NICEF Partnerships Officer, NO-1, Fixed-Term Job in Pretoria, South Africa: Apply by August 28, 2026

If you are a development, international relations, communications, public policy, or partnerships professional looking for an opportunity with the United Nations system, UNICEF is inviting applications for a Partnerships Officer, NO-1, Fixed-Term Appointment in Pretoria, South Africa.

This position offers an opportunity to contribute to UNICEF’s work in South Africa by supporting strategic partnerships, resource mobilization, stakeholder engagement, policy influence, research, and coordination. The successful candidate will work within the UNICEF South Africa Country Office and contribute to efforts aimed at strengthening investments and opportunities for children.

The position is particularly relevant for professionals with experience in partnership management, donor relations, resource mobilization, stakeholder engagement, communications, programme management, international development, or policy analysis.

Application deadline: August 28, 2026, South Africa Standard Time.

Opportunity Overview

• Organization: UNICEF
• Position: Partnerships Officer
• Job Number: 595114
• Vacancy Reference: #00137970
• Position Level: NO-1
• Contract Type: Fixed-Term Appointment
• Duty Station: Pretoria, South Africa
• Functional Area: Partnerships
• Country: South Africa
• Advertised: August 14, 2026
• Deadline: August 28, 2026
• Required Experience: At least 1 year of relevant professional experience
• Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent first-level university degree
• Working Language: English

About UNICEF

UNICEF works in more than 190 countries and territories around the world to protect children’s rights, save children’s lives, and help children reach their full potential from early childhood through adolescence.

The organization describes its work as more than simply employment, emphasizing a commitment to promoting the rights of every child. UNICEF also provides staff with opportunities for professional and personal development within a diverse and purpose-driven working environment.

The Partnerships Officer position is located within the UNICEF South Africa Country Office in Pretoria and reports to the Chief of Partnerships, Advocacy and Communication.

The role supports UNICEF’s broader mission while contributing specifically to partnership development, resource mobilization, information analysis, stakeholder engagement, and policy influence in South Africa.

About the Investing in Children Programme

The Partnerships Officer will support the Investing in Children programme component, which focuses on strengthening strategic partnerships, mobilizing resources, and advancing equitable opportunities for children in South Africa.

The programme seeks to:

• Strengthen strategic partnerships
• Mobilize additional resources for children
• Promote equitable opportunities
• Explore innovative financing approaches
• Improve the use of existing investments
• Ensure value for money
• Support impact at scale
• Contribute to measurable and sustainable results for children

The programme also supports the effective implementation of the UNICEF South Africa Country Programme Document (CPD) 2026–2030.

The broader objective is to ensure that investments in children translate into measurable, equitable, and sustainable outcomes.

What Does a Partnerships Officer at UNICEF Do?

The Partnerships Officer will provide research, analytical, coordination, and partnership support to Partnership Specialists and senior management.

The position involves helping UNICEF understand its external environment, strengthen relationships with stakeholders, identify opportunities, and improve the organization’s ability to mobilize resources.

The successful candidate will be expected to gather, analyze, and report information in ways that produce useful, evidence-based insights.

This information will help UNICEF:

• Understand its partners and stakeholders
• Strengthen partner relationships
• Identify potential funding opportunities
• Support discussions with partners
• Improve internal information sharing
• Monitor partnership progress
• Contribute to resource mobilization
• Support policy influence
• Increase UNICEF’s visibility
• Strengthen organizational credibility

Accurate and timely information is particularly important because strong communication with partners can help build trust and strengthen UNICEF’s ability to secure additional resources.

The position will therefore play an important supporting role in helping senior management and partnership teams identify and pursue opportunities that can contribute to UNICEF’s mission.

Key Areas of Responsibility

1. Partnership Support

The Partnerships Officer will assist Partnership Specialists and senior management in their engagement with key stakeholders.

This may involve supporting:

• Partner relationship management
• Stakeholder engagement
• Partnership coordination
• Communication with external partners
• Internal coordination around partnerships
• Monitoring partnership developments

The officer will help ensure that relevant information about stakeholders and partnerships is captured and shared appropriately within the organization.

2. Research and Environmental Scanning

The position requires the ability to gather and analyze information about the external environment.

This includes identifying developments that could affect UNICEF’s partnerships, funding opportunities, policy engagement, and strategic priorities.

The officer will need to turn information into fact-based insights that can support decision-making.

