WHAT DOES AN INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT DO?
Reviewed under Editorial Standards by Lam Nguyen

Updated: Nov 17, 2025 - The International Consultant develops a Public Finance for Children Strategy by assessing existing capacities, engaging with stakeholders, and strengthening mechanisms for effective budget execution. This role involves creating guidance for stakeholder collaboration, preparing a child-responsive budgeting manual, and designing a framework for planning, implementation, and monitoring. The consultant also conducts assessments, establishes baseline evaluations, and delivers training sessions for government planning and budget officers.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for International Consultant

1. International Consultant Duties

  • Work Planning: Support the annual work planning of the section, based on the PSN for nutrition of the new country program.
  • Program Monitoring: Support the Chief of Nutrition in monitoring program progress.
  • Program Review: Support the end-of-year review nutrition program.
  • Workplan Development: Liaise and coordinate the nutrition working group under SP2 for UNSDCF in developing the UNSDCF workplan, based on the Results Framework.
  • Interagency Representation: Participate and represent the UN nutrition group in inter-agency discussions, on behalf of the Chief of Nutrition.
  • Stakeholder Coordination: Coordinate multi-stakeholder discussions of the nutrition DPs under the HPSNP.
  • Progress Tracking: Coordinate follow-up actions for GAP and coordinate with UN and Government partners to track progress (since tracking started).
  • Capacity Building: Provide capacity building support to BNNC/NSS for the further elaboration and coordination of the minimum multi-sectoral package of nutrition, including the roll-out of the minimum multi-sectoral package for district planning, and community-based modelling.
  • Financial Coordination: Support BNNC with the coordination of the financial tracking mechanism development among different ministries and stakeholders.

2. International Consultant Duties

  • Commitment Development: Support BNNC with the development, finalization and follow-up of commitments for N4G, including the development of key documentation for the Government of Bangladesh representation to N4G.
  • Strategic Support: Provide strategic support to BNNC to lead monitoring and coordination of multi-stakeholder collaborations, such as UNSDCF and GAP.
  • Advocacy Support: Support BNNC with follow-up and advocacy to ensure inclusion of SSNP review recommendations into sectoral planning.
  • Report Preparation: Support BNNC with the development and finalization of key written communication and reporting materials (including monitoring reports).
  • Profile Coordination: Support BNNC with coordination and documentation for the further refinement of the Nutrition Profiles, including for consensus on indicators and advocacy for routine monitoring.
  • Knowledge Management: Support in knowledge management planning for ENIS by coordinating with stakeholders externally, and the SPEAR section internally, as well as coordination with the institutional contractor.
  • Institutional Support: Provide documentation support in the institutionalization of NIS.
  • Advocacy Documentation: Support with documentation of RTMR for advocacy.
  • Project Contribution: Provide written inputs or support to the EU-UNICEF project team.
  • Nutrition Support: Provide additional support to the Chief of Nutrition.

3. Senior International Consultant Responsibilities

  • Strategic Initiatives: Presents strategic initiatives to the Managing Consultant - Global Mobility COE for consideration and delivers recommended solutions.
  • Team Collaboration: Works successfully in a team-based environment, collaborative and accountable, while working predominantly independently.
  • Benefit Management: Provides day-to-day management of international (expat) benefits including international health and welfare plans, pensions, savings plans, and related issues.
  • Issue Resolution: Identifying, researching, and coordinating internal/external resources to resolve a wide range of international expat-related issues.
  • Insurance Coordination: Coordinating the activities in obtaining insurance quotations for plans in locations around the world.
  • Project Management: Managing multiple projects while ensuring the quality and timeliness of client deliverables.
  • Client Communication: Communicating complex matters clearly and concisely to clients and participating in client calls and meetings.
  • Technical Reporting: Collaborates with other team members to recommend solutions and provide technical reports on various client issues.
  • Data Analysis: Completes analysis, data collection, market practice comparisons, drafting of presentations, and works directly with vendors on benefits-related projects.
  • Work Review: Delegates to and peers review the work of more junior colleagues, but has no formal supervisory responsibility.
  • Product Development: Participates in the development of the department’s products and services offerings.
  • Regulation Awareness: Keeps abreast of all relevant laws and emerging regulations and trends.
  • Project Support: Supports on key projects and may lead small projects.
  • Workflow Management: Shows a sense of urgency and communicates well during high-volume workflow experiences.
  • Goal Execution: Supports the execution of business unit goals and Dominant Priorities.

4. International Consultant Job Summary

  • Project Leadership: Lead international education and medical communication projects from conceptualisation to completion, ensuring high standards and client satisfaction.
  • Strategic Contribution: Bring knowledge, strategic thinking and experience to the team to ensure quality and added value for the client.
  • Expert Liaison: Liaise with experts, partners and clients to secure project goals within agreed timelines.
  • Business Development: Identify new business opportunities and develop proposals based on client needs.
  • Client Management: Manage new project follow-up and client relations until approval.
  • Needs Assessment: Undertake or lead assessments related to capacity building needs of state bodies, particularly addressing Roma and Sinti issues.
  • Tool Development: Assist in creating new tools and knowledge products such as guides, handbooks, manuals and fact sheets to combat racism and discrimination.
  • Training Delivery: Conceptualize, develop and deliver in-person or online capacity-building trainings.

5. International Consultant Accountabilities

  • Strategy Development: Develop a country office-wide Public Finance for Children Strategy by liaising with Social Policy, Deputy Representative, Programme Sections, and external stakeholders.
  • Capability Evaluation: Evaluate existing PF4C capabilities in the country office.
  • Guidance Creation: Develop internal UNICEF mechanisms for improved tracking and monitoring of finances linked to improving children’s lives.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Create UNICEF guidance on liaising with line ministries, the National Assembly, CSOs, and other non-state actors.
  • Budgeting Manual: Develop a comprehensive child-responsive budgeting manual for planning and budget officers.
  • Process Evaluation: Assess the current planning and budget formulation process for child-responsive budgeting.
  • Baseline Assessment: Develop a baseline assessment to enhance planning and budget formulation.
  • Framework Development: Create a child-responsive budgeting framework covering planning, execution, and monitoring.
  • Training Delivery: Conduct training for government planning and budget officers using the developed materials.
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Editorial operations are managed by Thanh Huyen, Managing Editor, with research direction and final oversight by Lam Nguyen, Founder & Editorial Lead. Content is periodically reviewed to reflect observable labor market changes.