Climate change analyst (Report writer)

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, fair chance

Background

Children are particularly vulnerable to climate change and its impacts as they are still developing their full physical and cognitive potential. Girls and boys rely heavily on critical basic services including Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), nutrition, health, education and protection services, which are at risk of disruption due to climate related extreme events and lack of environmental and social protection systems not yet providing a safe environment for children. The situation is exacerbated in the context of West and Central Africa, where there is widespread poverty and multi-sectoral deprivations including lack of access to food, health care, education and safe water, hygiene and sanitation, and gender inequality, harmful traditional practices (e.g. female genital mutilation and child marriage), violence against children and child labour jeopardize children’s chances to develop and thrive.

Under the assumption that current climate change trends will continue and increase their direct and indirect adverse impact on children (impeding progress in overcoming child deprivations), it is important to gain a better understanding of current and expected tendencies, “hot spot” zones, and to identify options for increased action by Governments, UNICEF, and other partners to mitigate the impact of climate change on children and social service delivery systems.

How can you make a difference?

Objectives

This consultancy seeks to document evidence on climate change trends, including current and expected impacts in West and Central Africa both generally and in terms of their impact on children and social service delivery systems in particular. The assessment will consider the changing hazard landscape, as well as countries’ and children’s vulnerability, exposure and (lack of) capacities to mitigate adverse climate change impacts. 

The expected study will serve to improve the understanding of direct and indirect climate change effects on children to inform programming; related advocacy and resource mobilization to mitigate such impact.

Specifically, the consultancy’s objectives are to:

• Present currently observed and projected climate change in West and Central Africa [reveal the impact and climate scenarios for the main climate zones (Sahel, Central Africa, coastal belts, …) concerned, identify “hot spots” of climate change impact and describe them]
• Determine climate change’s multi-sectoral impact on countries, communities and children in West and Central Africa, incl. correlation with other shocks and stresses such as armed conflict/ violence
• Broadly assess current coping capacities, existing partnerships and strategies in mitigating and adapting to climate change [identify current adaptation practices, normative and on-ground adaptation to mitigate adverse climate change impacts, with a cursory overview of relevant government and non-governmental/ development cooperation supported climate change programmes, including GCF, GEF, Adaptation Fund, etc., incl. analysis in terms of their child-responsiveness – sketch engaged climate mitigation measures]
• Analyse and report on observed and expected impact of climate change on children and social service delivery systems [identify or discuss direct physical or psychological/mental impact and indirect impact in terms of disrupted social services, investigating and discussing any correlation between child deprivations and climate change]
• Provide an evidence-based justification for investment in child-responsive climate action
• Make specific suggestions to mitigate the impact of climate change on children in WCAR addressed to Governments, communities, sub-regional organizations, UNICEF, other development partners to inform programme planning.

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

• Masters degree in climate change or any other relevant field
• Minimum 8 years of work experience
• Very good understanding of climate change concepts and knowledge of climate change’s observed/likely multi-sectoral impact
• Good knowledge of climate change related institutional arrangements including main global and regional/African institutions, partners and frameworks
• At least basic understanding of the correlation between climate change and child development
• Good understanding of environmental sustainability and disaster risk reduction is an asset
• Excellent and proven analytical and report writing skills with excellent research capacities including necessary soft skills to obtain information from a multitude of partners including their identification
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate and work in a team
• Fluency in spoken and written English and French is a requirement
• Ability to work under pressure in a multi-cultural environment and deliver quality outputs on time
• Very good knowledge and capacities of key IT-applications including MS-word, MS-excel, Skype, WhatsApp, Zoom, etc.
• Capacities in GIS and data visualization are an asset
• Availability between February and May 2021 (50 non-consecutive working days)
  

For every Child, you demonstrate commitment

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

View our competency framework

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

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.