National Specialist - Climate and Environment

Details

Mission and objectives

UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. In all of its work, UNICEF takes a life-cycle based approach, recognizing the particular importance of early childhood development and adolescence. UNICEF programmes focus on the most disadvantaged children, including those living in fragile contexts, those with disabilities, those who are affected by rapid urbanization and those affected by environmental degradation. UNICEF was created with a distinct purpose in mind: to work with others to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child’s path. We advocate for measures to give children the best start in life, because proper care at the youngest age forms the strongest foundation for a person’s future. We promote girls’ education – ensuring that they complete primary education as a minimum – because it benefits all children, both girls and boys. Girls who are educated grow up to become better thinkers, better citizens, and better parents to their own children. We act so that all children are immunized against common childhood diseases, and are well nourished: no child should suffer or die from a preventable illness. We work to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among young people because it is right to keep them from harm and enable them to protect others. We help children and families affected by HIV/AIDS to live their lives with dignity. We are UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund.

Context

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. A livable planet for every child. 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. Virtually every child on earth is already affected by climate change, environmental degradation, biodiversity loss and disasters. 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. Action is falling short, which means that the impacts upon children and young people will worsen in the coming decades. Children will bear the brunt of impacts, particularly those in communities that have contributed the least to global greenhouse gas emissions. 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. UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA) is committed to achieve societal transformation necessary so that children can live in a sustainable, clean and safe environment to children. Guided by UNICEF’s core principles and to support every child, UNICEF 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 investment in climate action for children. How can you make a difference? The objective of this position is to work with UNICEF ROSA to respond to increasing country office demand for up-to-date information on climate and environmental issues affecting children, identifying opportunities that can support UNICEF SAR country offices to best leverage the most relevant programming, advocacy, fund mobilization and partnerships opportunities for children and young people.

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Regional Adviser – Climate and Environment or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV National Specialist - Climate and Environment will provide technical, analytical, knowledge management support to country offices in the South Asia Region (SAR) to better conceptualise programme proposals, mobilise funds, design and implement climate, environment, energy and DRR (CEED) programmes, assist with advocacy, communications assets and youth led engagements that help accelerate and scale up priority CEED activities in SAR. More specifically, key duties and tasks for this position may include the following activities, determined as priorities throughout the year. • Research, analyses and keeping up to date track of recent CEED and socio-economic data, evidence, national, regional and international climate and environmental policies, processes and plans affecting children. • Support the team in proposal development of multi-country programmes, climate and environment finance, cross sectoral coordination, etc. • Coordinate and collaborate with COs and sections to identify opportunities, solutions and concrete actions to address climate change and environmental degradation. • Stocktake and map ongoing and emerging climate and environment programmes and innovations in the region relevant to UNICEF. • Support regional and country offices in implementing UNICEF’s Environment and Social Safeguards Policy and Standards. • Support the team on capacity development and trainings of COs and partners. • Support knowledge products on climate, energy, environment, and disaster risk reduction, including toolkits, guidance, technical notes, policy memos, briefs, guides, investment cases and reports as required. • Collaborate with internal and external working groups, networks and youth groups to support and strengthen CEED programmes in SAR countries. • Develop communications briefs, coordinating events and meetings, including preparations for the Climate Change COP. • Liaise with UNICEF ROSA staff and young CEED champions to advance youth empowerment efforts. • Maintain regional partnerships and identify prospective partners. Coordinate with UNICEF CEED network at the global and regional levels. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities. • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.