Partnerships Specialist (Innovative Finance), NOC (limited 2 years)

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UNICEF

Job no: 588798

Contract type: Fixed Term Appointment

Duty Station: Beijing

Level: NO-3

Location: China

Categories: Communication, Partnerships, Fund Raising

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 for as long as we are needed. 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 professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

For every child, the right to Future

In China, we promote policies and laws that better deliver on children's rights. We have over 100 staff members working with the Government of China and other partners to ensure that the benefits of the country's development reach the most impoverished children. And we share what we learn with others.

How can you make a difference?

Traditional funding modalities alone cannot meet the financial demands of today’s complex global challenges. Exploring and leveraging new financing models can unlock untapped resources to fund both established and novel initiatives, driving faster progress toward achieving the SDGs.

UNICEF Innovative Financing for Children – IF4C Global Vision & Strategy sets out a clear vision, concrete goals, and comprehensive plan for using more innovative methods to tap into a diverse spectrum of capital. The strategy aims to support innovative approaches that create synergies between public and private finance to increase resources for areas of work that can result in a major positive impact for children.

In line with global strategy, UNICEF China Office is seeking to enhance the function of alternative/innovative finance for children through financing approaches, tools and mechanisms that can (a) leverage additional resources for children in China and beyond through new financial instruments or apply existing instruments in a new way; (b) make resources work more effectively and efficiently in the interest of children; and/or (c) make resources more results-oriented to accelerate programmatic and operational solutions for children.

Under the supervision of the Chief Private Sector and Fundraising, with dotted line reporting to the Senior Advisor, Public Partnership Section (PPS), and working closely with the Global IF4C team (PFP), the Innovative Finance Specialist shall develop effective strategies and workplans to enable, drive, and accelerate innovative alternative financing and funding solutions for children by engaging China-based private sector partners, and in coordination with PPS on the development/multi-lateral banks and other financial institutions, etc., through initiatives that attract investments for climate change, environment, disaster risk reduction and other areas.

Key Functions, Accountabilities, And Related Duties/tasks

By 2030, UNICEF China aims to unlock, leverage, and align capital from innovative financing

transactions that directly and/or indirectly contribute to child outcomes.

  • Spearhead the initiation, design, and implementation of innovative financing solutions

across the board, including sovereign debt, impact investing, and climate risk financing

across a diverse spectrum of capital.

  • Working closely with UNICEF global, regional, and country teams and IF Hub in

Finland (PFP), lead the adoption of the development of the child-lens impact investing

framework for China.

  • The incumbent will be responsible for leading the team (Innovative Finance Officer, NOB level)

To Deliver The Following Tasks

  • Develop overall strategy, modalities, engagement, and pipelines
  • Analyze UNICEF China’s portfolio and existing innovative finance mechanisms to

identify potential innovative finance opportunities with the private sector partners, and

in close coordination with PPS, on China-based MDBs/FIs and policy banks.

  • Spearhead the initiation, design, and implementation of innovative financing solutions

across the board (including sovereign debt, impact investing, and climate risk

financing), working closely with the Global IF4C team (PFP) and UNICEF Asia Pacific

Regional Office (APRO)

  • Formulate business analyses of financial markets and trends, including research on

key internal and external risks and associated mitigation strategies, with a focus on

how innovative financing modalities can be applied in the private sector arena.

  • Conduct assessments and feasibility analyses of prospective innovative finance

instruments to be deployed.

  • Working closely with UNICEF global and regional teams as well as IF Hub in Finland

(PFP) and APRO on the child-lens impact investing framework and its adoption.

  • Document strategic decisions and operational processes to ensure transparency and

facilitate future initiatives.

  • Planning and Project Management
  • Project management and coordination to ensure that the function’s work plan and key

deliverables are met effectively and on time.

  • Collaborate with UNICEF stakeholders to integrate planning, risk management, and

governance aspects into the team’s work, ensuring compliance with the Innovative

Finance Committee (IFC)

  • Maintain robust tracking and reporting mechanisms to monitor progress against

objectives and deliverables.

  • Partnerships and Engagement
  • Enhance partnerships & resource mobilization efforts with the private sector partners

and coordinate closely with PPS on China-based MDBs/FIs and policy banks. Advise

on technical input, the development and management of partnerships with private

sector entities, and other stakeholders to drive innovative financing initiatives.

  • Work closely with other functions to produce high-quality, audience-specific knowledge

products/publications/content for internal and external positioning, fundraising

proposals, and promotional materials.

  • Draft and curate content for impact reports and other communication channels to showcase achievements and build visibility for innovative financing efforts.

The incumbent is responsible for enhancing private and public sector partnership cone synergy,

and to accelerate the efficiency and effectiveness of the innovative financing function to mobilize

core resources from private sector partners and development banks that are based in China.

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

Minimum Requirements

  • Education: An advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in one of the following fields is required: International development, finance, economics, public or business administration, law, or closely related fields. Alternatively, a first-level university degree (bachelor's degree or equivalent) in a relevant field combined with (2) additional

years of qualifying professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

  • Work Experience: A minimum of five years of professional work experience in development, innovative finance, ESG/impact investing, investment banking, risk, and market analysis is required.
  • Language Requirements: Fluency in written and spoken Chinese and English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

For more information and to apply, please visit our website via the apply button below.