Re-advertisement International Consultant on Climate Finance, UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia

This opening expired 1 year ago. Do not try to apply for this job.

UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund

Open positions at UNICEF
Logo of UNICEF

Application deadline 1 year ago: Tuesday 22 Nov 2022 at 18:10 UTC

Open application form

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, a future

How can you make a difference?

Rationale/Background:

The climate crisis is a child rights crisis. Recent record heat waves, flooding and drought in many countries signal a challenging ‘new normal’. The impacts of climate change and environmental shocks on children are clear. Globally, approximately 1 billion children – nearly half of the world’s children – live in countries that are at an ‘extremely high-risk’ from the impacts of climate change. In South Asia, every child is affected by at least one or more climate and environmental hazard. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives and Pakistan are countries where children are at extremely high risk of the impacts of the climate crisis. This year alone we have seen flooding in India, Bangladesh and Nepal; heat waves and drought in Afghanistan, India and Pakistan; cholera outbreaks in Afghanistan and Pakistan; and cyclones in India and Bangladesh. Without immediate action and ambitious investment, there is no doubt that climate change will reverse the hard-earned gains in sustainable development goals for children and their communities seen in recent years.

Despite these challenges, children whose future is at stake because of climate change have been largely underrepresented in global climate action and investments. Global climate finance has steadily increased over the last decade, reaching US$ 632 billion in 2020, mostly concentrated on climate change mitigation measures. However, very little of this funding has targeted programmes specifically addressing children’s concerns and needs. South Asia accounted for only US$ 30 billion.

Climate investment clearly falls short of the estimated needs (approx. US$ 5 trillion per annum) and there is an urgent need to scale up the financing flows – both from the public and the private sector. It is imperative to address the gap for climate resilience and adaptation investment – ensuring that children and the essential services they rely upon are being increasingly prioritized. Climate finance offers significant opportunities to accelerate the multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for children and young people by 2030.

Guided by UNICEF’s core principles and to support every child, UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA) aims to scale up support to countries to transition towards sustainable and climate resilient development for children. Such a transition is vital to UNICEF’s efforts in key sectors (WASH, health, education, child protection, nutrition, and social protection), and can play an important role in broader efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change in the region. In this context, UNICEF ROSA is responding through a variety of avenues, including by prioritizing programming and partnerships opportunities to scale up public and private investment in climate action.

Purpose:

The objective of this consultancy is to support UNICEF ROSA to respond to increasing country office demand for up-to-date information on climate and environmental funding and partnership opportunities that can support UNICEF SAR country offices and National Committees to best leverage the most relevant programming and fund mobilization opportunities for children and young people. The scope of the consultancy is on private finance flows in South Asia, including but not limited to, foundations, philanthropies, businesses, high-net-worth individuals, impact investors, and the carbon/renewable energy markets. It is critical that the identified funding sources respond to programmes that underpin countries’ climate/environmental priorities as defined in their national climate and sectoral policies, and that deliver transformational change. The consultancy will thoroughly investigate the eligibility criteria, fund requirements, timelines, etc., and provide recommendations on investment cases, performance metrics and engagement modalities with the partners.

Key Assignments/Tasks:

The key assignments of this task include the following:

To deliver on the above objective, the selected Consultant will undertake the following tasks, over a period of 3 months:

