National consultant to support eco-volunteering and youth climate actions programme with UNICEF in Uzbekistan

The main objective of the consultancy is to provide technical assistance to UNICEF Country Office in achieving results in the area of meaningful youth engagement as agents of change in climate agenda through the development and support of the eco-volunteers' network, advocacy and youth climate actions.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, support!

• Uzbekistan was the first country in Central Asia to sign the Declaration on Children, Youth and Climate Action on 17 November 2022.
• Uzbekistan participates in the Greening Education Partnership (GEP) to address the climate crisis by accelerating climate change education and greening of schools and communities.
• Uzbekistan initiated the implementation of the international Eco-Schools initiative to empower students to play an active role in decision-making and environmental actions within their schools and communities. As a result, 114 schools across the country are expected to pilot new education approaches for climate change, mitigation, adaptation, and resilience.
• In September 2023, with UNICEF support the Government of Uzbekistan and young people signed the National Strategy on Promoting Sustainable Development Culture and Engaging Children and Youth in Climate Agenda.
• In parallel, the Government of Uzbekistan with the help of UNICEF initiated the Regional Strategy on Promoting Sustainable Development Culture and Engaging Children and Youth in Climate Agenda. The Strategy, which incorporated the voices of young people, was signed by the Governments of all five Central Asian countries.

Work Assignments Overview - Deliverables/Outputs - Timeline

1. Establishment and coordination of the Programme Board which will be responsible for planning, development and endorsement of the regulating documents and monitoring of the work of Young Climate Champions.

1.a Programme Board, with the members from the MOPSE, MoEEPCC, other national partners and young people is established, plan of the programme implementation is developed and endorsed - April 2024.
1.b Protocols of the Programme Board regular meetings on planning, endorsement and coordination of the other key milestones of the eco-volunteering programme are developed - Every 2-3 months.

2. Develop ToR, Code of Conduct, workplan and other regulatory documents for the community of young climate eco-activists

2.a ToR, Code of Conduct, workplan and other regulatory documents are developed and endorsed by the Programme Board - By May 2024

3. Coordinate adaptation and translation of UNICEF learning materials for Young Climate Champions, based on the findings of the consultations with young people and climate change specialists.

3.a Customized Young Climate Activits’ Toolkit is available in Uzbek and Russian
3.b Green-Pal modules are launched at FunDoo platform in Uzbek and Russian - By the end of June 2024

4. Coordinate recruitment and capacity building of the eco-volunteers.

4.a 100-150 eco-volunteers from target regions are selected for participation in the eco-volunteering activity - By July 2024
4.b 100-150 volunteers are equipped with socio-emotional skills and have increased awareness in climate change topics and raise awareness on those among their peers - August 2024

5. Support and monitor 6-month volunteering activities in schools and communities.

5.a “Agreement” documents on 6-month activities in schools and communities are signed by the eco-volunteers - August 2024
5.b Eco-volunteers performed the activities in schools and communities agreed on in the action plans - By March 2025

6. Undertake the diverse youth climate actions agreed on with the national partners, e.g. climate challenges, plogging, ecothon, youth advocacy, participation in COP29, etc. and the concluding event

6.a At least 500 adolescents and youth are engaged into ecothon, ploggin or another youth climate challenge jointly with the national partners.
6.b Concluding event of the initiative is organized jointly with the national partners - By March 2025

7. Document the work process, participation of young people, lessons learned, and feedback received.

7.a Report on the key results, lessons learned and recommendations on the way forward is developed and approved by UNICEF - By 6 April 2025

8. Develop advocacy and communication materials on youth climate actions and the impact of climate change, potential adaptation and mitigation measures

8. Developed, adapted and approved by UNICEF communication and advocacy assets on climate change and youth climate actions are promoted among children, youth and the general public in Uzbekistan - May 2024 – April 2025

Final rate shall follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee. Consultants will be asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed 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.

Travel:

Travel International and Travel Local maybe will be required.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

• A university degree in one of the following fields is required: international development, environmental studies, human rights, sociology, anthropology, international law, education or another relevant social science field. 
• At least 3 years of experience in one or more of the following areas is required: social development programme planning and implementation, problem-based educational programme planning and implementation, communication and/or social and behaviour change, or another related area.
• Experience in support to youth engagement initiatives design, planning, implementation, monitoring.
• Knowledge and experience in gender equality promotion, work with girls-led organizations is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience in project coordination, preferably in the field of youth development, volunteer engagement, or community empowerment.
• Proven ability to coordinate and manage complex project work, with a focus on education, climate change, youth engagement, social and behaviour change.
• Experience in building partnerships with various stakeholders, including the Government, NGOs, local authorities and school administration.
• Experience in report writing, monitoring and evaluation of projects.
• Previous experience working with the UN(ICEF) or UN(ICEF)-funded projects is an asset.
• Good communication and public speaking skills.
• Fluency in Uzbek, English and Russian is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

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:  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract 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 and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors 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. 

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants 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.