Programme Specialist (Climate & Environment) NO-3-Harare, Zimbabwe # 118576-FT-One Year (Open only to nationals of Zimbabwe)

Contract

This is a NO-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-3 contracts.

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, equality!

UNICEF has been operating in Zimbabwe since 1982. We are a team of passionate professionals committed to the protection and fulfillment of children’s rights.

Supporting the Government’s vision of a prosperous and empowered upper-middle-income society, the 2022 to 2026 country programme is aimed at contributing to sustainable socioeconomic development that provides all children, including adolescents, with opportunities to fulfil their potential, lead a healthy life, access quality learning and protection and meaningfully participate in society.

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The purpose of the position is to strengthen the integration of Climate Change, Disaster Risks and Environmental Degradation into the UNICEF Zimbabwe Programme, the Programme Specialist (Climate & Environment) will be supervised by the Chief of WASH and coordinating closely with the Deputy Representative Programmes, all section Chiefs and climate and environment focal points. The Specialist supports the development, preparation, management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the WASH programme within the country programme. The Specialist provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes, to develop and facilitate the administration and achievement of climate and environment sensitive output results in the country programme.

How can you make a difference?

To strengthen the integration of Climate Change, Disaster Risks and Environmental Degradation into the UNICEF Zimbabwe Programme, the Programme Specialist (Climate & Environment) will be supervised by the Chief of WASH and coordinating closely with the Deputy Representative Programmes, all section Chiefs and climate and environment focal points. The Specialist supports the development, preparation, management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the WASH programme within the country programme. The Specialist provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes, to develop and facilitate the administration and achievement of climate and environment sensitive output results in the country programme

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

Programme development, planning, coordination, integration, and technical and operational support to sections

1. Coordination and management of the Climate and Environment unit
2. Advocacy, evidence generation, policy, and positioning of UNICEF in climate change and children
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

6. Programme development, planning, coordination, integration, and technical and operational support to sections

• Coordinate UNICEF engagement in the area of climate, energy and environment within UNICEF such that UNICEF progressively integrates climate change action into office programs.
• Provide strategic and technical guidance, advice and inputs to UNICEF sections (CP, Health, WASH, Education, HIV/AIDS& Adolescents, Nutrition, Operations) on all aspects of climate (mitigation, adaptation, resilience), energy and environment planning, programming and implementation.
• Identify UNICEF’s niche for addressing Climate Change impacts on children, awareness raising and design of programmes supporting the rights of children and strengthening risk informed programming.
• Coordinate the formulation of the overarching narrative and multi-year milestones across the Zimbabwe Country Office (ZCO) in relation to climate energy and environment, determining priorities and performance measurements.
• Guide sections on applying UNICEF’s national, regional and global climate and environment frameworks by defining and adjusting a ZCO road map, including timeline to be linked to the output results.
• Guide and support the planning, development and implementation of strategic climate, energy and environment approaches, strategies and initiatives, planning and formulation of the outcomes and output results, related indicators, baselines, targets and means of verification, ensuring alignment with the UNICEF’s Strategic Plan, ZCO’s annual plans and in line with government plans and priorities.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming process to ensure the achievement of results in the areas of climate, energy and environment.
• Advance synergistic cross-sectoral programming, in WASH, Health, Nutrition, Social protection and Education sectors, to ensure that climate programming has a greater impact for children.
• Ensure that UNICEF engagement in the area of climate change is well coordinated within UNICEF.

2. Coordination and management of the Climate and Environment unit

• Coordinate and manage the Environment and Climate Change team, ensuring efficient task-oriented functioning and knowledge management.
• Ensure the Climate and Environment Team provides Secretariat support to the ZCO Greening Team.

3. Advocacy, evidence generation, policy and positioning of UNICEF in climate change and children

• Provide comprehensive and current data to inform climate related policy and programme development, planning, management and implementation climate adapted and resilient social services and infrastructure.
• Coordinate UNICEF ZCO national, regional and global advocacy points and inputs into national policy formulation and review processes.
• Coordinate collection and development of data on UNICEF thematic areas and sectors in support of climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and building climate resilience.
• Participate in strategic discussions to influence national policies and strategies, on climate energy and environment.
• Support communication and policy advocacy regarding climate change, environmental degradation and child rights in Zimbabwe, and input into key national climate and environment policy dialogues (National Action Plans, Nationally Determined Contributions and national climate strategies).
• Provide technical guidance and policy advice to government officials, the private sector and civil society partners on climate change and environmental risks facing children as well as child-sensitive policies, strategies, and best practices.
• In coordination and partnership with UNICEF Social policy section and other UN and institutional stakeholders, support public expenditure reviews of national public/private sector climate and environment financing and budgeting.
• Support vulnerability data collection, management and assessment in line with UNICEFs key thematic areas in order to support child focused vulnerability assessment and mapping activities and enhance climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and building climate resilience.
• Produce materials and products for climate programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships and support fund-raising for sustainable and climate resilient development.
• Advocate for improved child-focus of climate finance investments in Zimbabwe among partners.
• Support youth climate activism (i.e. strengthening role of Climate Youth Ambassador, youth advocacy platforms such as YOUNGO, Conference of Youth (COY), COP advocacy, etc.).

