National consultant for conducting study on youth (including children) and climate policy and action in Azerbaijan (Home based; duration March-May 2022/20 working 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, protection

Climate change has become the most challenging development issue of the twenty-first century. UNICEF recognizes that climate change poses a direct threat to children and young people’s ability to survive, grow and expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. While children, adolescents and youth are among the most vulnerable to disasters, climate disruption, energy deficiency, and environmental degradation, they are also powerful agents of change. In 2020, UNICEF supported more than 760,000 young people around the world to participate in or lead, offline and online civic initiatives on climate, environment, energy, and DRR. UNICEF campaigns to engage young people in advocacy and action were active in 106 countries.

In December 2021, the government of Azerbaijan expressed strong interest to the UNICEF Representative to collaborate on water and climate change. It was highlighted that over the past few years, the impacts of climate change on water resources are rapidly increasing and started to cause serious problems for communities. Azerbaijan’s 4th National Communications to the UNFCCC highlighted that the country’s water resources have already declined by 13%, affecting both availability and quality of water for drinking and other purposes. For example, reduced river flow causes the infiltration of seawater upstream in coastal areas. The Minister highlighted the need to thoroughly assess the situation across the country, identify measures and implement these which will likely be a combination of large-scale infrastructure and household level interventions including behavior change.

UNICEF Azerbaijan, through the new Country Programme of Cooperation with the Government (2021-2025), seeks opportunities to expand partnership on Climate Change. As the first step, a study on youth engagement in climate policy and action in Azerbaijan will be conducted.

In addition, outcome 3: Integrated Youth-friendly Services and gender/social inclusion of the EU funded “Development of Community and Family-based Integrated Social Services for the Most Vulnerable Children in Azerbaijan” project envisages the to support adolescents’ potential, growth, and wellbeing, and to invest in and reinforce the skills, assets and competencies needed to navigate through the changes in their lives. Outputs and activities under this Outcome support the development and implementation of integrated youth-friendly and community-based services to ensure youth and adolescents’ inclusion, participation, and activation at the level of their families, communities and societies at large.

How can you make a difference?

The main purpose of this assignment is to conduct a study on youth (including children) and climate policy and action in Azerbaijan that will serve as the framework for youth engagement as part of the UNICEF Azerbaijan’s climate change programme. It will primarily support the engagement of youth in adaptation and mitigation initiatives and should incorporate intervention strategies that can increase youth participation and ownership on climate action. The national consultant to be recruited for this assignment will be working closely with an international consultant who will be recruited separately.

Scope of Work:

The precise methodology for data collection and analysis and writing the final report will be managed by the international consultant. The national consultant will support the entire study under supervision of the international consultant. Within the assignment the consultants should be engaged in establishing a dialogue with all relevant stakeholders that can contribute to the analysis and development of the comprehensive report.

Guiding questions:

• To what extent does Azerbaijan’s climate change policy reflect issues affecting children/youth?
• To what extent has climate change been integrated in policies and programmes critical to youth and children such as in the sectors health, education, water, social policy, and youth development?
• What are the strengths and capacity building needs for youth related institutions (government, NGOs) to engage in climate change?
• What are the strengths and capacity building needs for climate/environment related institutions (government, NGOs) to engage with youth?
• How can Azerbaijani youth further engage in climate change policy and action?

Major steps to take:

Inception phase:

• Support international consultant in development of inception report including methodologies and data collection tools. Translate relevant tools into Azerbaijani language and conduct pre-test of the tools to adjust to the local context. Also when required translate legislations, extracts from important documents into English to be used by the international consultant for the desk review. Discuss with the international consultant on work plan and timeframe and support in developing the Inception Report.

Data collection and analysis:

• Support the international consultant in Data collection and in-depth desk-review of existing policies and evidence.
• Coordinate a series of interviews with selected local relevant key stakeholders and arrange meetings and interviews for both the international consultant.
• Guided by the international consultant conduct analysis of relevant national context on political, economic, social, technological, and environmental situation through desk review of strategies and planning documents, policies, and budgets.
• Conduct desk review of existing nationally and internationally available data and evidence on selected topics published in studies, research, evaluation, and survey reports. Provide summary in English.

Expected deliverables:

• Adapted tools and inception report l
• Interview arrangements, record of collected data and a summary of key findings in English
• Review and provide country specific inputs to final comprehensive report for internal use
• Review and adjustments of final user friendly, summary document for advocacy purposes in Azerbaijani language
• Review and adaptation of final detailed guidance note on youth engagement in climate change

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks/Milestone:

Deliverables/Outputs:

Timeline:

Adapting methodologies, tools and workplan with timeframe

Adapted inception report with final tools

5 working days

Data collection and analysis, with the guidance of the international consultant

Interview arrangements, record of collected data and a summary of key findings in English

10 working days

Finalization of the report and documents based on feedback and comments

Review and country specific inputs to final comprehensive report for internal use

5 working days

Review and adjustments of final user friendly, summary document for advocacy purposes in Azerbaijani language

Review and adaptation of final detailed guidance note on youth engagement in climate change

Supervisor of the assignment is UNICEF Social Policy Specialist.

Start date: March 2022

End date: May 2022

Number of days: 20 working days

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

• A Bachelor or Master’s Degree in climate change/environment, social sciences, youth development, or a related field.
• At least 3 or more years relevant work experience.
• Experience conducting stakeholder dialogue, designing participatory interventions; and synthesizing information in strategies and plans.
• Experience in facilitation, stakeholder engagement, community engagement, and presentations
• Demonstrated experience with research, in particularly proven experience conducting similar strategic documents with/and for young people.
• Presentation and communication skills, a demonstrated experience working with online platforms.
• Coordination skills and ability to adhere to deadlines and work remotely.
• Previous experience working with the international experts in the team is an asset.
• Fluency in English and Azerbaijani languages is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

The consultancy is open to individual national applicants.

Applicants are required to provide:

• A short cover letter, highlighting relevant experience with similar type of assignments (max 300 words).
• CV of the individual applicants
• A technical proposal with tentative workplan and timeframe
• Financial proposal
• Samples or links to related work previously conducted by the consultant

The shortlisted applicants will be contacted by UNICEF with a technical discussion and interview.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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:

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

All consultants & individual contractors regardless of contract duration must complete the applicable mandatory online courses prior to signature of contract. The link to these courses will be provided during the selection process for the successful candidates.

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.