting initial assessments of reports of misconduct and wrongdoing; quality assurance of investigation and other reports; internal and external reporting of certain investigations-related data, and donor reporting and compliance.

OIAI’s donor reporting and compliance function manages and coordinates engagement with public sector donors and other resource partners on integrity-related matters. This includes managing reporting and sharing information related to sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) and fraud and corruption cases, in accordance with UNICEF’s Regulatory Framework, including its UNICEF Policy on Disclosure of Integrity-Related Information to Public Sector Resource Partners. It also includes reviewing integrity-related provisions in financing agreements with donors and other resource partners, including provisions concerning the disclosure of information related to SEA and fraud cases under review by OIAI.

Under the supervision of the Investigations Manager (Donor Reporting and Compliance), the consultant will support OIAI’s donor reporting and compliance function.

Scope of Work:

OIAI is seeking a consultant for the Strategy, Intake and Analysis unit (SIA) to support OIAI’s engagement with internal UNICEF and external stakeholders, including donors in particular, regarding the office’s oversight activities. The consultant will prepare standard reports to donors concerning fraud and SEA matters, as part of the implementation of the Policy on Disclosure of Integrity-Related Information to Public Sector Resource Partners.

The consultant will collect, organize and analyze data and case information related to specific donor and resource partner-related issues with a view towards carrying out reporting exercises; reviewing and preparing responses to requests from 

donors; and proactively support in resolving disclosure-related issues to ensure greater efficiency and consistency in OIAI’s approach to information-sharing. Under the supervision of the Investigation Manager (Donor Reporting and Compliance), the consultant will support coordination and communication with relevant UNICEF offices at country, regional and headquarters regarding information sharing with donors.

The consultant will be supervised by the Investigation Manager (Donor Reporting and Compliance) and all work products produced by the consultant as a result of their engagement with UNICEF will remain the property of UNICEF.

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

• Support the implementation of the UNICEF Policy on Disclosure of Integrity-Related Information to Public Sector Resource Partners by preparing standard reports on SEA and fraud cases, conduct reviews of confidential case-related information to ensure accuracy of information and flag potential issues and provide updates on cases that have already been reported to donors.
• Collect and maintain consolidated data and information on fraud cases, providing updated case lists upon request and on a monthly basis.
• Extract and analyze data from UNICEF systems, including internal OIAI case management systems and UNICEF systems that contain information relevant to donor funding, to support preparation of the standard reports referenced above, and provide insights into underlying developments and trends through narrative and visual information.
• Develop, streamline and maintain tracking and triage system for donor-related requests and matters, as well as a schedule of reporting-related deadlines, and follow-up on outstanding tasks.
• Review and prepare draft responses to requests for integrity-related information from donors and other resource partners.
• Provide advice and information to PSEA and fraud focal points within UNICEF Country and Regional Offices, as well as other stakeholder offices, about integrity considerations in donor reporting and standard donor reporting practices for SEA and fraud-related matters.
• Conduct reviews of integrity provisions in draft agreements with UNICEF donors to ensure compliance with internal policy requirements and best practices, as well as consistency with existing language in similar agreements.
• Conduct research on donor reporting practices for SEA and fraud practices across other UN oversight offices and draft recommendations for improving consistency in reporting practices between oversight offices for dealing donor reporting challenges.
• Develop guidance, templates and training materials that are tailored to specific audiences, as well as external and internal stakeholders, that support the implementation of the Policy on Disclosure of Integrity-Related Information to Public Sector Resource Partner across UNICEF, taking into consideration other policies in UNICEF’s regulatory framework.
• Assist in coordinating meetings with donors, preparing briefing materials, and supporting the advancement of related strategic initiatives.
• Report on overall and workstream-specific support provided in the implementation of the UNICEF Policy on Disclosure of Integrity-Related Information to Public Sector Resource Partners

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Work Assignment Overview/Deliverables and Outputs/Delivery deadline

1. Prepares and/or reviews draft fraud and SEA notification for standard reporting to donors
2. Maintain, update and streamline tracking systems to support standard fraud and SEA reports
3. Conduct review of integrity provisions in draft agreements under negotiation with public sector donors
4. Draft responses to inquiries from donors and other UNICEF offices
5. Update templates, guidance documents and planning materials critical to policy implementation

–  Submission of 12 monthly progress reports that confirm that standard donor reports have been submitted, in line with donor reporting work plan, and summarize support provided in policy implementation, including

a) Number of fraud reports and SEA notification completed, including where underlying case review was required

b) Specific updates and modifications made, as well as data entered, into tracking systems

c) Reviews provided resulting in specific changes proposed to integrity-related provisions, including reflecting these changes in internal filing and tracking systems

d) Responses finalized for follow-up inquiries, including where underlying case review was required

e)  Final written products produced, along with internal documentation and approvals, for any changes made to templates, guidance notes or other relevant documents

Qualifications

Education:   

An advanced university degree in investigations, law, data management, programme management, external relations, public policy, finance or another directly relevant field, or relevant training and experience in the field of investigations.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:

• 1-2 years of prior experience with data analysis and data management
• Strong oral and written communication skills, especially in relation to data visualization and analysis
• Excellent data management & analytical skills

Desirable:

• Prior experience with donor reporting
• Prior experience in developing data management and tracking tools, such as Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Power BI and SAP Data Management
• Prior experience handling sensitive and/or confidential information
• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is considered an asset
• Experience in an international or multilateral public institution is desirable

Requirements:

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 consultant’s 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.  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: 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. 

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. 

Remarks:  

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. 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. 

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.