Programme Specialist (Climate and Environment), P-3, Pacific Multi Country Office, Suva, Fiji

Contract

This is a P-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 110,481 USD and 144,666 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

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.

In the Pacific we work in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu: These 14 Pacific island countries are home to 2.3 million people, including 1.2 million children and youth, living on more than 660 islands and atolls stretching across 17.2 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean, an area comparable to the combined size of the United States of America and Canada. Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu are classified as Fragile States according to World Bank/OECD criteria.

All 14 Pacific Island countries and territories have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, but only a third are on track with reporting obligations. Explore the different areas of our work here: UNICEF Pacific Islands.

For every child, sustenance

Climate change, environmental risks, forced displacements due to climate-induced hazards, and environmental degradation are equity issues, with children and young people often being the most vulnerable and affected. Globally, millions of children are affected by conflict and fragility, climate change, natural hazards and air pollution. Addressing climate change, water scarcity, energy access and environmental degradation is therefore vital for building a more sustainable future for children, and it is imperative that actions are integrated into SDG and our humanitarian responses.

UNICEF in the Pacific works to uphold the rights of children to access services and protection, from early childhood through to adolescence. Our objective across the 14 countries supported by the Pacific Multi Country Office (PMCO) is to ensure that every child in the Pacific region, irrespective of background or circumstance, has an equal chance to fulfill their potential.

The Pacific Islands Countries and Territories (PICT) are one of the most affected and vulnerable areas to the impacts of climate change, environmental degradation, and biodiversity and habitat loss. UNICEF has clear cross-sectoral leadership in humanitarian response, disaster risk reduction, education, health, child protection, nutrition, water and sanitation, as well as deep expertise in children and youth empowerment. In addition, UNICEF contributes extensively to other sectors and areas of work, such as social protection, health and mental health and psychosocial support. To develop and deliver a strong, cross sectoral programme built on climate resilience, there is need for a professional staff with expertise to properly mainstream climate change in UNICEF programmes and to ensure its integration in the national policies, strategies and sector plans.

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How can you make a difference?

The Programme Specialist (Climate and Environment) with the UNICEF Pacific Multi Country Office will strengthen the integration of Climate Change, Energy, Environmental Degradation and Disaster Risks Reduction (CEED) into UNICEF Pacific MCO programmes under the supervision of the Deputy Representative Programmes, while working with all Chiefs of sections, field offices and climate and environment focal points. The Specialist will also support the development, management and implementation of partnerships to support children and youth participation in climate action

The Specialist will provide technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes, to develop and facilitate the administration and achievement of climate and environment-sensitive output results promoting child-centred climate change interventions.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities

1. Programme development, planning, coordination, integration, and technical and operational support to sections
2. Advocacy, evidence generation, policy, and positioning of UNICEF on climate change and child rights
3. External partnerships, resource mobilization and linkages to regional and global efforts
4. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results
5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

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

Education

• An advanced university degree in environmental sciences, climatology, geology or earth sciences, climate change, disaster risk reduction and mitigation, biology or another relevant technical field is required.
• Additional relevant post-graduate courses that complement / supplement the main degree are highly desirable.

Work experience

• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional work experience at the national and/or international levels in programme/project development, focused on developing countries in areas related to development cooperation in climate change adaptation and mitigation, environment, engagement of young people in climate action, advocacy and policy development related to climate action and socio-economic development is required.
• Proven experience in development and management of partnerships and advocacy on children's rights and gender in the context of climate change and environment is required. Knowledge of gender equality principles and gender-responsive programming is required.
• Experience in working with national governments towards strategy or policy development in areas related to environment, climate change, risk management and also on initiatives to promote evidence generation and advocacy in support of community-led and/or youth-led environmental initiatives is required.
• Experience of working with governments and/or civil society on climate action or climate programming in the Asia-Pacific region is highly desirable.
• Previous work experience with a UN agency or similar organization is an asset.

Languages

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

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

The functional competencies required for this post are...

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

Remarks

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. 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.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

With regard to higher educational qualifications, UNICEF only considers degrees obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/

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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

This position is classified as “rotational” which means the incumbent is expected to rotate to another duty station upon completion of their tour of duty.

Internal and external candidates are welcome to apply.

Only shortlisted candidates meeting the specific criteria will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.