Consultancy: GenU Senior Innovative Finance and High Value Fundraising Consultant - Req.#

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Vacancy Announcement: Consultant

Consultancy Title: GenU Senior Innovative Finance and High Value Fundraising Consultant

Section/Division/Duty Station:  Generation Unlimited (GenU) – Programme Division

Duration: September 1, 2025 to August 31, 2026

Home/ Office Based: REMOTE 

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/Assignment: 

Generation Unlimited (GenU) is UNICEF’s global multi-sector partnership platform, connecting young people worldwide to opportunities in employability, entrepreneurship, and climate resilience by 2030. GenU is scaling up innovative financing to unlock resources for youth-led climate adaptation and sustainable development. This global consultancy will drive the design and execution of innovative finance solutions, focusing on debt swaps, blended finance, and major philanthropic partnerships.

Objective:

Mobilize $1.05 billion in new financing for GenU’s global youth climate adaptation portfolio by:

• Finalizing at least three debt-for-climate swaps
• Finalizing the mechanics of launching a $1 billion blended finance fund for youth action in climate adaptation
• Raising a minimum of $50 million from foundations

Scope of Work:

All deliverables are global in scope and linked to payment milestones.

1. Inception & Strategy Development:

• Global Innovative Finance Strategy and Action Plan, including:
• Debt swap pipeline analysis (minimum 8 countries across multiple regions)
• Blended finance fund architecture and investor mapping
• Foundation engagement plan with a pipeline of 20+ prospects

2. Debt Swap Finalization:

• Secure and finalize at least three debt-for-climate swaps (combined value of $300 million+), with 30%+ proceeds dedicated to youth climate adaptation
• Produce term sheets, stakeholder agreements, and implementation plans for each swap

3. Blended Finance Fund Launch

• Structure and launch the $1 billion blended finance fund (global scope), including:
• Legal documentation, governance, and fund management structure
• Anchor investor commitments totaling at least $200 million
• Public launch event and global communications package

4. Foundation Fundraising

• Secure $50 million+ in signed commitments from global and regional foundations
• Develop tailored proposals and partnership agreements for at least five major philanthropic donors

5. Knowledge Transfer & Final Reporting

• Develop a global toolkit for innovative finance replication (debt swaps, blended finance, foundation engagement)
• Submit a comprehensive final report, including:
• Achievements against targets
• Lessons learned and recommendations for global scale-up
• Roadmap for 2026–2028 innovative finance expansion

Terms of Reference / Deliverables

1. Inception & Strategy Development

• Debt swap pipeline analysis (minimum 8 countries across multiple regions)        

30 September 2025

• Blended finance fund architecture and investor mapping

30 September 2025

• Foundation engagement plan with a pipeline of 20+ prospects

30 September 2025

2. Debt Swap Finalization        

• Secure and finalize at least three debt-for-climate swaps (combined value of $300 million+), with 30%+