Looking for a unique consultancy opportunity? UNHCR is seeking a skilled individual to join as a Consultant for the Refugee-Welcoming Employer Pledge initiative, based in Finland. This part-time role, offering a monthly fee of $3,623, aims to create partnerships with private sector companies and stakeholders to enhance employment prospects for refugees. Join UNHCR’s mission to support refugee socio-economic inclusion through impactful private sector engagement. Applications are open until April 10, 2025. Don’t miss out on the chance to contribute to this global cause!

Background & Job Description

The Refugee-Welcoming Employer Pledge Consultancy at UNHCR represents an incredible opportunity for a professional to contribute to an impactful project that connects displaced persons with job opportunities, helping to break down employment barriers. The role is home-based, with a required presence in Finland for stakeholder meetings and events, and is designed to facilitate the pilot phase of the Refugee-Welcoming Employer Pledge with Startup Refugees, a Finnish organization focused on refugee employment.

This consultancy is integral to the Refugee Employment Platform (REP), which links refugees with employers across Europe, aiming to address the pressing need for improved job matching and to support refugees in securing stable, sustainable employment. UNHCR’s initiative in Finland aims to leverage private sector engagement to promote refugee employment, foster corporate social responsibility, and contribute to the broader integration of refugees into the labor market.

About the Role: The selected consultant will work directly with Startup Refugees in Finland, the UNHCR Multi-Country Office in Stockholm, and the UNHCR Bureau for Europe to pilot the Refugee-Welcoming Employer Pledge. The initiative recognizes and supports companies that are committed to improving the employment conditions for refugees, particularly those displaced by crises like the war in Ukraine.

The consultant will engage with a broad range of private sector companies in Finland, encouraging them to participate in the pledge and promote refugee-friendly employment practices. Through this role, you will have the opportunity to directly influence the integration of refugees into the labor market, build partnerships with businesses, and help shape the future of refugee employment in Finland.

Tasks

As a Consultant for the Refugee-Welcoming Employer Pledge, the primary tasks and responsibilities include:

1. Developing and Piloting the Refugee-Welcoming Employer Pledge
   You will help build a set of activities and pledges that companies can engage in to support refugee employment. This may include commitments like dedicated language training programs, creating child care support, and facilitating access to housing. You will also establish Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and set clear criteria for the pledge.

2. Private Sector Engagement and Outreach
   A key element of this role involves engaging with companies, including SMEs and larger corporates, to foster their buy-in and get them to sign up for the pledge. This includes developing an outreach plan, presenting the pledge, and working closely with Startup Refugees’ national network of over 5,000 members.

3. Securing Stakeholder Support
   To enhance the program’s credibility and ensure its long-term success, you will identify relevant labor market stakeholders such as ministries, chambers of commerce, and labor unions, and secure their support for the pledge. This will involve preparing certification materials for companies and securing their participation as certifying parties.

4. Organizing the Selection Process and Recognition Ceremony
   The consultant will manage the application process for companies applying for the pledge, including forming a Selection Committee composed of stakeholders from UNHCR, Startup Refugees, and others. You will oversee the selection of companies, manage due diligence, and organize a Recognition Ceremony to celebrate the businesses that successfully commit to the pledge.

5. Promotion and Visibility
   You will create promotional material to encourage companies to participate, including detailed application guidelines and visibility materials for successful companies. This includes designing a certification seal/logo that companies can use for marketing purposes.

6. Reporting and Monitoring
   A final task involves preparing a comprehensive report at the end of the assignment, summarizing the project’s outcomes, lessons learned, and recommendations for scaling the initiative to other countries.

Qualifications

Education and Certification:

• A degree in Business Administration, Communications, Economics, Social Sciences, or a related field is required.

• Additional certifications in areas such as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Sustainability Reporting, or Social Entrepreneurship are desirable.

Experience:

• Required Experience: At least 5 years of experience in the private sector and employment sector, preferably in Finland or similar national contexts.

• Desirable Experience: Experience working with private sector partnerships, NGOs, and refugee integration programs. Experience in working with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives or Corporate Sustainability Reporting will be an asset.

• Languages: Fluency in Finnish and English is mandatory.

Key Skills:

• Strong communication skills, with the ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholders, including private sector companies, governmental bodies, and NGOs.

• Project management skills, with the ability to oversee multiple tasks and meet deadlines.

• A strategic mindset to identify opportunities and barriers in refugee employment integration.

• Familiarity with HR practices and employment law in Finland is a plus.

Additional Information

• Contract Type: Individual Consultant (Home-based with travel to Finland)

• Location: Home-based, with frequent intracity and some intercity travel to attend meetings and events in Finland.

• Compensation: The monthly fee for this consultancy is $3,623 (USD), with a lump sum travel allowance of $1,300 for self-arranged travel costs.

• Duration: The contract will run from May 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025.

• Application Deadline: The application deadline is April 10, 2025.

• Target Start Date: May 1, 2025.