National consultancy to support UNICEF and GovRT in developing the Tajikistan Children’s Climate Risk Index & Disaster Risk Model (CCRI-DRM), 160 w/ds, Dushanbe, Tajikistan

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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,

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

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 strengthen the resilience and capacity of their communities to adapt essential social services to a changing climate, more frequent/extreme disasters and a degrading environment, a comprehensive child-inclusive subnational 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 and analysis can be used to inform multiple purposes: disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, preparedness planning, and wider development agendas.

The availability of coherent, accessible, and updated information is considered a priority to inform decision makers and promote processes of climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and more sustained and resilient development. Those efforts should be based on a shared analysis of risks, including multiple shocks and stresses threats, both natural and man-made threats, and using an integrated, multi-sectoral approach. This will facilitate planning and prioritization of risk areas and a better understanding of the underlying causes of increased risk levels.

Tajikistan has historically been affected by climate shocks and stresses of distinct nature, intensity, and range. Flooding, drought, mudflows, landslides and avalanches are some examples of climate related episodes that have a strong impact across multiple economic and social sectors – affecting almost all regions and the general population. Tajikistan is recognized as vulnerable to climate change impacts due to its particularly high dependence on climate-sensitive natural resources and the country’s low adaptive capacity. As a result, families face loss of livelihoods, children face disruption of education and limited access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene, health and nutrition, and child protection services. Moreover, environmental degradation and climate change exacerbate the occurrence and impact of natural hazards.

According to the National Children’s Climate Risk Index, Tajikistan has a risk level of 5.4, highest in Central Asia. Tajikistan also has the highest risk score (7.6) for droughts in Europe and Central Asia region (ECAR). It is also highly exposed to a range of other climate hazards, including heatwaves, as well as environmental and man-made hazards such as conflict. According to the Climate Risk Index, 1.6 million children at high risk of climate, and the highest in ECAR (calculated as a combination of shocks and child vulnerability). According to estimates, economic losses from weather-related disasters vary from 0.4 to 1.3 percent of Tajikistan’s GDP per annum.

The purpose of this assignment is for a consultant to support UNICEF and the Government of Tajikistan in developing the Tajikistan Children’s Climate Risk Index -Disaster Risk Model (CCRI-DRM) at sub-national level. For this assignment, the consultant will work with UNICEF and relevant government and non-government partners to identify, compile and analyze existing data sources and platforms to capture 1) climate and disaster risk and 2) vulnerability, especially for children, families, and their communities to these risks at the national, regional and district level. Subsequently, an interactive open-source visualization platform presenting the subnational risk model and underlying indicators data will be embedded or developed with support from UNICEF that will assist with prioritization and planning for risk mitigation and adaptation – as well as inform preparedness and investment priorities.

The CCRI-DRM is a composite index that helps to understand and measure the likelihood that climate, environmental and other types of shocks and stresses lead to the erosion of development progress, the deepening of deprivations, and humanitarian crisis that affect children and vulnerable households and groups. It seeks to identify which areas are at risk of deepening child deprivations and humanitarian situations affecting children as a result of their exposure to these shocks and stresses, and to understand the underlying factors that could contribute to these risks.

Emphasis will be placed on the use of the CCRI-DRM assessment model and the interactive platform, providing direct technical assistance to government institutions to include child sensitive climate and disaster risk data and analysis in their planning and programming procedures.

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF is seeking a dedicated, proactive consultant to work closely with UNICEF country team, and government and non-government partners to develop a theoretical framework for the CCRI-DRM model, facilitating the identification of indicator data sets and the construction of the CCRI-DRM index indicators and model with government line ministries, and the preparation of tools, procedures, and documentations for the development of the CCRI-DRM. Once risk is understood and informed by data, high level sectoral briefs will need to be prepared to inform sector priorities for the mainstreaming of climate resilience and mitigation/adaptation investments.

DUTY STATION/DURATION:

Duration: 160 working days (January - October 2024)

Duty station: Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Supervisor: Emergency Specialist, UNICEF Tajikistan

The overall objectives of the CCRI-DRM are to support the establishment of a national-led, multistakeholder framework on the nexus between children’s climate and disaster risks and the development of their full potential in Tajikistan. The CCRI-DRM subnational assessment is envisaged to capture the following components: • A subnational Children’s Climate Risk Index - Disaster Risk Model for Tajikistan; • An interactive platform making the CCRI-DRM model and underlying indicator data, as well as other relevant indicators open source and publicly accessible. • A multi-stakeholder technical platform guiding the production and update of the CCRI-DRM and the analysis and use of its’ results. • A CCRI-DRM analytical report to support the alignment and coordination of planning and programming efforts of national actors with informed by identified child vulnerabilities and risks from climate, environmental and other shocks and stresses and climate changes. • The promotion and facilitation of the use of evidence on climate, environmental and disaster risks to support climate change mitigation and adaptation, emergency preparedness and response, disaster risk reduction, resilient development.

