UNICEF Partnerships Specialist Job Opportunity in India 2026: Apply for the United Nations Children’s Fund Temporary Appointment in New Delhi

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is inviting qualified professionals to apply for the position of Partnerships Specialist (NO-3) under a Temporary Appointment in New Delhi, India. This exciting opportunity is open exclusively to Indian nationals and offers experienced development professionals the chance to contribute to one of the world’s leading organizations dedicated to protecting children’s rights and advancing youth empowerment.

As part of UNICEF’s innovative youth-focused platform, YuWaah, the selected candidate will play a critical role in strengthening partnerships, mobilizing resources, supporting governance structures, and advancing strategic collaborations that empower young people across India.

Application Deadline: 12 July 2026

About UNICEF

UNICEF operates in more than 190 countries and territories worldwide, working to save children’s lives, protect their rights, and help them achieve their full potential. The organization supports children from early childhood through adolescence and partners with governments, civil society organizations, businesses, and communities to create sustainable impact.

UNICEF is known for fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where professionals can build meaningful careers while contributing to transformative social change.

About YuWaah

Launched in 2019, YuWaah is a UNICEF-led multi-stakeholder platform focused on empowering young people in India. Through partnerships and collaborative initiatives, YuWaah has already reached more than 100 million young people across the country.

Its work focuses on:

• Skills development
• Employability enhancement
• Entrepreneurship support
• Social impact initiatives
• Civic engagement opportunities

As YuWaah enters its next phase of growth, there is an increasing need to strengthen strategic partnerships, improve stakeholder engagement, expand fundraising efforts, and enhance collaboration among government institutions, private sector organizations, and development partners.

Position Overview

Job Title

Partnerships Specialist

Organization

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

Duty Station

New Delhi, India

Position Level

NO-3

Contract Type

Temporary Appointment

Contract Duration

Initial appointment of 274 days, with the possibility of extension subject to performance and availability of funding.

Job Number

594092

Why This Role Matters

The Partnerships Specialist position has been created as a temporary assignment to ensure continuity during maternity leave coverage. However, the role extends beyond operational continuity and contributes significantly to YuWaah’s long-term goals.

The selected candidate will help:

• Maintain strong relationships with partners and stakeholders.
• Ensure donor commitments are fulfilled.
• Support governance mechanisms such as the Board and Leadership Council.
• Coordinate reporting and accountability processes.
• Advance fundraising and resource mobilization efforts.
• Facilitate collaboration among youth-focused organizations.
• Strengthen partnerships that drive opportunities for young people.

By maintaining momentum across these critical functions, the specialist will help ensure that YuWaah continues to deliver meaningful results without interruption.

Key Responsibilities

The Partnerships Specialist will be responsible for a wide range of strategic and operational functions.

1. Partnership Engagement and Resource Mobilization

The successful candidate will:

• Develop annual partnership engagement plans.
• Design and implement resource mobilization strategies.
• Identify opportunities for expanding partner networks.
• Strengthen relationships with existing stakeholders.

2. Fundraising and Income Generation

A major responsibility of the role involves securing sustainable financial support for YuWaah.

Responsibilities include:

• Growing long-term strategic income streams.
• Engaging board members and partners in fundraising efforts.
• Supporting YuWaah’s journey toward becoming a self-sustaining platform.
• Developing innovative fundraising opportunities.

3. Managing Existing Partnerships

The specialist will oversee partnerships at both national and global levels by:

• Maintaining partner relationships.
• Coordinating reporting obligations.
• Supporting partner participation in governance structures.
• Encouraging co-creation and collaboration among stakeholders.

4. Governance Support

The role includes direct support to YuWaah’s governance systems.

Key tasks include:

• Coordinating Board activities.
• Supporting the Leadership Council.
• Managing governance-related communications.
• Facilitating effective decision-making processes.

5. Advocacy and Private Sector Engagement

The selected professional will contribute to advocacy efforts aimed at expanding support for youth empowerment initiatives.

This includes:

• Strengthening private sector engagement.
• Supporting awareness campaigns.
• Promoting collaborative action among stakeholders.

6. Strategic Partnership Development

The specialist will identify and establish partnerships that can:

• Generate funding opportunities.
• Enhance program implementation.
• Increase organizational sustainability.
• Expand the impact of youth-focused initiatives.

7. Reporting and Accountability

Reporting responsibilities include:

• Monitoring progress against agreed timelines.
• Preparing donor reports.
• Supporting national reporting requirements.
• Contributing to global reporting obligations.

8. Relationship Building

The role requires establishing and maintaining strategic relationships with:

• Government agencies
• Private sector organizations
• Development partners
• United Nations agencies
• Civil society organizations
• Youth networks

Required Qualifications

To be considered for this position, applicants must meet the following requirements.

Educational Qualification

Candidates must possess:

• A Master’s degree or equivalent advanced university degree in:
  • Social Sciences
  • International Development
  • Or another relevant field

Professional Experience

Applicants must have:

• At least five years of relevant professional experience.
• Experience within the development sector.
• Demonstrated expertise in:
  • Partnerships management
  • Fundraising
  • Resource mobilization
  • Stakeholder engagement
  • Program reporting
  • Governance support

Language Requirements

Candidates must demonstrate:

• Fluency in English

Additional language skills are considered an advantage, including:

• Arabic
• Chinese
• French
• Russian
• Spanish
• Local languages

Preferred Qualifications

UNICEF considers the following as desirable qualifications:

• Experience in advocacy initiatives.
• Experience working on youth-focused programs.
• Previous United Nations experience.
• Experience in development contexts.
• Experience in fragile or humanitarian settings.

Core Competencies Required

UNICEF seeks professionals who demonstrate the following competencies:

1. Builds and maintains partnerships.
2. Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness.
3. Drives results for impact.
4. Innovates and embraces change.
5. Manages ambiguity and complexity.
6. Thinks and acts strategically.
7. Works collaboratively with others.

These competencies align with UNICEF’s organizational values and commitment to delivering meaningful impact for children and young people.

UNICEF’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

UNICEF is committed to creating an inclusive and representative workforce.

The organization particularly encourages applications from:

• Women
• Transgender individuals
• Gender non-conforming persons
• Persons with disabilities

UNICEF believes that a diverse workforce strengthens its ability to achieve results for children and young people globally.

Important Employment Information

Applicants should note the following:

• This vacancy is open only to Indian nationals.
• UNICEF does not charge any application or recruitment fees.
• Government employees selected for UNICEF positions are generally required to resign from their current government roles before assuming duties.
• Visa and work authorization support is not provided for National Officer category positions.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Benefits of Working with UNICEF

Professionals joining UNICEF gain access to:

• Internationally respected work experience.
• Meaningful impact on youth development and empowerment.
• Professional growth opportunities.
• Exposure to high-level partnerships and stakeholder engagement.
• Diverse and inclusive work environments.
• Opportunities to collaborate with government, private sector, and international organizations.
• Competitive compensation and benefits package.

How to Apply

Interested and eligible candidates should submit their applications through the official UNICEF Careers portal before the application deadline.

Applicants are encouraged to prepare all required documents early and ensure their qualifications and experience align with the stated requirements.

Application Deadline

12 July 2026

Candidates are advised to submit their applications well before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical issues and ensure timely consideration.

APPLY HERE

For more information about this opportunity, visit here.

Discover more Global Job Opportunities on OFY here.