Senior Adviser (Public Partnerships), P5, Beijing, China

UNICEF China Country Office is seeking a Senior Adviser on public partnerships. This critical role will lead the public partnership to oversee strategic collaborations with key government ministries and global partners, driving South-South Cooperation, innovative financing, and international development initiatives.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, we care

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s 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 — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — 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.

How can you make a difference? 

China Country Office is a large country office. While demonstrating results for children at scale in China, UNICEF also works with the government, private sector, media, and other actors to harness the reach and resources of China for the benefit of children in China and globally. Public Partnership is an integral and critical part of our work.

The Public Partnerships team leads the work on nurturing the partnerships between UNICEF China and our window Ministry (the Ministry of Commerce) as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  In addition, the section’s portfolio includes managing the proposal development, submission and review processes for China International Development Cooperation Agency’s Global Development Fund; providing strategic support to influence China’s policy initiatives on global cooperation; overseeing all South-South Cooperation engagements between CO programme sections, regional and country offices and relevant Government Ministries and institutions; and driving our innovating financing work through the various Multilateral Development Banks based in China. In addition, the section also coordinates the work to keep Member States (through their respective embassies in Beijing) fully appraised of and collaborating where appropriate with the UNICEF on South-South and Trilateral Partnerships.

The post is based in the China Country Office, reporting directly to the Representative and supervising five national officer and one support staff.

Purpose for the job:

The Senior Adviser is responsible for leading, managing and supervising a team of local staff whose role is to ensure efficient delivery of the above-mentioned portfolio with the broad aim of supporting a child-rights focused lense to China’s international development cooperation agenda in line with international norms and standards and the CRC, to benefit children in China and around the world.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Monitor, analyse, and brief on issues of partnership between China and the World.

 Monitor, analyse and report on perspectives of China’s investment in development assistance that benefit the most disadvantaged children
 Advise management teams in programme countries as well UNICEF Representative in China of developments and trends, and report back on meetings attended, with advice on and recommendations regarding follow-up actions required
 Back up and provided qualified briefings on issues concerning children to the management teams in the two regions and UNICEF office in China

2. Engage Chinese Government agencies, entities, civil society, development banks, and NGOs for partnerships and South-South Cooperation

 Engage, explore and promote China’s partnerships with countries in Africa and Asia that will benefit children
 Discuss with relevant Chinese agencies and entities as well as research and academic institutions on how China’s bilateral aid programmes would benefit children
 Support development of funding opportunities for programmes that can be funded from China’s South-South Fund for children in areas of strategic value for UNICEF
 Represent UNICEF in relevant meetings/events that are organized by the Chinese Government and entities

3. Develop strategies and work plans to leverage support from China in its bilateral aid that will benefit children

 Scope and map potential opportunities for children in China’s bilateral aid programmes, and track progress in implementing Chinese aided programmes
 Develop strategies to engage with Chinese Government agencies to support child rights in bilateral funding
 Monitor implementation of Chinese aided programmes including funding. Track progress made and identify gaps in implementation programmes in China’s bilateral aid programmes
 Work with Chinese Government agencies and entities to assess programme results
 Participate in field missions for evaluation and measuring results

4. Coordinate South-South and Triangular Cooperation with HQ and Regional Offices

 Lead strategy development and implementation for south-south and triangular cooperation in coordination with UNICEF China programme team, Regional Offices and HQ and track impact of the strategy.
 Work with Regional Offices to identify countries that will fit for child programmes from China’s bilateral aid programmes to their countries
 Together with Regional Offices, address issues in implementing Chinese aided programmes in their respective regions
 Work with Regional Offices to provide required updates, reports and briefings to senior management at HQ including the Global management Meetings
 Together with Regional Offices, advocate for investment in children, promote programmes results and scaling up.

Impact of Results

UNICEF’s strengthened engagement with China will result in increased support to child programmes supported from China’s bilateral aid , as well as other development funding streams both from within the Government of China and the private sector.

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: An Advanced University Degree (i.e. Master’s degree or equivalent) in Development studies, Social policy, Social Sciences, Programme/Project Management, Business Administration or other relevant field is required
• Work Experience: A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in development at the national or international level.
• Skills: Strong management and coordination skills in a complex multi-organizational setting. Strong advocacy and partnership building skills.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of other official UN language, particularly Mandarin, is an asset.

Desirables:

• Experience and understanding from working with governments, particularly in China and/or Africa highly desirable.
• Experience working with the UN or other international development organization is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (2)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)

• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will 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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.