Organization: UN Children"s Fund
Country: United States of America
Closing date: 08 Jul 2015
Background
Climate change and environmental degradation undermine the realization of children’s rights, especially those that are most disadvantaged. Four issues have been identified that merit stronger attention for UNICEF’s policy, programmes, advocacy, research and engagement:
Issue 1: Climate change impacts. It is virtually certain that climate change is caused by human activity and its impacts are already being experienced. Children, especially the most disadvantaged, are highly vulnerable to climate change impacts (e.g. increasing incidence and frequency of heat waves, droughts and floods) and are already feeling the effects. Although many governments and development partners have valuable on-going programmes to develop policy, raise awareness, build institutional capacity and support communities to adapt to climate change, very few pay sufficient attention to children.
Issue 2: Greenhouse gas emissions. Current commitments to reduce emissions are unlikely sufficient to stay within the globally agreed maximum temperature increase of 2°C relative to the pre-industrial level. If the required additional efforts are delayed another 15 years, it will become far more difficult and expensive. Therefore, the global community must step up its ambitions and embark on low carbon socio-economic development. This has major implications for todays’ children and the next generations whose leadership to mitigation efforts will be critical the coming decades. Paradoxically, many children in developing countries have little or no access to modern energy services and this is impeding their well-being in many ways, especially with regard to their health, education and safety.
Issue 3: Environmental degradation. The most disadvantaged children are also the most likely to live in poor and continually degrading environments. One major concern is household air pollution, which annually attributes to the death of over half a million children under 5. Other concerns include ambient air pollution particularly in urban areas, risks from chemicals, waste, polluted water and the lack of green and clean areas for children to play safely.
Issue 4: Environmental footprint of UNICEF. Environmental sustainability is critical to sustainable development. The UN System has to “walk the talk” to be credible and has taken a number of decisions accordingly. UNICEF recently decided to make annual reporting on greenhouse gas emissions by all its offices and committed to work towards climate neutrality the latest by 2020. In addition, in the context of its programmes UNICEF recently decided to develop environmental and social standards (ESS).
Purpose
The purpose of the consultancy is to support in the following priority areas:
· Strengthening mainstreaming of environmental sustainability in UNICEF country programmes throughout the programme management cycle.
· Engaging in the national policy discourse on environmental sustainability to include children and their rights.
· Advocating for full recognition and inclusion of children in the global policy discourse on environmental sustainability.
· Strengthening opportunities for children’s health and well-being to benefit from environmental sustainability related public and private finance.
· Incorporating environmental sustainability management (ESM) in the organization.
Tasks and Deliverables
The consultant is expected to undertake the following tasks:
· Roll-out and pilot guidelines for mainstreaming environmental sustainability in UNICEF programming
· Support country offices in strengthening engagement in national policy discourse on environmental sustainability and its impact on children’s rights.
· Coordinate and provide inputs to the development of Environmental and Social standards
· Develop guidelines on advocacy engagement and messaging for the inclusion of children’s rights in the global policy discourse on climate change and environmental sustainability
· Support preparations for UNICEF engagement at international fora on climate change and environmental sustainability, including COP21 in Paris.
· Provide guidance, develop concept notes, and support country offices in accessing funding for environmental sustainability
· Provide technical support to country offices in preparing and finalizing environmental footprint assessments
· Two to four missions are foreseen to Africa, Latin America and Europe. Exact dates and locations to be determined at a later date.
Duty Station
The consultant will be office based at UNICEF headquarters in New York. Travel as required.
Timeframe
Period of assignment: Eleven months between 19 October 2015 and 16 September 2016.
Key Skills, Technical Background, and Experience Required
• Advanced university degree in relevant area such as environment, social and economic development, and international cooperation.
• A minimum of 8 years of Senior-level relevant work experience focused on developing countries, in areas related to development cooperation in climate change, environment and socio-economic development.
• Specific expertise in programme/project formulation, review and evaluation related in the field of climate change and/or environment is required
• Specific expertise in climate finance is required
• Knowledge of children"s rights and gender in the context of climate change and/or environmental resources management
• Cross-disciplinary perspective on and in-depth and current knowledge of national and international policy and institutional arrangements governing climate change, sustainable development and the MDGs.
• Excellent analytical and writing skills, advocacy and presentational skills an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to work harmoniously in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious & effective working relationship both within and outside an organization.
• Prior UNICEF/UN experience and familiarity with UNICEF programme, policies and goals preferred.
• Familiarity with the national climate change policy discourse in countries from multiple regions (especially Africa and Latin America) is an asset.
• Fluency in English. Working knowledge of French and/or Spanish is an asset.
Competencies of Successful Candidate
· Analyses and integrates diverse and complex quantitative and qualitative data from a wide range of sources.
· Writes high quality documents that are clear, convincing and applicable.
· Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
· Creates and encourages a climate of team-working and collaboration in a multi-cultural environment.
· Quickly builds rapport with individuals and groups. Actively nurtures good relationships with people across all organizational levels and boundaries, and with government counterparts and non-government stakeholders.
· Negotiates effectively by exploring a range of possibilities.
· Contributes and tries out innovative approaches and insights.
· Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.
· Experience working under minimum supervision and tight deadlines.
*Please see deliverables in attached chart.
How to apply:
How to Apply
Applicants are requested to send their submissions to <**pdconsultants@unicef.org>with subject line: **“Climate Change and Environment, Consultancy” by 08 July 2015, 5:00pm EST.
Applications must include:
· Cover letter,
· CV, and
· P-11 form ( http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc)
· Indicate where you heard about this advertisement
Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.
NOTE: Files should not exceed 5.0MB limit
UNICEF is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
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