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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, the right to Results 

UNICEF works to protect the rights of every child in Sri Lanka. Our goal is to ensure that all of our children survive, thrive and fulfill their vast potential.

In a world that is rapidly changing, children are faced with complex challenges and unprecedented opportunities. UNICEF’s programs are designed to reach and benefit all children so that they can withstand these challenges, leverage these opportunities and be the drivers of their own destiny.

UNICEF is committed to creating a country in which every child is free to learn, play and grow. Our programs work towards providing all children in Sri Lanka with shelter, nutrition, protection and education, wherever they may be. We strive to create communities in which children can live with dignity and hope, free from discrimination, violence and fear.

We make every effort to create and maintain environments that will enable and empower children to be the very best that they can be.

In this way, all children will not only benefit from economic and social growth but will become the driving force behind sustainable national development.

For over 50 years, with the help of our vast network of partners, UNICEF has made significant strides in raising health, education and protection standards for children in Sri Lanka. From achieving Universal Child Immunization (1989) to establishing The National Child Protection Authority (1998) to providing decades of crucial relief in the wake of devastating conflict and natural disaster, UNICEF has played a pivotal role in creating an environment in which children have the best chance to survive and thrive.

Yet, many challenges still exist, especially for the most vulnerable. Some national and regional bodies require resources and reinvigoration. Individuals and institutions need to be strengthened, coordinated and aligned with global standards so that children enjoy support in their schools, communities and homes to help them overcome challenges and unleash their full potential into the world.

Due to our long-standing reputation as an experienced, neutral and collaborative partner, UNICEF is ideally suited to drive these efforts. Our history of success in Sri Lanka is built on our ability to tap into a wide network of national and international partners which, in turn, is bolstered by our own far-reaching presence in the field. In working closely with these government, non-government and private entities, UNICEF takes a leadership role, drawing on our technical expertise to accurately assess existing challenges and develop, execute and coordinate solutions that are relevant and scalable on the ground.  For more information about UNICEF Sri Lanka and its work visit: http://www.unicef.org/srilanka

 

How can you make a difference? 

Background:

In Sri Lanka, children in vulnerable communities face severe risks due to climate change, environmental degradation, and natural disasters. These risks are compounded by unreliable energy access, particularly in last-mile areas, where primary health centres, immunization cold chains, and schools are often deprived of consistent power. This lack of energy security directly impacts the quality of healthcare and education services, leading to adverse outcomes for children, including increased morbidity, mortality, and educational disparities.

The country is highly susceptible to extreme weather events, including floods, cyclones, and heat waves, which disrupt essential services such as water supply and sanitation, and infrastructure. The health sector is particularly vulnerable, as power outages during critical times can jeopardize lifesaving treatments and vaccine storage. Schools also suffer, with frequent blackouts interrupting educational activities and hindering the learning process. UNICEF’s Sustainability and Climate Change Action Plan (SCAP) 2023-2030 aims to address this child rights crisis and intergenerational injustice. Through targeted interventions, UNICEF prioritises urgent climate action and systemic change to implement evidence-based, child-centric initiatives that address climate, environmental, and disaster risks for children and enhance the climate resilience of essential social services for children.

With this background, UNICEF is seeking a technical expert to design business models with public-private partnerships to promote solar systems to power selected water supply, sanitation, healthcare, and education facilities in Sri Lanka. This consultant will provide technical support to design business models for solar systems to recover the operational and maintenance costs. Further, the technical consultant expects to develop a financial model incorporating renewable energy credits to generate additional revenue from the solar systems, in alignment with SCAP’s areas of acceleration.

Objective:

To develop business models with public-private partnerships to promote solar systems in selected WASH facilities, healthcare facilities, and schools in Sri Lanka, and design a private sector-led financial model to generate additional revenue through renewable energy credits.

