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For every child, Access

Organizational Context and Purpose for the job

Located in the Northeast of Africa, Sudan (the Republic of the Sudan), is the third largest country by area size and the tenth populous in the continent with high proportion of young people. It is among the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate variability and change. Increased frequency of droughts and high rainfall variability over the past few decades have already put stress on the region’s rainfed agriculture and pastoralist systems, the dominant livelihoods in rural areas. In addition to unstable crop production and shrinking productive land and water resources, ongoing conflicts leading to millions of displaced people and population growth add pressure to an already strained natural resource base. The land-use change and forestry sector is the top emitter, followed by the agriculture, energy, industrial processes, and waste sectors.

To better understand and inform programmes, UNICEF commissioned the climate landscape analysis for children (CLAC) in 2022, which came up with concrete recommendations for action. However, the crisis that erupted in April 2023 complicated the situation and further exacerbated the humanitarian needs for children in Sudan, which are at a record high and show no sign of abating. The country is now the world’s largest child displacement crisis and nearly 14 million children – half the children in Sudan – require urgent humanitarian assistance.

The crisis also resulted in weaking national and state level institutions and systems in Sudan. This requires for sector and development partners to step up and filling in the capacity and leadership gap created in various areas. Accordingly in the WASH sector, UNICEF has indispensable role in providing leadership and support in coordination and technical areas. Climate Resilience, Energy, Environment, DRR (CEED), Environmental and Social Safeguarding (ESS) and Innovation are among the priority areas UNICEF needs to strengthen its capacity to ensure sustainable WASH programme result delivery and extend the capacity support to sector partners.

Job organizational context:

The WASH Specialist level 3 is to be used in the SCO where the WASH Programme is a major component of the Country Programme. The WASH Specialist reports to the WASH Manager (Level 4).

Purpose of the job:

UNICEF Sudan seeks Climate, Energy, Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction (CEED), ESS and innovation Specialist role that will allow the Country Office to scale up its resilience building activities, to strengthen emergency preparedness and leverage in-country capacities in WASH, to provide child-responsive disaster risk reduction support and encourage low carbon, renewable energy & application of innovative approaches to service delivery and in the CO’s operations and programming and ensuring ESS requirements. In addition, the WASH Specialist will be required to strengthen climate responses programme delivery, monitoring and document lessons learning. The Specialist will report to the WASH Manager for UNICEF Sudan country office and will be in Port Sudan, Sudan.

Key functions, accountabilities and related duties/tasks:

1. Programme development and planning
2. Advocacy, evidence generation, policy and positioning of UNICEF in climate change and children
3. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results
4. Technical and operational support for programme implementation
5. External partnerships, resource mobilization and linkages to regional and global efforts.
6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

1. Programme development and planning

• Provide strategic and technical guidance, advice and inputs to UNICEF sections (CP, Health & Nutrition, WASH, Education, Nutrition, Operations) on all aspects of climate (mitigation, adaptation, resilience), energy and environment planning, programming and implementation.
• Coordinate the formulation of the overarching narrative, climate rationales and multi-year milestones across Sudan in relation to climate and environment, determining priorities, baselines, and performance measurements.
• Serve as the focal point and coordinator between the WASH Sudan Country Office and the Regional Office for developing climate finance proposals.
• Ensure that UNICEF engagement in the area of climate change is well coordinated within UNICEF Sudan WASH programme area.
• Draft the WASH inputs for the situation analysis.  Provide timely, comprehensive and current data to inform WASH and climate change policy and programme development, planning, management and implementation.
• Keep abreast of WASH sector climate resilience development trends, for maximum efficiency and effectiveness in programme design, management and implementation.
• Participate in strategic WASH programme planning discussions. Prepare WASH donor proposals, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s Strategic Plan, UNICEF’s global WASH strategy and the Country programme, as well as government plans and priorities, and the role of other external support agencies.
• Assist in the formulation of the WASH outcome and output results, related indicators, baselines, targets and means of verification. Prepare required documentation for programme reviews.
• Work with colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies for the achievement of climate resilient WASH output results in the country programme, including in the current humanitarian focused programming context.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes and ensure integration, coherence and harmonization of WASH with other UNICEF sectors, for the achievement of the WASH climate resilience output results and adherence to ESS standards/requirements.
• Draft assigned sections of the annual work plan, in close cooperation with government and other counterparts.

• Lead on the development of ESS piece as per UNICEF internal and donor requirement on

project design, proposal writing and evidence generation.

2. Advocacy, evidence generation, policy and positioning of UNICEF in climate change and children

• 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 and ESS standards.
• Coordinate UNICEF Sudan national, regional and global advocacy points and inputs into national policy formulation and review processes.

• Participate in strategic discussions to influence national/state policies and strategies, on climate energy and environment and advocate for adoption of proven practices.

• Support communication and policy advocacy regarding climate change, environmental degradation and child rights in Sudan and input into key national climate and environment policy dialogues (National Action Plans, Nationally Determined Contributions and national climate strategies).
• Provide technical guidance and policy advice to government officials, the private sector and civil society partners on climate change and environmental risks facing children as well as child-sensitive policies, strategies, and best practices.
• Support vulnerability data collection, management and assessment in line with UNICEFs key thematic areas to support child focused vulnerability assessment and mapping activities and enhance climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and building climate resilience and innovative approaches.
• Produce materials and products for climate programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships and support fund-raising for sustainable and climate resilient development.
• Advocate for improved child-focus of climate finance investments among partners.                                                          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.

3. Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews and annual reviews with partners/counterparts and prepare reports on results for required action/interventions at the higher level of programme management.
• Prepare/assess monitoring and evaluation reports to identify gaps, strengths/weaknesses in programmes and management, identify and document lessons learned on CEED and ESS.
• Monitor and report on the use of sectoral programme resources (financial, administrative and other assets), verify compliance with approved allocations, organizational rules, regulations/procedures and donor commitments, standards of accountability and integrity.
• Report on issues identified to enable timely resolution by management/stakeholders.
• Prepare progress reports for management, donors and partners.
• Keep abreast of climate, energy and environment development trends, innovative approaches, ESS for maximum efficiency and effectiveness in programme design, management and implementation.

4. Technical and operational support for programme implementation

• Actively monitor UNICEF-supported activities through field visits, surveys and exchange of information with partners, to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely interventions.

• Provide technical and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners/donors on the application and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and best practices in WASH, to support programme implementation.

• Plan for use of technical experts from the Regional Office and HQ, as and where appropriate in the WASH programme, through remote support and on-site visits.

• Participate in WASH programme meetings, to review progress, with government, other sector agencies and implementation partners, involved at various stages of WASH programme implementation, to provide expert advice and guidance.

• Draft policy papers, briefs and other strategic materials for use by management, donors, UNICEF regional offices and headquarters.

5.External partnerships, resource mobilization and linkages to regional and global efforts

•  Develop strategic partnerships with financing and development partners, International Development Banks and the private sector to enhance, climate, energy and environment programming •   Identify partners and entry points for strategic engagement regarding climate change impact on children as well as strategic entry points for engagement with the government.

•  Support section focal points in the coordination and implementation of approved climate, energy and environment focused proposals by providing technical review on climate change related content and guidance on climate finance funding requirements.

•  Prepare climate and environment donor proposals, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s Strategic Plan, UNICEF’s global WASH strategy and the Country programme, as well as government plans and priorities.

• Work collaboratively with donors, the private sector and regional partners on climate, energy and environment programming.

• Ensure that UNICEF engagement in the area of climate change is well coordinated within and outside UNICEF and with other UN agencies.

• Support fundraising on climate change mitigation and adaptation, disaster risk reduction and climate resilience in line with UNICEFs key thematic areas.

• Build and sustain close working partnerships with government counterparts and national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate programme implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve climate, energy and environment related output results.

• Build, strengthen and sustain close working and strategic partnerships with government counterparts, UN agencies, donor agencies, climate centers and institutions, NGOs, research institutes and the private sector to stimulate coordination and collaboration in the           areas of climate resilience and sustainable energy; including active sharing of information and knowledge to facilitate programme implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to achieve climate and environment-sensitive results.

• Participate in Inter-Agency and development partner discussions, interact with national, global and regional initiatives and                       partnerships for climate resilience and ensuring that UNICEF’s position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in         the planning and agenda setting.

6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Strengthen UNICEF internal capacity and ability to collaborate with partners on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction and adaptation for vulnerable communities
• Develop learning and capacity building plan for SCO and facilitate a climate change & ESS training for SCO.
• Support knowledge management and sharing in the areas of including development of policy papers, briefs and other strategic materials for internal and external use, in the areas climate, environment and energy.
• Develop case studies related to program implementation and climate, energy and environment integration into country strategies such as CPDs.
• Manage the implementation, monitoring and documentation including climate action research and innovation (technical or systems) whilst ensuring rigorous monitoring and wide sharing of results.
• Maintain overall knowledge on climate, energy and environment policy, institutions and programmatic activities, including the Climate Landscape Analysis for Children.
• Prepare learning/knowledge products, covering innovative approaches and good practices to support climate programming.
• Support the development of SCO investment cases using market data for renewable energy.
• Lead the professional development of UNICEF staff to ensure sector capacity remains up to date in line with the latest developments, including on Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) and industry standards for energy.
• Initiate and contribute to the systematic assessment of climate and environment sector capacity gap analysis, in collaboration with government and other stakeholders, and support the design of initiatives to strengthen capacities systematically.

Impact of Results

The support provided by the WASH Specialist will enable the country office to achieve the WASH related output results of the country programme.  This, in turn, will contribute to the achievement of the outcome results of the country programme document.  When done effectively, the achievement of the outcome results will improve child survival, growth and development and reduce inequalities in the country.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here JD WASH Specialist Climate Resilience ESS (NOC) final_new.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

1.Education

An advanced university degree in environmental sciences, climatology, geology or earth sciences, climate change, disaster risk reduction, water resource management, engineering, social and economic development, social and economic development, international cooperation or another relevant technical field is required.

2.Experience

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional work experience at the national and/or international levels in programme/project development, focused on developing countries in areas related to development cooperation in WASH climate change adaptation and mitigation, environment and socioeconomic development.

Experience on renewable energy is an asset.

Familiar with children's rights and gender in the context of climate change and environment. Knowledge of gender equality principles and gender sensitive programming.

Demonstrated experience in applying results-based management required.

Excellent analytical and writing skills, advocacy and presentational skills required.

Demonstrated ability to work harmoniously in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious & effective working relationship both within and outside an organization.

3.Language Proficiency

Fluency in English and Arabic is required.  Knowledge of another official UN language (Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

UNICEF values and competency Required

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 Core Competencies required for this post are:
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will 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.

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 cancelled.

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’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates 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.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found Here.