UNICEF MALI
Terms of Reference for International Specialist to provide strategic, results-based external
communication support for partnerships and resource mobilization within the
Department of Policy, Advocacy and Communication (PPC)
Title:
Resource Mobilization Specialist
Duration:
364 days
Level:
L3
Type of Contract:
TA (Temporary Assignment)
Duty Station:
Bamako
Supervisor:
Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Specialist;
Policy, Advocacy and Communication Unit
1. Introduction/ Context
In an effort to achieve better results for children, UNICEF has strengthened its spectrum of private and
public partners in order to provide services and support for the most marginalized children and women.
Today, the organization is engaged in numerous Global Programme Partnerships (GPP), cooperates with
more than 800 companies worldwide and works effectively with thousands of civil society partners and
NGOs. UNICEF has integrated a Strategic Framework for Collaborative Relationships and Partnerships as one of
its organizational improvement initiatives to work with a more streamlined approach per these essential
relationships.
The Partnerships Framework addresses the rapidly evolving external landscape of international
development cooperation that aims to make aid systems more effective. It brings focus and clarity to
UNICEF’s engagement with its external partners and guides the organization with regard to its strategic
engagement in future collaborative relationships and partnerships.
In the current global economic context, with donorship on the decline as need grows exponentially for
the most vulnerable, a focus on support for partnerships is fundamental to reach results for children. It is
imperative to advocate and communicate clearly with our existing donors, partners, and prospective
funders as a means to manage these strategic relationships for the continued provision of key support
and funding for UNICEF’s work.
UNICEF Mali has made strategic partnerships a priority for the programme cycle period of 2008 - 2012
to achieve better results for children. To date, UNICEF Mali engages in a wide range of partnerships and
collaborations in order to accelerate the scale up of high impact interventions with a strong focus on
community-level outreach (GAVI Alliance, Dubai Cares, The Catalytic Initiative, EU etc). Partnerships &
Resource Mobilization within the UNICEF Mali office also entails responsibility for broader corporate
engagement with private sector coordination to foster visibility and collaboration for results (Danone
Water Japan, Sony Corporation, Orange etc.).
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Given the multiple communication initiatives throughout the programme cycle, UNICEF Mali now
requires the recruitment of a Resource Mobilization Specialist for optimal knowledge management,
visibility and reporting.
This role is essential to provide additional capacity for both the current and expected workload to engage
our partners effectively and manage creation of interesting results-based multimedia content,
(photography, videos, publications and reports) and inform shareholders and constituents, etc. by:
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Engaging donors with Mali to reach the most vulnerable populations, in line with UNICEF’s
global shift in a focus on equitability for the bottom quintiles;
Documenting, sharing information and initializing dialogue on what we do and how we work
through results-based quality reporting;
Providing essential visibility to our donors for their continued support;
Creating high-quality media products to be shared online for optimal international exposure;
Crafting proactive and reactive communication on key UN days to support local initiatives;
Facilitating private sector partnerships under an umbrella of rights-based, equitable inclusion;
Ensuring adherence to the UNICEF Style Guide, Video Toolkit, Photo Guidelines and
programmatic terminology to manage technical consistency and high ethical standards;
Distributing, tracking and analyzing data relating to media products’ visibility and fundraising.
2. Purpose of the assignment
Under the supervision of the Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Specialist within the Policy,
Advocacy and Communication Unit, the incumbent of the post will contribute to the strengthening of
UNICEF Mali’s strategic partnerships in order to leverage better results and mobilize resources for
marginalized Malian children and women.
