How can you make a difference?

Purpose for the job:

Join our team to manage Climate change, Energy & Environment projects including Coordination, fostering of partnerships, technical support, advocacy, networking and support in planning, monitoring and financial management of Climate change, Energy & Environment projects and programmes. You will collaborate closely with UNICEF Programme/ Operations in defining Climate change, Energy & Environment interventions to meet programmatic needs and achieve results for children and provide technical and advisory support to the Government and partners on Climate change, Energy & Environment project management.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

1. Management and coordination of Climate change, Energy & Environment initiatives
2. Climate Financing, partnerships and resource mobilization for Ethiopia and provide linkages to regional and global efforts.
3. Provide technical support to Sections regarding climate change, energy and environment.
4. Evidence, policy advocacy and positioning of UNICEF as lead in Climate and Environment initiatives in Ethiopia
5. Communication, Collaboration, Networking and Partnership

1. Management and coordination of Climate change, Energy & Environment initiatives

• Develop the ECO annual work plan for the Climate change, Energy & Environment; determine priorities/targets and performance measurements and monitor work progress to ensure that results are achieved according to schedule and performance standards.
• Ensure that UNICEF engagement in the area of climate, energy and environment (CEE) is well coordinated within and outside UNICEF (Nationally, Internationally and within UNICEF Global and ESAR Regions).
• Ensure effective and efficient management of the Climate change, Energy & Environment financial resources; and provide technical support to sections and FOs regarding climate change, energy and environment; additionally, oversee that UNICEF progressively integrates climate change action into office support services.
• Participate in relevant United Nations and development partners’ climate change and environment working groups to ensure linkages/ knowledge exchange with regional and global stakeholders.
• Liaise with relevant HQ, RO focal points and other resource persons for lessons learned and good practices and contribute to UNICEF Knowledge Exchange regarding climate, energy and environment.

2. Climate Financing, partnerships and resource mobilization for Ethiopia and provide linkages to regional and global efforts.

• In collaboration with the Government counterparts, develop and produce innovative cost-effective Climate change & Environment designs using local Climate change & Environment materials; compile and update list of best practices in Climate change & Environment and building design.
• Systematically pursue climate finance (global climate funds, bilateral, private sector) by establishing partnerships with relevant focal points, potential partners and mapping opportunities for UNICEF.
• Advocate for improved child-focus of climate finance investments in ECO within sections and in close collaboration with Social Protection
• Strengthen and establish climate and environment-focused partnerships with CSOs, Government, UN and development partners.
• Develop concept notes and proposals for fundraising for climate change adaptation and mitigation as well as inputs to proposals from other sections as needed.
• Follow-up, backstopping and coordination of implementation of approved environment-focused proposals.

3. Provide technical support to Sections regarding climate change, energy and environment.

• Provide technical backstopping and support in matters of Climate change, Energy & Environment project management to Programme sections. The role is cross-cutting across all sections Education, WASH, Health etc.
• Support expansion of green energy use and applications in UNICEF programmes and operations through market assessments, development and knowledge sharing.
• Support UNICEF thematic and cross sectoral sections in identifying UNICEF’s niche for addressing Climate Change and Environment impacts on children, awareness raising and design of programmes to support the rights of children, and support risk informed programming in the region such as (but not limited to):

1. WASH: coordinate concept and proposal development jointly with internal and external stakeholders for accessing climate finance. Potential entry points include household and institutional climate adaptation, environment, and climate awareness through WASH in Schools programmes, innovation in water and wastewater treatment and management, climate resilient water safety planning and water scarcity.
2. YOUTH: support the section in conducting climate and environment focused youth participation and youth activism to support climate initiatives.
3. EDUCATION: support the section in the development of environment and climate action curriculum support, and in awareness raising around environmental impacts on children and the youth.
4. HEALTH and Nutrition: support engagement regarding the climate resilient health and food security systems, and support work regarding the added burden of disease due to climate change.
5. SOCIAL POLICY: support the section in incorporation of national climate and environment vulnerability assessments and social safety systems.
6. PROTECTION: support the section to monitor the impact of climate change on children’s well-being, and to develop the mitigation measures to enhance protection of children.
7. EMERGENCY: Integrate CEE in Resilience task force CO coordination and coordinate with emergency section.
8. Cross- sectoral sections (SBC, Gender, M&E): Ensure that UNICEF climate action is gender transformative, promotes positive behaviour change and adequately measured.

