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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 fulfil 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, a liveable planet!
Angola has a high level of risk to climate and environmental shocks and its children are extremely vulnerable to direct and indirect risks, with malnutrition prime among them and malaria, diarrhoeal disease and respiratory infections also present. Still suffering the effects of the 2021 drought, the worst in 40 years, Angola is expected to experience increased average annual temperatures accompanied by the intensification of drought conditions aggravating water and food insecurity. Flooding, too, is likely to increase, causing damage to settlements and infrastructure and spreading disease. These adverse weather events, exacerbated by climate change, are the main reasons for emergencies in Angola.
A lower-middle-income country (LMIC), Angola is the second largest oil producer in Africa and dependent on oil for its economic growth, making its economy vulnerable to the volatility of commodity prices. There is an urgent need to shift to low-carbon energy options for resilient and sustainable, inclusive service delivery systems and growth, especially for young people. Angola has a varied energy mix, with hydroelectric power providing more than 50% of total generated power, and potential to increase this, but resilient, sustainable approaches are needed. While Angola’s contribution to Green House Gas (GHG) emissions is relatively low, most of it is caused by unsustainable agricultural practices, forestry exploitation and land use changes. Reducing the impacts on children from climate change, energy and environmental shocks and other hazards requires a cross sectoral approach as they are linked to a host of socioeconomic, geographical, cultural, and environmental factors that impact children. Given the evidence on the pace and intensity of climate change, the analysis, including the 2023 Climate Landscape Analysis for Children (CLAC), clearly demonstrates that UNICEF Angola’s climate change response efforts should be concentrated on building resilience and strengthening the country’s adaptive capacity to climate change with a focus on children and reducing the risk of disasters.
The country programme envisions that, by 2028, more children and their families will have access to and use disability-inclusive, gender-responsive, quality basic services, and child and social protection systems towards the full realization of their rights, including in humanitarian emergencies. Direct service delivery support will remain as part of the humanitarian response. UNICEF Angola aims to strengthen national capacities for preparedness and early action that are child-sensitive, gender-responsive and risk-informed.
How can you make a difference?
Climate, Energy, Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction are closely linked to Angola’s large-scale emergencies. UNICEF Angola requires a Climate, Energy, Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction (CEED) Specialist role that will allow the Country Office (CO) to scale up its resilience building activities, to strengthen emergency preparedness and leverage in-country capacities in WASH and other key sectors (like health, nutrition, education, etc.) to provide child-responsive disaster risk reduction support and encourage low-carbon, renewable energy approaches to service delivery and in the CO’s operations and programming. The Climate, Environment and DRR Specialist will report to the WASH Chief for UNICEF Angola with a ‘dotted line’ matrix management arrangement to the Deputy Representative for Programmes as the second reporting officer.
The CEED Specialist will co-operate closely with all section chiefs and work closely with UNICEF Eastern and South African Regional Office (ESARO) climate, energy, environment and DRR colleagues. The CEED Specialist will be located in Luanda, Angola, and will supervise the National Programme Officer in the Huila field office. The incumbent will provide technical guidance and management support throughout the programming processes, to develop and facilitate the achievement of climate, energy, environment, and disaster sensitive results in the country programme. In addition, the CEED Specialist will be required to strengthen climate, energy, environment and disaster risk reduction responses in programme delivery, monitoring and lesson learning and support coordination of CO humanitarian response.
Key function, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:
1. Support to programme development and planning
Support and contribute to the preparation, design and updating of the situation analysis for climate, energy, environment and disaster risk reduction (CEED) to establish a strategic plan for CEED programming. Identify UNICEF’s niche for addressing climate change, energy, environment and disaster risk reduction impacts on children, awareness raising and design of programmes supporting the rights of children and strengthening risk informed programming. Coordinate engagement in the area of climate, energy, environment, and disaster risk reduction so that UNICEF progressively integrates climate change, energy, environment and disaster risk reduction action into CO programme planning, implementation, monitoring and knowledge management.
Provide strategic guidance and high-quality technical support to CO risk analysis and the design of risk-informed resilience programming and the incorporation of risk analysis in all relevant documents and processes. Guide sections on applying UNICEF’s national, regional and global climate and environment frameworks by defining and adjusting an Angola road map, including timeline, linked to outputs.
Guide and support the planning, development and implementation of strategic climate, energy and environment approaches, strategies and initiatives, including formulation of the outcomes and output results, related indicators, baselines, targets and means of verification, ensuring alignment with the UNICEF’s Strategic Plan 2022-2025, UNICEF Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS), CO work plans and alignment with government plans and priorities. Serve as the focal point and coordinator between the CO and the Regional Office for developing climate finance proposals and other funding opportunities related to CEED topics.
2. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results
Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews with government and other counterparts and prepare reports on results for required action/ intervention at the higher level of programme management. Prepare/ assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths /weaknesses in programmes and management; identify and document lessons learned. Monitor and report on the use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets), verify compliance with approved allocations, organizational rules, regulations/ procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity. Report on issues identified to enable timely resolution by management/ stakeholders.
Actively monitor UNICEF-supported activities through programme visits, surveys and exchange of information with partners, to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely interventions. Prepare sectoral progress reports for management, donors and partners. In coordination with the ESARO Climate, Energy, Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction specialists, strengthen internal capacity and ability to collaborate and with partners on climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and adaptation of basic social services for vulnerable communities.
