Regional Adviser (Climate Change & Sustainable Development), P-5, LACRO, Panama City, Panama

Contract

This is a P-5 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 10 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 160,760 USD and 201,469 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.

For every child, a future.

UNICEF’s Strategic Plan (2022–2025) recognizes that climate change and environmental degradation are existential threats to a child’s ability to survive, grow, and thrive. Within the countries that comprise UNICEF’s Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Region, 9 out of 10 children are living in areas with high likelihood to be affected by at least two climate and environmental shocks (in short medium term), and 47 million children—1 out of 4—live in areas impacted by at least four shocks, as assessed by UNICEF’s 2021 research. Impacts range from severe (and worsening) hurricanes in the Caribbean, drought in the South American Pantanal, and heatwaves and wildfires in Amazonia, amongst others. 17.8 million children under 18 years live in areas of high or extremely high vulnerability and 55 million children are exposed to water scarcity.105 million children under 18, which is more than half of the region’s children, are exposed to ambient air pollution. Conversely, young people are not only bear the brunt of impacts but are powerful agents of change for climate and environmental action.

UNICEF’s new Strategic Plan draws stronger links between responses to climate change and disaster risk reduction as children increasingly need holistic solutions that address both sudden-onset impacts of climate change such as hurricanes and floods and resilient solutions that promote climate-smart development, including through empowering young people to be climate and environmental champions. UNICEF’s strategic plan also reinforces the organization’s focus on ensuring that every child has access to safe and equitable water and sanitation services. These issues (climate, environment, disaster risk reduction and water/sanitation) are enshrined as Goal Area 4 of UNICEF’s strategic plan— “Every child, including adolescents, uses safe and equitable WASH services and lives in a safe and sustainable climate and environment.”

A dedicated team will be anchored within Regional Director’s Office to advance the linked agendas on Climate, Energy, Environment and DRR (CEED) and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH). The CEED–WASH team will advance these interlinked agendas in collaboration with the other sectoral advisers, and as part of an interdivisional and cross geographic network.

How can you make a difference?

The post is located within the Regional Director, Latin America and the Caribbean’s Office in Panama City to shape, drive and integrate UNICEF’s agenda to the organization to achieve results for children and adolescents under UNICEF’s strategic plan. The post serves as the senior technical adviser on CEED and WASH issues within the Region, represents UNICEF in regional fora, issues and provides leadership and direction to the Goal Area 4 agenda for country offices within the region. The post reports to the Deputy Regional Director, Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Regional Adviser is responsible for further developing and overseeing the implementation of UNICEF’s policies and approaches in the region related to CEED and WASH. On these issues, the Regional Adviser serves as the authoritative adviser to UNICEF’s Regional Director, convenes regional organizational coordination platforms, coordinates the implementation of thematic funds and networks, represents the organization externally, and sets priorities for the Organization’s regional data, evidence, innovation, and advocacy agendas. The adviser will also advise the region on greening UNICEF's operations, support knowledge exchange, and monitor progress made.

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

• An advanced university degree* in one of the following fields: Public/Environmental Health, Water Resources Management, Civil Engineering, Environment, Climate change, or a field relevant to international CEED and WASH related development assistance. *A first level university degree in a relevant field combined with 12 years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of ten (10) years of relevant progressively responsible work experience focused on developing countries, of which 4-6 years focus on areas related to development cooperation in climate change, environment, pollution, disaster management, water resources management, and sanitation.
• Experience working for international organizations such as the United Nations is desirable.
• Experience working in a developing country is required.
• Fluency in English and Spanish is required. Knowledge of another language used in the region (e.g. Portuguese, French) is considered as an asset.

For every child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The functional 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).

View UNICEF competency framework 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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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.