Strong research and analytical skills are therefore important for this position.

3. Resource Mobilization

Resource mobilization is another significant component of the position.

The Partnerships Officer will contribute to identifying and supporting opportunities that could generate additional resources for UNICEF’s work.

This can include supporting:

• Fundraising efforts
• Donor engagement
• Partnership development
• Funding opportunity analysis
• Proposal development
• Donor reporting
• Communication with potential partners

Applicants with previous experience in fundraising or resource mobilization may therefore have an advantage.

4. Stakeholder Engagement

The successful candidate will contribute to UNICEF’s engagement with key stakeholders.

This requires strong communication, networking, relationship-building, and coordination abilities.

The role may involve interacting with different groups, including donors, development partners, government stakeholders, private-sector organizations, and other relevant actors.

5. Policy Influence and Analysis

The position also contributes to policy influence.

The Partnerships Officer will support the gathering and analysis of information that can help UNICEF engage in substantive discussions with partners and stakeholders.

Applicants with experience in policy analysis, international development, public policy, international relations, or related areas may find this aspect particularly relevant.

Minimum Qualifications and Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet the minimum requirements established by UNICEF for the position.

Educational Requirements

Applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent first-level university degree.

Relevant academic fields include:

• International Studies
• Political Science
• Communications
• International Development
• International Relations
• Public Policy
• Other closely related disciplines

Candidates whose academic background is in a related field may also be considered where their education is relevant to the responsibilities of the position.

Professional Experience

Applicants are required to have at least one year of relevant work experience.

Relevant experience may include:

• Programme management
• Partnership management
• Resource mobilization
• Donor relations
• External relations
• Stakeholder engagement
• Interagency coordination
• Policy analysis
• International development
• Communications
• Other related areas

This means the position is not strictly limited to candidates who have previously held the exact title of “Partnerships Officer.”

Professionals with relevant experience across the areas above may be able to demonstrate the required competencies.

Required Skills

UNICEF identifies several important skill areas for this position, including:

• Resource mobilization
• Negotiation
• Networking
• Communication
• Development

Candidates should therefore be able to demonstrate strong interpersonal and professional communication skills, as well as the ability to build relationships and work collaboratively with different stakeholders.

Language Requirement

Fluency in English is required.

Knowledge of additional languages is considered an asset.

UNICEF specifically identifies knowledge of another official UN language as desirable. These include:

• Arabic
• Chinese
• French
• Russian
• Spanish

Knowledge of at least one additional official local language is also considered an asset.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

While not necessarily mandatory, UNICEF identifies several additional qualifications and experiences that could strengthen an applicant’s profile.

Fundraising and Partnership Management

Experience in fundraising and managing partnerships would be beneficial.

UNICEF or UN Experience

Previous experience working with UNICEF or the broader United Nations system would be an advantage.

Private-Sector Knowledge

Knowledge of the private-sector landscape in South Africa would also be valuable.

Donor Communication

Experience communicating with donors is desirable.

Proposal and Report Writing

Applicants with experience drafting:

• Funding proposals
• Donor reports
• Partnership documentation

may have an advantage.

Donor Field Visits

Experience leading or coordinating field visits involving donors is also considered desirable.

Country-Level Development Experience

Relevant experience at country level, particularly in:

• Development
• Fragile settings
• Humanitarian contexts

would be advantageous.

UNICEF Core Values

Applicants should understand that technical qualifications are only one part of working for UNICEF.

UNICEF’s core values include:

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability
• Sustainability

These values are reflected in UNICEF’s organizational culture and expectations for its employees.

UNICEF Competencies Required for the Position

UNICEF identifies seven competencies particularly relevant to this position:

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

Applicants should therefore demonstrate more than academic qualifications. Their application should also show evidence of partnership-building, strategic thinking, collaboration, ethical conduct, adaptability, and the ability to deliver results.

Who Can Apply?

This is a national officer position based in South Africa, and UNICEF specifically states that eligible and suitable national candidates are encouraged to apply.

The position is based in Pretoria, South Africa, and UNICEF’s vacancy notice includes a visa and residence requirement stating that UNICEF will not facilitate the issuance of a visa and work authorization for candidates under consideration for National Officer and General Service positions.

Therefore, applicants should carefully consider their eligibility to work in South Africa before applying.

The opportunity is open to qualified candidates without discrimination based on race, nationality, gender, religion, disability, socioeconomic background, or other protected characteristics, subject to the position’s eligibility and work authorization requirements.

