For the sustainability of UNICEF’s WASH interventions, UNICEF incorporates risks into its programme design, including climate change and water scarcity. In 2020, UNICEF committed to ‘shift’ all its WASH programmes to be Climate Resilient (UNICEF Guidance Note Climate Shift). Further, UNICEF and Global Water Partnership (GWP) developed a UNICEF GWP Strategic Framework for WASH Climate Resilience. For UNICEF staff to have the necessary technical capacity to properly design, implement and monitor climate resilient WASH programmes, additional capacity building is required. This consultancy will be funded by the FCDO (11 countries: Rwanda, Uganda, Madagascar, Malawi, State of Palestine, Chad, Bangladesh, Nepal, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone and Pakistan), ASWA-Accelerated Sanitation and Water for All (8 countries: Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, and Tanzania), and EU (4 countries: Colombia, Ethiopia, Zambia, Zimbabwe).
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Vacancy Announcement: Consultant
Consultancy Title: Climate Resilient WASH Consultant
Section/Division/Duty Station: WASH - Programme Group - NYHQ
Duration: 1 January 2024 – 31 December 2026
Home/ office Based: REMOTE
About UNICEF
If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.
BACKGROUND
Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:
The consultancy will focus on specific steps of the climate shift as outlined in the UNICEF GWP Strategic Framework for WASH Climate Resilient Development particularly part of step 3 (Assess vulnerability of WASH systems), step 4 (Identify a long list of potential options to address prioritized risks) and step 5 (Appraise and short list options for UNICEF´s support). In addition, the consultant will provide quality assurance and monitoring support.
Programme Group WASH does not have funding to cover all planned activities that continue until the end of 2026. Some deliverables will be completed if additional resources become available.
Scope of Work:
This is a consultancy for an individual consultant who will focus on climate resilient WASH. The Consultant will support country offices and teams on:
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Assessing Vulnerability:
- Assess the vulnerability of WASH systems to climate-related risks
- Identifying a Long List of Options:
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Appraising and Shortlisting Options:
- Review the long list of solutions (options) for climate resilient WASH interventions (including available data).
- Based on assessment reports, develop a compendium of appraised solutions, and develop a criterion for shortlisting climate resilient solutions (options), considering available resources, capacity, and implementation timeframe.
- Ensure proposed options promote broader resilience and do not cause maladaptation (refer to IPCC 2014 Fifth Assessment Report).
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Designing and Implementing Climate Resilient WASH systems:
- Design climate-resilient water infrastructure.
- Design sanitation facilities that can withstand extreme weather events.
- Define WASH related mitigation reduction targets.
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Providing Monitoring and Evaluation Support:
- Provide support on monitoring and evaluating the performance of climate resilient WASH interventions and propose adjustments to enhance effectiveness where needed.
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Quality Assurance:
- Document all changes, and enhancements to vulnerability assessments, appraised options, and other relevant citations to internationally accepted and validated sources.
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Providing expert advice on Climate Resilient WASH (adaptation and mitigation):
- Advise countries on the climate shift, including but not limited to implementation of Climate Resilient Water Safety Planning, WASH related early warning systems, energy efficient solutions for water supply and wastewater treatment processes, and emission reduction.
- Collaborating with UNICEF internal climate experts as required by UNICEF.
The Consultant will be requested to conduct capacity building and quality assurance training to UNICEF or to external partners. Such tasks include:
- Assisting the National Designated Authority and the line Ministries in enhancing their capacity to manage and implement climate resilient WASH initiatives.
- Developing and delivering PowerPoint presentations and slides on climate resilient WASH for UNICEF, external partners, and climate change stakeholders. Preparing PowerPoint presentations and slides for Climate Resilient WASH conference session to be agreed upon.
- Ensuring all outputs and deliverables meet the quality standards set by UNICEF.
Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:
1) Inception report including work plan, deliverables, and methodology. By 10 Feb 2024
2) Assessment reports on the vulnerability of WASH systems to climate-related risks for up to 6 countries. By 10 April 2024
3) Assessment reports on the vulnerability of WASH systems to climate-related risks for up to 4 countries. By 10 Mar 2025
4) Assessment reports on the vulnerability of WASH systems to climate-related risks for up to 4 countries. By 10 Nov 2025
5) Assessment reports on the vulnerability of WASH systems to climate-related risks for up to 4 countries. To be added at a later stage (funding to be confirmed). By 10 Apr 2026
6) Compendium of appraised solutions and what makes them work (based on the vulnerability assessments)
Annex to include:
7) Review of designs and specifications for climate-resilient i) water infrastructure and ii) sanitation facilities, including nature-based solutions
8) Outline software components of any hardware interventions (for example, users, capacity building needs, and so on)
9) long list of proposed options to also be included for future reference. By 10 July 2024
10) Report on how to effectively assess and monitor performance of climate resilient WASH interventions including
11) 3 Country Case Studies informed by 3 country missions By 10 Sept 2024
12) Training PowerPoint presentation for UNICEF staff (regional and country offices).
13) 4 virtual sessions delivered (1 per region). By 10 Nov 2024
14) Updated training PowerPoint presentation for UNICEF staff (regional and country offices).
15) 5 virtual sessions delivered (1 per region). By 10 Oct 2026
16) 1 set of PowerPoint presentations for delivery of conference session as guided by UNICEF.
By 10 Nov 2024
17) 1 set of updated PowerPoint presentations for delivery of conference session as guided by UNICEF. By 10 Oct 2025
Qualifications
Education:
- Master’s degree/ Advanced University degree in natural resources management, water management, earth sciences, civil engineering, environmental science, environmental/ sanitation/ water resources engineering, development studies or closely related field
Languages:
- Fluency in English (ability to communicate in French would be a strong advantage)
Work experience:
- At least 8 years’ experience in the field of water engineering, environmental engineering, natural resources management, water resources management, and/ or climate change adaption and mitigation
- At least 5 years’ experience working in development and/ or humanitarian contexts (UN/UNICEF, government, or NGO entity)
Competencies/Knowledge:
- Demonstrated experience in Climate Resilient WASH projects (at least 3). Attach examples of work
- Demonstrated experience in integrating climate risks into water resource planning, climate change adaptation, and land use planning
- Proven experience with Project Management and ability to achieve quality results, on time, and within budget
- Ability to coordinate diverse actors and activities for a common objective in WASH and climate (remotely)
- Experience in development and design of technical reports/documents is required
- Excellent analytical, interpersonal and management skills
Requirements:
Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and
- Upload copy of academic credentials
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Financial proposal that will include/ reflect:
- the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
- travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR
- Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
- Indicate your availability
- Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF
- At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage
- Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.
U.S. Visa information:
With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at Here
UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check
Remarks: Individuals engaged under a consultancy will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants. Consultants are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws
The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.