Programme Specialist (Climate) at UNICEF

How can you make a difference?

The Programme Specialist (Climate) will support and coordinate the development, preparation, management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of all the climate change, disaster risks and environmental degradation components of the ESARO ROMP. The Programme Specialist (Climate) will be supervised by the Regional WASH Advisor and work closely with all the Regional Advisors and Programmes, with close coordination with the Deputy Regional Director (DRD) Programmes. The Programme Specialist (Climate) will also provide technical guidance and management support processes to ensure the achievement of strengthened capacities of the UNICEF ESA Regional Office and its partners in scaling up its regional strategy on climate and environment in the ESA region, through enhanced Resilience and Sustainability efforts while scaling up low-carbon, resilience building and development.

Key function, accountabilities and related duties/tasks

Support formulation and coordination of inputs on the overarching programmatic framework across the RO

• Provide technical guidance and inputs to UNICEF RO sections (CP, Health, WASH, Education, Youth, Nutrition) on climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and building climate resilience  in order to support RO in identifying UNICEF’s niche for addressing Climate Change impacts on children, awareness raising and design of programmes supporting the rights of children and strengthening risk informed programming in the region as and when required.
• Coordinate the formulation of the overarching narrative and multi-year milestones across RO in relation to climate energy and environment; determining priorities and performance measurements.
• Guide sections on applying the framework by defining and adjusting the RO road map, including timeline to be linked to the output results
• Provide strategic and technical advice to regional office sections’ staff on all aspects of climate, energy and environment programming and implementation.
• Influence climate, energy and environment programming including planning, development and implementation of climate resilient and adaptation approaches, in the region.

Regional Office Work planning and Technical Assistance to Country Offices

• Work collaboratively with COs, (sub-) regional inter-government bodies, donors, the private sector and regional partners on climate, energy and environment programming to ensure the most strategic use of the collective resources.
• Guide and support the development and implementation of strategic regional climate energy and environment initiatives, planning and formulation of the outcomes and output results, related indicators, baselines, targets and means of verification, ensuring alignment with the UNICEF’s Strategic Plan , the ESA ROMP as well as government plans and priorities.
• Strengthen UNICEF internal capacity and ability to collaborate with partners on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction and adaptation for vulnerable communities
• Develop and support implementation of a capacity development / rollout plan for RO and COs on climate adaptation, resilience building and integration across programmes
• Provide comprehensive and current data to inform climate related policy and programme development, planning, management and implementation climate adapted and resilient social services and infrastructure.
• Prepare climate, energy and environment donor programme and multiple UN Agency proposals and investment cases.
• Support knowledge management and sharing in the areas of including development of policy papers, briefs and other strategic materials for use by Regional office, donors, UNICEF country offices and headquarters in the areas climate adaptation and sustainable energy.

Data evidence and advocacy

• Support development of regional baselines for climate energy and environment components of the regional programme and identify relevant approaches to address gaps identified.
• Coordinate collection and development of data on UNICEF thematic areas and sectors in support of climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and building climate resilience.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming process to ensure the achievement of results in the areas of climate energy and environment
• Support regional communication and advocacy teams through lesson learning activities and good practices whilst ensure linkages/ knowledge exchange with regional and global stakeholders.

External Partnerships and Fund Mobilisation

• Develop strategic partnerships with financing and development partners, International Development Banks and the private sector to enhance, Climate programming in the region
• Advance synergistic cross-sectoral programming, in WASH, Health, Nutrition, Social protection and Education sectors, to ensure that Climate programming in the region has a greater impact for children.
• Ensure that UNICEF engagement in the area of climate change is well coordinated within and outside UNICEF.
• Support fundraising on climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and building climate resilience in line with UNICEFs key thematic areas.
• Systematically pursue climate finance (global climate funds, bilateral, private sector) for UNICEF by mapping opportunities, preparing documentation and establishing partnerships with relevant focal points and partners.
• Participate in strategic discussions to influence national policies and strategies, on Climate Energy and Environment (CEE).
• Advise officials in government, NGOs, UN agencies and WASH and humanitarian sector donor agencies on Climate policies, strategies, and best practices.

Advocacy, networking, partnership and building

• Support vulnerability data collection, management and assessment in line with UNICEFs key thematic areas in order to support child focused vulnerability assessment and mapping activities and enhance climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and building climate resilience at sub regional level.
• Provide technical guidance and policy advice to Regional Office for supporting governments, the private sector and civil society partners on environmental risks facing children.
• Support the implementation of UNICEF’s global “Climate, Energy and Environment Framework other global initiatives through identification and development into flagship multi-country programmes that can deliver results at scale in the region.
• Support vulnerability data collection, management and assessment in line with UNICEFs key thematic areas in order to support child focused vulnerability assessment and mapping activities and enhance climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and building climate resilience at sub regional level.
• Provide technical guidance and policy advice to Regional Office for supporting governments, the private sector and civil society partners on environmental risks facing children.
• Support the implementation of UNICEF’s global “Climate, Energy and Environment Framework other global initiatives through identification and development into flagship multi-country programmes that can deliver results at scale in the region.

Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Manage the implementation, monitoring and documentation including climate action research and innovation (technical or systems) whilst ensuring rigorous monitoring and wide sharing of results.
• Prepare learning/knowledge products, covering innovative approaches and good practices to support climate programming in the region.
• Support the professional development of UNICEF WASH staff to ensure sector capacity remains up-to-date in line with the latest developments.
• Initiate and contribute to the systematic assessment of Climate sector capacity gap analysis, in collaboration with government and other stakeholders, and support the design of initiatives to strengthen capacities systematically.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in climatology, geology or earth sciences, climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, water resource management, engineering, social and economic development, international cooperation, or environmental sciences as well as additional project/financial management designations or a related field.
• Additional relevant post-graduate courses that complement / supplement the main degree are desirable.
• A minimum of eight of relevant professional experience in Climate, Energy & Environment related programmes for developing countries is required.
• Experience of working in developing contexts is required. Work experience in Eastern and Southern Africa will be an added advantage.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) relevant to the region is an asset.