Children and Climate-Induced Relocation Consultancy, Suva, Fiji, 120 Days

Contract

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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, safety.

In the Pacific we work in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu: These 14 Pacific island countries are home to 2.3 million people, including 1.2 million children and youth, living on more than 660 islands and atolls stretching across 17.2 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean, an area comparable to the combined size of the United States of America and Canada. Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu are classified as Fragile States according to World Bank/OECD criteria.

All 14 Pacific Island countries and territories have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, but only a third are on track with reporting obligations. Explore the different areas of our work in the link provided here www.unicef.org/pacificislands.

Background of Assignment:

The Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) are among the most affected and vulnerable areas to the impacts of climate change. While its collective greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions account for less than 0.01 per cent of global emissions, the Pacific region is at the frontline of the adverse impacts of climate change. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Pacific region is being affected by rising temperatures, a larger proportion of the most intense tropical cyclones, storm surges, droughts, changes in precipitation patterns, sea level rise, coral bleaching and invasive species, all of which are already detectable across both natural and human systems.

Pacific SIDS are already reporting losses and damages caused by recurrent climate-related disasters and events, including impacts on access to safe water and sanitation and education, exacerbated food and nutritional insecurity and disease transmission. The impacts of both slow onset and sudden onset climate and environmental events and disasters contributing to mobility. Climate-induced migration and displacement are expected to increase throughout the region, creating a situation that may lead to a humanitarian crisis. Even with major progress to mitigate the impacts of climate change, migration will continue to be an adaptation strategy, particularly in the case where climate change impedes economic opportunities and interacts with conflict and fragility.

While all members of society are facing the impacts of climate change, children are uniquely vulnerable to death and damage. Children are psychologically and physically more vulnerable to the direct and indirect impacts of climate change and environmental hazards. Children who move in the context of climate change may be exposed to a variety of risks, such as abuse, trafficking, exploitation and other forms of maltreatment. They may lose access to education, health services, be forced into labour and endure poor living conditions.

Although it is not the preferred solution, the Fijian government acknowledges that planned relocations have become necessary due to the increasing severity of climate-related disasters and the uninhabitability of affected areas. Fiji has been implementing efforts to develop policies and strategies for adapting to climate change challenges, including the planned relocation of communities as an option of last resort. In 2023 the Government of Fiji launched the Standard Operating Procedures for Planned Relocation (SOP), reflecting their commitment to effectively respond to the increasing need for the relocation of its communities driven by the impacts of climate change. In this context there is an urgency to ensure that the rights of the children are protected and fulfilled before, during and after planned relocations take place. At present, a total of 42 communities and 3 schools are planned for relocation with detailed mapping of service availability and proximity will form part of the process for relocations.

The Climate Change Act and the SOP for Planned Relocations established the Fijian Taskforce on Relocation and Displacement (FTRD), a body which plays an important steering and coordinating role for all initiatives and processes related to planned relocation, including the provision of resources from their Ministries and mobilisation of technical teams. The Taskforce will also monitor the implementation of the SOP to ensure that the processes are followed, to assess relocation requests and recommend approvals based on the conditions of the SOP. The FTRD is chaired by the Climate Change Division and made up of Directors of key government ministries and it is required to consult with the FTRD on approvals for relocation.

In collaboration with Fiji Climate Change Division (CCD) and the Fijian Taskforce on Relocation and Displacement, UNICEF has committed to provide technical support to develop a checklist for sector specific technicians to ensure that the rights and needs of the children are considered, protected and fulfilled in planned relocations before, during and after it happens. The checklist will complement more detailed SOPs providing a practical tool for staff to ensure delivery on commitments. Although general guidance is useful, the checklist would offer a more practical and lighter tool for field personnel identified by Government, NGO’s and civil society. Evidence has shown that such tools can help to operationalize broader guidance into action and guarantee actions match ideals. This tool will be accompanied by an orientation package and training will be provided to the staff involved in the climate-induced relocations (from planning to implementation evaluation stages) to build their capacities in the use of the tool and raise awareness on the rights of the children.

How can you make a difference?

Under the guidance of the Chief Child Protection, and in coordination from focal points from all sections/sectors, and under leadership of key actors across the Government of Fiji, including all relevant Ministries, the Children and Climate-Induced Relocation Specialist will develop a checklist that will guide the government staff to ensure that the rights and wellbeing of the children are considered, protected and fulfilled in the planned relocations before, during and after it happens. The Check List will be developed in such a way as to maximise participation from local communities and directly from children to ensure material and approach are fit for purpose. This will be based on a synthesis of the existing SOP and an identification of needs and standards relevant for key sectors including Health, Education, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Child Protection. The checklist will be developed in such a way as to maximise participation from local communities and directly from children to ensure material and approach are fit for purpose. Material will be developed to be useful for overall coordination staff as well as sectoral staff working at division and province level including Government as well as Non-Governmental and Civil Society.

Please refer to the ToR for further information on the deliverables and the timelines

GUIDANCE FOR APPLICANTS

• Please submit a separate financial offer along with your application. The financial proposal should be a lump sum amount for all the deliverables and should show a break down for the following:
  • Monthly / Daily fees– based on the deliverables in the Terms of Reference above
  • Travel (economy air ticket where applicable to take up assignment and field mission travel
  • Living allowance where travel is required
  • Miscellaneous- to cover visa, health insurance (including medical evacuation for international consultants), communications, and other costs.

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

• An Advanced University degree in international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, economics, international law, and other social science fields is required.
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in social development planning and management in child protection and/or other related areas at the international level, some of which preferably were served in a developing country, is required.
• Relevant experience in child protection and other sectors in humanitarian action, and related areas, program/project development, and management in a UN system agency or organization is an asset.
• Experience in migration and forced displacement is an asset.
• Experience in both development and humanitarian contexts is an added advantage.
• Experience working in the UN system agency or UN organization is an asset.
• Proven ability to work independently under difficult conditions.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here

Remarks:

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors 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.

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.

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.

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