Insurance and Innovative Finance Consultant

The consultancy would focus on concept development and structuring of insurance-related mechanisms; operationalization of priority mechanisms such as development impact bonds with insurance component; and internal capacity building for select UNICEF HQ and field offices.

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you.

For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

Purpose of the Assignment

Agenda 2030, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda for Financing for Development (Addis Action Agenda) hold large opportunities for children, as well as considerable financing challenges. Investment needs across the social, environmental and economic pillars of the SDGs are estimated to go into the trillions of dollars. Taking into account of limited fiscal space of developing countries as well as finite official development assistance (ODA) budget of donor countries, it is important to increase and enhance investments in children using a variety of tools. Successful implementation of Agenda 2030 will require rigorous implementation of the Addis Action Agenda and a strong global development partnership (SDG #17) that makes full use of all available pillars of development finance, including international and national, and public and private sources. UNICEF is developing innovative financing mechanisms, which would channel such investments in children from various development financing sources and would enable ODA and philanthropic funding to play a catalytic role for child-related areas.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultancy would focus on concept development and structuring of insurance-related mechanisms; operationalization of priority mechanisms such as development impact bonds with insurance component; and internal capacity building for select UNICEF HQ and field offices. Detailed responsibilities are:

• Lead the concept development of specific insurance-related initiatives:

• Improve existing innovative finance models, specifically development impact bonds with insurance component and insurance mechanisms for natural disasters.
• Design and structure innovative finance mechanisms for specific programmatic areas financing needs and provide recommendations for UNICEF's role, based on information from programme division (PD), country offices (COs), and regional offices (ROs).
• Conceptualize immediate and long-term strategies to operationalize priority mechanisms.
• Develop proof-of-concept for priority initiatives jointly with UNICEF teams in PPD and private fundraising and partnership division (PFP) through engagement with potential external partners.

• Internal capacity building for select UNICEF HQ and field offices

• Develop frameworks, toolkits and training, where applicable, to disseminate knowledge and best practices and to key offices.
• Assess capacity gaps and provide recommendations.

• (Second phase) Lead the structuring and placement processes for priority initiatives.

• Prepare detailed financial plans and business case jointly with other UNICEF teams.
• Focal point for external banks / financial intermediaries on the structuring and placement process.

Deliverables

• Develop concept notes, briefing notes, and presentations, on insurance and related financing mechanisms.
• Chaperone the internal review and "road shows" with external partners on the mechanism.
• Toolkits of best practices, hosting seminars or webinars for UNICEF staff and make recommendations on future roles of UNICEF within this area. 

Hosting and supervision arrangements within UNICEF 

The consultant will work with the Multilaterals and New Aid Modalities team in UNICEF's Public Partnerships Division (PPD). A key function of the unit is to coordinate UNICEF's engagement with large international financial institutions (World Bank, IMF, Regional Development Banks) and global development programmes (e.g. GAVI, Global Fund) in the context of SDG implementation. The unit also acts as the organization's focal point for the intergovernmental process on Financing for Development (FfD) and on new solutions in the area of innovative finance.

Salary/Payment

Please indicate your daily rate in your cover letter or resume

Duration

The initial assignment is limited to approximately 132 days. The assignment has the possibility of extension.

Working Environment

The consultant will work in UNICEF House New York with the Multilaterals and New Aid Modalities team. S/he is not expected to travel. Remote work can be negotiated.

Supervisor:

Nalinee Nippita, Senior Advisor, New Aid Modalities, Public Partnership Division, UNICEF NYHQ

Qualifications, Skills & Competencies Required

• At least 10 years of experience in financial services, including expertise of the insurance sector; analytical/problem solving and research skills.
• Advanced degree in international relations, social sciences or economics-related field (or appropriate equivalent work experience)
• Experience with insurance market research and/or design thinking methodology.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Proven ability to synthesize information and communicate it simply and effectively
• Fluency in English required. Knowledge of another UN language is an asset.
• Ability to work in an international and multicultural environment. Competencies required: commitment, embracing diversity, integrity, self-awareness and self-regulation, teamwork, and drive for results; communication, judgment, planning, setting standards and monitoring work, analytical and conceptual thinking.

Application Process

Interested individuals will need to submit the following documentation:

• Resume

• Cover Letter. Please indicate your ability, availability and daily rate to undertake the terms of reference described above.

Please send applications to Jiyoung Lee jiyolee@unicef.org by 5pm on Tuesday 21 March 2017.

 UNICEF PPD will review the applications and schedule a phone interview with the shortlisted candidates

If accepted, the consultant will be required to provide a copy of health insurance coverage and to fill out the UNICEF form on conditions regarding service as a consultant.

To view our competency framework, please click here. 

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.