Home-based: Climate Finance Consultant (40 working days; with travel as needed) – Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECARO)

UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (ECARO) is looking for a qualified Climate Finance Consultant to develop a strategic narrative on climate change for children in Central Asia.

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, a future.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment

The overall aim of the contract is to develop a strategic narrative on climate change for children in Central Asia.

Scope of Work

Climate change presents significant and escalating threats to the well-being of children globally, jeopardizing the progress achieved in child survival and development. According to the UNFCCC the Central Asia region is one of the most at-risk regions in the world to the impacts of climate change. Analysis shows that during recent decades Central Asia’s glaciers have been melting at a faster pace, leading to considerable shrinking and retreat of the glaciers’ heads.

The projected rise in temperatures in the mid to late century is likely to exceed the rise in global average temperatures.

According to UNFCCC secretariat analysis of OECD data (between 2013 and 2018), the international public climate finance for the region totaled USD 9.1 billion, of which 76% was for mitigation, 19% was for adaptation and 5% was crosscutting. About 80% of climate finance was provided through multilateral channels and 20% was through bilateral flows. Debt instruments comprised about 89% of all international climate finance, while grants made up about 10% of climate finance flows to the region. The energy sector accounted for about 46% of all climate finance between 2013 and 2018. The agriculture sector was second and transportation was third, accounting for about 11% and 8% respectively.

Evidence shows that public spending on children is a wise investment that builds human capital, benefiting not only children but also their communities and countries more broadly. Investments in children lead to rises in income, contributing to sustainable development and cohesive societies. Conversely, climate finance and action that overlooks the rights of children weakens the efficacy of climate change response measures, and risks contributing to adverse social outcomes and deepening inequalities, inadvertently harming rather than protecting children and their families. As discussions on proposed reforms to the international financial architecture gather pace, and the UNFCCC deliberates on a new goal on climate finance and the design of a Loss and Damage fund, it is extremely urgent that UNICEF defines our added value and role in climate action.

UNICEF is exploring strategic partnerships with International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and governments to shape a narrative on climate change for children. UNICEF’s engagement with IFIs, thus, goes beyond resource mobilization, and a sole focus on this would not be strategic or realistic.

Objectives:

1. Conduct a screening of the climate finance status of key UNICEF sectors and countries.
2. In collaboration with ECARO and UNICEF 5 COs in Central Asia programme teams Support the development of multi country UNICEF Concept Note/proposals for Climate Finance in Central Asia.
3. Collaborate with 5 COs and develop a sub regional concept note on climate change and children.
4. Support the identification of a project pipeline of bankable projects.

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks / Milestone	Deliverables / Outputs	Timeline / Deadline
1.Conduct a screening of the climate finance status of key UNICEF sectors and countries Review major IFI’s investments in climate adaptation and mitigation to identify which types of projects have been approved for UNICEF’s key sectors and countries Review the databases of key vertical funds (GCF, GEF and AF) to identify which types of projects have been approved for UNICEF’s key sectors and countries Identify gaps and opportunities for climate finance for UNICEF programme sectors and countries-sectorally where UNICEF’s comparative advantage and mandate can make the greatest impact	Deliverable 1: Vertical fund and IFI database assessment report	12 working days; By 31 May 2024
	Deliverable 2: IFI assessment report
3. Support the identification of a project pipeline of bankable projects On the basis of the above work and in consultation with ECARO and 5 COs, identify 2 bankable programmes, including those with clear linkages to the private sector ensuring that key investment criteria have been met)	Deliverable 3: Pipeline of five (5) projects developed.	6 working days; By 30 June 2024
4. Develop comprehensive cross-sectoral climate change rationales for climate change and children in Central Asia On the basis of the findings from #1 and #2, and in consultation with Headquarters, regional and country offices (and complementing work from another consultant), develop a rational for climate finance for children targeting climate change adaptation and climate change mitigation Identify at least 2 potential models (project typologies) for climate financing and co-financing based on the needs and opportunities for UNICEF COs – these models should include mitigation, adaptation and mixed projects for key UNICEF sectors that could be considered for climate finance proposal development (with clear linkages to the private sector ensuring that key investment criteria have been met)	Deliverable 4: report delivered	6 working days; By 31 July 2024
4. Support the development of multi country UNICEF Concept Note/proposals for Climate Finance in Central Asia In collaboration with ECARO and UNICEF 5 COs in Central Asia programme teams develop a sub reagional concept note on climate change and children	Deliverable 5: one (1) assessed proposal	16 working days; By 30 September 2024

Estimated Duration of the Contract

40 working days between April and September 2024.

Consultant’s Work Place and Official Travel

The Consultant will be remote/home-based.

As part of this assignment, some international travels are foreseen. The consultant will arrange her/his travel as and when they take place, and related costs will be reimbursed per UNICEF travel policy.

Travel Clause

• All UNICEF rules and regulations related to travel of Consultants apply.
• All travels shall be undertaken only upon the prior written approval by UNICEF.
• The consultant must be fit to travel, be in a possession of the valid UN BSAFE certificate, obligatory inoculation(s) and have a valid own travel/medical insurance and an immunization/vaccination card.

Estimated Cost of the Consultancy & Payment Schedule

Payment will be made on submission of an invoice and satisfactory completion of the above-mentioned deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs are incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines. All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.

Please submit a professional fee (in USD) based on 40 working days to undertake this assignment, without travel fees as these will be reimbursed as and when they take place.

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

• Masters or post-graduate degree in Environmental Science, Climate Change, International Development, Climate Finance, Finance for Development, or any other related disciplines
• Minimum eight (8) years’ work experience in the areas of climate finance, climate change.
• Demonstrated past experience in design of climate finance proposals, climate finance investments cases
• Experience in capacity building, government relationship building, training and/or facilitation an asset
• Previous experience working in the ECA region is an asset;
• Knowledge of the United Nations system or other international organizations is an asset;
• Knowledge of international development, humanitarian issues and children’s rights is an asset.
• Proven experience of working with IFIs
• Proven experience in proposal development
• Understanding of climate finance for children
• 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;
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of other languages relevant to the ECA region is an added advantage.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS), and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most marginalized children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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:

Please include a full CV and Cover Letter in your application. Additionally, indicate your availability and professional fee (in USD) to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a professional fee will not be considered. 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.

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.