Government approved a national “Plan of Actions to Prevent the Health Effects of Heat” in 2022, which outlines preventive and response measures for the health sector. However, this plan now needs to be translated into on-the-ground protocols and capacities, further reaching communities with appropriate messages. Implementing heatwave and sand and dust storms’ standard operating procedures (SOPs) in health and education services is a priority adaptation measure to protect communities and children. In parallel, UNICEF will support institutionalizing knowledge through revision and update of the teachers' manual Basics of Life Skills: A Methodological Guide for Teachers, used in higher education institutions to convey life-skills content to their students.
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A liveable planet for every child.
Turkmenistan is experiencing hotter summers and more frequent extreme heatwaves due to climate change. Rising temperatures are already escalating heat-related health risks – increasing cases of dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, straining the health-care system and contributing to higher heat-related mortality.[1]
In the broader Europe/Central Asia region, extreme heat was estimated to have caused the deaths of 377 children in one year (2021) – over half of them infants under 1 year.[2] Half of all children are now exposed to frequent heatwaves, twice the global average of 1 in 4. In total, over 92 million children in the region are already living with the effects of rising temperatures.
How can you make a difference?
The consultant will undertake the following tasks to achieve the objectives of this assignment:
1. SOPs on heatwaves; sand and dust storms for education and health facilities. Develop four SOPs covering two climate hazards (heatwaves; sand and dust storms) across two settings (Schools; Primary Health Care facilities), adapted to the national context and aligned with the 2022 national "Plan of Actions to Prevent the Health Effects of Heat."
2. Community messages on Heatwaves and Sand and Dust Storms.
3. Revision and update of the modules of manual "Basics of life skills: A methodological guide for teachers".
4. Capacity Building on the manual "Basics of Life Skills: A methodological guide for teachers".
If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: 
2026-7- Climate Health NC - for Advertisement.pdf
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:
- University degree in Medicine, Public Health, Environmental Health, or a related field, advanced degree is an asset (15 pts);
- Demonstrated technical expertise in the development of standards, guidance, SOPs and community messages, materials, training delivery (25 pts);
- Minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in public/environmental health, or a related field, including experience developing technical guidance and behaviour-change materials. Experience working with schools, healthcare facilities or on climate and environmental health issues, and familiarity with the national context, as a strong asset (25 pts);
- Knowledge of United Nations human and child rights standards, UNICEF’s values, and ethical standards. Demonstrated sensitivity and adaptability regarding culture, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age (5 pts);
- Excellent command of written and oral Turkmen; Russian and/or English proficiency as a strong asset (5 pts).
For every Child, you demonstrate...
UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values
The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…
(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others
[add the 8th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role].
Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.
UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.
UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.
UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.
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Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service
Remarks:
As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.
UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce.
Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.
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Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.
All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.
Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.