• Ensure overall follow-up to Climate change, Energy & Environment activities by undertaking regular site visits, conducting regular technical meetings, monitoring progress, and ensuring work compliance with norms, standards, and timelines.
• Identify actions and best practices for protecting children from climate change and environmental risk and provide necessary technical assistance and capacity development to staff and partners for their adoption.
• Identify objectives, actions and best practices for reducing UNICEF environmental and carbon footprint in to efficiently implement its programmes.
• Providing technical support to ECO, Regional offices and operations teams on the rollout and application and implementation of UNICEF’s Environmental and Social Safeguards Standards and Procedures

4. Evidence, policy advocacy and positioning of UNICEF as lead in Climate and Environment initiatives in Ethiopia

• Provide technical guidance and policy advice to ECO for supporting Federal and Regions of Ethiopia, the private sector and civil society partners on environmental risks facing children.
• Support communication and policy advocacy regarding climate change and environmental degradation and child rights in ECO.
• Identify objectives, actions and best practices for protecting children from climate and environmental ris in line with global programmatic framework which is currently under development as well as global climate finance efforts and multi-country programmes.
• Provide linkages to UNICEF’s global and regional work and pilot their implementation at the country level.
• Spearhead the implementation of UNICEF’s global “Climate, Energy and Environment programmes in the ECO.
• Identifying targeted initiatives which UNICEF will develop into flagship multi-region programmes that can deliver results at scale.

5. Communication, Collaboration, Networking and Partnership

• Collaborate with climate institutions such as WMO, IGAD, FSNAU and other regional institutions in order to build up climate knowledge and partnerships within the region.
• Exchange information and experience and identify new strategies and courses of action to accelerate/improve the delivery of services toward the achievement of UNICEF’s Climate Energy and Environment programme goals and objectives.
• Collaborate with other programme colleagues to ensure the integration of the Climate Energy and Environment activities including multi agency and inter-sectoral activities and responses.
• Provide technical support and guidance on appropriate technical, financial, and institutional capacity building measures to achieve UNICEF & Climate Energy and Environment programme goals.
• Support sector resilient focal points in technical relationships with relevant ministries and government counterparts to support national priorities and promote UNICEF’s portfolio of action on climate change.
• Support communication, evidence dissemination and awareness raising on the impact of climate change on children’s rights in Somalia, to facilitate programme implementation and build the capacity of stakeholders.
• Prepare materials for climate change programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships and support fund-raising.
• Participate in inter-agency discussions, ensuring that UNICEF’s position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the UNMSDF development planning and agenda setting.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Climate & Environment, Economics (Climate economics), Earth Sciences, Environmental Science, Climate Change Adaptation, orMitigation / Resilience
• A minimum of 8 [Eight] years of relevant professional experience at national and/or international levels in Financial Management in climate, Energy and Environment. Carbon market analyst, Proposal development with either GCF, GEF, AFDB, WB, or KFW, and Agencies Accreditation Processes with GCF
• In addition, experience in either of: Climate policy analysis, Renewable energy specialization, Environmental Law, Conservation policy analyst
• Understanding of development and humanitarian development Peace nexus
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values are:-

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability
• Sustainability

Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (2)
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
• Works Collaboratively with others (2)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (2)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

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 benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
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 promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. Female qualified candidates who meet the requirement of the post are highly encouraged to apply. 

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also 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.

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.

Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government 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.

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