Senior consultant for climate risk and vulnerability assessment and development of a strategy and action plan for climate resilient and green education services in Rwanda, Kigali Rwanda, 5 months

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. 

For every child, Development

To learn more about UNICEF work in Rwanda, please visit the country website https://unicef.sharepoint.com/sites/RWA/ or watch this video about UNICEF work in Rwanda: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7B91m5Yzoc 

How can you make a difference? 

Background

Rwanda is highly vulnerable to the impacts of natural hazards including drought, floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, strong wind, and landslides. These hazards cause physical, socio-economic, and environmental damages and losses. Moreover, over the last decade, the frequency and intensity of natural hazard-induced disasters have significantly increased due to increase in temperature, causing negative impacts on human development, properties, infrastructures, and the environment. According to UNICEF Children’s Climate Risk Index (CCRI), which provides the first comprehensive view of children’s exposure and vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, Rwanda has a CCRI score of 5.7 out of 10 and ranks 57th out of the 163 CCRI countries and regions, placing children in Rwanda at High risk.

The data from the Ministry in Charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA) indicates that the country has experienced 3,309 disasters between 2011 and 2019. Several disasters were also recorded in the first five months of 2020 with huge effects. Cumulatively, these incidents cause not only deaths but also a lot of damage and loss of livelihoods and infrastructure in Rwanda. The most severe of the recent disaster event was the 2nd-3rd May 2023 floods and landslides in the western and northern provinces of Rwanda.   The floods and landslides impacted over ten districts and resulted in 135 deaths, 111 injuries, displacement of over 20,000 people and severe damages including residence houses, health facilities, schools, bridges, water supply systems, power plants, road and telecommunication infrastructure.

The climate crisis has a complex impact on children’s education. Studies indicate that climate change has a direct impact on the education sector primarily through mortality, disruption of schooling, and the destruction of infrastructure resulting from frequent disasters. It also has indirect impacts on the education sector through effects on food security, livelihoods, air pollution, water, health, and energy. For example, teachers and students are not able to attend classes regularly because of displacement, increased instances of diseases and psychological distress caused by climate change.

The education sector in Rwanda is being increasingly impacted by climate change. The recent (May 2023) floods and landslides, severely damaged forty-one schools, destroyed teaching and learning materials and directly affected many education staff and students. Over 6,000 students and their families were displaced to safe evacuation sites designated by the government, and nine students lost their lives. The cost of damaged school infrastructures was estimated to be 3.9 billion RWF for rehabilitation, while the cost of damaged teaching and learning materials was estimated at 723 million RWF. Supporting 5,253 students and teachers affected by the flood with lost learning materials and psychological support will also cost the education sector about 25 million RWF. The total cost of reconstructing the affected schools, supplying textbooks, and other materials is approximately 4.5 billion RWF, close to 0.5% of the total education sector budget for 2023/24. This cost of rehabilitation undermines investment in long-term quality improvement in the education sector in Rwanda.

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Environment Science, Environmental Management and Natural Resources management, Disaster management, Climate change adaptation and resilience,
• At least eight years’ experience in climate change and environment sector, especially in similar works.
• To have performed at least three assignments related to climate change with proof documents.
• Knowledge of Geo-Spatial Information, Geodatabase Management, Environmental Modelling & Agriculture Remote Sensing, Land Surveying and Geospatial Project Management is desirable.
• Experience in working with educational institutions regarding environment and climate change adaptations and mitigation is desirable.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit 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.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants 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 selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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. 

Remarks:  

Individuals engaged under a consultancy will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants. Consultants are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates 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 assignment. It does not apply to consultants 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 consultancy contracts.