Consultant Climate Landscape Analysis for Children In Guinea-Bissau, Bissau

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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.

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Background and Justification:

UNICEF works towards the realization of the rights of children as prescribed in the Convention of the Rights of the Child. Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time, disrupting livelihoods by changing migration patterns and halting development progress, particularly in the fields of health, nutrition, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), education, child protection and social protection, bringing with it new crises due to extreme weather and changing disease patterns. The climate crisis is a child rights crisis .

Climate change impacts in Guinea-Bissau

Climate change is an imminent threat to children in Guinea Bissau, not only because of the projected frequency of extreme weather events but also because of the country’s low human development index and fragility. According to UNICEF 2021 Children’s Climate Risk Index (CCRI), which analyzes 1) countries’ exposure to climate and environmental hazards, shocks and stresses; and 2) child vulnerability, Guinea Bissau holds a score of 8.4, ranking 4th out of the 163 countries covered in the Index. Children in Guinea-Bissau are considered at “extremely high” risk to the impacts of climate change, given their physical and psychosocial vulnerability, and disruption to services essential for their development.

In particular, the CCRI highlights coastal flooding as a major environmental hazard in Guinea-Bissau. As a small island developing state (SIDS), the coastal zone covers two-thirds of the country’s land area, and approximately half of the child population (47 percent) live in areas with coastal flood risk. Sea-level rise, coastal erosion, and floods have a substantial impact on coastal populations, particularly in lower altitudes. Saltwater intrusion is a major driver of water scarcity, while ocean acidification is reducing marine productivity and fish supplies, threatening food security and exarcebating malnutrition.

Air pollution poses a significant threat to child health in Guinea Bissau. Poor air quality in Guinea-Bissau is driven by agricultural processing, vehicle emissions and waste burning. Associated health risks for children include respiratory infections, chronic illnesses, and early mortality. The leading drivers of soil and water pollution in Guinea-Bissau, include the use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides in agriculture, as well as the release of hazardous industrial waste into the environment. According to the CCRI, over half of the country’s population under the age of 20 are exposed to lead pollution (54 percent), which can have devastating impacts on physical and neurological development.

Close to 1 million children are estimated to live in areas exposed to waterborne and vector-borne diseases in Guinea Bissau, such as malaria, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. During periods of flooding, transmission rates increase because stagnant flood water creates favourable mosquito breeding grounds.

Climate change has devastating consequences for WASH infrastructure, causing incalculable damage to systems in both water access and sanitation services. The degradation of water resources due to pollution, overuse and climate change, such as rising sea levels, is increasingly affecting access to safe drinking water.

Response to climate change

The Government of Guinea Bissau’s National Development Development Plan Hora Tchinga (2020-2023) will soon be followed by a new short-term development plan, offering an opportunity to stock-take on how climate related risks are integrated into the government’s planning frameworks, including revisions to sectoral policies and plans, notably in education, WASH, health, nutrition and social protection. Equally, it is important to assess the extent to which child rights are integrated in national Climate, Environment, Energy and Disaster Risk Reduction (CEED) plans and strategies.

On the global stage, rhe United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child adopted in September 2023 the breakthrough General Comment No. 26 on Children’s Rights and the Environment with a Special Focus on Climate Change , emphasizing the urgent need to address the adverse effects of environmental degradation, with a special focus on climate change, on the enjoyment of children’s rights, and promote a holistic understanding of children’s rights as they apply to environmental protection. The 28th Conference of the Parties (COP 28), organized in Dubai from 29 November to 12 December 2023, will be another important milestone to uphold children’s rights in the face of the climate crisis, particularly as it relates to discussions over the establishment of a Loss and Damage Fund, agreed upon in principle by all parties at COP 27.

As a SIDS, Guinea-Bissau has no other option than climate resilience, a commitment that is expected to be reiterated at the occasion of the Fourth SIDS Conference (SIDS), hosted Antigua and Barbuda in May 2024, with the aim to agree on a "bold new Programme of Action for SIDS, with concrete, measurable, targets to support SIDS to achieve their sustainable development objectives over the next ten years”..

Internally, UNICEF’s commitment to protecting the environment for children is encapsulated in the soon to be released Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (SCAP), which outlines UNICEF’s organizational response to the climate crisis as well as focus areas for action and partnerships. The SCAP, amongst other elements points to the importance of engaging young people in actions related to protection the environment and addressing effects of climate change.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment: Working under the supervision of the Representative, and in close collaboration with the Deputy Representative and programme sections and the technical reference group, the consultant will undertake a Climate Landscape Analysis for Children (CLAC) in Guinea Bissau to present a baseline assessment of the overall climate, environment, energy and disaster risk reduction (CEED) landscape in the country, with regards to data, policy, programming, gaps and actors, and how they relate to children in order to identify priority areas for further analysis and action. Examples of CLAC across countries can be found here.

