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, innovation

Ethiopia is situated in the Horn of Africa and is the second most populous country on the continent with an estimated population of 115 million. It borders six African countries: Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan, and covers 1,104,300 square kilometers. Approximately 85 percent of the population lives in rural areas. Ethiopia represents a melting pot of ancient cultures with Middle Eastern and African cultures evident in the religious, ethnic, and language composition of its people.

Over the past two years, children and their families across Ethiopia faced multiple and complex emergencies, such as the conflict in the northern Ethiopia and the drought, which resulted in millions of people in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. UNICEF has programmes in Child Protection, WASH, Health, Nutrition, Social Policy, and Education and serves over 15 million children in Ethiopia. Join UNICEF Ethiopia to contribute to improving the lives of children and women

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

Ethiopia is home to over 120 million people yet more than 30 million still live entirely off-grid and an additional 15 million experiencing intermittent electricity supply or relying on diesel generators (world bank data). The poorest and conflict-affected woredas in regions such as Amhara, Oromia, Somali, and Tigray face significant energy deficits that contribute to vaccine spoilage, as well as unsafe/unreliable access to safe, improved drinking water. The Federal Government of Ethiopia has committed to achieving universal electrification by 2030, targeting that 35% of this will come from off-grid solutions. It has also developed a draft roadmap for carbon-market mechanisms aimed at mobilizing climate finance to support low-emission energy options, aligning with national strategies such as the Climate-Resilient Green Economy Strategy and international frameworks under the Paris Agreement.

UNICEF Ethiopia’s 2025–2030 Country Programme prioritizes the delivery of climate-resilient basic social services to every child, recognizing the growing risks posed by climate change to child survival, learning, and protection. UNICEF Ethiopia is therefore actively exploring innovative pathways to unlock climate finance that supports low-emission, sustainable energy solutions. In partnership with the Ministry of Health, Gavi and WHO, UNICEF is already solarising more than 300 health facilities under the Health Facility Solar Electrification (HFSE) initiative, while over 100 water-supply schemes have been fitted with solar pumps to cut diesel costs and emissions, with additional sites in the pipeline.

Despite these efforts, global and local evidence highlights a recurring challenge: solar systems often fail within 5 to 7 years due to weak maintenance systems in remote communities, including limited availability of spare parts, insufficient maintenance budgets, and a shortage of trained technicians. As such UNICEF is therefore pairing its solar roll-out with sustainable financing and local capacity building ensuring that clean, reliable energy keeps health centres open, vaccines cold and safe water systems operational for the long term.

Project Alpha is UNICEF’s new initiative that tackles this sustainability gap through reinforcing modules. Project Alpha is currently being piloted in several countries in Africa and the MENA-region. Although Ethiopia has been approved for I-REC(E) issuance, there is no local case study documenting the steps of how solar data should flow from inverters to registries, how credits are valued and sold, and how revenues can be transparently reinvested into system upkeep and youth employment.

To develop an evidence-based case study that documents how P-RECs can be measured, verified, traded and reinvested to sustain UNICEF-supported solar assets in Ethiopia’s health, and WASH areas, and to provide a practical monitoring framework that national partners can replicate at scale, UNICEF Ethiopia is seeking to hire a national consultant.

Scope of Work:

The consultant will produce two reports based on actual implementation experience:

Phase 1: P-REC Implementation Case Study
During the initial phase, the consultant will develop a comprehensive case study, documenting the key preparatory and implementation steps up to the registration of P-REC projects in Ethiopia. This will include analysis of the enabling regulatory environment, stakeholder coordination, operational planning, and financial structuring. Where feasible, the case study will also reflect efforts and progress made toward issuance readiness. Key enablers, challenges, and best practices will be captured to inform UNICEF’s future strategy
and cross-country learning.

Phase 2: Energy Monitoring System Development
The second phase focuses on the critical infrastructure required to support P-REC generation through a reliable monitoring and reporting system tailored to the facility context, ensuring data traceability and integrity for P-REC validation and certification. The consultant will support the country office team to identify the key WASH and health facility sites and assist the operational rollout of the digital tool system in these sites. The consultant will establish data collection protocols, validate data accuracy, and ensure the system meets certification requirements for P-REC generation. The consultant will document the process and submit a detailed report outlining implementation steps, challenges encountered, and recommendations for scaling.

Work Assignment Overview

1. Tasks/Milestone:  P-REC Mechanism Analysis: Conduct an initial analysis of the P-REC and I-REC(E) landscape by reviewing            relevant literature and documented experiences from fragile and conflict-affected settings. Engage with the Project Alpha team to validate the research focus and refine the research questions. Design appropriate interview protocols and develop an ethics checklist to guide consultations with stakeholders (Health and WASH)

            Deliverables/Outputs (15 days)

                      1.1. Approved consultancy workplan, including final research questions and approved interview protocols,                                                      aligned with the Project Alpha objectives. 

2. Tasks/Milestone: PREC Mechanism Analysis: Conduct interviews and stakeholder consultations, analyze findings, and convene a validation workshop.

3. Tasks/Milestone: Case study and Monitoring framework: Finalize evidence-based case study report and develop a practical monitoring framework for P-REC tracking

                  Deliverables/Outputs (34 days)  

                   3.1. Final case study report (up to 6 pages) submitted, including recommendations.
                   3.2. Monitoring framework drafted with indicators and methodology.

4. Tasks/Milestone: Digital Tool Scoping and Site Assessment: Assess monitoring technologies and conduct field-level review of existing site infrastructure at 1–2 selected pilot facilities. Identify gaps across power supply, inverter compatibility, data connectivity, and staff technical capacity.

                 Deliverables/Outputs (10 days)  

5. Tasks/Milestone:  Implementation Toolkit & Data-Validation Plan: Draft TOR, SOP and standard data-schema for future telemetry retrofits. In addition, prepare data-validation plan that maps pilot-site data to P-REC MRV requirements.

                       Deliverables/Outputs (10 days)  

6. Tasks/Milestone: Final Report: Synthesize final insights on monitoring implementation and prepare final documentation and recommendations for scale-up.

                           Deliverables/Outputs  (10 days)  

Minimum Qualifications required:

Education: 

• An advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in engineering, energy systems, climate finance, sustainable development, or a related field relevant to low-carbon energy and climate-resilient infrastructure is required.

Work Experience: 

• At least eight (8) years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in solar energy systems, monitoring and evaluation or innovative finance. A significant advantage if this experience is within Ethiopia.
• Experience with innovative financing methods for solar energy projects, where experience with P-RECs or RECs is a significant advantage.
• Understanding of sustainability models in development contexts.
• Proven track record in conducting rapid assessments in development contexts.

Skills 

• Strong analytical and research skills with ability to synthesize complex information quickly

Language Requirements: 

• Excellent written English and verbal communication skills required.
• Fluency in English and Amharic is required.

Desirables:

• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts. 
• Strong interpersonal and networking skills. Ability to work collaboratively in a team and in a diverse work environment.
• Knowledge of United Nations - particularly UNICEF - programming, processes and work streams is an asset.
• Working knowledge of a local language spoken in Ethiopia (e.g. Amharic, Afaan Oromo) is an asset.

Please note that 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 required for this post are…

• Builds and maintains partnerships (1)
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (1)
• Drive to achieve results for impact (1)
• Innovates and embraces change (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)
• Thinks and acts strategically (1)
• Works collaboratively with others (1)

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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.