Partnerships & Advocacy Officer

UNOPS helps the UN system, governments, and partners deliver operational solutions across infrastructure, procurement, grant management, and project delivery. As part of its commitment to climate action, resilient infrastructure, and sustainable supply chains, UNOPS works to accelerate the transition toward circular economies, reduce plastic waste, and enhance municipal resource recovery.

The Partnerships & Advocacy Officer will work under the supervision of Project Manager and will support the team in strengthening donor and stakeholder engagement for UNOPS initiatives in Iran. S/he will support the Project team in conducting analysis and research to identify relevant donors, funding opportunities and areas of strategic alignment with due consideration to the political, economic and development context of Iran. S/he will play a key role in supporting the preparation of materials and key messages for engagement. The Officer will liaise with all relevant internal colleagues to provide the required support. An understanding and contextual awareness of Iran including its development landscape, key institutions and operating environments is mandatory for this role.

The UN Volunteer will contribute inputs into development of strategies, proposals, project documents and concept notes related to resource mobilization and donor engagement. Their specific tasks will include:
Strategic Research & Donor Intelligence
● Conduct continuous scanning of Iran’s political, economic, and development context to maintain up-to-date donor intelligence.
● Identify, map, and assess donor priorities and emerging funding mechanisms to establish an active pipeline of resource mobilization opportunities.
Partnership Engagement & Outreach
● Support the Project Manager in fostering synergies by participating in targeted outreach and meetings with UN agencies, NGOs, and the private sector.
● Brainstorm, pitch, and present strategic donor engagement opportunities for internal endorsement.
● Assist in undertaking relevant internal reviews for donor engagement strategies.
Proposal Development & Communications
● Draft, design, and customize compelling resource mobilization materials tailored to specific audiences, including presentations, speaking points, and articles.
● Develop formal funding documents using required templates, including concept notes, proposals, project factsheets, and situational or donor briefs.
Knowledge Management & Internal Coordination
● Collaborate with the project team to consolidate data and ensure project achievements are accurately captured in formats suitable for donor outreach.
● Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned related to business development and donor engagement.
● Ensure adherence to UNOPS resource mobilization SOPs and actively contribute to regional and global knowledge networks.