Consultancy Title: GCF Senior Consultant  

Division/Duty Station: PG NYHQ/CEED

Duration: 28 July 2025 – 31 August 2026

Home/ Office Based: Remote

 

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines fordeveloping countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

Disasters, climate change, and environmental degradation present significant and escalating threats to the well-being of children globally, jeopardizing the progress achieved in child survival and development. Over a billion children are exposed to severe risks from climate and environmental hazards such as heatwaves, droughts, floods, and cyclones. Consequently, it is imperative for countries to establish climate-resilient, low-carbon social services encompassing water and sanitation, healthcare, education, nutrition, social protection, and child protection to tackle current threats and prepare for increasingly severe impacts.

In alignment with our commitment to protect children and young people worldwide, UNICEF launched its Sustainability and Climate Change Action Plan (SCAP) 2023 - 2030. The SCAP prioritizes urgent climate action through systematic partnerships with public and private sector institutions to prioritize the needs of children and young people and build their resilience to the climate threats at hand. The SCAP strives to mainstream sustainability and climate action both internally and externally, through protecting the lives, health and well-being of children and their communities; empowering children with developmental opportunities and skills; and reducing emissions and the environmental footprint within UNICEF.

UNICEF is working as a GCF Accredited Entity for the first time and setting up its internal systems to establish a vertical climate funds unit. In parallel, UNICEF is developing a pipeline of GCF funding proposals. The role of the GCF Senior consultant is to provide expert advise and support development of both aspects of UNICEF’s engagement in climate finance.

Scope of Work:

As the organization’s technical expert on climate finance matters, the senior consultant will lead the development of high-quality climate change proposals and provide technical backstopping on proposals to major climate funds, with a focus on the Green Climate Fund (GCF). With a successful track record in designing and implementing climate finance projects, the senior consultant provides expert guidance and ensure quality control for proposals that meet the rigorous eligibility and standards of major climate funds. The consultant will work under the supervision of the Global Climate, Energy, Environment and DRR (CEED) Lead and in close collaboration with UNICEF Regional and Country Offices to support the design and implementation of GCF projects while ensuring compliance with monitoring, evaluation, and reporting requirements.

Strategic advice on a sustainable business model, pipeline and project-scoping systems/technical support structure

• Provide expert advice on a project scoping system to balance quality project ideas across UNICEF’s thematic sectors and regions
• Deliver guidance to regional and country offices to support GCF-related activities
• Support strategic planning for pipeline development and internal systems to enhance GCF funding access and portfolio sustainability

Ensuring Technical Quality and Compliance of GCF Proposal Development

• Review GCF project eligibility and ensure project note compliance with GCF criteria
• Provide technical quality control of proposal development by reviewing funding proposals and facilitating learning to improve proposal quality across the portfolio
• Deliver technical advice to offices and divisions during the design and implementation of projects
• Provide steer on quality control for financial and technical reporting, monitoring and evaluation processes

 Capacity-building, training and knowledge management on GCF matters

• Provide guidance on GCF policy updates, proposal quality, and compliance issues
• Develop materials to support GCF project implementation and reporting
• Facilitate GCF knowledge exchange and technical dialogue for UNICEF’s Global Technical Team

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Work Assignment Overview/Deliverables and Outputs/Delivery deadline

1.  Strategic advice on a sustainable business model, pipeline and project-scoping systems/technical support structure

-  Participate in 20 fortnightly check-ins with the UNICEF Climate Finance sub-team

31 Aug 2026

-  3 Triannual 2-slide “flash brief” after every GCF Board meeting (key decisions & UNICEF implications)

01 Jul 2026

-  Quarterly 2-slide opportunity brief summarizing emerging windows, fast-track modalities, and Secretariat intel #1

15 Sept 2026

-  Quarterly 2-slide opportunity brief summarizing emerging windows, fast-track modalities, and Secretariat intel #2

15 Jan 2026

-  Quarterly 2-slide opportunity brief summarizing emerging windows, fast-track modalities, and Secretariat intel #3.

15 April 2026

-  Quarterly 2-slide opportunity brief summarizing emerging windows, fast-track modalities, and Secretariat intel #4.

