Temporary Appointment Programme Specialist-Environment and Climate Action, P3 Suva, Fiji #118735

The UNICEF Pacific Multi-Country Office is looking to recruit a Programme Specialist for Environment and Climate Action to be based in Suva, Fiji. If you are interested in the position, please click the below link

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, a Champion

Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICT) are amongst the most vulnerable to climate change because of their geographical location and geological make-up. Sea-level rise threatens their very existence and sustainable habitation and the frequency and magnitude of extreme weather events continue to inflict hardship and roll back development efforts. Children bear the greatest burden of climate change as they are more vulnerable than adults to its impacts.  Children are normally more susceptible to vector borne diseases such as dengue fever; and water and food borne diseases from higher temperatures including diarrhoea, typhoid fever and ciguatera (fish poisoning). Cyclones and droughts which are forecast to become worse provide added risks to the survival and well-being of children in the Pacific.

UNICEF Pacific covers 14 PICTs, namely Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. It’s current multi-country programme of cooperation (2018-2022) has highlighted disaster resilience and risk reduction. This would be continued in the next country programme (2023-2027) but with emphasis on addressing the impact of climate change on children. The process for the development of the new multi-country programme for the Pacific has begun.

How can you make a difference?

The overall scope of work of the Programme Specialist, Environment and Climate Action, is to contribute to the objective of the current country programme of cooperation 2018-2022 and lay the groundwork for the next (2023-2027) in improving Government capacity to implement effective child-focused, shock- and gender-responsive programmes to protect all children from social, climate and environmental risks.

Working in the Programme Effectiveness Section under the supervision of the Deputy Representative for Programmes and in coordination with section chiefs and relevant climate and environment advisors of UNICEF EAPRO and HQ offices, the Environment and Climate Action Specialist will specifically support UNICEF engagement on environment and climate for and with children across nutrition, WASH, health, education, child protection and social policy programme components through the following:

1. Developing and implementing Data, evidence generation, knowledge management strategies and activities on climate change and environmental issues at country and regional-level
2. Advocacy,  partnership and resource mobilization for accelerating child-centered climate actions and finance in the region
3. Mainstreaming climate change and environmental issues across UNICEF country programming Management and coordination support for programme development and implementation
4. Results-based monitoring, evaluation and reporting on UNICEF’s climate and environmental actions in the region

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

• Advance University Degree *) in environment, climate science, social and economic development, public health, public administration international cooperation or another relevant technical field is required. Additional relevant post-graduate courses that complement/supplement the main degree with a specialization on environment and climate science are a strong asset.
• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional work experience at the national level in programme/project development, focused on areas related to development cooperation in climate change adaptation and mitigation, environment or socio-economic development.
• Demonstrated experience in applying results-based management required.
• Familiarity with government and administration regulations and experience working with sub-national governments is considered an advantage.
• Proactive and resourceful, good communication skills in negotiating and liaising with counterparts and partners.
• Excellent knowledge of English for developing reports and communication with government counterparts and international staff respectively.
• Good skills in computer applications; especially Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Experience with research methodologies and data analysis, using statistical software (STATA; SPSS or SAS), is an advantage.

  (*First level of relevant university degree in combination with 7 years of experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.)

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are 

• Builds and Maintains Partnerships
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Innovates and embraces change
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Works collaboratively with others

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. Furthermore, UNICEF Pacific strongly encourages persons living with disabilities to apply to this position.

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:

This position is not considered an elevated risk role. However, UNICEF reserves the right to conduct further vetting/ assessment within the scope of child safeguarding as appropriate.

UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/

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

The VA is open to all (internal and external candidates)