Consultancy ROSTER: Implementation of WASH Climate Resilient Development Framework - WASH, PD - NYHQ, Requisition# 506738

The consultant will provide technical assistance to the UNICEF WASH section in New York Headquarters on the implementation of the UNICEF-GWP Strategic Framework for WASH Climate Resilient Development. The consultant will also support the development of global guidance and resource materials. The consultant will have regular contact with UNICEF country offices and relevant national/subnational counterparts supporting the integration of climate resilience into WASH programming. The consultant will support UNICEF staff with resource mobilization efforts in line with country priorities and donor requirements.

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. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. 

1. Background & rationale

Climate change and resulting weather extremes threaten the lives of millions of children worldwide. Water is the medium through which the effects of climate change are first felt– through floods, storms, droughts and sea level rise. With growing weather extremes, the security of water sources are increasingly threatened, investments in WASH infrastructure is lost and the lives of millions of children are at risk.

The WASH section in UNICEF is committed to strengthening its involvement in systematic reduction of vulnerability to slow onset stresses such as climate change, disasters and conflicts through risk-informed country programmes that help build climate resilience. This approach also ensures the sustainability of WASH services.

Through a UNICEF- Global Water Partnership (GWP) Phase 1 collaboration the core of a Strategic Framework for WASH Climate Resilient Development has been developed. This advances sector thinking around WASH and climate change, cutting across both development and emergency preparedness programmatic spheres with climate resilience addressed as a cross-cutting issue encompassing elements of both disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation. An ongoing Phase 2 of this collaboration is focusing on finalizing technical guidance.

While the core of the on-going collaboration is to advance sector thinking around WASH and climate resilience this work is also linked to the broader resilience (beyond climate resilience) at programme level. This link specially apply to what is called the “risk informed programming” agenda led by the UNICEF Humanitarian Action and Transition Unit of the Programme Division.

At this point there is a pressing demand from UNICEF country offices to provide advice on how to risk inform WASH programming, support the implementation of the WASH climate resilient strategic framework, support the documentation of on-going WASH climate resilient initiatives; and to support the development of proposals that target the new climate funding schemes. 

2. Purpose

The consultant will provide technical assistance to the UNICEF WASH section in New York Headquarters on the implementation of the UNICEF-GWP Strategic Framework for WASH Climate Resilient Development. The consultant will also support the development of global guidance and resource materials. The consultant will have regular contact with UNICEF country offices and relevant national/subnational counterparts supporting the integration of climate resilience into WASH programming. The consultant will support UNICEF staff with resource mobilization efforts in line with country priorities and donor requirements.

The consultant will be primarily responsible for providing high quality technical, policy, programming implementation support, as well as knowledge and capacity development services, to UNICEF country offices when appropriate. S/he will work with UN agencies, governments, inter-governmental organizations, NGO’s, donors, and the private sector in accordance with UNICEF’s key results as outlined in the corporate strategy.

Specifically the consultant will be expected to deliver results in the areas of:

1. Policy and Strategy
2. Integration of climate resilience into WASH programming and implementation
3. Capacity Building and Knowledge Management
4. Resource Mobilization 

The consultant is expected to travel to country offices to provide technical support as requested and to document best practices. 

3. Expected Results

1. Policy and Strategy: 

2. Integration of climate resilience into WASH programming and implementation: 

3. Capacity Building and Knowledge Management: 

4. Resource Mobilization 

4. Duty Station

The consultant will be based New York Headquarters. 

5. Timeframe 

Start date: 1st October 2016                                                

End date: 15th September 2017  

6. Key competences, technical background, and experience required

• Advanced university degree in relevant field such as environmental sciences, public health / sanitation/ environmental engineering or a field relevant to international WASH programming.
• Five to eight years of solid professional work experiences in the UN or other international organisation, government or the private sector working with the integration of climate resilience into WASH programming, policy and management. Field experience in developing countries is required.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset, preferably French.

To view our competency framework, please click here. 

Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above (including travel and daily subsistence allowance, if applicable).  Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.

Remarks

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.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.