15 Aug 2026

-  Support development of a 5-page 2-year plan to secure USD 150m in approvals under GCF, outlining priority themes and regional balance

01 Oct 2025

-  Analytical 5-page paper & model showing full AE-fee cost breakdown, margin analysis and sustainability scenarios for UNICEF’s GCF portfolio

01 Dec 2025

-  Participate in UNICEF’s 2 climate rationale building workshops 

01 Nov 2025

-  Design 1 project-scoping scoring system (criteria, weightings, data fields)

01 Jan 2026

-  1 5-slide blueprint for an internal GCF proposal review committee

15 Oct 2025

2.  Ensuring Technical Quality and Compliance of GCF Proposal Development

-  Project or concept note review #1

15 Jul 2026

-  Project or concept note review #2

15 Jul 2026

-  Project or concept note review #3

15 Jul 2026

-  Project or concept note review #4

15 Jul 2026

-  Project or concept note review #5

15 Jul 2026

-  Project or concept note review #6

15 Jul 2026

-  Project or concept note review #7

15 Jul 2026

-  Project or concept note review #8

15 Jul 2026

-  Project or concept note review #9

15 Jul 2026

-  Project or concept note review #10

15 Jul 2026

- Funding Proposal review #1 

15 Aug 2026

- Funding proposal review #2 

15 Aug 2026

- Funding proposal review #3

15 Aug 2026

- Funding proposal review #4

15 Aug 2026

- Funding proposal review #5 

15 Aug 2026

-  Consolidated triannual memo highlighting common gaps in UNICEF’s proposals & recommendations #1

31 Dec 2026

-  Consolidated triannual memo highlighting common gaps in UNICEF’s proposals & recommendations #2

31 Mar 2026

-  Consolidated triannual memo highlighting common gaps in UNICEF’s proposals & recommendations #3

31 Aug 2025

-  Prepare response to GCF comments (up to 3 rounds) #1

15 Aug 2026

-  Prepare response to GCF comments (up to 3 rounds) #2

15 Aug 2026

-  Prepare response to GCF comments (up to 3 rounds) #3

15 Aug 2026

-  Prepare response to GCF comments (up to 3 rounds) #4

15 Aug 2026

-  Prepare response to GCF comments (up to 3 rounds) #5

15 Aug 2026

- Participate in 3 of UNICEF’s climate finance master sessions to provide technical advice to country offices during the design and implementation of projects

27 Aug 2026

-  Support preparation of 5 climate finance writeshops (1 day each), including preparatory calls with the leading UNICEF office, agenda drafts and base slide decks provided

25 Aug 2026

3. Capacity-building, training and knowledge management on GCF matters

-  2 1-hr webinars on GCF

15 Jul 2026

-  1 slide deck with guidance for GCF project execution & monitoring

01 Mar 2026

-  1 checklist for GCF quality delivery of the programming

15 Mar 2026

-  2 template TORs for mid-term reviews & final evaluations

15 Aug 2026

-  1 integrated KM toolkit (slide deck, check-lists, TORs) incorporating UNICEF feedback + 1-hour walk-through recording

01 Apr 2026

-  4 Ask Me Anything About the GCF Session (webinars)

25 Aug 2026

Qualifications

Education: Advanced University degree with experience and training/courses in one or more of the following disciplines: Climate science, disaster risk management, development studies, environmental sciences, engineering, or a field related to climate and disaster risk reduction

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *: 

• Minimum of 10 years (with Master’s Degree) of relevant experience working for or with multilateral climate funds  
• Inside knowledge of GCF institutional structures and processes
• In-depth knowledge of the GCF project cycle
• Proven track record in the review of GCF concept notes and proposals
• Proven track-record developing successful funding proposals for multilateral climate funds

• Experience developing guidance materials, SOPs and workflows for complex processes and policies is required;

• Experience working with cross-cultural teams dispersed across various geographic locations.
• Demonstrated ability to build capability in agile ways of working, innovation, co-design and design thinking;
• Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of another UN language (French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish) is considered an asset

Requirements:

Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and

- Upload copy of academic credentials

- Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :

• • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability

- Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.

- At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.

- Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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. 

Remarks:  

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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