Regional Technical Consultant for Air Pollution Impact Assessment on Children – UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia, Nepal, Kathmandu (6 months, home-based)

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Background and Rationale:

South Asia is home to the most polluted cities in the world, with New Delhi, Dhaka, Islamabad and Kathmandu consistently ranking among the top 10.^[1] Globally, over 40 out of the 50 cities with the poorest air quality are in Central and South Asia.[2] Air pollution is ranked 2^nd in global risk of death for children under 5 years of age after malnutrition.[3] It has become a child health crisis.^[4] Globally, over 700,000 deaths in children under 5 years were linked to air pollution. This is 2,000 deaths every day. In 2021, around 268,700 deaths of children under 5 was attributed to air pollution in the region, with India (169,400 deaths), Pakistan (68,100 deaths), and Bangladesh (19,200 deaths) accounting for the largest share. The region leads the largest burden of disease linked to air pollution – with India accounting for 2.1 million deaths followed by Pakistan at 256,000 and Bangladesh 236,000 deaths.[5]

Infants and children are especially vulnerable to air pollution since lung development begins in-utero and continues in early childhood.^[6] It has also been shown to have serious effects on unborn children. In-utero exposure to acute air pollution has been shown to increase foetal loss and infant mortality, lower birth weight and preterm birth. Low birthweight in turn is a risk factor for stunting. A growing body of evidence suggests potential impaired cognitive development because of exposure to air pollution, especially during pregnancy and the early years of life, including verbal and nonverbal IQ, memory, test scores and grade-point averages among school children as well as other neurological behavioural problems. This happens predominantly through several pathways including (a) neuro-inflammation caused by Particulate Matter (PM) by damaging the blood-brain barrier; (b) neurodegenerative diseases triggered by highly toxic and commonly found nanoparticles such as magnetite in outdoor air pollution; (c) damage to white matter in the brain due to polyaromatic carbons arising from fossil fuel combustion. These harmful effects are likely to manifest throughout children’s lives – limiting educational attainment, lower earnings, to reach their potential as adults – in turn fuelling intergenerational cycles of disadvantage.

UNICEF’s Sustainability and Climate Change Action Plan (SCAP) 2023-2030 galvanizes a global commitment to ensure a sustainable world and to protect the most vulnerable children from the climate crises and environmental degradation. Addressing the impacts of pollution on the survival, health, development and well-being of children is an integral part of UNICEF’s  Healthy Environments for Healthy Children (HEHC) global programme framework (Summary, Short Video). The centrepiece of this is strengthening primary health care and essential public health functions, empowering people and communities and multi-sectoral action.  General Comment No. 26 (Children’s Rights and the Environment) of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) urges Governments to safeguard children’s rights to a clean, healthy and a sustainable environment. ). It is also a key aspect of the Nurturing Care Framework, a basis for UNICEF’s work on early childhood development, influencing the health, development and wellbeing of young children. Promoting clean air for children in South Asia is SCAP area of accelerator for ROSA under the tagline “Young Lungs”.

In collaboration with the Health Effects Institute (HEI) and Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation’s (IHME), UNICEF recently launched the State of Global Air Report (SOGA, 2024). In addition to the data mentioned above, additional highlights from the region include:

• Over 60% of people in South Asia are exposed to household pollution.
• More than 70% of air pollution related deaths in children under 5 are attributable to household air pollution, with majority of the share in Asia and Africa.  
• Over 40% of all deaths from lower respiratory tract infections (LRIs) in children under 5 in Afghanistan, India and Bangladesh were attributed to air pollution.

In 2030, air pollution is projected to cause 2.1 million premature deaths in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.^[7] The projected premature deaths from exposure to fine particulate matter (i.e., PM) in 2030 represent a significant fraction of total deaths in each country, accounting for 20 percent in Bangladesh, 15 percent in India, 18 percent in Nepal, 17 percent in Pakistan, and 11 percent in Sri Lanka. 

With this background, UNICEF ROSA is seeking the support of a technical expert to conduct an in-depth analysis of air pollution impact on children, focusing on early child development (ECD) and health and formulate a multi-country approach to addressing air pollution in the region. The consultant will provide programmatic guidance to ROSA and country offices, determine UNICEF’s value add and support 3 country offices to develop country specific costed action plans to protect children from harmful levels of air pollution and promote early childhood development. In doing so, the consultant will draw upon existing efforts of the countries, partners and UNICEF in ensuring clean air for children, as well as the findings and recommendations from major recent research and studies.

Objective of this Consultancy:

To assist ROSA in analysing existing data and evidence on air pollution impact on children, focusing on ECD and health and develop a multi-country approach to ensuring clean air for children in the region. The consultant will report to the Regional Adviser for Climate and Environment, and work closely with Regional Adviser for Health, HQ, country offices (COs) and sections in ROSA.

Expected audiences of this study include UNICEF country offices, policy makers, development partners, healthcare professionals, journalists, caregivers, etc.

