External Relations Officer
Organizational Context
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization, and environmental sustainability. Its mission, aligned with the 2030 Agenda and SDG-9, is to accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development in Member States. The Division of Funding Partner Relations (GLO/FPR) establishes and maintains strategic relations with funding partners, supporting UNIDO's mobilization of voluntary contributions for technical cooperation activities.
Job Purpose
To establish and maintain strategic and policy-level relations with funding partners, support the mobilization of voluntary contributions, and coordinate institutional assessments, contributing to UNIDO's technical cooperation activities.
Responsibilities
Act as a focal point for voluntary contributions from selected funding partners (e.g., EU institutions, IFIs, private sector, foundations). Coordinate programming and consultative processes with funding partners. Contribute to organizational reporting mechanisms. Lead the coordination of institutional assessments. Draft and negotiate funding agreements. Ensure quality assurance in project formulation and reporting. Manage donor reporting tasks. Monitor and analyze funding trends. Advise senior management on funding strategies. Support diversification of funding sources and engagement with IFIs and development finance institutions. Provide guidance to technical cooperation directorates and field offices on funding opportunities and resource mobilization.
Work Experience
A minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience with a bachelor's degree (7 years with a master's, 5 years with a doctorate). Progressive experience in establishing strategic partnerships with donors and funding partners. Demonstrated experience in engagement and funding modalities with IFIs, EU institutions, foundations, and the private sector. Extensive experience in negotiating and drafting funding arrangements and managing related financial/administrative matters. Experience in resource mobilization, donor engagement, and programme coordination is desirable. Experience in managing institutional assessments, fiduciary oversight, donor compliance, and results-based management is desirable.
Skills
Strategic partnership building, resource mobilization, donor relations, negotiation, contract management, financial analysis, project management, communication, inter-agency coordination, understanding of technical cooperation, knowledge of developing country contexts.