Climate, Environment and DRR Specialist

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.

Disasters, climate change, and environmental degradation present significant and escalating threats to the well-being of children globally, jeopardizing the progress achieved in child survival and development. Over a billion children are exposed to severe risks from climate and environmental hazards such as heatwaves, floods, and cyclones. Consequently, it is imperative for countries to establish climate-resilient, low-carbon social services encompassing water and sanitation, healthcare, education, nutrition, social protection, and child protection to tackle current threats and prepare for increasingly severe impacts.

In alignment with our commitment to protect children and young people worldwide, UNICEF is launching its Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (SCAP) 2023 – 2030.  The 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.

For every child, Hope

How can you make a difference?

The Climate Environmental and DRR Specialist reports to the Regional Climate Change Adviser (P-5) for general guidance and direction. The Climate Environmental and DRR Specialist supports the Regional Climate Change Adviser in managing the CEED section, and in leading the development, preparation, management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the CEED programme within the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region. The CEED Specialist provides technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes, to ensure the achievement of the CEED-related output results in the LAC region. The CEED Specialist provides advisory services to UNICEF Country Offices (COs), governments and sector support agencies.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

Technical support and coordination for the implementation of the Sustainability and Climate Action plan for all countries in LAC region including:

• Implementation of the foundational elements in each UNICEF country in the LAC region (i.e. data and analysis, development of country strategy, implementation of ESS and greening initiatives, staff training)
• Development and implementation of sustainability and climate as part of all country programmes and advocacy in the region
• Implementation of suitable multi-country projects in areas of acceleration in the region
• Development of country and regional partnerships in the region.
• Foster engagement with key stakeholders related to climate finance in the region and globally.

Regional Sustainability and Climate Coordination:

• Implementation of foundational elements in UNICEF country offices, including data analysis, strategy development, and environmental standards.
• Coordinate data collection for climate adaptation, disaster reduction, and resilience.
• Develop sustainability and climate strategies for regional countries.
• Promote UNICEF environmental standards and capacity-building.
• Align policies and programs regionally and with broader UNICEF initiatives.

Integration in Country Programs:

• Ensure sustainability and climate integration in country programs.
• Provide guidance to country offices for multi-sectoral sustainability.
• Support regional sustainability and climate initiatives in line with UNICEF’s Strategic Plan.

 Technical Support:

• Offer technical and operational support to staff in climate, energy, environment, and DRR.
• Assist in implementing complementary Sustainability and Climate Action Plan strategies.
• Coordinate narratives and milestones across the region.
• Track regional sustainability and climate initiatives.

Multi-Country Projects:

• Coordinate country selection for sustainability and climate projects.
• Provide strategic advice and knowledge exchange among countries.
• Champion climate-informed risk reduction, sustainable energy, WASH services, youth engagement, and internal sustainability.

Partnership Development:

• Establish strategic partnerships with financial institutions and the private sector.
• Promote cross-sectoral programming for maximum impact.
• Ensure coordinated engagement within and outside UNICEF.
• Support fundraising efforts aligned with thematic areas.
• Pursue climate finance opportunities.

Climate Finance stewardship:

• Support the development of a strategy designed to unlock climate finance opportunities for UNICEF and governments in LAC region.
• Support the development proposals for climate finance including feasibility studies and assessments.
• Identify most promising opportunities for financing climate-resilient and accessible Health, Education and WASH services.
• Capacity building for country offices to develop proposals and secure the large-scale funding needed to provide climate-resilient social services for children and young people. 

Impact of results

The Climate Environmental and DRR Specialist will provide technical support and coordination in sustainability and climate initiatives (programmes, policies, and activities) throughout the LAC region. This includes management and delivery of the key objectives of UNICEFs Sustainability and Climate Action plan, which include:

• Protect the lives, health and well-being of children and the resilience of their communities by adapting essential social services to a changing climate, more frequent disasters and a degrading environment.
• Empower every child through their life course with the developmental opportunities, education and skills to be a champion for the environment.
• Reduce emissions and environmental footprint within UNICEF, support its global network of partners to do the same, and advocate for the fulfilment of ambitious international sustainability and climate change agreements.

The key results have an impact on the overall performance of UNICEF’s organizational response and commitment to prioritize action on the planetary crisis globally.

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

• An advanced university degree in climate change, environmental science, engineering, disaster management, International Development, International Relations, Government, Public Administration, Public Policy, Social Policy or other relevant disciplines is required.
• A minimum of 8 years of relevant work experience in areas related to sustainability, international development, disaster management, environmental issues, public policy, social policy, and children’s health and wellbeing is required.
• Specific experience in policy/advocacy/programming, implementation, monitoring, review and evaluation related to climate change, environment or disaster risk reduction is required preferably in a developing country context.
• In-depth knowledge on climate, environment, and DRR impacts, assessments, and adaptation solutions required.
• Familiarity with children’s rights in the context of climate change, environmental degradation and disaster risk reduction required.
• In-depth knowledge of climate and environmental finance would be an asset.
• Experience working on CEED issues within UNICEF or other international development agencies is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English and Spanish is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian) or a local language is an asset.

Skills

Thorough knowledge of Climate, Energy, Environment and DRR policy, programming and advocacy.

Strong organizational, planning, and prioritizing skills and abilities

High sense of confidentiality, initiative, and good judgment.

Ability to work effectively with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.

Specialist technical knowledge of X (section above).

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships (2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (3) Drive to achieve results for impact (4) Innovates and embraces change (5) Manages ambiguity and complexity (6) Thinks and acts strategically (7) Works collaboratively with others.

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework 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.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
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 is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. 

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female and male are encouraged to apply.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be cancelled.

All selected candidates will 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.

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.