APPLY HERE 

People Who Are Most Likely to Qualify

The strongest candidates are likely to be professionals who have:

• A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline
• At least one year of relevant professional experience
• Strong English-language skills
• Experience with partnerships or stakeholder engagement
• Experience in resource mobilization or fundraising
• Strong communication and networking abilities
• Experience in development, international relations, policy, or communications
• The ability to conduct research and analyze information
• An understanding of donor relationships and external engagement

Candidates with additional UN experience, fundraising experience, proposal-writing experience, donor communication experience, or knowledge of the South African private sector may have an additional advantage.

Important Information About UNICEF Recruitment

UNICEF emphasizes that it does not charge applicants any processing fee at any stage of recruitment.

Applicants should not be asked to pay a fee for:

• Submitting an application
• Taking an interview
• Validation
• Appointment
• Training

UNICEF also states that it will not ask applicants for their bank account information during the recruitment process.

Applicants should therefore be cautious of anyone claiming to represent UNICEF and requesting payment or sensitive financial information.

Background Checks and Other Conditions

Successful candidates will be subject to UNICEF’s recruitment requirements, which include rigorous reference and background checks.

These checks can include verification of:

• Academic credentials
• Employment history
• Professional references

Selected candidates may also be required to provide additional information as part of the background-check process.

UNICEF appointments are also subject to medical clearance.

Other requirements may apply depending on the candidate and the conditions of the appointment.

Humanitarian Deployment

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan.

As a result, UNICEF notes that staff members at all levels and across functional areas may be called upon to support humanitarian responses.

This means successful candidates may potentially be expected to contribute to humanitarian operations when required, including efforts that strengthen community resilience and national response capacity.

Important Note for Government Employees

Government employees who are selected for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up a UNICEF assignment.

Applicants currently employed by government institutions should therefore take this requirement into consideration.

How to Apply for the UNICEF Partnerships Officer Position

Interested and qualified applicants should submit their application through the official UNICEF recruitment system.

Applicants should carefully review the complete job description and ensure that their education, professional experience, skills, and other qualifications are accurately reflected in their application.

Application deadline: August 28, 2026, South Africa Standard Time.

Apply for the UNICEF Partnerships Officer position

Applicants are encouraged to apply before the deadline rather than waiting until the final day.

Full Job Description

UNICEF has provided a complete job description for applicants who want to understand the responsibilities and requirements of the position in greater detail.

Download the Full Partnerships Officer Job Description

For additional information about UNICEF careers and job categories, applicants can consult the official UNICEF careers resources.

UNICEF Careers

Why This Opportunity Is Worth Considering

The Partnerships Officer position could be particularly valuable for professionals who want to develop a career at the intersection of international development, partnerships, resource mobilization, communications, and child-focused development.

Working within UNICEF would provide exposure to a major international development organization and opportunities to engage with a wide range of stakeholders.

The position also offers the chance to contribute to UNICEF’s efforts to strengthen investments in children and support equitable and sustainable development outcomes in South Africa.

For professionals interested in partnerships and development, the role could provide valuable experience in:

• Strategic partnership development
• Resource mobilization
• Donor relations
• Stakeholder engagement
• Policy analysis
• International development
• Communications
• Research and analysis
• Interagency coordination
• Programme support

Visit HERE to learn more about the NICEF Partnerships Officer, NO-1, Fixed-Term Job in Pretoria, South Africa

Conclusion

The UNICEF Partnerships Officer, NO-1, Fixed-Term Appointment in Pretoria, South Africa is an opportunity for qualified professionals with a background in international development, international relations, communications, public policy, political science, partnerships, or related disciplines.

Applicants need at least a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent first-level university qualification and one year of relevant professional experience, along with fluency in English. Experience in fundraising, partnerships, donor communication, proposal writing, development, or the UN system can further strengthen an application.

The position will contribute to UNICEF’s efforts to build strategic partnerships, mobilize resources, improve stakeholder engagement, and support better outcomes for children in South Africa.

If your academic background and professional experience align with the requirements, carefully review the full job description and submit your application through UNICEF’s official recruitment platform before August 28, 2026.

For more global grants, scholarships, fellowships, internships, jobs, conferences, competitions, and other career opportunities for young people, visit the Opportunities for Youth (OFY) website at www.opportunitiesforyouth.org.