General
Description of assignment title
Climate & Environmental Specialist
Assignment country
Vanuatu
Expected start date
01/10/2024
Sustainable Development Goal
13. Climate action
Volunteer category
International UN Volunteer Specialist
Host entity
UNICEF VUT
Type
Onsite
Duration
12 months
Number of assignments
1
Duty stations
Port-Vila
Details
Mission and objectives
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 fulfilling 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. The UNICEF Climate, Environment, Energy & Disaster Risk Reduction (CEED) Strategy as an integral part of the Pacific Multi-Country Programme, helps to “ensure that every child, adolescent and community in the Pacific region, especially the most disadvantaged and excluded ones, live in a clean, healthy and sustainable environment; are adapted and resilient to climate and environment-related shocks and disasters; and are empowered as agents of change”. There is currently a window of opportunity to protect the most vulnerable by making communities and social services more climate and disaster-resilient, by putting children’s needs at the heart of the key decisions that are being taken and by empowering children to shape their own sustainable futures. This strategy is being implemented across Pacific Islands Countries and Territories, including Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. Together, these 14 countries and territories are home to 2.45 million people, living on more than 660 islands and atolls stretching across 17.2 million square kilometres of the Pacific Ocean.
Context
The UNV Climate & Environment Specialist will contribute to implementing the UNICEF Pacific Climate, Environment, Energy and Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy in Vanuatu. Under the supervision of the Chief of Vanuatu FO and the Climate & Environmental Specialist based in Fiji, the UNV Climate & Environment Specialist will support UNICEF engagement on environment and climate for and with children across UNICEF programme components, this in coordination with the sectors of H&N, WASH, Education and Child Protection. He/she will provide technical expertise on climate change, environment and resilience building strengthening the capacities of UNICEF Vanuatu to plan and implement climate-resilience interventions. He/she will also contribute to increasing the capacity of UNICEF to advocate and influence decision-making towards intergenerational justice, as well as resource mobilization with development partners.
Task description
Under the direct supervision of the Chief of UNICEF Vanuatu Field Office, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: 1. Data, evidence generation, knowledge management strategies and activities on climate change, environment: • Coordinate and implement the UNICEF Pacific Climate, Environment, Energy and Disaster Risk Reduction (CEED) Strategy in Vanuatu. • Map and maintain overall knowledge of Vanuatu policies and regulatory frameworks, institutions, available data, programmatic activities and partnerships relevant to child rights realisation from the perspective of environment and climate, to finally develop a situation analysis with support of sectors on climate change impacts towards children including strategic recommendations. • Maintain overall knowledge around the impact of climate change and environmental degradation on child rights across nutrition, WASH, health, education, child protection and social policy programmes in Vanuatu, identifying and addressing the existing gaps. • Identify objectives, actions, and best practices for protecting children from climate change and environmental risk and provide necessary technical assistance and capacity development to staff and partners for their adoption at national and local levels. • Provide technical guidance to programme sections (health & nutrition, education, WASH, child protection and social protection) on mainstreaming CEED into all programme areas. • Support VFO and sectors in the development of Theory of Changes related to Climate Change and sectors and particularly regarding the social services delivery at communities’ level. 2. Advocacy, partnership and resource mobilization for accelerating child-centred climate actions and finance: • Create and maintain strong working relationships with the Ministry of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology, Geo-Hazards, Environment, Energy and Disaster Management of Vanuatu and other relevant line ministries aimed at supporting national climate change priorities and advancing Vanuatu FO’s CEED portfolio. • Support communication, dissemination of evidence, and awareness raising regarding climate change, environmental degradation and child rights in Vanuatu. • Participate in strategic discussions and identify opportunities for integrating child-centred climate and environmental actions in national CEED policy and strategic frameworks (such as Nationally Determined Contribution, National Adaptation Plan, National Climate Change Policy, etc.) as well as sector-specific policies and plans. • Identify partners and entry points for strategic engagement and policy advocacy regarding climate and environmental impacts on children for engagement. This includes establishing close collaboration with national and subnational authorities, NGOs, community groups, other partners and children and youth themselves to keep abreast with climate-related initiatives and efforts, collect information, identify problems and constraints, and advocate for tangible solutions for children. • Support the development of platforms and opportunities to empower children as agents of change with an active role in addressing climate and environmental-related risks. • Identify funding opportunities and support Vanuatu FO programmes in accessing climate-related funding from existing and emerging sources, including public-private partnerships, innovative climate finance and leveraging of non-financial contributions for climate aims. Advocate for improved child-focus of climate finance investments among partners. 3. Results-based monitoring, evaluation and reporting on UNICEF’s climate and environmental actions in the region: • Coordinate and be ultimately responsible for effective knowledge management systems (data collection, monitoring, report generation, evaluation and tasks related to documenting the programme process with partners) regarding Vanuatu FO environment and climate action. • Ensure that child-transformative climate and environment action are appropriately integrated into results-based programme work plans, progress against set objectives and targets is monitored and jointly reviewed with the Government of Vanuatu to ensure achievement of quality and sustainable results. • Prepare inputs to annual reports, results in assessments and specific programme/project and reports in order to update management, partners and allies.
Eligibility criteria
Age
18 – 80
Additional eligibility criteria
This assignment is funded by the Government of Japan, therefore only Japanese nationals are eligible to apply.
Nationality
Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.
Donor priorities
–
Requirements
Required experience
3 years of experience in programme/project development focused on areas related to development cooperation in climate change adaptation and mitigation, environment or socio-economic development is considered as a strong asset International experience working in a developing country is considered an asset. Familiarity with government and administration regulations and experience working with sub-national governments is considered an advantage. Familiar with human and children’s rights and gender in the context of climate change and environment. Proactive and resourceful, with good communication skills in negotiating and liaising with counterparts and partners, excellent analytical and writing skills. Good skills in computer applications; especially Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Area(s) of expertise
Energy and environment , Development programmes
Driving license
–
Languages
English, Level: Fluent, Required
Required education level
Bachelor degree or equivalent in environment, climate science, disaster risk reduction, social and economic development, international cooperation or another relevant technical field
Competencies and values
☒ Accountability ☒ Adaptability and Flexibility ☒ Building Trust ☒ Commitment and Motivation ☒ Ethics and Values ☒ Integrity ☒ Leadership ☒ Planning and Organizing ☒ Professionalism ☒ Respect for Diversity ☒ Self-Management ☒ Working in Teams
Other information
Living conditions and remarks
Workplace safety: The building is the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu and has all security and safety procedures in place. The UNICEF Vanuatu Field Office is covered by the Pacific-level UNDSS Security Plan. Security briefing will be provided. External factors (political and economic): Political situation in Vanuatu is stable (despite regular changes of government) and there is no significant political risk related to international workers. As in every city, there are places to avoid at night (drunk people, etc.) and robbery (home) could be possible but during the last 5 years, this was very limited. All in all, Port Vila is a quiet city. Negative social/environmental impact: Vanuatu is one of the countries in the world with the highest risk of climate and environment-related disasters, including cyclones, earthquakes and volcanoes. Accommodations: Accommodations such as hotels, appartements and houses are available in Port Vila.
Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
Reasonable accommodation
UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for UN Volunteers 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 recruitment process and afterwards in your assignment.
Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
In addition to duty station-specific vaccine requirements, appointments 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 appointment. It does not apply to UN Volunteers 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 contracts.