  1. Landscape mapping and analysis on funding sources and financing flows (30%):
  • Map existing landscape on private sector led funds that are actively investing in climate and environmental programmes/activities relevant to UNICEF. This includes promising funding partners that have expressed recent interest in such investments.
  • For each fund, investigate specific requirements, eligibility criteria (e.g. thematic areas, countries, etc.), approval process (including timelines, accreditation, etc.).
  • Identify climate/environmental initiatives in SAR countries (UNICEF and other agencies) that have successfully mobilising funding through the identified source/s. Investigate how the funds select partner organisations, programme/activity types, scale of action, impacts, funding envelop, and any other critical information. Although most of this information can be curated through online research, it is anticipated that the consultant will leverage on her/his professional networks and one-on-one engagements with the private funds. Where feasible, the hiring office may facilitate some of the bilateral discussions.
  • Thorough research and analysis on global and regional climate financing flows from the private sector on climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation programmes/activities - prioritizing social sectors in both development and humanitarian contexts. This will also include a snapshot of public financing flows. Fur
  • Drawing from the above, consolidate a comprehensive analysis and report to guide UNICEF SAR country offices and partnerships colleagues. An initial outline of the report will be submitted as part of the inception report.
  1. 3-5 investment cases for UNICEF SAR countries (60%)
  • Formulate 3-5 investment cases (precise number and focus to be determine after landscape mapping) that will serve as a template for COs in their resource mobilization efforts. The investment cases will focus on thematic issues/sectors to be identified based upon (a) in close consultation with the COs, (b) informed by Output 1 (e.g. fund criteria, programme types, sectors, funding partners, priority geographies, etc.), and (c) bilateral discussions with partnerships colleagues and funds. Each investment case should not exceed 10 pages in length. Template for the investment case will be agreed upon with the hiring office in advance.
  • In consultation with the hiring office, COs and partnerships team, identify high priority funding partners and elaborate modalities of engagement for UNICEF. This should build upon existing partnerships that UNICEF COs in the SAR (and other) regions have established. Some e.g. in the region include UNICEF Bangladesh, India, Nepal.
  • Furnish recommendations for COs, partnerships teams, and ROSA (e.g. minimum requirements) for successfully engaging with the private sector funds.
  1. Communications and other related tasks (10%)
  • Organise webinars to disseminate the results and overall deliverables of the consultancy
  • Provide inputs/expert advice to related knowledge materials, briefing notes, etc.

Key Deliverables:

Inception report /workplan:

Formulate and submit a Workplan detailing objectives, milestones, timelines, working methodology/approach to achieve the tasks.

  • Outline of the landscape report.

Landscape mapping and analysis report on funding sources and climate financing flows (30%)

  • Conduct a comprehensive mapping and analysis of existing and prospective funding sources relevant to UNICEF, as well as global and regional financing flows.

Investment cases on priority thematic issues (40%)

  • Formulate 3-5 investment cases that will serve as a template for COs. The investment cases will focus on thematic issues/sectors to be identified based upon (a) close consultation with the COs, (b) informed by Output 1, and (c) bilateral discussions with partnerships colleagues and funds. Each investment case should not exceed 10 pages in length. Template for the investment case will be agreed upon with the hiring office in advance.

Report on recommended Modalities for UNICEF to engage with the private sector funds (20%)

  • Organise consultations with COs and partnerships teams
  • Evaluate and recommend feasible modalities of engagement for UNICEF with the private sector funding partners

Communications, PowerPoint slides and other related tasks (10%)

  • Organise webinars to disseminate the results and overall deliverables of the consultancy

Working condition: Working remotely with two missions within the region.

Note: Applications should submit the financial proposals. Applications without it will not be considered. Those who have applied earlier need not apply again.

Duration: 60 working days over a period of four months

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

For every Child, you demonstrate…

Education:

  • Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in relevant field such as climate/environmental - science, - engineering, - finance, - economics or relevant fields.

Experience:

  • A minimum of 10 years professional experience in climate and environmental finance at the global and SAR levels is required.
  • Specialized working experience with private sector funds or in successfully mobilising climate and environmental finance in social sectors (e.g. WASH, Health, Education, Child Protection, Nutrition, etc.) is preferred.
  • Practical experience in UNICEF core priority sectors including Health, Education, WASH, Social Policy is an asset.

Language:

Fluency in English is required.

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

  • Ability to coordinate, convene and engage with stakeholders with diverse viewpoints
  • Excellent organizational skill, service-mind, punctual, self-motivated, proactive, reliable and demonstrated ability to work in harmony with government, private sector and staff members of different national backgrounds;
  • Respect for the principles of UNICEF;
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including strong presentation skills; and
  • Proven capability to meet deadlines and work under pressure

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.

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unicef.org