Key Activities/Tasks:

Analyse air quality data and evidence to determine impacts on children’s health, well-being and early childhood development:

Review and analyse existing data and evidence on air pollution in the region, especially its impact on child health and early development. This includes undertaking deep dives in 3 countries as case studies. Conduct situation analyses (regional and country specific) to identify, among others, the following:

• Current status and trends of air quality and number of children (gender disaggregated) impacted at the national and subnational levels, covering possible geographical typologies (e.g rural Vs urban) within the country.
• Health indicators associated to air pollution such as neonatal and under 5 mortality, congenital disorder, and morbidity (acute respiratory infection, pneumonia, asthma, etc.) in children.
• Future projections (both ambient and indoor).
• Major hotspots of air pollution with the number of children exposure and impacted.
• Existing health and ECD related data to determine air pollution related illness and risks, child population exposed and determine the magnitude of the problem.
• Analyse the existing data to explore correlation between air quality index (AQI) and health impacts on children.
• Analyse existing national policies (including legislation, air quality standards) and programmes to address air quality – focusing on early childhood, vulnerable children and youth and pregnant women. Identify existing opportunities to move the needle from the government’s perspective.
• Review and analyse gaps and constraints on capacities (technical and institutional), data and evidence, resources and pressing needs to address the issue and inform multi-country solutions.

Technical support to ROSA and country offices:

• Map existing initiatives by UNICEF country offices in this area. Provide technical support and guidance to ROSA and country offices to identify the needs and solutions building upon existing efforts, such as the Healthy Environment for Healthy Children and Child Environmental Health but also breaking new ground in the interface between ECD and climate and environment programming.
• Recommend UNICEF value-add, prioritize actions, and formulate a multi-country approach to addressing air pollution in the region.
• Support country offices in developing costed action plans to help accelerate and scale up ongoing best practices and national efforts. This includes policy solutions, youth led actions, awareness and advocacy, air quality monitoring, capacity building of health workers to prevent, detect and treat air pollution-related disease, alongside support for ECD, among others.
• Develop evidence-based strategies and recommendations to Governments and partners to integrate child health risk reduction measures in key national health, climate and environment and ECD related policies and programmes including national clean air programmes (e.g., Govt of India National Clean Air Programme).
• Support UNICEF RO and COs in developing key messages, policy briefs and best practices to promote advocacy and awareness, together with the Communications and Advocacy section. Develop targeted information packages catering to the identified needs of women, young people, children, caregivers and families residing in air pollution hotspots.

Identify potential opportunities for partnership, fundraising and regional collaboration:

• Map relevant stakeholders and partners currently active in addressing air pollution for children, youth and their communities.
• Map regional initiatives/ plans/agreements focusing on the impact of the air pollution on children in the region as well as resources mobilized in this area.
• Develop a strategy to strengthen partnerships and networks with key partners (e.g. Government agencies, development partners, academia, medical and paediatric associations, caregivers) and identify potential opportunities to promote regional collaboration, strengthen data and evidence, and advocacy on clean air for children.
• Develop a proposal for fundraising to support the multi-country approach, including a regional coordination platform.

Perform other tasks as appropriate during the course of the assignment that is relevant to the topic:

• Prepare plans for publication launch and dissemination and outreach (including videos, awareness materials, etc.) together with the Communications and Advocacy section.
• Coordinate with the designer, copy editor, writer to finalise the publication and outreach materials.

Note: This consultancy is remote based with travels to countries in South Asia. Please send your applications with the financial proposal. Applications without the financial proposals will not be considered.

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

Educational qualifications:

Advanced university degree in environmental science, environmental health, pollution management, atmospheric science, public health or any other related disciplines with at least 8 years of professional work experience.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• Minimum eight (8) years of work experience in the areas of environmental health, pollution management, air pollution, public health or related areas.
• Related professional experience in ECD is an asset.
• Demonstrated past experience in leading similar assessments, conducting research and data analysis on air pollution, environmental health, child health, ECD, and developing strategies as well as costed action plans to address environmental hazards.
• Previous experience working in the SAR region is an asset.
• Knowledge of the United Nations system or other international organizations is an asset.
• Knowledge of international development, children’s rights and ECD is an asset.
• Proven experience in programme assessments and strategy development.
• Understanding of public health systems and policies related to environment, health and ECD.
• Experience in developing concept notes for fundraising and strategies to strengthen partnerships.

Skills and attributes desired:

• Excellent communication, facilitation, and presentation skills
• High level of analytical ability to analyse qualitative and quantitative data, including using relevant software packages.
• Demonstrated ability to produce high quality, concise, analytical and insightful reports and presentations in English.
• Proven ability to conceptualize, innovate, plan and execute ideas.
• Strategic thinking and critical analysis.
• Commitment and drive, with a clear focus on results.
• Ability to manage competing priorities under pressure, whilst maintaining attention to detail and meeting deadlines.

Languages:

• Strong writing skills and fluency in the English language is required.
• Knowledge of other languages relevant to the South Asian region is an added advantage.

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/individual contractors 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:  

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract 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 and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors 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.