Individual Consultant: Climate and Environment Consultant, UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia (Remote Working)

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture., coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, result

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organisation does – in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasising the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favouritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life – in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions – her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens – addressing inequity – not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realising the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

 Purpose of Assignment:

The purpose of this assignment is to provide technical assistance on climate finance and bankable project pipelines while offering programming support to country offices. The consultant will support the development of technical resources and country programme implementation with the aim of advancing UNICEF’s SCAP. S/he will be accountable for the delivery of high-quality products and inputs to country offices and climate programmes.

Scope of Work:

The Asia and Pacific region has the highest number of young people globally. Nearly, every child is affected by at least one or more climate and environmental hazards – threatening their health, education, and protection, and exposing them to deadly diseases. UNICEF has outlined an ambitious Sustainability and Climate Change Action Plan (SCAP) aimed at protecting children’s lives, empowering them to champion climate and environmental causes, and reducing the organisation’s environmental footprint.
UNICEF’s Regional Office for Asia and Pacific is seeking a Climate and Environment Consultant to support UNICEF’s climate and environment programming for children at scale across the region. The consultant will support COs (Maldives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan) in further advancing the SCAP, capacity development on climate finance and integrate climate change into UNICEF core programming sectors (e.g. WASH, Health, Education, etc.), and provide technical support in developing bankable project ideas, concepts and proposals to mobilise climate finance for children, especially on SCAP Areas of Acceleration. This includes climate resilient WASH, sustainable energy, empowering young people, and humanitarian action and risk reduction. Additionally, the consultant will help to actively engage with countries in Asia and Pacific to promote children’s rights within the climate finance related programming pipelines and policies.
Key Activities or Tasks:
Under direct supervision of the Senior Adviser the consultant will be responsible for the following key functions/accountabilities:

Technical support for proposal and programme development

• Support UNICEF COs on SCAP, climate finance and integrating climate change and environmental issues into UNICEF’s core programme areas. Countries include the Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka.
• Support the team in scoping ideas and developing project information notes, concept notes and proposals for bankable projects and climate finance.
• Support in greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting, quantifying climate adaptation benefits related to UNICEF key sectors.
• Coordinate and collaborate with UNICEF country offices to assess investment criteria of major climate funds (e.g. Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund, etc), baseline scenarios, determine additionality, and identify alternative climate resilient solutions, etc.

Research and analysis

• Support research, data analysis and climate modelling to inform project ideas.
• Support in-depth climate vulnerability and risk assessments across major UNICEF sectors such as Health, WASH and Education in country offices.
• Track international and regional climate and environmental policy and procedure updates (e.g. UNFCCC, GCF, Adaptation Funds), identify trends and opportunities, provide timely analysis, and recommendations for UNICEF’s engagement. Analyse and contribute to position papers and statements related to climate finance for child-focused climate action.
• Prepare policy briefs and reports to regularly update Senior Management and COs.

Knowledge management and capacity building
• Assist in the preparation of learning/knowledge products, covering innovative approaches and good practices.
• Support capacity development of UNICEF staff and external partners on climate finance, identifying project ideas, etc.
• Support the coordination among the regional office, COE and COs for knowledge exchange and learning.
• Support with cataloguing, arranging and updating the internal SharePoint site.
• Participate as a resource person in capacity-building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders.

Description of Tasks: 

• Research and Data Analysis
• Scoping of Project Ideas
• Technical Support to COs
• Policy Briefs and Learning Products
• Capacity Development of COs

Deliverables for the Assignment:

1st Deliverable by 2 March 2026: Assessment of data and evidence generation on the interlinkages of climate finance and UNICEF’s programming priorities

2nd Deliverable by 15 May 2026: Draft scoping of project ideas and project identification notes for climate and environment finance projects

3rd Deliverable by 31 July 2026: Support and guidance to COs on Climate Vulnerability and Risk Assessment and Bankable Project Development

4th Deliverable by 7 September 2026: Policy briefs, knowledge/ learning products and reports to support programming and advocacy

5th Deliverable by 16 October 2026: Trainings to develop the capacity of COs in the implementation and operationalisation of SCAP and mobilisation of climate finance

For details on the assignment including tasks and deliverables, please refer to the link: Terms of Reference

Note: Please submit financial proposal based on the above deliverables.

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

Education:

An advanced university (Master’s) degree in one of the following fields is required: environmental sciences, climate change, or related engineering.

Experience/ Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• A minimum of 2 years of professional experience in the following areas is required e.g. climate change, climate and environmental finance, environmental sustainability, renewable energy, UNFCCC policies and greenhouse gas accounting.
• Experience in UNICEF core programmes (WASH, health, education), proposal development, resource mobilisation is an added advantage.
• Demonstrated excellence in data analysis, climate modelling and scenario analysis, etc.
• Clear, concise and convincing writing and communication skills, including public speaking and presentations, is preferred.

Language Requirements:
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The 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 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility tendersglobal.net UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be 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 canceled.

Remarks:  

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions 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. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.