Background Information
With displacement crises reaching unprecedented levels and causing significant surges in funding needs, UNHCR has been considering alternative sources of funding, including contributions motivated by various faiths, or in other words, Faith-based Philanthropy. UNHCR’s Private Sector Partnerships Division (PSP) has been successfully exploring Islamic Philanthropy (IP), in particular Zakat (obligatory annual alms) and Sadaqah (voluntary contributions). For the purpose, UNHCR has in place a global long-term IP strategy.
Given the annual growth of Islamic philanthropic income for UNHCR in the MENA region, PSP is looking to expand this experience in the MENA region, starting from Saudi Arabia in addition to countries where PSP is present. We are looking to develop local expertise to build on the success of UNHCR’s Refugee Zakat Fund, scope the local landscape and pave the way to expand this initiative to some key countries in the region.
The incumbent will manage relations with a diverse array of internal and external stakeholders, with the main aim of increasing faith-based funds received by UNHCR. The incumbent preferably has proven fundraising experience, and preferably have connections in the sectors of Islamic Philanthropy and Islamic Banking/ Finance in KSA. He/She is expected to support in further shaping UNHCR's approach to Islamic Philanthropy in KSA, and in the engagement with relevant internal and external stakeholders crucial to the realization and implementation of UNHCR's Islamic Philanthropy strategy in the country.
Duties and Responsibilities :
Under the overall supervision of the PSP Officer for KSA and in coordination with the PSP Officer for Islamic Philanthropy in the MENA region, the Associate PSP Officer - Islamic Philanthropy will be responsible to:
- Implementation: Support the speedy and effective implementation of the Islamic Philanthropy Strategy, aiming to increase the credibility of UNHCR among Islamic Philanthropy actors in KSA, including donor partners, high net worth individuals, financial institutions, and Islamic institutions such as Zakat and Waqf Houses.
- Pipeline management: manage an expanding pipeline of existing and new IP donors/ actors in KSA, with the aim of implementing UNHCR's Islamic Philanthropy strategy in KSA.
- Prospecting: identify and establish contact with various IP stakeholders including leading Islamic financial institutions in KSA (banks, insurance firms, wealth management companies, etc.) with the aim of collaborating for the promotion and receipt of institutional and individual funds by high-level clients towards UNHCR's programmes for refugees and IDPs.
- Best practices: provide advice on best practices in the area of Islamic Philanthropy, accompanied with recommendation on how UNHCR can best employ such practices to increase credibility and transparency among audiences in KSA.
- Compliance: liaise with relevant internal stakeholders to guarantee on-going compliance of relevant programmes and expand the internal scope of compliance through the continuous identification of relevant UNHCR programmes for compliance purposes.
- Perform other functions as needed.
Essential Minimum Qualifications and Professional Experience Required
Education : University Degree in Finance, Islamic Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or other related fields.
Work Experience :
- Minimum 3 years experience with graduate degree, or 2 years of experience with masters degree relevant to Islamic Philanthropy.
- Proven experience, knowledge and understanding of faith-based philanthropy policies, science, law, regulations and operations in the MENA region is a must.
- Proven expertise and up-to-date knowledge in all major existing and new PSP techniques including corporate, foundation and HNWI fundraising, especially within the scope of faith-based philanthropy methods.
- Demonstrated knowledge of external stakeholders in the realm of faith-based philanthropy in the MENA region to include scholars, institutions, think tanks, suppliers and service providers, among others.
- Experience of managing the production of fundraising materials from creating concepts to developing and communicating them to different audiences
- Experience in electronic fundraising and new media.
- Experience in emergency fundraising for a humanitarian organization.
- Proven expertise in fundraising, Islamic philanthropy and/ or Islamic finance in the MENA region or Islamic world.
- Good knowledge of humanitarian assistance and UN environment
Required Skills and Competencies:
- Strong fundraising skills required, and knowledge of Islamic Philanthropy and Finance strongly preferred
- High client orientation, networking and relationship-building skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent negotiation skills.
- Good written and oral communication and interpersonal skills
- Strong project management skills.
- Fluency in Arabic and English is required