Individual Consultant on Environment and Sustainability (National)

National consultant on Environment and Sustainability for UNICEF Mongolia CO, 10 months. (Open for Mongolian nationals only)

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.

Climate change, energy access and environmental degradation are equity issues, with children and young people often being the most vulnerable and affected. Addressing climate change, energy access and environmental degradation is therefore vital for building a more sustainable future for children. In addition, it is imperative that we integrate our actions on the SDGs and our humanitarian responses. Each of the seven Outcomes Areas of the UNICEF Strategic Plan 2014 – 2017 – health, nutrition, HIV, water and sanitation, child protection, social inclusion and education - is affected in some way by climate change and/or environmental degradation. Fortunately, each stream of UNICEF work also presents opportunities to take action on climate, energy and/or the environment in order to deliver more sustainable results. There are major implications of climate change, lack of energy access and environmental degradation for children and UNICEF has strong potential to strengthen the response to these issues. Climate and environment issues have also been integrated in one of the five main outcome areas of the draft of the new strategic plan (2018-21). This decision has been solidified by the Executive Board members in February 2017 by their adoption of the roadmap for the new strategic plan which uses the SDGs as a long-term framework. 

UNICEF Mongolia sought the services of an individual national consultant to conduct a Climate Landscape Analysis for Children (CLAC), examining the baseline situation of climate, energy and environment-related issues affecting children and how they relate to UNICEF’s priorities. The report looks at stakeholders, government policies and relevant programmes in Mongolia. It also provides recommendations on how UNICEF Mongolia could further incorporate and strengthen work on climate, energy and environment-related issues in its country programme.

The key deliverables from the current contract have been met. There are follow up tasks and recommendation from which require additional time and a more in depth analysis as these are also contributing to the office annual management priority on environmental sustainability. Below are the continuing tasks and expected results for the period March-December 2018.

 Purpose

The Consultant reports to the Environment and Sustainability Specialist for supervision and guidance and shall provide professional technical and operational support in the implementation of UNICEF Mongolia Climate, Environment and Energy ongoing work, and the day-to-day management of partnerships with relevant implementing partners for related projects including coordination, progress monitoring and reporting.  

Expected results: (measurable results)

 Support the implementation, development and planning of all climate, environment and energy related programmes

1. Program management, monitoring and delivery of results

•  Work closely and collaboratively with internal and external colleagues and partners to discuss operational and implementation issues, provide solutions, recommendations and/or alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level intervention and/or decision. Keep record of reports and assessments for easy reference and/or to capture and institutionalize lessons learned.

• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, program reviews and annual sectoral reviews with government and other counterparts to assess programs and to report on required action/interventions at the higher level of program management.
• Monitor and report on the use of sectoral program resources (financial, administrative and other assets), verify compliance with approved allocation/goals, organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity. Report on issues identified to ensure timely resolution by management/stakeholders. Follow up on unresolved issues to ensure resolution.
• Prepare regular/mandated sectoral program/project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of program progress.

3. Networking and partnership building 

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with key government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to enhance program implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to deliver concrete and sustainable results.
• Draft communication and information materials for country office program advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support fund raising for health programs.
• Research information on potential donors and prepare resource mobilization materials and briefs for fund raising and partnership development purposes.

4. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Identify, capture, synthesize and share lessons learned for knowledge development and to build the capacity of stakeholders.
• Apply innovative approaches and promote good practice to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable program results.
• Assist with oversight of research and ensure results are available for use in knowledge products
• Participate as resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders to ensure a safe and clean environment for children,

Duty Station: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

 Timeframe: 10 months, Start date: 15/2/2018                   End date: 15/12/2018

Payment

Payment will be made after submission of deliverables at the end of every month, subject to certification of satisfactory completion by the supervisor.  The number and date of draft submissions is ten unless there are any revisions applied to timeline from contract Supervisor.

Consultancy Classification: National Consultancy

This consultancy is payable at market rates and the consultant should submit an all-inclusive fee (lump sum, including travel cost) in his/her proposal.

Penalty clause

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold up to 30% of the total contract fee in the case that the deliverables are not submitted on schedule or do not meet the required standard.   Copyright and ownership of all documents.

Travel

The consultant is expected to work in Ulaanbaatar UNICEF Office during the consultancy period with 1 required local travel for approximately 5 days (including travel time) to any of these locations: Gobi Altai, Bayankhongor, Zavkhan province (to be confirmed once consultant is hired) to review various local policies and plans for CEE at the provincial level. The consultant shall be accompanied by UNICEF staff (as need be).

The Consultant will cover costs for local travel and travel-related costs in line with organizational policies and procedures.  Travel arrangements are the responsibility of the Consultant and no Travel Authorization will be issued by UNICEF. 

The consultant should include a proposed travel lump sum budget to cover per diem allowances, and local travel costs, as part of the proposal.

Key competences, technical background, and experience required 

• Advanced university degree in environment, development studies, climate change, social and economic development, international cooperation or related areas is required. Two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• At least 5 years of professional work experience in related field.
• Experience in program/project development in UN system agency or organization is an asset.
• Knowledge and experience in environmental issues is essential
• Expertise in child rights issues desirable
• Experience in producing informational or technical documentation is an added value
• Ability to exercise sound technical judgment.
• Able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment and a high sense of integrity.
• Fluency in English, verbal and written.
• Excellent writing skills required.
• Excellent research skills required

UNICEF is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Definition of supervision arrangements and type of support to be provided by UNICEF Mongolia

Contract Supervisor: Environment and Sustainability Programme Specialist

Frequency of performance review:  Progress report and informal discussions on performance will be done at every stage of payment. Formal performance assessment shall be conducted every 6 months and at the end of the assignment.

Discussion on contract work assignments and deliverables will be provided by the Contract Supervisor.  The contract Supervisor will be available, as/when required, to provide comments to submitted deliverables in a timely manner.  The consultant will be provided administrative support to perform the tasks as per the TORs.

Office space will be provided.  The Consultant is expected to use his/her own personal computer.