SHORT-TERM INTERNATIONAL/NATIONAL CONSULTANCY: Engaging a Climate Expert Consultant for developing roadmap on sustainability and climate change action plan for UNICEF Türkiye

Contract

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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, education

Climate change, environmental degradation, limited access to clean energy sources, and disasters directly threaten a child’s ability to survive, grow, and thrive. UNICEF’s strategy is to mainstream environment, climate change, and disaster risk reduction across levers of impact (advocacy/communications, programming, and internal sustainability) and in all of our goal areas. In alignment with UNICEF’s commitment to protect children and young people worldwide, the 2023 – 2030 Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (SCAP) prioritizes urgent climate action through systematic change in partnership with public and private sectors to prioritize the needs of children and young people and build their resilience to the climate threats at hand. The SCAP strives to mainstream sustainability and climate action both internally and externally, through protecting the lives, health and well-being of children and their communities; empowering children with developmental opportunities and skills; and reducing emissions and the environmental footprint within UNICEF.

Climate, energy, environment, and disaster risk reduction (DRR) are cross-cutting priorities. UNICEF’s Strategic Plan draws stronger links between responses to climate change with Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) as children increasingly need holistic solutions that address both sudden-onset impacts of disasters, including those that are exacerbated by climate change and resilient solutions that promote climate-smart development for the long-term.

Türkiye faces severe climate change impacts, including record heat waves, wildfires, and increasing droughts. UNICEF is already engaged supporting discrete activities and interventions in support of climate advocacy (through adolescent development and participation), building green skills (through education section), strengthening government and municipal capacities in DRR (through social policy section) and supporting climate-resilient WASH at the sub-national level.

Within this context, UNICEF Türkiye is seeking a consultant to review the ongoing activities under different sections of UNICEF, identifying unfilled needs and gaps, and outlining a suggested roadmap to developing a Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (SCAP) roadmap for the office.

How can you make a difference?

The primary objectives of this consultancy are:

1. Map existing interventions and initiatives that UNICEF Türkiye are supporting on Sustainability and Climate Change Action, including on DRR.

2. Review and compile existing country evidence and data including gaps on climate change, energy, environment and DRR issues affecting children in Türkiye.

3. Review and compile key national policy documents related to climate, energy and environment as well as gaps; including an analysis of if, and how, they reference children and essential social services for children such as education, social protection, health, and water.

4. Identify key entry points for UNICEF Türkiye to strengthen existing work as well as develop a roadmap on key areas to consider from a programming and advocacy perspective.

Description of Assignment:

UNICEF Türkiye will establish an individual contract with a qualified consultant to map existing work and identify entry points for future climate programme and advocacy at national and subnational level. This will cover the sectors in Education, Adolescent Development and Participation (ADAP), Social Policy, WASH and emergency

Tasks and Deliverables

SNService DescriptionsTasksEstimated days*Deliverables1Inception ReportDesk review on Government of Türkiye policies, plans and programmes on climate, energy, environment and DRR; methodology and a stakeholder analysis/mapping on key actors working in this area10 working days (after signing the contract)Inception Report approved by UNICEF2Data collection, FGDs, KIIMeetings with ministries, municipalities, youth climate envoys, UNICEF sections (WASH, SP, ADAP, Education and Emergency).10 working days

(After submitted inception report is deemed satisfactory).

Mapping of existing interventions3Draft Report on Roadmap on climate actions by UNICEF in Türkiye.Outlining findings and recommended climate interventions15 working days (after finalizing mapping exercise)Draft Report on Roadmap on climate actions by UNICEF in Türkiye4Presentation of draft report to UNICEFPresentation on analysis, findings, recommendations to UNICEF management5 working days (after submitting draft report)Presentation to UNICEF management, covering each aspect including mapping of actions, priorities in Türkiye, way forward5Final Report Roadmap on climate actionsA final report incorporating feedback from UNICEF which shall be submitted within two weeks after receiving feedback.10 working days (after final presentation)Final report on Roadmap on climate action along with future plans/way forward

• All deliverables as per the scope of work must be satisfactorily completed and accepted by UNICEF TCO to facilitate payment. Delivery estimated working days are tentative.

Given the nature of the deliverables, they will have to be produced at different stages throughout the consultancy period. Therefore, payments will be based on progress reports that will include progress against each deliverable. Deliverables are contingent upon approval by the supervisor.

Duty Station: Home based with at least two missions to Türkiye for key informant interviews.

