Re-advertisement: International consultant for conducting a study on youth (including children) and climate policy and action in Azerbaijan (Home-based with a possible 2-week mission to Baku

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy 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, 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 behaviour 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 international consultant to be recruited for this assignment will be working closely with a national consultant who will be recruited separately.

Scope of Work:

Guiding questions:

• To what extent does Azerbaijan’s climate change policy reflect issues affecting children/youth?

• To what extent has climate change been integrated into policies and programmes critical to youth and children such as in the sectors of 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:

• Initial desk review with 1) a summary of the relations between climate change, children and youth, and key sectors, 2) inventory of available data/ information and gaps, 3) initial list with stakeholders
• Develop a conceptual framework for the analysis of policies and programmes.
• Develop tools to assess institutional capacity building needs and stakeholder analysis
• Present the conceptual framework and the tools to UNICEF and key stakeholders to achieve an in-depth common understanding of the framework
• Present inception report, including finalized conceptual framework and methodology.

Data collection and analysis:

• Data collection and in-depth desk-review of existing policies and evidence
• A series of interviews with key stakeholders
• Analysis of relevant national context on the political, economic, social, technological and environmental situation through a desk review of strategies and planning documents, policies and budgets.

• Ensure data collection, tools, analysis, stakeholder consultations, recommendations and guidance are gender-sensitive

  Expected deliverables:

• Inception report - Inception document with elaborated methodology, work plan (and schedule), including milestones and outputs, and draft data/information collection plan and tools

• Final tools
• Draft and final comprehensive report for internal use.
• Draft and final user friendly, summary document for advocacy purposes.

• Draft and final detailed guidance note on youth engagement in climate change.

  Tasks/Milestone:

  Deliverables/Outputs:

Development of Inception report with elaborated methodology, work plan (and schedule), including milestones and outputs, and draft data/information collection plan and tools

Inception report with final tools

Collecting data and conducting analysis, with the support of the national consultant

Draft report with user-friendly summary and guidance on youth engagement

Development of draft documents

Finalization of the report and documents based on feedback and comments

Final comprehensive report for internal use

Final user-friendly, summary document for advocacy purposes.

Final detailed guidance note on youth engagement in climate change

Supervisor of the assignment is UNICEF Social Policy Specialist.

Start date: April 2022

End date: June 2022

Number of days: 30 working days

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

• A Master’s Degree in climate change/environment, social sciences, youth development, or a related field.
• At least 5 or more years relevant work experience.
• Extensive 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 particular proven experience conducting similar strategic documents with/and for young people.
• Strong presentation and communication skills, demonstrated experience working with online platforms.
• Working knowledge of environmental issues/climate agenda in the region.
• Demonstrated capacity or familiarity with working with the youth and mainstreaming concerns related to children and vulnerable sectors in climate change, DRR is an advantage.
• Strong coordination skills and ability to adhere to deadlines and work remotely.
• Fluency in English is required (excellent verbal and writing skills). Knowledge in Russian, Turkish is an asset

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 international applicants.

Applicants are required to provide:

- A short cover letter, highlighting relevant experience with a similar type of assignment (max 300 words).

- CV of the individual applicants

- A technical proposal with a tentative workplan and timeframe

- Financial proposal

- Samples or links to related work previously conducted by the consultant

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:

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.