The initiative will support Tajikistan to respond to the need for an integrated child-sensitive disaster risk information system and platform for governmental institutions at national and subnational levels. The CCRI-DRM platform will bring together data from different sources that already exist across various institutions and subsequently provide humanitarian and development partners up-to-date, context-specific information at subnational level on children’s vulnerabilities, including those related to health, education, water, sanitation and hygiene, child protection and social protection, and their exposure to climate, environmental and other natural and anthropogenic hazards, shocks and stresses and disasters. This will allow for the development of tailored preparedness, mitigation, and response mechanisms informed by subnational risk data and analysis.

Work Assignment:

The consultant will support the development and implementation of the first version of the Tajikistan subnational CCRI-DRM assessment and interactive platform, from building stakeholder arrangements, conceptual design, consolidation of the CCRI-DRM indicator data through to the construction of index, including series of consultations and trainings of key national partners.

The detailed list of work assignment deliverables is available at the following link

S/he will work under the general guidance and supervision of the Emergency Specialist and engage and work closely with UNICEF programme sector focal points /Climate, Energy, Environment and DRR (CEED) Task Team and government and non-government partners to carry out the following specific tasks: • Support the establishment of a multi-stakeholder Technical Working Group (TWG) to guide and facilitate the development of the CCRI-DRM, while also supporting a lead (or co-leads) in engaging and facilitating inputs of other relevant line ministries, institutions, and partners. This may among others include supporting the lead (or co-leads) and Technical Working Group with the development of a concept note, ToR and work plan, meeting agendas, data sharing agreements. • Conduct a participatory diagnosis of national capacities to provide reliable, objective, timely and sustainable information to feed the CCRI-DRM model and interactive platform. • Conduct research and review existing tools and sources of shocks and stresses, exposure and vulnerability data and information and work with respective Government and Non-Government partners to identify existing risk factors and available indicators and data sources for the construction of the subnational CCRI-DRM model. • Facilitate and support the development of the theoretical framework of the country’s subnational CCRI -DRM model and the establishment of indicators and data sources, based on that of the global Children’s Climate Risk Index in consultation with the TWG and relevant other stakeholders. • Facilitate and support the development and implementation of the first version of the Tajikistan subnational CCRI-DRM model in close collaboration with the TWG, including collection, compilation and cleaning of secondary indicator data; establishing data sharing mechanisms, procedures and tools; constructing the model indices and documenting metadata; managing a review and validation process with the TWG and other stakeholders and making necessary revisions to the model; preparing documentation of the model and it’s results; and presenting and explaining the model and results to TWG and associated stakeholders. • Support complementary sectoral analysis to support sector decision making. • Work in close collaboration with the TWG and UNICEF information management team throughout the process and deliver training so they are able to maintain the model and interactive platform and make updates and adjustments in the future.

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

• Education: A university Degree in Social Sciences, Data Science, Statistics, Public Policy, Development, or related degree areas of work.
• Work experience: At least 3 years of relevant professional experience related to the development of information systems, management and analysis of quantitative data. Experience in the statistical systems, data exchange and information sharing mechanisms/structures; with this experience related to climate and disaster risk management areas a strong asset. Extensive experience in data analyses and modelling. Knowledge of national and local governance and climate change and disaster risk management, and of the systems in place to respond to risk and vulnerability. Experience of working with government partners including relevant line Ministries and stakeholders including UN agencies. Experience in facilitating inter-institutional working groups and coordination mechanisms with multiple members and associated stakeholders. Proficiency with Microsoft Excel. Analysis skills and quantitative and qualitative synthesis of information. Experience in researching and preparing written analytical reports in an accurate, concise, and timely manner. Experience in organization, facilitation, systematization, and presentation of results. Skills for facilitating and managing training processes.Experience working with open-source GIS technology is an asset.
• Languages: Excellent oral and written Russian and English skills.

Interested candidates shall submit the following documents:

1. Profile (CV) 2. Technical proposal describing approach/methodology to achieve the tasks of The ToR, workplan with concrete timeframes 3. At least 2 papers / concept notes previously developed by the candidate or when candidate provided substantial inputs to the documents 4. Financial proposal in TJS indicting fee per day plus travel costs as per Travel Plan and DSA: Travel within Dushanbe and one trip to the regional centers; DSA: 20 days.

• Applications without technical and financial proposals will not be considered.

Those who have applied already, no need to re-apply. Your qualification will be considered accordingly.

Applications must be received in the system by 2 January 2024 on UNICEF website.

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.