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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 champion.

Bangladesh ranks 7^th most affected by climate related extreme weather events like cyclones, floods, drought, storms, and heatwaves. The country is ranked 15^th out of 163 where children are at most risk of climate change.

The country’s geographical location next to the Bay of Bengal, low-lying terrain, monsoons, and significant rivers render the country very vulnerable to natural hazards. From 1970-2019, storms have been the most frequent disaster to affect Bangladesh at 52%, followed by floods at 31%, with the remaining disasters being epidemics, earthquakes, droughts, and landslides. In addition, Bangladesh is one of the countries in the world most at risk from the negative impacts of climate change, including increases in incidence and intensity of extreme weather events and hazards such as soil salinization, rising sea levels, and riverbank erosion.  

The climate change impacts affect WASH infrastructures, services and technologies and threaten their existence, functionality, and sustainability. During and after a climatic shock/event, people take shelter in cyclone center, flood shelters, embankment, or open space for a period of different durations where WASH services either not exist or not functioning at the time of disasters. These displaced people remain vulnerable both physically and mentally with limited access to basic services mainly water, sanitation, and hygiene. By 2050 approx. 7.6 million additional people will be exposed to high salinity which is linked to adverse health outcomes.

UNICEF’s Children’s Climate Risk Index identified Bangladesh as one of the countries where children are at extremely high risk of the impacts of climate change. One in three children in Bangladesh is affected by at least one major climate risk. Each of the programmatic and cross-cutting areas specifically WASH is affected by climate change and/or environmental degradation.

UNICEF programming and plans presents opportunities to take action on climate, energy and/or the environment in order to deliver more sustainable results for children The current CPD 2022-26 and the associated strategy notes and planning documents calls for climate resilient WASH services.

How can you make a difference? 

The purpose of this assignment/consultancy is to develop and finalize document on climate landscaping analysis on children with a focus on WASH to examine the baseline situation of climate, energy and environmental related issues affecting children and how they relate to UNICEF WASH priorities. The document and final report also consolidate evidence of climate change and environmental degradation impacts on children in relation to water, sanitation and hygiene programmatic priorities which will be key for f the new CPD development and to help identify critical policy advocacy, research and programming priorities and opportunities for WASH sector.

The document will look at stakeholders, policies, strategies, relevant programmes and existing initiatives from different stakeholders. It will also provide recommendations on how UNICEF Bangladesh could further incorporate and strengthen work on WASH to climate, energy, and environment-related issues in its new country programme, upcoming proposals to Green Climate Funds (GCF) and other donors, used as advocacy document and how it can be aligned with UNICEF’s Sustainability and Climate Change Action Plan.

Specific tasks under these assignments are:

1. Gather evidence on the situation of climate change, energy and environment and its impact on WASH with a focus on children.  
2. Develop Climate Landscape Analysis on Children for WASH in Bangladesh. 
3. Identify priorities and entry points for UNICEF engagement for climate resilient WASH programming.
4. Review government policies and practices of WASH programme in Bangladesh.
5. Map out climate change stakeholders and financing opportunities for programming.
6. Make recommendations for strengthening programming and advocacy (with a specific focus of climate change policies and Bangladesh’s climate finance landscape).

Please go through the following TOR for more details:  WASH CLAC Consultant_TOR_09 12 24_HH_clean.pdf

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

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• Advanced university degree in geography, environmental science, climate science, climate change management, natural resource management, meteorology, social and economic development, or related engineering areas with at least 10 years of professional work experience.
• In-depth expertise on climate and environment, together with specific experience in programme/project development, implementation and monitoring on climate, environment, energy, and disaster risk reduction in a developing country context is required. 
• Familiarity with children’s rights/issues in the context of climate change, environmental degradation, and disaster risk reduction. 
• Prior experience on climate finance proposal development, risks and vulnerability assessments, environment and social safeguards is an asset.  
• Knowledge of international and national climate policies and activities is an asset. 
• Professional relation and network with key governmental agencies and climate partners in the country is an asset. 
• Solid knowledge of UNICEF policies and procedures or other international development agencies is considered an asset. 
• Excellent report writing and communication skills.  
• Ability to manage diverse viewpoints and work in demanding situations. 
• Ability to organize and plan complex work following the established timeframes. 
• Proven ability to work in teams, past work experience in similar capacity of working with multiple agencies will be an asset. 
• Past work experience with Government, UNICEF or sister UN agencies in undertaking similar assignments will be an added value.
• Excellent Communication and Presentation skills.   

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

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.

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.