3. Main activities and outcomes
More specifically, the incumbent will:
3.1. Produce advocacy and communication tools to strengthen partnerships and resource
mobilization
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Maintain the Mali UNICEF Website (in both French and English through management of high
quality international translation) including creation of new web-based streaming content, building
and maintaining social media outlets to give children an opportunity to speak for themselves
(specifically supporting participatory children’s workshops begun February 2011);
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Track and analyze Web Site statistics in line with funding and advocacy priorities to identify and
address communication gaps;
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Collect, document and disseminate programming experience and best practices for UNICEF and
partners;
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Write and edit texts for enhanced partnerships and resource mobilization such as UNICEF
Intranet communication products on PANORAMA, Funding Market Place, WCARO Intranet
etc;
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Initiate, produce, manage and distribute multimedia products supporting key partnerships;
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Work in tandem with the Communication team to formulate a strong, obtainable,
Communication Strategy for UNICEF Mali 2011-2012 to support the creation and production of
the above multimedia products for all programme areas in line with the global advocacy and
communication strategy to be launched July 2011;
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Manage sub-contractors to effectively produce necessary products (this will include working with
local and international vendors, the UNICEF Mali supply division, translators, designers, writers,
photographers, filmmakers, editors and copy editors) to ensure high quality products for
international distribution;
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Develop graphic supports and tools for reporting (tables, harmonization of statistics etc);
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Strengthen inter-agency communication tools to support OneUN in Mali;
3.2. Facilitate corporate and UNICEF National Committee collaborations via:
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Proposal review, technical guidance and field mission support to maximize fundraising impact
through informed, thoughtful advocacy and visibility;
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Facilitate improved, strategic and collaborative communication with corporate partners in order
to protect the UNICEF brand and preserve our reputation as a defender of child rights;
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Ensure that corporate partners follow UNICEF guidelines to protect children and ensure that
UNICEF is accurately represented and receives higher profile to any commercial message;
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Contribute to the strengthening of quality reporting, acting as managing editor to provide
guidance on formating in line with UNICEF guidelines for style and branding (ensuring quality of
proposals, reporting, human interest material, photos and other visibility aspects) in line with the
Partnerships & Resource Mobilization Strategy;
3.3. Ensure quality management of the CO’s photo coverage through « Photo Mechanic » and
the « Global Image Database »
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Ensure quality and diversity of UNICEF Mali’s photo coverage to best reflect the country
programme and partnerships (selection and editing of images for the Global Photo Database,
ensuring the photographer’s captions are in line with UNICEF photo guidelines, assigning
coverage to local and international photographers, etc.);
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Organization of existing photo coverage including caption writing in English using the software
« Photo Mechanic »;
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Edit photography to provide stories and albums of images for the Photo Database;
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Create original, high-quality photography capturing the country programme, as needed;
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Facilitate sharing of an alternative local catalogue for photos taken by non professional
photographers (ie: for office events, images taken by programme staff, etc);
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Train staff in the use of the UNICEF Mali website and Global Photo Database homepage to
ensure that images are shared supporting programmatic partnerships and key funding.
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3.4. Provide essential project management for external communication supporting key
programme funding. Specifically, manage communication needs for:
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Child Survival donors/partners: a)Dubai Cares (WASH) partnership, b)Catalytic Initiative (Health)
partnership, c) EU (nutrition) d) Capacity-building/training (Save the Children/Health)
partnership;
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Child Protection/Partnerships: EYE SEE Mali participatory children’s workshops (Child protection
unit/Japanese National Committee/Sony Corporation/NGOs :SNV, AEJT, CFP), NatCom
collaborations and public donor partnerships.
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Education: Manage the production of human interest content for the NatCom DonorToolkit, specifically
supporting the “Schools for Africa” Initiative, looking at child-friendly schools, non-formal education and girls’
education (PFP-Geneva/WCARO Education unit/UNICEF Mali education unit) and ensuring the visibility
of other donors.
Duration
364 days.
4. Place of work
The incumbent will be based in Bamako and will follow the rules and regulations applied to international
staff. The assignment will also require periodic travel to support partnership initiatives, field missions and
facilitate media content creation.
5. Supervision, Feedback and Reporting
The position will be under the supervision of the Partnerships & Resource Mobilization Specialist.
Key qualifications and required skills:
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Advanced University degree in relevant disciplines of communication, international development
and other equivalent studies;
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At least 5 years of professional work experience in the area of communication, or equivalent
experience, including work in developing countries, preferably with UNICEF and/or another
international development agency or NGO;
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Successful multimedia (photo/video/text) project management following inception of an idea,
production, management and distribution of material;
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Ability to work as a professional photographer and photo editor, with experience producing fieldbased content for advocacy-based communications;
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Practical experience with design and layout of documents, print materials, and web content;
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Excellent working knowledge of computers including software to edit texts and images
(specifically, Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, Photo Mechanic); distribute material
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electronically (Voyager or Fetch FTP), and internet-based content management for UNICEF
Mali website (Red Dot Content Management System);
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Proven skills in communication, networking, advocacy and negotiation;
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Previous experience supporting partnerships and/or resource mobilization is an advantage;
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Ability to express clearly and concisely ideas and concepts in written and oral form and to
produce reports in a timely manner;
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Ability to work independently as well as with a team in an international, multicultural and
interdisciplinary environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships both
within and outside the organization;
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Independent and creative thinking;
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Excellent oral and writing skills in English, and working knowledge of French.
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