Consultancy: Regional Climate Resilience Programme Support, UNICEF EAPRO, Bangkok, Thailand

The Sustainable Environment section, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO) is seeking an individual consultant to provide technical support on regional climate resilience programme.

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 fulfilling 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.                                                                                                                                              

For every child, a better future

UNICEF works to ensure the rights of all children in the East Asia and Pacific Region.  This means the rights of every child living in this country, irrespective of their nationality, gender, religion or ethnicity, to:

• survival – to basic healthcare, peace and security;
• development – to a good education, a loving home and adequate nutrition;
• protection – from abuse, neglect, trafficking, child labour and other forms of exploitation; and
• participation – to express opinions, be listened to and take part in making any decisions that affect them

How can you make a difference?

The Sustainable Environment section, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO) is seeking an individual consultant to provide technical support on regional climate resilience programme.

Background:

The climate and environmental crisis are affecting the fundamental rights of every child. Climate change and environmental degradation can erase much of the gains we have made on child health and well-being so far, unless we urgently take child-sensitive climate actions together. The East Asia and Pacific region is among the most impacted by climate change and environmental degradation in the world. Climate change is particularly dangerous for children in developing countries in this region that have a disproportionate share of climate-related hazards and risks, making it harder for these countries eradicate extreme poverty and enhance social equity.

East Asia and the Pacific countries are already grappling with serious impacts of climate change including high human and economic costs of climate related extreme weather events and negative impacts on education, food, nutrition security, water resources, fisheries, cities and migration. If current trends continue, key social sectors, land areas and ecosystems of Asia will be significantly affected by climate change, drastically reducing possibilities for human and social systems including education systems to adapt to the effects of climate change.

East Asia-Pacific region is also home to fast-growing economies with high resource intensity and rapidly growing urban populations. Greenhouse gas emissions from the whole Asia Pacific region accounted for 50% of the global emissions and East and Northeast Asia sub-regions were the largest emitters in the region, while the Pacific countries were responsible for only 3% of emissions (ESCAP 2017). It is the most resource-intensive region in the world, accounting for 65% of global material consumption – between 1990 and 2017, there was essentially zero improvement in the resource intensity of the region. Five countries in the region alone are estimated to dump more plastics into the ocean than anyone else combined. 80-90% of wastewater is dumped untreated.

In this context, UNICEF EAPRO is working to help countries understand the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation on children and put children in the center of climate change and environmental policy, finance and actions.

Purpose of Assignment:

To provide technical support to relevant regional and country office teams across the region, under the supervision and guidance of the Regional Advisor on Environment and Climate Change.

Work Assignment:

The consultant will work under the overall supervision and guidance of the UNICEF EAPRO Regional Environment and Climate Change Advisor. The consultant will also work closely with relevant UNICEF EAPRO sections, Country Offices and HQ teams.

1. Technical assistance to integrate climate change and environment into UNICEF country programming and national and sectoral policies

• Mapping of relevant partners and guidance materials
• Development of information materials on key climate change and environmental policy mechanisms and processes including the UNFCCC processes
• Preparation of draft guidance notes and materials on child-sensitive climate change and environmental policy and programming, including the Nationally Determined Contributions

2. Technical assistance to provide sector and issue-specific information and help develop strategic partnerships including in the areas indicated below:

• Child Rights to a Healthy Environment and environmental justice
• Children and youth engagement in climate actions
• Adaptive Social Protection
• Climate-resilient programming

3. Monitoring of progress on child-centered regional climate and environmental actions

• Support for mapping and monitoring of UNICEF climate actions at country and regional levels
• Support for mapping and tracking of in-country, regional and global climate advocacy and programming opportunities for UNICEF priority areas

4. Provision of support to annual and quarterly reporting and review

• Coordination with relevant teams at HQ, regional and CO levels to assess progress on climate and environment work in the EAP region during annual reporting cycle
• Collation of key climate and environmental developments during year for reporting
• Analysis of SMQ and RAM reporting from UNICEF COs in EAP for regional progress on climate and environment
• Preparation of relevant UNICEF reporting materials that can be shared externally with relevant stakeholders

5. Knowledge Management of key Climate and Environment Regional resources:

• Development and implementation of a regional climate and environment knowledge management plan
• Regular provision of updates and support for organization of webinar and knowledge/training sessions to EAP Climate and Environment Focal points
• Support for facilitating the EAP Country Offices Climate and Environment Focal points network and maintaining regular and effective communication
• Support for development and dissemination of EAPRO knowledge products on child-centered climate-resilient policy, finance and programming

End Product:

The following outputs are listed below but may change subject to the evolving situations and needs of the EAPRO sustainable environment sections.

• Draft information materials tailored for country offices on key climate change and environmental policy mechanisms and processes
• Background research and concept notes for guidance documents and project proposals on child-sensitive climate change and environmental policy and programming
• Matrix and narrative summary of mapping and monitoring of UNICEF climate actions at country and regional levels
• Matrix and narrative summary of mapping and tracking of in-country, regional and global climate advocacy and programming opportunities for UNICEF priority areas
• Data collection and analysis notes for the global and regional reporting and review requirements
• Preparation of relevant UNICEF presentation materials on climate change and environment for internal and external stakeholders
• Preparation of a regional climate and environment knowledge management plan
• Webinar preparation and training session materials for EAP Climate and Environment Focal points
• SharePoint, Teams channels and other knowledge management forums for the EAP Country Offices Climate and Environment Focal points network
• Background research notes, concept notes, technical input to EAPRO knowledge products on child-centered climate-resilient policy, finance and programming

Consultant will prepare a report at the end of each month on assignments performed during the month.

Estimated Duration of Contract:  11 months, starting 15 September 2020.

Official Travel:  The consultant will be based in the Bangkok UNICEF Regional Office. The consultant may be required to travel to perform the assigned tasks in discussion and agreement with supervisor.

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

• Advanced university degree (Masters or higher) in areas related to climate change, environmental policy, environmental economics, environmental health, social sciences and public policy.
• At least 2 years of international professional experience related to climate resilience and environmental management in developing countries.
• Strong technical, analytical, data management, and multi-disciplinary skills related to climate change and environmental management.
• Fluency in English; knowledge of a language in the East Asia Pacific region is an asset.

Interested candidates are requested to submit CV or P-11, full contact information of minimum 3 references, availability, and proposed monthly professional fee in USD by 7 July 2020.   

 FORM P11.doc

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People, and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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

Remarks:

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.