International Consultant: Development of the UNICEF Lao PDR Partnership Strategy (2027–2031), Vientiane, Lao PDR, 2 months Individual Consultant International Position Senior level Short term contract

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.

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

For every child, the right to support 

UNICEF Lao PDR is developing its next Country Programme Document (CPD) for the period 2027–2031, at a time when the development financing landscape in Lao PDR is shifting rapidly, characterized by rising fiscal constraints, evolving donor priorities, and increasing expectations for diversified and innovative partnerships. While Official Development Assistance (ODA) remains significant, the country’s transition dynamics, debt vulnerabilities, and macroeconomic pressures are reshaping the space for development financing. At the same time, global trends emphasize blended finance, private sector engagement, and integrated, multistakeholder approaches to advancing children’s rights. Against this backdrop, UNICEF Lao PDR requires a comprehensive, evidence-based Partnership Strategy to guide how the organization mobilizes, leverages, and aligns resources over the 2027–2031 period. The Strategy will support UNICEF’s ambition to strengthen systems, promote equitable outcomes, and drive impactful change for children across four priority areas: 1. First 1,000 Days 2. Learning 3. Adolescents 4. Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)

How can you make a difference?

The consultancy will combine strategic analysis, sectoral insights, stakeholder assessments, and financial landscape mapping to generate a clear partnership agenda for UNICEF Lao PDR. The work will include:

• Comprehensive desk review of national development financing trends, donor portfolios, government budget trajectories, private sector opportunities, and regional financing mechanisms relevant to Lao PDR.
• Mapping and assessment of public and private partners, including bilateral donors, multilateral agencies, international financial institutions, ASEAN/multilateral platforms, corporate actors, philanthropic foundations, regional companies, and social impact actors.
• Opportunity analysis by CPD priority area, identifying where collaboration and financing opportunities are strongest and where UNICEF can add the greatest value.
• Development of engagement approaches and partnership models (financial and nonfinancial) that reflect context realities, UNICEF’s comparative advantage, and the strengths and priorities of partner organizations.
• Drafting and finalization of the UNICEF Lao PDR Partnership Strategy, including a practical implementation roadmap and partnership monitoring indicators. The consultant will work closely with the UNICEF Lao PDR Partnerships Team, Programme Sections, and senior leadership, and will participate in a validation process to ensure institutional alignment and ownership.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:  Terms-of-Reference_Partnership Strategy Int Consultant_VA.pdf

Financial Proposal Template to be filled by the consultant:  Financial Proposal Template-updated Oct 2024.doc

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Advanced degree in international development, economics, public policy, business, or related fields

• Work Experience: At least 8-10 years of relevant work experience in partnership development, resource mobilization, or development financing.
• Skills: Strong knowledge of ODA, IFIs, and private sector engagement models; Experience developing partnership/resource mobilization strategies; Understanding of UNICEF’s mandate and programming approaches.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required.

Desirables:

• Experience in Southeast Asia is an asset.
• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts.

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…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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.

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 is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates 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.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

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.