Consultant, Research on the impact of climate, energy, and environment issues on children’s rights, Brasilia, Brazil

Consultant Programme & Policy

Contract

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BACKGROUND & RATIONALE

Climate change, energy access, environmental degradation, and disaster risk reduction are equity issues, with children and young people often being the most vulnerable and affected. Addressing climate change, energy access and environmental degradation is therefore vital for building a more sustainable future for children. In addition, it is imperative that climate actions are well aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and humanitarian responses to ensure that the achievement of these don’t cause unintended harm to the environment.

The UNICEF Strategic Plan 2018-2021 has harnessed the principles of leaving no one behind and reaching the furthest behind first. Each of the five Outcome Areas of the Strategic Plan (Every child survives and thrives; Every child learns; Every child is protected from violence and exploitation; Every child lives in a safe and clean environment; and Every child has an equitable chance in life) is affected in some way by climate change and/or environmental degradation. Fortunately, each one of UNICEF’s working areas also provides opportunities to act on climate, energy and/or the environment in order to deliver more sustainable results. There are major implications of climate change, lack of energy access and environmental degradation for children and UNICEF has strong potential to strengthen the response to these issues. Climate and environment issues have also been integrated in one of the five main outcome areas of the draft of the new strategic plan (2022- 2025). In Brazil, in 2021, the UN system produced a Common Country Analysis (CCA) that included a chapter on climate change and the environment, calling attention to the relevance of those issues for the sustainable development cooperation framework and for Brazil. This decision has been solidified by the Executive Board members in February 2017 by their adoption of the roadmap for the new strategic plan which uses the SDGs as a long-term framework.

Brazil is hugely important to any discussion regarding climate change and environmental degradation. Not only is the country one of the largest in the world in size, population, and Gross domestic product - GDP, but within the country’s borders lay the majority of the Amazon rainforest, an ecosystem that is absolutely crucial for global climate. The country has environmental rights enshrined in its Constitution and has long been a key actor in international agreements on these issues, with a complex set of laws and institutions set up to guarantee environmental preservation. The implementation of those has long been a challenge, which has recently been compounded by policies with little concern for environmental priorities and needs.

UNICEF Brazil is planning to conduct a Climate Landscape Analysis for Children, examining the baseline situation of climate, energy and environment-related issues affecting children and how they relate to UNICEF’s priorities. The report looks at stakeholders, government policies, relevant programmes from civil society and other international agencies, and existing initiatives from the private sector. It will also provide recommendations on how UNICEF Brazil can ensure that child rights are adequately integrated in the next UNSDCF, while also could further incorporate and strengthen work on climate, energy, disaster risk reduction, and environment-related issues in its country programme.

PURPOSE

The consultant supports the UNICEF Brazil focal points on Climate Change in producing a Climate Landscape Analysis for Children (CLAC) for Brazil. They will be responsible for collecting, compiling, and reviewing key resources and coordinating the information gathering and review processes. In addition, the incumbent will prepare the study by researching specific issues and drafting individual sections. The consultant will liaise with the climate, energy, environment, and disaster reduction specialists in the regional office and Headquarters, as needed.

EXPECTED RESULTS:

1. Compile and systematize evidence and research related to energy, environment, and climate change issues in Brazil

• Identify the primary climate change, energy, and environmental hazards and issues in Brazil
• Compile and systematize key policy documents related to climate, energy, environment, and disaster risk reduction (e.g. National Development Plan, Medium-term Socio-economic Policy Framework, NDC, NAP, NAMA, Climate Change Policy Framework, UN Country Sustainable Development Framework) and UNICEF’s global and regional corporate priorities
• Identify and compile information on ongoing programmes, systems, and key active stakeholders (from public, private, and social sector, including all levels of government and others) related to energy, environment, and climate change in Brazil, with special focus on how (or whether) they include children and adolescents as active stakeholders and/or promote children’s voices.
• Review and identify major documents and actions from other actors in the UN system in Brazil related to climate, energy, environment, and disaster reduction, with focus on the development of the next UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for the country
• Identify the major impacts of the private sector (including public-owned companies) on climate change and environmental degradation in Brazil, in particular in the sectors of energy, agriculture, mining and other extractive industries, transport, construction, including identifying the major business actors of energy and water suppliers.
• Explore bottlenecks which impede climate action, considering policies, institutional arrangements, budgeting, capacities, planning and monitoring, private sector actions and advocacy and enabling environment

2. Compile and systematize research on the impact of climate change on children

• Review guidance materials and previous CLACs prepared in other UNICEF offices
• Compile and systematize literature related to climate change, energy, and environment issues affecting children in Brazil
• Analyze current status of strategic policies at federal, regional, state, and municipal level on energy, environment, and climate change and the linkages with children
• Identify and collect data and information gaps related to children, environment, climate, and energy issues, including negative impacts of the private sectors

3. Recommendations on possible entry points for the inclusion of issues related to climate change in UNICEF’s new Country Programme

• Identify possible entry points for UNICEF Brazil’s interventions related to, climate, energy, and environment, considering current work and possible strategic partnerships and comparative advantages
• Identify and make recommendations on:
• How the findings of the study can help UNICEF position the impact of climate change on children within the context of Brazil’s environmental policies, both at the national and subnational (state and municipal) levels.
• How UNICEF can introduce its engagement and partnership in climate actions in the social sectors such as education, health and nutrition, child protection, early childhood development, social protection, and WASH.
• How UNICEF can improve its engagement and partnership in climate actions with the private sector, in line with the strategy of “harness the power of business for children”, considering all potential modalities of engagement (Core business and assets, advocacy, financing, changing business practices).
• How to build resilience of vulnerable communities through climate change response, ecosystem preservation and livelihood protection.
• Opportunities and recommendations on engagement with youth organizations and youth voices around those issues.

