INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANTS - LONG TERM AGREEMENT (LTA) - Strategic Advisory Services: Strategic Mentorship - Office of Innovation (Stockholm) - Maximum of 36 months (Remote)

Organizational Context

UNICEF operates in over 190 countries and territories, dedicated to saving children's lives, defending their rights, and helping them fulfill their potential. We are committed, passionate, and proud of our work, viewing the promotion of children's rights not just as a job but as a calling. UNICEF offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development.

Job Purpose

The UNICEF Venture Fund requires strategic mentors to support its investees and grantees. This mentorship is crucial for helping startups complete workplan deliverables, develop their business models, articulate their business plans, and demonstrate tangible social impact benefiting children worldwide. For growth-stage companies, mentors may assist in scaling solutions. The Venture Fund seeks startup mentors available on short notice (2-6 months) for engagements of up to 12-18 consecutive months within a 36-month period. These roles are suitable for consultants seeking fractional work, with potential retainer options (25%, 50%, or 100%) requiring overlapping working hours with Central European Time.

Responsibilities

This Long-Term Agreement (LTA) for strategic mentors integrates expertise in business strategy, impact evidence generation/measurement, and/or diversity, equity, and inclusivity to support early-stage startups in the UNICEF Venture Fund portfolio. Depending on their capabilities, consultants may be contracted for one or more of the following: - Mentorship: Providing guidance in business strategy, evidence generation and impact measurement, and/or diversity, equity, and inclusion. - Research and Knowledge Retention: Contributing to the documentation and dissemination of knowledge within the Venture Fund. - Fundraising and Donor Engagement and Outreach: Assisting with efforts to secure funding and engage with donors. - Startup Evaluation/Sourcing: Supporting the identification and assessment of potential new investments. Consultants will be expected to provide mentorship and assistance to startups, apply lean methods for data collection and evidence generation, and develop technical assistance tools. They will leverage their understanding of how frontier technology can be applied to social impact solutions, particularly for children in resource-poor environments. Experience with open-source technologies and business models is a plus. Consultants must be able to maintain regular communication and provide facetime mentorship, considering the time zones of UNICEF programme countries and startups across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Experience with UNICEF or similar UN programmes is beneficial.

Work Experience

A minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience in areas such as business strategy, financial modeling, impact management, and evidence generation, particularly for early-stage innovation and technology in emerging markets. Experience in applying lean data collection and quantitative/qualitative evidence generation methods is required. A track record of providing mentorship to startups is essential.

Skills

Business Strategy, Impact Evidence Generation, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Startup Mentorship, Financial Modeling, Lean Data Collection, Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis, Technical Assistance Tool Development, Frontier Technology Application, Social Impact Solutions, Emerging Markets Experience, Open-Source Technologies

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