3. Technical and operational support to programme implementation
Provide technical guidance and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners/ donors on the interpretation, application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes, and best practices and approaches on climate, energy, environment and resilience issues to support programme development planning, management, implementation and delivery of results. Participate in discussions with national and subnational stakeholders to promote climate change resilience with a gender, disability and equity lens in emergency preparedness and response as well as in development context. Draft policy papers, briefs and other strategic programme materials for management use, information and consideration. Participate in emergency preparedness initiatives for programme development, contingency planning and/ or to respond to emergencies in country or where designated.
4. Networking and partnership building
Build, strengthen and sustain close working and strategic partnerships with government counterparts, UN agencies, donor agencies, climate centres and institutions, NGOs, research institutes and the private sector to stimulate coordination and collaboration in the areas of climate resilience and sustainable energy; including active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate programme implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve results sensitive to climate, energy, environment and disaster risk reduction. Lead the development of strategic partnerships with financing and development partners, International Development Banks and the private sector to enhance, climate, energy and environment programming. Identify and work with donors, the private sector and regional partners on climate, energy, environment and disaster risk reduction strategic engagement and programming with government. Ensure that UNICEF engagement in the area of climate, energy, environment and disaster risk reduction is well coordinated with other UN agencies. Prepare climate, energy, environment and disaster risk reduction donor proposals, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s Strategic Plan, UNICEF’s global sector strategies, ESS and the Country programme, as well as government plans and priorities. Support the development of investment cases using market data for renewable energy. Support section focal points in the coordination and implementation of approved proposals focused on climate, energy, environment and disaster risk reduction by providing technical review on related content and guidance on climate and other finance funding requirements. Participate in inter-agency and development partner discussions, interact with national, global and regional initiatives and partnerships for climate, energy, environment and disaster risk reduction resilience and ensuring that UNICEF’s position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the planning and agenda setting.
5. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
Initiate and contribute to the systematic assessment of climate, energy, environment and disaster risk reduction capacity gap analysis, in collaboration with government and other stakeholders, and support the design of initiatives to strengthen capacities systematically. Strengthen UNICEF internal capacity and ability to collaborate with partners on climate change, energy, environmental adaptation, disaster risk reduction and resilience for vulnerable communities. Develop and implement a learning and capacity building initiative on climate change training for the CO to ensure capacity remains up to date in line with the latest developments; including on Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) and industry standards for energy.
Support knowledge management and sharing in the development of policy papers, briefs and other strategic materials for internal and external use, in the areas climate, energy, environment and disaster risk reduction. Manage the implementation, monitoring and documentation including climate, energy, environment and disaster risk reduction research and innovation (technical or systems) whilst ensuring rigorous monitoring and wide sharing of results. Keep abreast of climate, energy, environment, and disaster risk reduction development trends and maintain a high level of overall knowledge on climate, energy and environment policy, institutions and programmatic activities. Prepare learning/ knowledge products, covering innovative approaches and good practices to support climate, energy, environment, and disaster risk reduction programming. Assess, institutionalize, and share best practice and knowledge gained.
6. Advocacy, evidence generation, policy and positioning of UNICEF in climate change and children
Provide comprehensive and current data to inform climate, energy, environment and disaster risk reduction related policy and programme development, as well as planning, management and implementation of climate adapted and resilient social services and infrastructure. Support vulnerability data collection, management and assessment, including mapping, to support enhanced child focused climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and building climate resilience. Support communication and policy advocacy regarding climate change, environmental degradation, disaster risk reduction and child rights in Angola, and input into key national climate and environment policy dialogues as well as the development of related policies, strategies and plans. In coordination and partnership with UNICEF Social Policy section and other UN and institutional stakeholders, support public finance analysis with regard to climate, energy, environment and disaster risk reduction financing and budgeting. Advocate for an improved child-focus of climate finance investments among partners. Support youth climate, energy, environment and disaster risk reduction activism (e.g., COP advocacy, etc.).
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Education:
An advanced university degree (masters’ degree) in environmental sciences, climatology, geology or earth sciences, climate change, disaster risk reduction, social and economic development, international cooperation or another relevant technical field is required. Additional relevant post-graduate courses that complement / supplement the main degree are desirable.
* A bachelors’ degree in combination with 2 additional relevant years of experience may also be considered in lieu of advanced university degree.
Experience:
A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional work experience at the national and/ or international levels in programme/ project development, focused on developing countries in areas related to development cooperation in climate change adaptation and mitigation, environment and socio-economic development. Familiarity with children’s rights and gender in the context of climate, energy, environment and disaster risk reduction is required. Knowledge and experience of applying gender equality principles and gender-responsive and transformative programming is an asset. Demonstrated experience in applying results-based management is required.
Excellent analytical and writing skills, advocacy and presentational skills are required. Demonstrated ability to work harmoniously in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious & effective working relationships both within and outside an organization is required. Previous experience within UNICEF and experience in climate change, environment, resilience are assets as is experience in emergency preparedness and response.
Fluency in English is required. Fluency in Portuguese is an asset; alternatively, competency in another Latin language e.g. Spanish, Italian, French will be given consideration.
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, 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 (8) Nurtures, leads and manages people
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 candidates 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.
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