Overview
Support the mainstreaming of climate change, environment, and resilience approaches in UNICEF sectors and with government counterparts. Monitor UNICEF-supported activities and engage with various stakeholders on climate change initiatives.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the mainstreaming of climate change (CC), environment, and resilience approaches in UNICEF-key sectors (nutrition, health, education, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), social protection, and child protection) within UNICEF and with Government counterparts and other partners through capacity building, development of tools and approaches, and integration into country programme planning and monitoring processes.
- Actively monitor UNICEF-supported activities through field visits, surveys, and exchange of information with partners to assess progress, identify bottlenecks, challenges, and issues, and/or refer to relevant officials for timely interventions.
- Engage with Social Behavior Change colleagues, UNICEF’s U-report team, Advocacy and Communication section, and youth networks on youth- and child-centered climate change initiatives, including raising the voice of youth and children at high-level climate change adaptation (CCA ) meetings.
- Support, as relevant, implementation of national policies/plans, such as the National Adaptation Plan, Nationally Determined Contribution, and sectoral plans where risk considerations are important.
- Represent UNICEF at Climate and Environment Working Group meetings and other external engagements related to the topic, as required, in the absence of the lead responsible.
- Support the documentation and knowledge management of climate and environment activities, including preparation of sectoral progress reports for management, donors, and partners, and the consolidation and dissemination of results and good practices from across UNICEF’s interventions for internal use.
- Support the development of concept notes and donor proposals, including the finalization of the Green Climate Fund proposal on strengthening the resilience of the health system to climate impacts, once it proceeds to Board review.
- Support organizing national and international climate change workshops/meetings within the framework of ongoing projects or events such as World Environment Day.
- Perform any other related tasks as required to support the effective implementation of the climate change and environment portfolio.
Required Experience
- Relevant experience 3 years
- Experience needed in climate change adaptation, environmental sustainability, disaster risk reduction, or resilience programming; experience in integrating climate considerations into development programmes or social sectors (such as health, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), education, or social protection) is an asset, as is familiarity with climate policy processes such as National Adaptation Plans (NAP), Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), or sectoral climate strategies, and experience working with government institutions, the United Nations (UN ) or other international development organizations.
- Programme implementation, monitoring, and reporting in development or humanitarian projects related to climate change, environment, WASH, health, education, or resilience.
- Other desired technical knowledge includes climate risk analysis, climate-resilient systems strengthening, environmental sustainability, and integration of climate considerations into social sectors; familiarity with climate finance mechanisms or proposal development (e.g. Green Climate Fund) is an asset.
- Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a wide range of partners including government counterparts, civil society organizations, youth networks, and community actors; familiarity with approaches related to community engagement and social and behaviour change is an asset.
- Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel.
- Self-motivated; ability to work with minimal supervision and manage multiple tasks; ability to work under tight deadlines.
- A minimum of one three years of relevant professional experience is required. Less experience may be considered acceptable where there is demonstrable experience in volunteering, community engagement, or other relevant initiatives.
Qualifications
- Master's degree in environmental sciences, climatology, geology or earth sciences, climate change, disaster risk reduction, water resource management, engineering and economic development, international cooperation or another relevant technical field is preferred.
- Additional relevant post-graduate courses that complement / supplement the main degree are desirable.
