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Contract type

Locations

Latin America and Caribbean Region

Functional Area

Programme and Policy

Position level

Children and Youth engagement in climate action (Remote, Home based)

Apply now Job no: 579820
Contract type: Consultant
Duty Station: Panama City
Level: Consultancy
Location: Panama
Categories: WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene)

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, love, care and peace 

The Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region is composed of 33 countries of which 16 are Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Most countries in the region have reached macroeconomic standards which label them as middle or upper middle-income countries. However, there is still a high and persistent level of poverty in most countries, despite sustained economic growth over the last decade. The Human Development Index (HDI) varies greatly across the region, and persistent economic inequalities translate into unequal access to land, water, adequate housing, infrastructure and services, particularly for the most vulnerable groups. Rapid urbanization rates exacerbate existing socioeconomic challenges. The probability of being affected by climate‐related events and climate change is strongly modulated by the pre‐existing conditions of poverty and inequality. For example, extreme events will strongly affect the rural and urban poor who often reside in informal settlements in high‐risk areas (e.g., flood plains and steep slopes). Besides being extremely vulnerable to natural hazards (both climate and non‐climate‐related), LAC has become increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of environmental hazards, including those imposed by climate change; according to the available scientific information the region will be severely affected even under lower levels of global warming.
 
The climate change crisis is no longer a purely environmental issue but, instead, a socio‐economic crisis, and particularly a child rights crisis. There is a collective moral responsibility to scale practical solutions to climate change with real potential to make a difference for children and youth to survive, grow, and thrive. The coming years will be critical. to promote concrete solutions with the potential of securing large‐scale impact, particularly through catalysing partnerships (public, private, etc.) for climate resilience. With the recent growth in youth climate action, UNICEF, and its allies have a unique role to play to ensure that children and youth voices are adequately heard and responded to by decision-makers, empowering children and youth as changemakers.
 
The Strategic Plan for 2022–2025, Goal Area 4, recognizes that climate change and environmental degradation are existential threats to a child’s ability to survive, grow, and thrive and that all levers of the organization need to work together in a coordinated fashion.
 
Internally, UNICEF’s Sustainability and Climate Change Action Plan provides a comprehensive blueprint to achieve our ambitious vision by 2030. The action plan is built around three objectives: Objective 1: PROTECT the resilience of children and their communities by adapting essential social services to a changing climate, more frequent disasters and a degrading environment; Objective 2: EMPOWER every child with the education, skills and opportunities to be a champion for the planet and a voice for children’s rights; Objective 3: ENACT ambitious sustainability and emissions reduction commitments within UNICEF and support our global network of partners, including governments and suppliers, to do the same.
 
To achieve these objectives , UNICEF LAC Regional Office (LACRO) will support countries to strengthen the social services that matter most to children by: a) Supporting the development of financial and socioeconomic justification for strengthening social services, highlighting the benefits of doing this across critical sectors (e.g., health, education and water), and supporting its incorporation into national budgeting frameworks b) Shaping and implementing standards for green and resilient social services in sectors c) Providing direct support for implementation, including strengthening infrastructure, building knowledge and skills with community and government workers, and updating government monitoring frameworks UNICEF’s comprehensive approach focuses on empowering children and young people with education, skills and opportunities to be champions for the planet and e) ensuring that their voices are heard and their rights protected.
 
Therefore, the consultant will work under the overall supervision and guidance of the UNICEF LACRO Regional Climate Change and Sustainable Development Advisor and his/her scope of work will focus on e) by leading and reporting the implementation of LACRO’s CEED youth engagement strategy, guiding country offices and partners, developing new strategies to create and promote spaces for young advocates, youth‐led groups and youth‐focused partners to foster active engagement of children, adolescents and youth in climate and environmental policy and action.

How can you make a difference? 

Facilitate the advancement of youth engagement in the climate action agenda by conducting data mining, drafting briefs, and contributing inputs for knowledge products related to youth and climate change.

Deliverables / Outputs

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

  • University degree in areas related to climate change, administration/management, environmental policy, social sciences and public policy.
  • A minimum of six years of professional experience related to climate, environment, and youth engagement in developing countries.
  • Experience on youth participation and climate action advocacy at local and regional level in LAC. Experience with vulnerable communities is an asset.
  • Knowledge and technical expertise in international climate policy.
  • High capacity in coordination, analysis, and synthesis.
  • Previous experience coordinating with high-level spaces related to climate governance is an asset.
  • Good understanding of the climate action and development context in Latin America and the Caribbean region.
  • Familiarity with UNICEF programming and planning processes is an asset.
  • Languages Fluency in Spanish and English is required. Knowledge of French or Portuguese will be considered an asset.

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.

 

Administrative details

Workplace: The consultancy is home-based.

Duration: Estimated start date is February 16, 2025, until December 25, 2025 

How to Apply: Application should be submitted online and should include: TMS application from duly completed, Cover Letter, Study certificates and financial proposal (Daily fee or deliverable fee).

Qualified candidates are requested to indicate an all-inclusive (lump sum) fees for the services to be including all associated administrative and travel costs. 

Consultants must have their own equipment, tools and materials needed to perform their services. They will use their own laptops/computers, any application or system needed to complete the assignment. They need to provide the full service without using UNICEF resources. The access to UNICEF email and system is restricted to UNICEF staff therefore consultants should not be granted access unless it is imperative to complete the assignment.

Travel

Travel is foreseen for this consultancy. Please include this in your proposal.

 

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. 

Advertised: Eastern Standard Time
Deadline: Eastern Standard Time

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