Market Research Specialist

UNICEF

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, an Education

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does ? in programs, 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. Therefore, 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.

Strategic office context:

Through the Sustainable Markets Centre (SMC), UNICEF Supply Division seeks to positively influence the market dynamics to ensure commodities are fit for purpose, available, affordable, and produced by a competitive supply base, as well as to encourage product innovation of essential commodities to meet the changing needs of children in the SDG era.

While SMC will coordinate the efforts of influencing markets across UNICEF Supply Division's different procurement centres and units, with each procurement centre playing a critical role in identifying and defining the procurement approaches required, SMC will assist and facilitate this body of work with strategy design/review, market research, analysis, supplier financing, communication, leveraging partnerships, and promoting market information transparency.

How can you make a difference? 

Under the supervision of the Finance Manager, SMC, the incumbent will be expected to support Supply Division's market research and supplier financing activities, including contributing to the design and execution of innovative financing mechanisms to achieve improved market conditions for key strategic supplies for children.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

- Contribute to the development of and provide advice to management on tailored and targeted financing structures to support improved market dynamics, including the deployment of special contracting (e.g. firm commitments/volume guarantees, prepayments), as well as ?pull' mechanisms or other financial incentives to drive better procurement prices.
- Carbon Credit Finance structure development:
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- Business case confirmation; Manage UNEP (consultancy) contract and delivery of business case recommendation (justification) for management decision.
- Initiate and drive design of a viable and cost-effective digital verification model of credits (Requiring structuring discussions with organizations as Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All), SustainCert, Carbon Clear, Access to Energy Initiative (A2EI) and World Bank)
- Onboarding 3-5 pilot official Country Authorities to partake in Project Pilot and allow UNICEF SD, on their behalf, to design Carbon Credit Program under which any generated cash flow will be used to support Operation and Maintenance of the Solarization system or health facility solarized.
- Full documentation package development aligned with applicable standards for such.
- Establish listing of Carbon Credits at established Credit Registry and co-operate on the selling of the Carbon Credits.
- Divisional procedures and Financial Governance:
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- Develop updated Divisional Procedures that ensures SMC specific input on procurement strategies and/or related CRC requests, where special contracting terms is recommended.
- Develop detailed special contract procedure guidelines for all Procurement Centers 
- Function as mirror to Financial Structuring and risk mitigation function of UNICEF Divisional Finance Administration Management function in New York, particularly focused towards supplier finance structures.
- Detect and determine financial exposure in any special contract modalities. Ensure required financial safeguards as to UNICEF Financial Rules and Regulations.
- Ensure UNICEF Financial Rules and Regulations compliance, including obtaining comptroller approvals for UNICEF SD Director.
- Raw Material (RM) volatility management and product added cost management:
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- Support RM data analysis of key goods procured by UNICEF Supply Division;
- Support further utilization of Index Price Adjustment Models (subject to cost benefit justification)
- Provide data analysis on RM prices ongoing to procurement centers to equip and ensure informed intelligence driven product price negotiations.
- Collaborate with Supply Division procurement centres, UNICEF stakeholders (e.g. Innovative Financing Team) and key external partners to help drive procurement strategies and shape critical markets for essential products and services for children by interpreting market research and discerning how novel financing and risk-sharing approaches can positively influence supplier behavior.
- Conduct risk?benefit analyses to maximize the value of financing interventions and appropriately balance supplier and buyer risks.
- Support expanded access to financing for suppliers in program countries as part of a ?local market' influencing strategy to improve local markets and/or increase on-continent production.
- Engage with UNICEF's finance/market shaping partners and public and private financiers especially in relation to potential special contracts and supplier financing endeavors, e.g. with UNICEF PFP, UNCDF, UNDP, UUSA, the Gavi Secretariat, the Global Fund, the World Bank, IFC, DFID and others.

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

Education:

- An Advanced University Degree (Master's Degree) in Business, Economics, Financing, International Development or other related discipline.
*A first University degree with additional two years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University degree.

Work Experience:

- A minimum of five (5) years professional work experience at the international level in finance/innovative finance, market research, market shaping, economics, public or private sector procurement, business management, business development, or other relevant field
- Proven experience in the following areas in the private or public sector is required:
- Finance background (corporate finance/treasury, private/public/multinational banking, Development finance incl Innovative finance structuring)
- Market dynamics relating to health, nutrition, water, sanitation, education and/or products used in resource-poor settings
- Structured finance, innovative financing and/or or complex supplier financing mechanisms
- Building, managing relationships and external partnerships
- Prior relevant work experience in the UN system, other international development organization or national government is desirable
Language Requirements:  Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) 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?

- Builds and Maintains Partnerships
- Demonstrates Self-Awareness and Ethical Awareness
- Drive to Achieve Results for Impact
- Innovates and Embraces Change
- Manages Ambiguity and Complexity
- Thinks and Acts Strategically
- Works Collaboratively with Others
- Nurtures, Leads and Manages People
Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

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.

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.

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, will be prioritized, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

How cinfo Can Support You in the Application Process for This Position

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Sector:

Role:

Working hours (%): 80-100% / 100%

Job type: Staff (Temporary)

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