Supervisor: Programme Specialist, with overall guidance from the Deputy Representative Programmes

Duration & Cost:

• Duration: The contract will be effective from the date of signing until the successful submission of the deliverables, which are estimated to require a total of 50 working days spread over three months from 15th July – 15th Oct 2024.
• Estimated Cost of Consultancy: Applications shall include a detailed financial proposal that elaborates on daily costs based on the completion of above-mentioned deliverables, including a total sum demanded. All costs, including travel, accommodation, administrative costs, etc. shall be covered by the contractor and should be included in the financial proposal as a separate heading and broken down into details of accommodation and travel costs in line with UN DSA rates. The candidate is required to specify their daily rates and the total amount as per the number of anticipated working days for each deliverable in the financial proposal and provide the breakdown of the lump sum amount as well as incidentals of each deliverable in USD for international consultants and TRY for national consultants.
• Payment: UNICEF will issue a contract in USD for international consultants and TRY for national consultants. The payment will be done in instalments upon submission of the deliverables as per the above list and will be executed in line with the nationality of the consultant.
• Payment Schedule: The payments will be made upon the delivery of outputs. In case of any unexpected delay(s) in the estimated time frame (approval process, force majeure, etc.), the duration of the assignment might be extended subject to the same conditions and mutual will of the parties.
• Travel Requirements: Travel arrangement will be the responsibility of the contractor and must be catered in their bid proposal. However, UNICEF will provide updates on the latest security situation with the support of concerned security focal points, if required.
• Reservations: UNICEF reserves the right to terminate the contract without a prior notice and/or withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if the rules and the regulations regarding confidentiality, ethics and procedures of UNICEF and the project partners are not followed, if work/outputs are incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines.

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

Qualifications: Master’s degree in Climate Science and Environmental Studies, Ecology, or related fields.

Skills and Personal Traits

• At least 5 year’s work experience in similar fields.
• Good understanding of child-sensitive approach to climate change and DRR.
• Knowledge of climate change and environmental degradation and their impact on health, development, poverty, and well-being of children.
• Good understanding of vulnerabilities to climate change coupled with knowledge of the local context.
• Excellent writing skills in English, knowledge of TURKISH language is an asset.
• Good analytical skills.
• Good understanding of child rights or any of UNICEF’s main areas of work is considered an asset.
• Previous work experience with UN is an asset, in particular in climate-resilient services provision, CEE policies and/or UNICEF climate landscape for children's assessments.

Application and Selection Criteria

• Please note that the assignment can only be held by an individual international/National consultant. Applications should be submitted in English and should include:
• P11 Form, where previous experience in information management is provided in detail.
• Most recent CV
• Annex- A, Technical Proposal Technical Evaluation Criteria Engaging a Climate Expert Consultant.docx
• Sample of relevant work developed by the consultant (two samples)
• Annex- B, Financial proposal using the Financial Offer Template-Engaging a Climate Expert Consultant.docx

Financial proposals should be submitted in separate folders from the remaining documentation. After the technical evaluation, the financial proposals of qualified candidates will be evaluated. The technical evaluation will be completed based on the below technical evaluation criteria.

Technical Evaluation Criteria

Following points will be considered while evaluating the technical capacity of potential consultants.

• Overall experience of the consultant in the field of assessment, studies and evaluation.
• Experience related to the specific services for which they are interested in and intended to bid.
• Experience working with international organizations, preferably with UNICEF.
• Experience working in Türkiye will be considered as an asset.
• Professional qualification of the consultant
• Strong writing, reading and speaking skills in ENG language and knowledge of TURKISH language will be an asset.
• Methodology/strategy (typical) for delivery of results keeping in view other documents like UNICEF programme in Türkiye.
• Submission of two sample (similar studies conducted recently, not older than three years.
• Quality assurance approach to ensure the high quality of each deliverable and overall final report.
• Proposed work plan reflecting tasks and timeline for each task.
• Identification of risk and mitigation plan
• Identification of risk, mitigations measures and their management for this assignment. (Risk management plan).

The applications will be evaluated from the technical and financial point of view. The financial proposals will be opened only for the candidates that reach or exceed forty-nine (49) points out of maximum seventy (70) points. Thirty (30) points will be awarded to the candidate that presented the lowest fee for the services requested. The remaining financial offers will receive proportional points ([lowest bid/bid] x 30 points).

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

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.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants 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.