Senior Strategy and Partnerships Consultant – EmPowerHer Africa Initiative

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, is a leading organization dedicated to promoting children's rights and well-being globally. Established in 1946, UNICEF has been operational for over 70 years and works in 190 countries and territories. The organization is known for being the world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries and focuses on various areas including child health, nutrition, education, and protection from violence and exploitation. With a workforce of over 12,000 employees, UNICEF is funded entirely through voluntary contributions from individuals, businesses, foundations, and governments, allowing it to carry out its mission effectively across diverse regions.

Job Overview:
The Senior Strategy and Partnerships Consultant for the EmPowerHer Africa Initiative will play a crucial role in advancing girls' education, economic empowerment, and leadership across Africa. This consultancy is designed to accelerate the preparatory work for the initiative's formal launch at the African Union Heads of State Summit. The consultant will be responsible for ensuring that the initiative aligns with continental priorities and UNICEF's strategic goals. Key functions include finalizing baseline data for the initiative's implementation, securing collaboration with the African Union for the summit launch, establishing a Heads of State Leadership Council, and coordinating with UNICEF country offices to ensure a successful rollout of the initiative. The consultant will also be tasked with producing comprehensive reports and frameworks that will guide the initiative's progress and impact.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Baseline Data Finalization: Prepare a validated baseline report covering 10 AU countries, including gender-disaggregated education and economic participation metrics, and conduct a policy gap analysis. Organize a data validation workshop with the AU Women’s Gender Directorate and five UNICEF regional offices.
• AU Summit Launch Preparation: Draft and finalize a signed collaboration agreement between AU and UNICEF for the summit side-event. Develop an event concept note and secure endorsements from the AU Office of the Chair. Confirm participation from eight heads of state and create a media strategy in collaboration with the AU Communications Directorate.
• Leadership Council Establishment: Operationalize the Heads of State Leadership Council, ensuring a signed charter from six founding member nations, and establish a 12-month work plan and secretariat structure. Develop a resource mobilization strategy targeting $15M+ in seed funding.
• UNICEF Coordination: Adopt a consolidated implementation framework across 20 UNICEF country offices, finalize a standardized monitoring toolkit, and prepare a capacity-building plan for national teams. Set joint advocacy targets for Q1 202
• Final Reporting: Produce a final report that includes partner contact matrices and a risk mitigation roadmap for scaling in 202
• Additionally, the consultant will be required to travel for three regional trips lasting 7-10 days each to key locations such as Addis Ababa and other priority countries.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a minimum of ten years of experience in designing and implementing continental-scale gender initiatives in Africa. A proven track record in coordinating AU summit-side events, facilitating high-level leadership councils, and collaborating with multiple UNICEF and UN system entities is mandatory. Strong organizational and communication skills are essential, along with the ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment. Candidates should also demonstrate a commitment to UNICEF's core values of commitment, diversity, and integrity.

Educational Background:
A Master’s degree from a recognized university in international development, gender studies, public policy, or another relevant technical field is required. This educational background should provide a solid foundation for understanding the complexities of gender initiatives and the socio-political landscape in Africa.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of ten years of relevant experience in the field of gender initiatives, particularly within the African context. Candidates should have substantial experience in project management, strategic planning, and partnership development, with a focus on initiatives aimed at empowering girls and women. Experience working with international organizations, particularly in a consultancy capacity, is highly desirable.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required, with strong written and verbal communication skills. Proficiency in another UN language is considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's ability to engage with diverse stakeholders and partners across different regions.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is home/office-based and is expected to last from December 1, 2025, to May 31, 202

• Candidates must complete their profiles in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and upload their academic credentials along with a financial proposal reflecting the costs per deliverable and total lump-sum for the assignment. Travel costs and daily subsistence allowances will be covered if international recruitment is necessary. Candidates must also ensure they have valid health insurance coverage at the time of contract award. Payment for professional fees will be contingent upon the submission of satisfactory deliverables, and UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment if standards are not met. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, including verification of academic credentials and employment history.