Consultancy for Research on Climate, Energy & Environment Issues and Child Rights

The consultant supports the UNICEF Representative in producing a Climate Landscape Analysis for Children (CLAC) for the Eastern Caribbean Area. She/he will be responsible for collecting, compiling and reviewing key resources, facilitating the information gathering and review processes, and preparing the final report. In addition, the incumbent will also provide overall support in finalising the study by researching specific issues and drafting individual sections. The consultant will also liaise with the climate, energy and environment team in HQ/NY.

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

How can you make a difference?

BACKGROUND & RATIONALE:

In May 2018, at the R20 Austrian World Summit, UN Secretary General António Guterres emphasized the centrality of climate action to the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. In urging governments, and developing partners to take strong climate action, he said, “if we fail to meet the challenge of climate change, all other challenges will become greater and threaten to swallow us. Climate change is, quite simply, an existential threat for most life on the planet—including, and especially the life of human kind.”

Small Island Developing States (SIDS), which comprise a significant portion of the Caribbean, are particularly vulnerable to this threat. As planetary warming increases, with 2016 marking a new record of about 1.1 Degrees Celsius (Centigrade) above the preindustrial period, the world witnessed a rise in sea-temperature with a correlating decrease in global sea ice, increased coral bleaching and reef degradation, rising sea levels that directly threaten low-lying SIDS and increasing intensity and frequency in extreme weather events (such as cyclones and hurricanes). The Caribbean is also negatively impacted by climate variability, with droughts, intense rainfall episodes and flooding posing threats to human settlements, infrastructure and the economy.

With Caribbean SIDS relying heavily on climate-sensitive sectors (including agriculture, fisheries, forestry, tourism and water), climate change presents a multi-pronged threat to the viability of the countries. The crippling social, economic and environment impacts of climate change further exacerbate the pre-existing socio-economic challenges in the region. With the passage of more frequent and intense hurricanes, a country may witness decades of investment and sustainable development be erased in a few hours.

In 2017, the region faced a particularly active and destructive hurricane season, which saw the passage of two Category 5 hurricanes, Irma and Maria. These hurricanes caused substantial damage to the Commonwealth of Dominica, Antigua & Barbuda, Sint Maarten, Anguilla and British Virgin Islands, leaving a trail of physical devastation and extensive breakdown of essential services. In addition to displacing thousands of persons, the hurricanes undermined countries’ resilience and undercut their economic growth. For example, Hurricane Maria caused damages equivalent to 226% of Dominica’s GDP in 2017; British Virgin Islands suffered similar losses in GDP. The island of Barbuda was decimated by Hurricane Irma, forcing a mandatory evacuation of all citizens. Climate change also comes with gradual and debilitating effects, notably through coastal erosion and saltwater intrusion into coastal agricultural lands.

Climate change, energy access and environmental degradation are equity issues, with children and young people often being the most vulnerable and affected.

The following evidence is significant to give an indication of the climate change, energy and environment issues on children at global level:

• The number of extreme climate-related disasters has doubled since the early 1990s, with an average of 213 events per year from 1990-2016;

• More than half a billion children live in extremely high flood risk zones and more than 160 million live in high or extremely high drought risks zones;

• Approximately 300 million children live in areas with extremely toxic levels of outdoor air pollution and it’s becoming increasingly clear that air pollution affects children’s cognitive development

• Some 600 million children – or 1 in 4 children worldwide – will be living in areas with extremely limited water resources by 2040;

• Of the approximately 6 million deaths of children under 5 in 2015, more than 1.5 million could have been prevented through the reduction of environmental risks;

• Over 60% of health facilities in low & middle-income countries don’t have reliable electricity for basic services;

• A recent UNICEF poll conducted found that 77% of children considered climate change one of the most pressing issues facing YP today, while 98% thought that Govts needed to tackle this through urgent action;

• The 2018 Environmental Performance Index reports that the greatest environmental threat to public health is from poor air quality; over 65% of all life-years lost due to environmental causes can be attributed to polluted air.

• Breathing polluted air not only results in death and respiratory diseases, it lessens cognitive function and increased cardiovascular diseases. Children are particularly vulnerable due to their developing physiology and higher rates of air intake (as compared to adults);
• Rising temperatures increase incidence and severity of droughts, flooding, sea level rise and extreme events such as cyclones. This undermines provision of water and sanitation services.

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 Eastern Caribbean Area Office[1] is planning to conduct a Climate Landscape Analysis for Children, 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 across the Eastern Caribbean Area. It will also provide recommendations on how UNICEF ECA could further incorporate and strengthen work on climate, energy and environment-related issues in its multi-country programme.

PURPOSE:

The consultant supports the UNICEF Representative in producing a Climate Landscape Analysis for Children (CLAC) for the Eastern Caribbean Area.  S/he will be responsible for collecting, compiling and reviewing key resources, facilitating the information gathering and review processes, and preparing the final report. In addition, the incumbent will also provide overall support in finalising the study by researching specific issues and drafting individual sections. The consultant will also liaise with the climate, energy and environment team in HQ/NY.