4. Research and writing support

• Lead the desk review of the collected information
• Summarize research and draft individual sections of the CLAC
• Lead the preparation of and conduct interviews and meetings with stakeholders by drafting questions and presentations as needed
• Conduct additional research to fill data gaps and answer specific questions as needed
• Ensure that the quality of the document meets the UNICEF standards of CLACs

5. Overall editorial support

• Fact checking, editing, and checking of references as needed
• Coordinate the internal and external review process and the incorporation of comments

6. Administrative and planning support

• Lead the organization of regular stakeholder meetings: especially i) at the beginning to understand sector priorities, and ii) towards the end for the report validation

DELIVERABLES

Inception Report & Analysis of Existing Data

Review of guidance materials and previous CLACs prepared in other UNICEF offices

Preparation of literature list for the CLAC & review of guidance documents

Review of background and rationale for UNICEF involvement and comparative advantage in the issues of disaster risk reduction, climate change and environment degradation.

Submission of Inception Report including proposed timelines.

# 7 days from the contract start date.

15% of Payment

Report, part I – Policies and stakeholders’ mapping

Mapping of stakeholders (from public, private, and social sector, including all levels of government and other UN agencies) active in the fields of disaster risk reduction, climate change, energy, and environment in Brazil, with those directly addressing children’s issues separately highlighted.

Compilation and systematization of key policy documents

Analysis of current policies

# 15 days from the contract start date

20% of Payment

Report, part II – Current programmes, gaps, and bottlenecks

Mapping of ongoing programmes on climate change, energy, environment, and disaster risk reduction in Brazil

Analysis of major impacts of the private sector on climate change and the environment in Brazil

Analysis of data and research gaps regarding children and climate, energy, environment, and disaster risk issues affecting them

Analysis of bottlenecks which impede climate action considering policies, institutional arrangements, budgeting, capacities, planning and monitoring, sector engagement and enabling environment.

# 15 days from the contract start date

20% of Payment

Report, part III – Strategies for UNICEF Brazil

Strategic recommendations on possible entry points for UNICEF Brazil’s interventions related to disaster risk reduction, climate, and environment.

Strategic recommendations on how UNICEF can introduce its engagement and partnership in climate actions in the social sectors such as education, health and nutrition, child protection, early childhood development, social protection, and WASH and on engagement with youth organizations and youth voices around those issues.

Strategic recommendations on how UNICEF can improve its engagement and partnership in climate actions with the private sector.

# 20 days from the contract start date

20% of Payment

Data Analysis & Report Writing

Internal and external review processes coordinated, and comments addressed with submission of first full draft report

Stakeholder meeting facilitated to present draft using PPT presentation.

Regular internal UNICEF meetings facilitated to understand organization priorities and present advanced draft

Formatted and referenced final report submitted (final report should include executive summary)

# 20 days from the contract start date

25% of Payment

KEY COMPETENCES, TECHNICAL BACKGROUND, AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED DEADLINE

• Advanced university degree in geography, environmental science, natural resource management, meteorology, social and economic development, or related areas. Alternatively, a degree in communications or journalism with demonstrated expertise on environment and climate change-related issues can also be considered.
• Strong experience with issues related to climate change and environment is highly desirable.
• Excellent writing skills required
• Strong research skills required
• 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, PFP, CRB) is required.

KEY COMPETENCES

• Builds and maintains partnerships
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Innovates and embraces change
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Works collaboratively with others

CORE VALUES

1. Care
2. Respect
3. Integrity
4. Trust
5. AccountabilitY

GENERAL CONDITIONS: PROCEDURES AND LOGISTICS

• Consultant will work from home using own equipment and stationery. UNICEF will provide office space for consultative meetings when needed.
• Expenses related to travels (if any) will be covered by UNICEF and paid to the contractor as per UNICEF travel rules and regulations.
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant
• The consultant will not have supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNICEF budget.

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

• Costs indicated are estimated. Final rate shall follow “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee.
• A financial proposal including the fee for the assignment based on the deliverables and number of days must be submitted. Consultants are asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.
• The payment will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

INSURANCE AND HEALTH COVERAGE

• The consultant is fully responsible for arranging, at his or her own expenses life, health and other forms of insurance covering the term of the contract as he or she considers appropriate.
• The consultant is not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to UNICEF and United Nations staff members.

RESTRICTIONS

• Consultants may not receive training at the expense of UNICEF. Notwithstanding, consultants must complete the applicable mandatory trainings.
• In case of government officials, the contract cannot be issued without prior written clearance by the Government, or unless on leave without pay.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious and ethnic backgrounds, representing the diversity of Brazil, such as black and indigenous people, to apply to become a part of our organization. Candidates will be equally considered regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, social and HIV/aids status.

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Added 2 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: unicef.org