 

Activities and Tasks

1.Creation of an enabling environment for solarisation and relevant policy analysis

• Identify key stakeholders (both public and private) engaged in solar energy in the country

• Review existing energy and investment policies to identify barriers and feasible factors in accelerating solar interventions across WASH, health, and education in the country

• Based on the policy review, develop policy guidelines to support the scaling up of solar initiatives in the WASH, health, and education sectors

•Support to facilitate partnerships between local governments, independent power producers (IPPs), the private sector, and financing institutions to ensure sustainable solar development

• Present the energy sector policy review (one workshop) and draft policy guidelines for scaling up of solar initiatives in the WASH, health, and education sectors.

• Conduct workshops (one workshop) for the stakeholders of energy, WASH, health, and education on renewable energy certificates (RECs), CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) and OPEX (Operational Expenditure)

• Conduct workshops (one workshop) for the stakeholders of energy, WASH, health, and education on renewable energy certificates (RECs), CAPEX (Capital Expenditure), and OPEX (Operational Expenditure)

 

2.Innovative financing mechanism

•Design a framework for generating additional revenue from renewable energy certificates (RECs) based on the energy produced by solar installations in health centres and schools

• Support to establish partnerships with RECs certification agencies to secure revenue streams for governments and partners from the installed solar system

• Develop a re-investment strategy to allocate revenue into operations, maintenance and scale-up of solar projects in WASH, health, and education services

• Carry out training for local governments, private sectors, and relevant stakeholders on renewable energy certificates and its management to maximise financial benefits

 

3.Development of a financial Model for solarisation

• Carry out detailed financial analysis to identify CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) and OPEX (Operational Expenditure) requirements for solar systems in water supply schemes, healthcare, and school facilities and schools

• Develop a sustainable financial model for solarisation including private sector for revenue generation through renewable energy certificates

• Validate the financial model with key stakeholders for adoption and scalability across health and education sectors

• Develop a pipeline of project for solarisation of additional water supply schemes, healthcare facilities and schools leveraging the developed finance model

 

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

Minimum requirements:

Master’s in engineering/• Energy/• Environmental studies/ • Environmental economics/• Business management/• International development or related fields with postgraduate qualifications (Master's or PhD).

Experience/ Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:

• Minimum 8 years of work experience in providing technical support in developing and managing renewable energy projects, including solar systems.

• Expertise in design, implementation, and coordination of solar energy projects in healthcare facilities and schools

• In-depth knowledge of energy policies, economics, and renewable energy credits

• Experience in developing strong financial models and concept notes for fundraising and strategies to strengthen partnerships.

• Strong facilitation and capacity-building skills is required

• Familiarity with UNICEF’s SCAP objectives and a commitment to child-sensitive approaches.

• Previous experience working in the SAR region is an asset.

• Familiarity with and commitment to the principles and values of the United Nations, particularly in the context of sustainable development and environmental stewardship.

 Skills and attributes desired:

• Excellent communication, facilitation, and presentation skills

• High level of analytical ability to analyse qualitative and quantitative data, including using relevant software packages.

• Demonstrated ability to produce high quality, concise, analytical and insightful reports and presentations in English.

• Proven ability to conceptualize, innovate, plan and execute ideas.

• Strategic thinking and critical analysis.

• Commitment and drive, with a clear focus on results.

• Ability to manage competing priorities under pressure, whilst maintaining attention to detail and meeting deadlines.

 Languages:

• Strong writing skills and fluency in the English language is required. Knowledge of other languages relevant to the South Asian region is an added advantage.

 

How to apply:

Qualified candidates are requested to submit a resume and other relevant documents

Please complete your profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system. https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_consultancy_assignments.html

Please indicate your ability, availability and fee/rate in LKR to undertake the terms of reference above. (Indicate an all-inclusive fee (including lump sum travel, IT accessories, Internet and subsistence costs, as applicable) to undertake the tasks in the Terms of reference. Office 365 license will be provided by UNICEF, as applicable) 

Applications submitted without a fee/rate will not be considered  

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 for the position 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 | 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  candidates from underrepresented groups 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.

If you think this position might be for you, please take the time to review our Country Office Mutual Agreements before you apply.

If you believe you can be a team member that can uphold these everyday, then we look forward to receiving and reviewing your application.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.