UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.
At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.
UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.
Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.
For every child, the right to protection
How can you make a difference?
The purpose of this consultancy is to support UNICEF China in advancing child-sensitive ESG and child-lens investing through partnership development, stakeholder engagement, coordination of capacity-building activities, documentation of good practices, and development of advocacy, event and engagement materials tailored to China’s policy, business and sustainable finance context. The consultancy will help position children as a critical stakeholder group in China’s evolving ESG, sustainable finance, responsible business, and corporate disclosure work. It will support UNICEF China to engage strategically with investors, financial institutions, listed companies, stock exchanges, ESG data and rating providers, business associations, research institutions, foundations, and relevant policy stakeholders on how business and investment decisions affect children’s rights and well-being. The assignment will build on UNICEF China’s ongoing work on child rights in ESG disclosure, responsible business conduct, child-lens investing, family-friendly workplaces, care economy, digital protection, climate and just transition, nutrition, disability inclusion, rural children, and business respect for children’s rights. It will also help UNICEF China identify practical entry points for integrating child-related considerations into ESG disclosure, responsible investment practices, corporate sustainability strategies, and capital market engagement, with particular attention to China's evolving regulatory and sustainability reporting landscape; and connect child-sensitive ESG with China’s policy priorities, including population high-quality development, family support, child-friendly society, childcare services, inclusive growth, and human capital development.
If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: TMC0007477 External ToR.pdf
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have...
Minimum requirements:
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in sustainable finance, economics, finance, business administration, public policy, international development, social policy, business and human rights, corporate sustainability, ESG/responsible investment, law, governance, or related fields. (An advanced university degree in a relevant field is desirable and may be considered an asset.)
Work Experience: At least 12 Years with a bachelor’s or 10 Years with a Masters
Relevant professional experience in partnership development, stakeholder engagement, advocacy, communications, programme coordination, responsible business, ESG, social policy or international development.
Demonstrated experience coordinating multistakeholder initiatives, capacity-building activities, policy dialogues, roundtables, consultations or advocacy events.
Strong experience developing audience-specific briefing notes, presentations, talking points, event materials, meeting records, case studies or other engagement products.
Experience engaging with government-linked institutions, investors, financial institutions, companies, business associations, foundations, research institutions, development partners or international organizations.
Experience documenting good practices, lessons learned and stakeholder feedback and translating them into concise, practical products.
Experience working in China’s policy, business, sustainability, social policy or child-rights context is strongly desirable; previous work with the United Nations or UNICEF is an asset.
Skills: The consultant should demonstrate:
- Strong understanding of ESG disclosure, responsible investment, sustainable finance and corporate sustainability trends;
- Knowledge of child rights, business and human rights, or social dimensions of ESG;
- Ability to translate complex technical topics into clear, audience-specific materials;
- Excellent analytical, drafting and communication skills;
- Strong capacity to prepare high-quality reports, briefs, presentations and training materials;
- Ability to work independently and deliver high-quality outputs under agreed timelines;
- Strong stakeholder mapping and engagement skills;
- Sensitivity to UNICEF’s mandate, positioning and partnership principles;
- Familiarity with China’s policy and business context is an advantage
Language Requirements: Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
Working knowledge of Chinese / Mandarin is highly desirable.
Ability to review Chinese-language policy, ESG, business or investment materials is an advantage
Desirables: Experience with child rights and business, family friendly workplaces, care economy, social protection, digital safety, climate and children, nutrition, disability inclusion or rural children.
Experience with ESG data, corporate disclosure analysis, rating methodologies, listed company research or investor engagement.
Experience working with Chinese institutions, chambers, companies, financial stakeholders, think tanks or universities.
Prior work with UNICEF or another UN agency
For every Child, you demonstrate...
UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values
UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.
UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.
UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.
Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):
- An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
- Cover letter
- A separate financial proposal (only acceptable in the format of the linked template) TMC0007477 Financial proposal.docx
- A detailed technical proposal A technical proposal (maximum 5 pages) demonstrating their understanding of the assignment, proposed methodology, workplan, and relevant experience
Remarks: If the TOR or financial proposal documents are not downloadable on certain recruitment platforms, please visit our official page Vacancies | UNICEF Careers.
UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.
All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.
Advertised: 09 Nov 2026 China Standard Time
Deadline: 23 Nov 2026 China Standard Time
UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18).
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities.