4. External partnerships, resource mobilization and linkages to regional and global efforts

• Develop strategic partnerships with financing and development partners, International Development Banks and the private sector to enhance, climate programming.
• Identify partners and entry points for strategic engagement regarding climate change impact on children as well as strategic entry points for engagement with the government.
• Support section focal points in the coordination and implementation of approved environment focused proposals.
• Prepare climate and environment donor proposals, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s Strategic Plan, UNICEF’s global WASH strategy and the Country programme, as well as government plans and priorities.
• Work collaboratively with donors, the private sector and regional partners on climate, energy and environment programming.
• Ensure that UNICEF engagement in the area of climate change is well coordinated within and outside UNICEF.
• Support fundraising on climate change mitigation and adaptation, disaster risk reduction and climate resilience in line with UNICEFs key thematic areas.
• Build and sustain close working partnerships with government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate programme implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve WASH output results.
• Build, strengthen and sustain close working and strategic partnerships with government counterparts, UN agencies, donor agencies, climate centres and institutions, NGOs, research institutes and the private sector to stimulate coordination and collaboration in the areas of climate resilience and sustainable energy; including active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate programme implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve climate and environment-sensitive results.
• Participate in inter-agency and development partner discussions, interact with national, global and regional initiatives and partnerships for climate resilience and ensuring that UNICEF’s position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the planning and agenda setting.

5. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews with government and other counterparts and prepare reports on results for required action/interventions at the higher level of programme management.
• Prepare/assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths/weaknesses in programmes and management, identify and document lessons learned.
• Monitor and report on the use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets), verify compliance with approved allocations, organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity. Report on issues identified to enable timely resolution by management/stakeholders.
• Actively monitor UNICEF-supported activities through field visits, surveys and exchange of information with partners, to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely interventions.

• Prepare sectoral progress reports for management, donors and partners.

• Keep abreast of climate, energy and environment development trends, for maximum efficiency and effectiveness in programme design, management and implementation

6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Strengthen UNICEF internal capacity and ability to collaborate with partners on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction and adaptation for vulnerable communities.
• Develop learning and capacity building plan for ZCO and facilitate a climate change training for ZCO.
• Support knowledge management and sharing in the areas of including development of policy papers, briefs and other strategic materials for internal and external use, in the areas climate, environment and energy.
• Manage the implementation, monitoring and documentation including climate action research and innovation (technical or systems) whilst ensuring rigorous monitoring and wide sharing of results.
• Maintain overall knowledge on climate, energy and environment policy, institutions and programmatic activities, including the Climate Landscape Analysis for Children.
• Prepare learning/knowledge products, covering innovative approaches and good practices to support climate programming.
• Lead the professional development of UNICEF staff to ensure sector capacity remains up to date in line with the latest developments, including on Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS).
• Initiate and contribute to the systematic assessment of climate and environment sector capacity gap analysis, in collaboration with government and other stakeholders, and support the design of initiatives to strengthen capacities systematically.

Please refer to the attached job description for more information:

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

An advanced university degree in environmental sciences, climatology, geology or earth sciences, climate change, disaster risk reduction, water resource management, engineering, social and economic development, political science, international cooperation or another relevant technical field is required.

Additional relevant post-graduate courses that complement / supplement the main degree are desirable.

A bachelor’s degree in combination with 2 additional relevant years can also be considered.

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 and socio-economic development.

• Experience on renewable energy is an asset.
• Familiar with children's rights and gender in the context of climate change and environment. Knowledge of gender equality principles and gender sensitive programming.
• Previous experience within UNICEF is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience in applying results-based management required.
• Excellent analytical and writing skills, advocacy and presentational skills required.
• Demonstrated ability to work harmoniously in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious & effective working relationship both within and outside an organization.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (2)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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