The CLAC will review stakeholders, government policies and relevant programmes in Guinea-Bissau that can support advocacy and identify areas for further research to promote child-responsive approaches to climate action Guinea-Bissau. It will also provide recommendations on how UNICEF Country Office in Guinea-Bissau and its partners could further incorporate and strengthen work on CEED issues, in support of UNICEF 2022-2026 country programme.

How can you make a difference?

Scope of Work:

The consultant will be responsible for collecting, compiling and reviewing key resources and coordinating the information gathering and review processes. In addition, the incumbent will also provide overall support in preparing the study by researching specific issues and drafting individual sections. He/she will also be informed about CLAC “best practices” by UNICEF Country Office, which will share guidance material and liaise with CEED teams in UNICEF West and Central Africa Regional Office (WCARO) and headquarters.

The consultant will:

1. Conduct a literature review for the CLAC & review guidance documents (global and regional guidance and literature on the UNICEF-Guinea Bissau 2022-2026 Programme of Cooperation and debrief with UNICEF, a technical committee for the CLAC and other partners on the workplan, desk review and methodology).
2. Develop an inception report including a detailed workplan for the assignment
3. Conduct mapping and analysis of stakeholders active in the field of climate change in Guinea Bissau, with those directly addressing children’s issues highlighted separately
4. Analyse all ongoing programmes on climate change in Guinea Bissau and analyse strategic opportunities for the Government and UNICEF Guinea Bissau in programming on child-responsive climate action.
5. Analyse data and evidence regarding children and CEED issues affecting them
6. Facilitate different technical consultations with UNICEF programme sections and with external partners (including children and youth) to collect their inputs and perspectives about the study
7. Draft the report and share with the programme team
8. Validate the report with both internal and external stakeholders at the occasion of a workshop and finalize the report
9. Develop a policy brief and PPT

Expected Deliverables

1. Inception report including a detailed workplan approved by UNICEF Guinea Bissau Country Office
2. Analytical literature review
3. Report summarizing the stakeholder analysis and mapping in the field of climate change in Guinea Bissau, with a stronger focus on high-potential partners (programme and resource) who have been addressing children’s and communities’ issues in relation to climate priorities and strategies
4. Analysis of ongoing programmes on climate change in Guinea-Bissau with highlighted strategic opportunities for children and communities and climate change programmes
5. Analysis of data and evidence with key information and knowledge gaps identified, and recommended actions to fulfil the gaps
6. Views and perspectives of both internal and external stakeholders collected and comments addressed
7. Draft CLAC report available in English for final consultation with both internal and external stakeholders
8. Validation workshop
9. Final CLAC report
10. 3-page summary of key findings and recommendations and 1 power-point presentation (max. 15 slides)
11. Child-friendly summary/presentation of the CLAC

Work Types:

The Consultant will work in the first part of the consultancy in the country of residence, and a trip of at least 8 working days in Guinea-Bissau, where he will visit some regions to better understand the climate situation and its impact on children's lives.

Payment Schedule: Payment of professional fees will be based upon submission of agreed timely satisfactory deliverables.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION PROCESS

Interested consultants should provide the following:

• Cover letter describing the candidate’s relevant experience with similar type of assignments
• A Technical Proposal. The candidate should submit a proposal explaining the methodology or approach on how to deliver the assignment as per the TORs including field visits. Candidates must annex their CV and three references to the proposal.
• A Financial Offer. The candidates are required to submit their financial offer including all costs related to this consultancy (fees, travel, DSA for field mission)

The final selection will be based on the principle of “best value for money” i.e., achieving desired outcome at lowest possible fee.

Work Assignments Overview 1: Available detailed workplan agreed by UNICEF / Analytical literature review Deliverables 1

Deliverables/Outputs: Available detailed workplan agreed by UNICEF / Literature review

Delivery Deadline: 12 working days

Work Assignments Overview 2: All the task from 3 to 8 listed above

Deliverables/Outputs: All the remaining deliverables (from 3 to 8) with final products as below:

• English for final consultation with both internal and external stakeholders
• Draft report available and approved by UNICEF

Delivery Deadline: 21 working days

Work Assignments Overview 3:

• Final report available with a 3 pager summary of key findings and recommendations and 1 powerpoint presentation (max. 15 slides)
• 3-page summary of key findings and recommendations and 1 power-point presentation (max. 15 slides)

Deliverables/Outputs:

• Final report available with a 3-pager summary of key findings and recommendations and a Child Friendly version
• 1 power-point presentation (max.15 slides)

Delivery Deadline: 12 working days

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

• Advanced university degree in geography, environmental science, natural resource management, social and economic development, or related areas. Alternatively, an advanced degree in communications or journalism with demonstrated expertise on environment-related issues can also be considered.
• Minimum of five years of working experience in a relevant field
• Experience in working with an international aid organization is highly desired
• Experience in West Africa and in the SIDS will be an asset.
• Demonstrated expertise in child rights or any of UNICEF’s main areas of work (health, WASH, nutrition, child protection, social policy, education, gender, HIV/AIDS) is considered an asset
• Fluency in English (or French) is required. Knowledge of Portuguese is an asset.

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.

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.

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.

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.