Full-time Individual Contractor (11.5 months, home-based with field travel): Regional Technical Coordinator (Air Quality in the Western Balkans) - Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECARO)

UNICEF ECARO office is looking for a Regional Technical Coordinator (Air Quality in the Western Balkans) to 1/ Support the project, Senior Programme Specialist, in managing and overseeing all activities/works of the project and donor reporting, 2/ To liaise with Swedish Environment Protection Agency (SwEPA) on project implementation and provision of Technical Assistance support to UNICEF Country Offices (COs) in the Western Balkans in accordance with the work plan, and 3/ To support UNICEF regional work on leveraging opportunities for scaling up environment and climate change.

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 future

Background

UNICEF and the Swedish Environment Protection Agency (SwEPA) have developed a joint regional program focusing on air quality in the Western Balkans funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

The overall objective of the programme is to support Albania, Kosovo, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, North Macedonia and Montenegro by strengthening national and local government capacities as duty bearers with respect to air quality governance and air quality data, whilst also facilitating the voices and recommendations of children and youth as rights holders, to improve air quality policy and change social norms. This will ultimately lead to cleaner air and better health for the population living in the Western Balkans.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment

1. Support the project, Senior Programme Specialist, in managing and overseeing all activities/works of the project and donor reporting.
2. To liaise with Swedish Environment Protection Agency (SwEPA) on project implementation and provision of Technical Assistance support to UNICEF Country Offices (COs) in the Western Balkans in accordance with the work plan.
3. To support UNICEF regional work on leveraging opportunities for scaling up environment and climate change

Scope of Work

UNICEF is looking for someone with extensive experience of work in the Western Balkans focusing on environmental degradation and climate change and its impact on children and youth. The successful candidate will:

PROJECT COORDINATION

• Develop detailed annual work plans and budget plans based on the approved overall work plan. Support development and timely submission of work plans and budgets from COs.
• Make schedules for project activities listed in the annual work plans to ensure all activities are completed on time; ensure timely and duly management of the project and implementation of all activities in accordance with the rules and regulations of UNICEF and agreement with Sida.
• Organizing monthly regional team meetings to review and plan project activities.
• Liaise with relevant regional organisations and stakeholders.
• Support fundraising for scaling up work on air quality, climate change and environment.
• The successful candidate is expected to travel to the six UNICEF COs and other related places of the project.
• Compiling and maintaining project reports and minutes of meetings.
• Coordinate and support project advocacy and communications.

REPORTING

• Review all deliverables and reports of contracted consultants/partners before submitting them to the donor to ensure the quality of these products are according to the agreement with Sida and internal UNICEF expected standard of quality.
• Developing narrative and financial reports and ensuring the accuracy and timely submission of these reports to the Team Leader at UNICEF in accordance with the donor reporting requirements stipulated in the agreement with the donor.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

• Liaise with six UNICEF country offices in the Western Balkans and provide technical assistance in accordance with specific needs.
• Liaise with SwEPA project coordinator based in Skopje, North Macedonia, and identify areas and scope for technical support from SwEPA to six country offices and other regional project materials in accordance with the agreed time input from SwEPA to UNICEF.
• Contribute to regional UNICEF Environment and Climate Change programming and advocacy.
• Any other tasks assigned by the Senior Programme Specialist to achieve the environment and climate change goals of UNICEF.

Work Assignment Overview

Estimated Duration of the Contract

11.5 months (January - December 2023)

Individual Contractor's Work Place and Official Travel

The assignment will be home-based. The Individual Contractor is required on a full-time basis for the period of the contract.

The Individual Contractor will travel to field locations.

Travel Clause

• All UNICEF rules and regulations related to travel of Consultants/Individual Contractors apply.
• All travels shall be undertaken only upon the prior written approval by UNICEF.
• The consultant must be fit to travel, be in a possession of the valid UN BSAFE certificate, obligatory inoculation(s) and have a valid own travel/medical insurance and an immunization/vaccination card.

Estimated Cost of the Consultancy & Payment Schedule

Payment will be made on submission of a monthly invoice & monthly report, and satisfactory completion of the above-mentioned deliverables. Please indicate an all inclusive fixed monthly fee in USD to undertake this assignment. 

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in international development or environment climate change or another relevant field.
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in a relevant field.
• Proven ability to coordinate and manage complex project work with a focus on environment, climate change, and youth engagement.
• Experience in implementing and managing projects on environment and climate change.
• Experience of work with children and youth.
• Experience in project planning, design, follow-up, report writing, monitoring and evaluation of projects.
• Experience in working with various partners, working with international and national stakeholders to implement project activities.
• Experience in conducting project reporting in English.
• Able to work independently or in a team.
• Strong teamwork and inter-personal communication skills.
• Fluency in English (written & verbal) is required.
• Experience with UNICEF and knowledge of the UN and UNICEF’s system's policies and procedures is an asset.
• Experience of work focusing on air quality is an asset.
• Proficiency in a Western Balkan language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit 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 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:

Please include a full CV and Financial Proposal in your application. Additionally, indicate your availability and monthly rate (in USD) to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a monthly rate will not be considered. 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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.