Climate Change and Disaster Risks Reduction Officer

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favouritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) was established in 1946 to promote and protect the rights of every child, everywhere. Guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF’s equity strategy prioritizes the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, ensuring that all have an equal opportunity to survive, thrive, and reach their full potential.

Viet Nam is among the countries most affected by climate change, with children bearing the heaviest burden despite contributing the least. Intensifying floods, droughts, landslides, typhoons, and heatwaves threaten children’s rights to survival, education, and health. Super Typhoon Yagi (2024), the strongest in 70 years, struck 26 northern provinces, causing over 320 deaths and affecting four million children. As of 19 October 2025, natural disasters across the country have left 241 people dead or missing and 389 injured. Combined losses reached VND 33 trillion (~ US$ 2 billion). Climate and disaster losses in Viet Nam have risen over 30-fold since 1990, costing 1–1.5% of GDP annually.

UNICEF views climate change not merely as an environmental threat but as a child rights crisis. In line with Viet Nam’s net-zero commitment by 2050 and its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), UNICEF is working closely with the Government and partners to integrate child-centred climate action, disaster risk reduction (DRR), environmental protection including emergency preparedness into national and subnational policies, systems, and services. This includes supporting climate-smart social services — making schools, health facilities, WASH systems, child protection, and social protection services more resilient, low-carbon, and inclusive — and promoting child participation through initiatives such as “Voices of Green” and the “If We Contribute” campaign.

The National UN Volunteer assignment will contribute to these efforts by supporting the Climate Change and DRR/Emergency Programme in advancing child-centred climate action, DRR, and emergency response across sectors and levels. The UNV will work under the supervision of the Programme Specialist, contributing to evidence generation, programme coordination, policy engagement, and youth and community mobilization to help build a climate-resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future for every child in Viet Nam.

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist, Climate Change, DRR and Emergency Coordination, and in close collaboration with relevant sectoral teams (WASH, Education, Health, Child Protection, and Social Policy & Governance – especially the Adolescent Development and Participation (ADAP) Working Group and the ADAP Officer in the SPG team), the Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Officer will undertake the following tasks:

Support activities for Child-centred Climate Action, Advocacy, and Youth Engagement
• Support day-to-day coordination of UNICEF’s children and youth engagement platforms, including “Voices of Green”, which aim to empower them as change-makers for climate and environmental action.
• Engage and build partnerships with youth networks, schools, and community-based organizations across Viet Nam, linking them with the “Voices of Green” platform and other UNICEF youth initiatives to promote nationwide youth participation in climate action and environmental sustainability – in close coordination with the Adolescent Development and Participation (ADAP Working Group and the ADAP Officer in the SPG team .
• Support the establishment and mentoring of Voices of Green Editorial Boards in provinces, with a first-year target of at least four provinces, scaling gradually to 34 provinces.
• Help, design, facilitate, and document creative, child-friendly workshops, dialogues, and capacity-building events that foster participation, leadership, and innovation among children and adolescents – and ensure full coordination with other UNICEF supported youth activities .
• Collaborate with partners such as the Women’s Union, Youth Union, Young Pioneers, and NGOs to strengthen youth- and community-led initiatives that integrate climate action, DRR, and environmental education.
• Collect and document stories, visuals, and lessons learned from youth and community initiatives for reports, advocacy, and social media materials.

Support the Climate Change, DRR and Emergency Response (CCDRR/ER) Programme
• Assist in implementing and monitoring CCDRR/ER workplans in line with UNICEF’s Country Programme and national DRR and climate strategies.
• Help collect and analyse data on risks and vulnerabilities affecting children and communities.
• Support integration of DRR and climate resilience into health, education, WASH, child protection, and social protection services.
• Prepare short briefs, meeting notes, and donor inputs as requested.
• Contribute to coordination across sectors – especially the ADAP Working Group and the ADAP Officer in the SPG team - by supporting planning meetings, progress tracking, and reporting on joint initiatives.
• Provide coordination and documentation support during emergency preparedness and response activities, under the guidance of the Programme Specialist and Emergency Consultant.
• Assist in documenting and sharing good practices from UNICEF’s climate and DRR initiatives.

Communication, Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC), and Knowledge Management
• Support the design and implementation of communication and SBCC activities that promote environmental awareness, climate resilience, and sustainable behaviours among children, youth, and communities.
• Develop and produce creative content (stories, visuals, and social-media materials) in collaboration with UNICEF’s Communication and SBC teams, highlighting youth leadership, community resilience, and UNICEF’s impact.
• Assist in adapting SBCC messages and campaign materials to ensure they are child-friendly, inclusive, and locally relevant.
• Help document and share lessons learned, success stories, and local innovations through reports, multimedia, and social platforms.
• Support documentation of UNICEF demonstration models such as climate-smart initiatives and child-friendly evacuation centres, highlighting child and youth leadership in resilience building.
• Participate in UNV learning and outreach events (e.g., International Volunteer Day) to strengthen understanding of volunteerism and teamwork.

Other tasks

Furthermore, Climate Change and Disaster Risks reduction officer is required to:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism;
• Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities;
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Youth Volunteers;
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.