Consultancy: Climate Finance Consultant (GCF Full Proposals and GCF Readiness) - Home based- PD/CERP/Home-based- REQ#533438

The objective of the consultancy is to support UNICEF’s engagement with the GCF, including for full proposals and GCF Readiness. The consultant will help elaborate UNICEF’s technical content and climate change rationale relevant to UNICEF’s sectors that can be utilized for proposal preparation; support with research, and analysis of evidence; monitor and keep the team aware of the latest GCF developments/guidance/procedures; support in the quality assurance function in reviews of draft proposals; support knowledge management and training; and support pipeline tracking and reporting.

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.

For every child

Consultancy Title: Climate Finance Consultant (GCF Full Proposals and GCF Readiness)

Section/Division/Duty Station: PD/CERP/Home-based

Duration: 12 months (Estimated up to 180 days (half-time workload over the period of one year—10-15 days per month with some periods busier than others)

About UNICEF

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. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

UNICEF’s Section for Climate, Environment, Resilience, and Peace (CERP) contributes to Goal Area 4 “Every child lives in a safe and clean environment” and two related results: “Countries adopt policies, strategies and programmes that address risks related to disasters, conflict public health emergencies” and “Countries have child-focused plans and monitoring systems for environmental sustainability”

UNICEF is committed to new ways of working that meets people’s immediate humanitarian needs, while at the same time reducing risk and vulnerability through the achievement of collective outcomes, accountability to affected populations, and empowerment of local actors. Guided by UNICEF’s core principles and to support every child, UNICEF is scaling up support to developing countries to transition toward sustainable and climate-smart development. Such a transition is vital to UNICEF’s efforts in key sectors (WASH, health, education, child protection, nutrition, and social protection), and can play an important role in broader international efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change. In this context, UNICEF is responding through a variety of avenues, including by prioritizing the development of a project portfolio with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to address the need to scale up public and private investment in climate action.

Within the CERP team, the Climate, Environment, Energy, and DRR (CEED) team works in close collaboration with UNICEF Regional Offices and technical teams to identify, develop and deliver high-quality climate investment projects that respond to countries’ priorities as defined in their national climate and sectoral policies and that deliver the type of transformational change sought by the GCF. UNICEF is a recognized Delivery Partner (DP) for GCF Readiness, is finalizing the accreditation process for full proposals, and is working together with other Accredited Entities (AEs) to develop joint projects in several countries.

The objective of the consultancy is to support UNICEF’s engagement with the GCF, including for full proposals and GCF Readiness.  The consultant will help elaborate UNICEF’s technical content and climate change rationale relevant to UNICEF’s sectors that can be utilized for proposal preparation; support with research, and analysis of evidence; monitor and keep the team aware of the latest GCF developments/guidance/procedures; support in the quality assurance function in reviews of draft proposals; support knowledge management and training; and support pipeline tracking and reporting.

 Terms of Reference / Deliverables

Over the period of 12 months, the consultant will cover the following areas of work:

Support on evidence / content development and quality assurance to strengthen GCF Full Proposal development and GCF Readiness Proposal development (65%)

• Support formulation of technical guidance for ROs and COs including GCF compliant proposal preparation, articulation of climate rationale and sample TOCs for promoting climate resilience in UNICEF priority sectors (WASH, Health, Education, Nutrition, etc.), paradigm shift potential, baseline investments, co-financing, additionality concepts.   
• Support in the review, quality assurance and finalisation of GCF compliant technical documents including concept notes, proposals, budget, feasibility reports and other documents.
• Support with research, consolidation and analysis of background data and evidence to feed into the project development process. 
• Support ongoing activities and research on paradigm shift and contribute to discussions on Paradigm Shift in GCF projects
• Monitor and keep the team abreast on latest developments/updates on GCF technical guidance, policies, procedures, board decisions, etc.

Knowledge management, training, and coordination support (35%)

• Lead GCF knowledge management generally, in particular through the MS Teams and Sharepoint;
• Develop and the regularly update GCF Training and briefing materials including preparation slide decks.
• Produce timely reports on the GCF work programme for regular reporting and in response to senior management requests
• Assist in the development of a GCF project management tracking system / database and support the coordination and monitoring of the GCF pipeline and portfolio (both Full Proposal and Readiness) with accurate tracking and reporting in close collaboration with HQ, ROs and COs, including monitoring of GCF project implementation for approved projects
• Review and write up case studies of successful projects (or project elements) to inform good practice in GCF project development and implementation.

With the overall end goal of high-quality submissions of GCF Readiness proposals and Full Proposal concept notes and proposals, the consultant is expected to deliver:

1. Analytical and research inputs provided for GCF related matters as needed
2. Support for the project design and formulation of GCF Readiness proposals, GCF concept notes, and eventually GCF Full funding proposals
3. Timely review and feedback to GCF technical documents including concept notes, proposals, feasibility documents, ESSP, etc.  
4. An updated user-friendly document on good practices and lessons learned regarding UNICEF priority sectors for GCF projects
5. Timely and quality reporting on GCF updates and information provided for senior management updates (UNICEF internal)
6. Well-maintained knowledge management and project management system
7. Conceptualise GCF capacity development training package and materials
8. Other support as needed related to GCF

Qualifications

 Work experience:

• At least 5 years of working experience and technical knowledge in successfully developing climate finance proposals and mobilising funds through multilateral climate and environmental funds (e.g. GCF, Global Environmental Facility) is required.
• Experience in providing technical research to expert in support of formulation of GCF proposals with demonstrated experience in project development, implementation and management is an asset. 

Education:

• Master’s in climate change, environmental sciences/management, international development, or any other relevant degree 

Competencies:

• Technical knowledge of GCF investment criteria, policies and procedures is preferred. An overall technical understanding of climate change in UNICEF’s core sectors (WASH, education, health, child protection, nutrition, etc.) is an asset.
• Strong organizational, planning, and analytical skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication in English.
• Good judgment, initiative, high sense of responsibility, tact and discretion.
• Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and ability to establish harmonious working relations in a multicultural environment.) 

Requirements:

• Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and provide Personal History Form (P11) Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include:
• your daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference (can be downloaded here: https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_consultancy_assignments.html 
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability
• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

U.S. Visa information:

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.  

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

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. View our competency framework at: Here

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.

 UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, race, sexual orientation, nationality, culture, appearance, socio-economic status, ability, age, religious, and ethnic backgrounds, to apply to become a part of the organization