EXPECTECTED RESULTS:

1. Compile and systematize evidence and research related to energy, environment and climate change issues in the Eastern Caribbean Area

• Review guidance materials and previous CLACs prepared in other UNICEF offices
• Compile and systematize literature related to climate change, energy and environment issues affecting children in the Eastern Caribbean
• Map efforts of different sections in UNICEF Eastern Cabbean about the office’s work and linkages to disaster risk reduction, climate, energy and environment
• Compile and systematize key policy documents related to climate, energy and environment and UNICEF’s corporate priorities
• Identify and compile information on ongoing programmes and active stakeholders related to energy, environment and climate change in the Eastern Caribbean
• Identify UNICEF’s comparative advantage, strategic partnerships and intervention platforms in the Eastern Caribbean.
• Identify climate finance opportunities in the region
• Collect information and reports from different sections in UNICEF Eastern Caribbean Area about the office’s work and linkages to climate, energy and environment
• Collect available information and reports from development partners
• Identify and collect data and information gaps related to children, environment and energy issues to be filled through interviews and/or in subsequent studies
• Explore bottlenecks which impede climate action, considering policies, institutional arrangements, budgeting, capacities, planning and monitoring, sector engagement and enabling environment

• Identify recommendations on:

  • how to engage in climate change efforts through the UNICEF ECA sectors of education, health, child protection, nutrition and WASH
  • how to engage with external partners based upon comparative advantage, assessment of the external climate finance landscape and partnerships

2. Research and writing support

• Undertake the desk review of the collected information
• Summarize research and draft individual sections of the CLAC
• Facilitate and undertake interviews and meetings with stakeholders by drafting and finalising with the CO questions and presentations as needed
• Conduct additional research to fill data gaps and answer specific questions as needed
• In coordination with the UNICEF Representative Emergency ensure that the quality of the documents meets that of previous CLACs

3. Overall Drafting of Report

• Fact checking, editing and checking of references as needed
• Coordinate the internal and external review process and the incorporation of comments
• Submission of two final reports: a UNICEF internal one and another one for stakeholders

4. Administrative and planning support

• Facilitate the organization of two UNICEF internal meetings: i) at the beginning to understand sector priorities and ii) towards the end for the reports ’validation
• Facilitate the organization of a stakeholder meeting as needed

CONTRACT DURATON:

February - March 2019

SUPERVISOR:

The Representative, UNICEF Eastern Caribbean Area Office

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

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

• Advanced university degree in journalism, development studies, communications, environment, climate change, social and economic development, international cooperation or related areas.
• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in Research and expertise in child rights and/or environment-related issues desirable
• Previous experience with the UN/UNICEF; Sound understanding of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
• Strong analytical and English report writing and presentation skills;
• Strong communication, coordination and negotiation skills;

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

PROCEDURESES and LOGISTICS:

• The steering committee will regularly monitor the progress of the consultant’s work. 
• Consultant will use her/his computer
• Consultant will submit draft and final research in an electronic form

CONDITIONS:

• Prior to commencing the contract, the consultant will be required to sign a Health Statement and to document that s/he has appropriate health insurance, if applicable. The consultant will be responsible for the accuracy of that statement.

PAYMENT/METHOD of PAYMENT:

• The consultant will be paid at UN P4 level
• Travel will be reimbursed upon submission of receipts
• The consultancy fee will be paid in tranches as follows:
  • Upon acceptance of inception report, 20% of the total sum;
  • Upon acceptance of draft report, 30% of the total sum;
  • Upon approval and acceptance of final report, 50% of the total sum.

RECOURSE:

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines. Performance indicators against which the satisfactory conclusion of this contract will be assessed include: timeliness/quality of submission and responsiveness to UNICEF and counterpart feedback.

PROPERTY RIGHTS:

UNICEF shall hold all property rights, such as copyright, patents and registered trademarks, on matter directly related to, or derived from, the work carried out through this contract with UNICEF.

MANDATORY TRAININGS:

Consultants/individual contractors must submit certificates of completion of the following mandatory trainings no later than 30 days after the start of the contract:

1. BSAFE https://agora.unicef.org/course/info.php?id=17891
2. Ethics and Integrity at UNICEF https://agora.unicef.org/course/info.php?id=1289
3. Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Abuse of Authority https://agora.unicef.org/course/info.php?id=114
4. Sexual Exploitation Abuse (PSEA) https://agora.unicef.org/course/info.php?id=7380
5. UN Human Rights and Responsibilities https://agora.unicef.org/course/info.php?id=2128
6. UNICEF Information Security Awareness Course https://agora.unicef.org/course/info.php?id=12037

HOW TO APPLY:

Prospective consultants should apply through UNICEF’s E-recruitment System by accessing the following link: http://jobs.unicef.org and typing in the job number 518432 in the search engine, no later than Friday, 21 December 2018. The submission package should include the following:

1. A cover letter
2. A detailed curriculum vitae

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

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