Data Analyst and model developer for the Children’s Climate Risk Index – Disaster Risk Model (CCRI-DRM) subnational risk assessment. Req

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Vacancy Announcement: Consultant

Consultancy Title: Data Analyst and model developer for the Children’s Climate Risk Index – Disaster Risk Model (CCRI-DRM) subnational risk assessment.

Section/Division/Duty Station: WASH - Programme Group - NYHQ

Duration: 15 September 2023 - 15 December 2024

Home/ office Based: REMOTE

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

Disasters, climate change, and environmental degradation present significant and escalating threats to the well-being of children globally. In order to protect the lives, health and well-being of children and the resilience of their communities to adapt essential social services to a changing climate, more frequent/extreme disasters and a degrading environment, comprehensive child-centred risk assessment along with data systems and policies that work across development and disaster management to identify and prioritize the most vulnerable children and services are needed. This data can be used to inform multiple purposes: disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, preparedness planning, and wider development agendas.

UNICEF and the United States Bureau for Humanitarian Affairs is scaling up a partnership initiative which also builds on UNICEF’s Children’s Climate Risk Index (CCRI) and aims to identify most vulnerable children to and the (lack of) capacities of the most critical services (WASH, healthcare, nutrition, education, social protection, child protection) to withstand the impacts of hazards at a subnational level through available data, assessment of data gaps, and integrate these findings into major existing global / regional /national platforms.

Moving into its next phase, the Children’s Climate Risk Index – Disaster Risk Model (CCRI-DRM) subnational risk assessment” will build on work conducted in Stage I and will add between five to seven additional countries to the initiative.

UNICEF is seeking a dedicated, proactive consultant to lead the data analysis and model development of the subnational CCRI-DRM. The assignment will be conducted with guidance and engagement from UNICEF colleagues working in sections of Programme Group and teams in divisions concerned with Data, Planning, and Geospatial analysis for Emergency Risk Analysis and Preparedness. The consultant’s responsibilities are detailed in the scope of work below.

Scope of Work:

The consultant is expected to perform the following tasks:

1. Technical guidance and methodological support provided to the development of the seven country models

• Guide UNICEF CO teams of the seven countries to gather, clean and organize relevant climate-related and child vulnerability data
• Collaborate with the UNICEF geospatial team to identify climate-related hazard and population layers and construct (child) population exposure indicators for the subnational models
• Guide the data analysis, development of the framework and construction of the composite risk models to estimate CCRI-DRM indicators

2. Collaborate with UNICEF colleagues and regional advisers to ensure the inclusion of relevant local data and contextual information in the CCRI-DRM analysis.

• Guide UNICEF CO colleagues and regional advisers to identify relevant local data sources and collect available indicator datasets; to facilitate data sharing and integration between different stakeholders; and, to incorporate the local data and contextual information into the CCRI-DRM analysis

3. Guide the development and consolidation of maps to communicate the CCRI-DRM findings effectively, highlighting subnational variations and key risk areas.

• Support the design and creation of visualizations and maps that accurately represent the subnational variations and key risk areas, and review and refine the visualizations based on feedback from stakeholders

4. Guide and support COs to prepare detailed documentation of the data sources, methodologies, and assumptions used in the CCRI-DRM analysis

• Guide the documentation of the sources and acquisition process of the data used in the CCRI-DRM analysis, the description of the methodologies and models employed, and the compilation of all documentation for the country models

5. Identify data gaps and make recommendations for improving data collection, management, and monitoring systems to enhance the accuracy and timeliness of the CCRI-DRM analysis.

• Conduct a comprehensive review of the existing data collection and management systems, identify data gaps and limitations, and develop recommendations for improving data collection, management, and monitoring systems.

6. Collaborate with UNICEF sections to identify opportunities for integrating the CCRI-DRM findings into sector-specific programs and policies.

• Engage with UNICEF sections to understand their programs and policies
• Analyze the CCRI-DRM findings, identify relevant integration points within sector-specific programs and policies, and collaborate with the respective teams to develop strategies and action plans for integrating CCRI-DRM findings

7. Guide and support CO’s on the presentation of the CCRI-DRM findings and recommendations to relevant stakeholders

• Guide the preparation of comprehensive CO reports, presentations, and visual materials summarizing the CCRI-DRM findings, methodologies, and recommendations for sharing with relevant stakeholders.

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Deliverable 1: Seven country models developed including validation and refinement through stakeholder workshops and analysis of the consistency of the models. Comprehensive and tailored guidance materials, along with supplementary training materials, developed based on specific country requirements. The deliverables will include 7 detailed reports documenting the nature and extent of the provided support for seven countries. – By 30 June 2024

Deliverable 2: Interim progress report developed, formatted for donor templates. – By 30 June 2024

Deliverable 3: Combined consolidated dataset integrating local data and contextual information for seven countries. - By 31 July 2024

Deliverable 4: Report containing visually engaging maps and graphics for distribution. – By 31 Aug 2024

Deliverable 5: Report detailing the comprehensive documentation of data sources, methodologies, data collection process and quality assurance procedures, and assumptions for the CO models. - 30 Sept 2024

Deliverable 6: Data gap analysis report highlighting identified gaps, limitations, and recommendations outlining strategies to improve data collection and management systems. - 31 Oct 2024

Deliverable 7: Joint report outlining integration opportunities for CCRI-DRM findings in sector-specific programs. By 30 Nov 2024

Deliverable 8: Executive summary report summarizing CCRI-DRM findings, recommendations, and key highlights. – By 15 December 2024

Deliverable 9: Package of CO presentation slides and materials for CCRI-DRM findings developed. – By 15 December 2024

Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s level; Advanced degree in data analysis, data science or related majors

Work experience:

• At least 10 years of experience in data analysis and modeling
• Previous work experience in building risk index with international organizations is an advantage
• Demonstrated experience in facilitating participatory processes and stakeholder consultations
• Experience applying rigor to data specifically applied to climate change and disasters, with an understanding of DRR, CCA

Competencies:

• Excellent analytical skills
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Fluent in English, both written and spoken.

Requirements:

Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and

• Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :
  • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability
• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory 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.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.

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

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

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:

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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.