Environmental Education and Green Skills Development Consultant, Brasilia (remote), Brazil

UNICEF Brazil has as one of the priorities of its Country Program for 2024-2028 the confrontation of this culture of school failure and enhancement of education quality in Brazil. To this end, the Education area has developed three strategies. First, Successful School Pathways Strategy (SSP), that aims to support municipalities and states in the definition, implementation and evaluation of policies and actions to battle against age-grade distortion. Second, Let me Tell you a Story (DQEC) initiative that brings stories, games and curiosities about Brazilian culture through audio programs focused on early child development.

The third strategy, One Million Opportunities initiative, was designed to address a significant challenge that Brazil faces regarding the transition of its vast youth population into the workforce. The initiative strives to address these issues by providing skills development, apprenticeships, and employment opportunities for vulnerable youth.

In the context of The One Million Opportunities initiative, Generation Unlimited is a plan of action launched by the UN Secretary-General, in 2018, developed to deliver innovative solutions on a global scale based on a Public-Private-Youth Partnership. One of these innovative solutions is Green Rising, based on three pillars of action: youth engagement, advocacy and green skills, jobs and entrepreneurship.  

Purpose

Under the supervision of the Education and 1 Million Opportunities Staffs, this consultancy is expected to perform activities to manage the project “Environmental education and green skills” in partnership with secretary of education of Pará state. The consultant will provide technical support for the implementation of the state policy on environmental education, sustainability and climate in the state and municipal education network along with UNICEF and partnership with Pará State Secretary. Also, the consultant is expected to provide training for professionals of these education networks.

Expected results:

1. Produce one report per deliverable on the progress, barriers and opportunities identified in the implementation of the project with Secretary of Education of Pará State.

2. Work closely with the Education team to support the coordination of the content production of 30 podcasts on climate change/environmental education.

3. Work closely with the Education team to support the coordination of curation and adaptation of Let me Tell You a Story material (pedagogical guides and podcasts).

4. Work closely with the Education team to support the coordination of training 50 primary education teachers and trainers.

5. Work closely with the Education and 1Mio team to support the coordination of content production of 02 formative trails to adolescents on Green Rising, especially its pillar on green skills, jobs and entrepreneurship.

6. Work closely with the Education and 1Mio team to support the coordination of revision and adaptation of the Life Project teaching material for the 1MiO training platform.

7. Produce and deliver 2 training workshops (8 hours each, 16 hours on total) about Green Rising, especially its pillar on green skills, jobs and entrepreneurship, to trainers of Centro de Formação de Profissionais de Educação Básica do Estado do Pará and educational coordinators from secondary education.

Deliverables

Travel Plan

Duration of Contract

10 months 

Technical background, and experience required

• First University or bachelor’s degree in Education, Social Sciences, Political Science, Communication, Public Policy, International Relations or related fields.
• Teamwork, and good communication skills.
• At least 7 years of experience in education, including environmental education, project management, teachers and school managers training, content production and related areas.
• Availability to perform some punctual activity within one of the UNICEF field offices in Brazil.
• Knowledge or interest in topics related to youth and similar.

Language Proficiency

• Portuguese.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENT

• Degree in education, Social Sciences, political science, Communication, Public Policy, International Relations or related fields.
• A minimum of 7 years of professional work experience at national or international levels in relevant Education, Enviromental Education, Advocacy, Public Policies or related programs. Experience in UN system agency or organization is an asset.
• Fluency in Portuguese required. Knowledge of English is an asset.
• Knowledge on children’s rights issues, including the Convention of Rights of the Child and the Statute of the Child and the Adolescent.
• Experience in content production, teachers and education managers training and advocacy with governments.
• Teamwork skills and capacity to work with tight deadlines.

UNICEF’S CORE VALUES

Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS)

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.

General Conditions: Procedures and Logistics

• Consultant will work from home using own equipment and stationery. UNICEF will provide office space for consultative meetings when needed.
• Consultant’s travel costs should be included in the consultant’s fee.
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant and mandatory courses are completed.
• Consultants will not have any representative, certifying, or approving authority, or supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNICEF budget.
• The consultant will work remotely on a delivery basis and prior authorization and/or clearance from UNICEF to engage in outside UNICEF activities is required.

Financial Proposal

• Costs indicated are estimated. Final rate shall follow “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee.
• A financial proposal including the fee for the assignment based on the deliverables and number of days must be submitted. Consultants are asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum, administrative cost, travel cost and subsistence costs, as applicable.
• The payment will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

Insurance and health coverage

• The contractor is fully responsible for arranging, at his or her own expenses, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the term of the contract as he or she considers appropriate.
• The contractor is not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to UNICEF and United Nations staff members.

Restrictions

• Consultants may not receive training at the expense of UNICEF. Notwithstanding, consultants must complete the applicable mandatory trainings before the signature of the contract; 
• In case of government officials, the contract cannot be issued without prior written clearance by the Government​ or unless on leave without pay.

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.