WASH-Climate Scientist Consultant Req.#568369

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, WATER

Vacancy Announcement: Consultant

Consultancy Title: Climate Scientist Consultant

Section/Division/Duty Station: WASH – Programme Group – NYHQ

Duration: 1 January 24–31 December 26

Home/ office Based: REMOTE

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world’s leading children’s rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children’s survival, protection and development. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Assignment:

This consultancy will focus on specific steps of the climate shift: assess climate risk to WASH and set the climate rationale for UNICEF interventions; screen, assess and manage the potential impacts of UNICEF climate resilient initiatives, linking proposed solutions to adaptation and mitigation benefits; and develop fundraising concepts and proposals.

It will be funded by FCDO for Rwanda, Uganda, Madagascar, Malawi, State of Palestine, Chad, Bangladesh, Nepal, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone and Pakistan; ASWA-Accelerated Sanitation and Water for All for Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, and Tanzania; and EU for Colombia, Ethiopia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Programme Group WASH does not have funding to cover all planned activities until the end of 2026. Some deliverables will be completed if additional resources are available.

Scope of Work:

The consultant will review, draft, and finalise climate proposals, especially when there is a weak climate rationale and science basis that needs strengthening. Consultant tasks:

• Validate Climate Rationale and Science basis:
  • Utilize climate datasets from internationally accepted and validated climate sciences sources
  • Calculate GHG emissions for baseline emissions
  • Review Climate Modelling to forecast potential future scenarios; incorporate insights into climate proposals
  • Analyze existing tools/sources of information for use in climate risk analyses
• Strengthen Current Climate Proposals:
  • Examine current climate proposals to identify weaknesses in the climate rationale and its linkage to the proposed Outcomes, Outputs, and Activities
  • Outline assumptions for the proposed interventions, ensuring they are evidence-based and aligned with the broader context  and UNICEF SP 2022-2025
  • Propose options to address identified shortcomings. Draft the Theory of Change
  • Based on country level proposals, develop Country reports each with a robust/ strengthened climate rationale and a summary of feedback on reviewed climate rationales
• Develop Climate Concept notes and project proposals:
  • Based on climate data analysis and climate modelling available, draft climate proposals to enhance the climate rationale with concise, and persuasive project description
  • Support development of climate proposals based on needs/priorities, that emphasize a strong climate rationale, ensuring coherence with the intended development outcomes
• Ensure Stakeholder Engagement:
  • Collaborate with in-house and external stakeholders, including potential co-financiers and partners to refine proposals
  • Engage with project teams and project beneficiaries for a grounded understanding and alignment of the climate proposal.
  • Support UNICEF Programme Group to determine relevant climate science related global and regional partnership
• Follow-up Market Analysis:
  • Monitor global climate modelling and climate sciences trends including opportunities and challenges
  • Provide periodic updates/ recommendations to the management on emerging areas of interest in climate sciences
• Maintain Quality Assurance:
  • Document all changes, and enhancements to the climate rationale and  climate proposals with relevant citations to internationally accepted and validated sources in climate sciences
• Collaborate with UNICEF internal climate experts

The Consultant will conduct capacity building and quality assurance training to UNICEF or to external partners. Tasks include:

• Assist the government in enhancing their capacity to manage and implement climate initiatives
• Facilitate knowledge transfer/ skill development among UNICEF, and climate change external partners
• Ensure all outputs and deliverables meet UNICEF’s quality standards

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

1) Inception report with workplan, deliverables, and methodology 

By 10 Feb 24

2) Comprehensive report detailing the different data options, and recommendations for low- and middle-income countries to get access to relevant climate data for use to determine climate risks in the WASH sector. Report shall incorporate recommendations of data gaps and practical recommendations to bridge the gap between climate data and needs by WASH practitioners

By 10 Apr 24

3) 11 Country Reports each with:

i)3-5 pages of a robust/ strengthened climate rationale, and

ii)1-page summary of feedback on reviewed climate rationales in proposals (weaknesses and strengths) and recommended changes made to the climate rationales to get robust climate rationale

By 10 Jul 24

4) 4 Country Reports (detail needed same as deliverable 3) By 10 Mar 25

5) 8 Country Reports (detail needed same as deliverable 3)

To be added later-funding to be confirmed By 10 Jul 25

6)7 project concept notes, and/or project proposals (Readiness, GCF SAP and full proposals) with robust climate rationale/ climate science basis

By 10 Oct 24

7) 2 Project ideas on climate resilient WASH By 10 Oct 24

8) 4 project concept notes, and/or project proposals (detail: refer to deliverable 6) with robust climate rationale/ climate science basis  By 10 Jan 25

9) 2 Project ideas on climate resilient WASH By 10 Jan 25

10) 3 project concept notes, and/or project proposals (detail: refer to deliverable 6) with robust climate rationale/ climate science basis  By 10 Nov 25

11) 2 Project ideas on climate resilient WASH By 10 Nov 25

12) 7 project concept notes, and/or project proposals (detail: refer to deliverable 6) with robust climate rationale/ climate science basis.  By 10 May 26

13) 2 Project ideas on climate resilient WASH.  By 10 May 26

14) 1 Presentation with case studies from countries (to include key findings, recommendations, and changes made to the climate proposals). By 10 Nov 24

15) 1 Presentation (updated from previous presentation) with case studies from additional countries (detail: refer to deliverable 14). By 10 Dec 25

16) 1 Presentation (updated from previous presentation) with case studies from additional countries (detail: refer to deliverable 14) By 10 Aug 26

Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s degree/advanced degree in Climate Studies, Environmental Science, Social Science, or related fields. PhD will be an advantage

Languages:

• Fluency in English (ability to communicate in French a strong advantage)

Work experience:

• A minimum of 7 years of experience drafting and reviewing climate-related proposals/ projects. Experience with IFIsadvantageous
• Proven experience working in (1 or more) social sectors of interest to UNICEF (WASH, Education, Nutrition, Health, etc.), including renewable energy generation and access

Competencies/Knowledge:

• Strong knowledge and proficiency using and interpreting climate datasets/ climate models
• Strong analytical, communication, and writing skills
• Ability to work collaboratively with multi-cultural teams and stakeholders

Requirements: 

Completed profile in UNICEF’s e-Recruitment system and

• Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include/ reflect:
  • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability
• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory 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.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4

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

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at Here

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:  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.