Climate Change Specialist

UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.

UNICEF is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and strives to establish children's rights as enduring ethical principles and international standards of behaviour towards children.

UNICEF insists that the survival, protection and development of children are universal development imperatives that are integral to human progress.

UNICEF mobilizes political will and material resources to help countries, particularly developing countries, ensure a "first call for children" and to build their capacity to form appropriate policies and deliver services for children and their families.

UNICEF is committed to ensuring special protection for the most disadvantaged children – victims of war, disasters, extreme poverty, all forms of violence and exploitation, and those with disabilities.

UNICEF responds in emergencies to protect the rights of children. In coordination with United Nations partners and humanitarian agencies, UNICEF makes its unique facilities for rapid response available to its partners to relieve the suffering of children and those who provide their care.

UNICEF is non-partisan and its cooperation is free of discrimination. In everything it does, the most disadvantaged children and the countries in greatest need have priority.

UNICEF aims, through its country programmes, to promote the equal rights of women and girls and to support their full participation in the political, social and economic development of their communities.

UNICEF works with all its partners towards the attainment of the sustainable human development goals adopted by the world community and the realization of the vision of peace and social progress enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.

The effects of climate change are severely impacting the lives of children in the East Asia and Pacific Region, where many are facing three, four, or even five types of multiple, overlapping shocks, stresses and hazards linked to climate change and a degraded environment. Over 140 million children in the region are highly exposed to water scarcity; 120 million children are highly exposed to coastal flooding; 210 million children are highly exposed to cyclones; and 460 million children are highly exposed to air pollution. All countries in East Asia and the Pacific are at either a “High” or “Extremely High” risk of impacts from climate change.
Timor-Leste is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. The country experiences recurring and worsening climate-related hazards such as droughts, floods, landslides, and sea-level rise. These phenomena threaten children’s well-being by undermining food and water security, access to health and education, and protection from disasters.
UNICEF Timor-Leste is scaling up its Climate Smart Social Services and Infrastructure Programme to enhance the climate resilience of health, education, water, and child protection services. The UNV Specialist will support KOICA-funded Climate Action for Last Mile programme and other Climate Change projects with technical, coordination, and advocacy tasks, working under the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist (Climate and Sustainable Environment).

Under the direct supervision of Programme Specialist (Climate and Sustainable Environment), the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
• Support the KOICA-funded Climate Action for the Last Mile project and other Climate-Smart Social Services and Infrastructure (C3SI) projects to ensure they remain on track and that any issues are addressed promptly.
• Maintain close communication with climate focal points across different sectors and ensure timely and responsive support to their requests.
• Conduct research and analysis on climate risks and vulnerabilities, climate-induced hazards, trends, existing capacities for climate information and early warning systems, and other relevant topics for programme and project development and implementation.
• Review and summarize national policy documents, reports, and datasets related to climate change.
• Follow up with UNICEF teams to compile inputs on climate-related activities for both ongoing and pipeline projects.
• Assist in the development of Project Documents, Concept Notes, and Project Proposals.
• Draft meeting minutes, reports, background documents, and presentations.
• Contribute to the creation of knowledge products, infographics, and communication materials.
• Support the capacity-building of UNICEF staff and implementing partners on climate change by contributing to the design and development of training materials.
• Provide substantive support to the Climate Change Task Force meetings.
• Assist in organizing national consultations, capacity-building workshops, and other outreach events, including proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparing documents, taking meeting minutes, and developing presentations.
• Support documentation of results, lessons learned, and promising practices.
• Contribute to coordination efforts across UNICEF sections and with external partners.
• Carry out any other related tasks as required or assigned by the supervisor.