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JOB OPPORTUNITY
Climate Change and Energy Specialist (UNV)
General
Description of assignment title
Climate Change and Energy Specialist (UNV)
Assignment country
Nepal
Expected start date
01/07/2023
Sustainable Development Goal
13. Climate action
Volunteer category
National UN Volunteer Specialist
DoA reserved for persons with disabilities
No
Host entity
UNICEF
Type
Onsite
Duration
6 months
(with possibility of extension)
Number of assignments
2
Duty stations
Bajura, Kalikot
Details
Mission and objectives
UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.
In all of its work, UNICEF takes a life-cycle based approach, recognizing the particular importance of early childhood development and adolescence. UNICEF programmes focus on the most disadvantaged children, including those living in fragile contexts, those with disabilities, those who are affected by rapid urbanization and those affected by environmental degradation.
UNICEF was created with a distinct purpose in mind: to work with others to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child’s path. We advocate for measures to give children the best start in life, because proper care at the youngest age forms the strongest foundation for a person’s future.
We promote girls’ education – ensuring that they complete primary education as a minimum – because it benefits all children, both girls and boys. Girls who are educated grow up to become better thinkers, better citizens, and better parents to their own children. We act so that all children are immunized against common childhood diseases, and are well nourished: no child should suffer or die from a preventable illness. We work to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among young people because it is right to keep them from harm and enable them to protect others. We help children and families affected by HIV/AIDS to live their lives with dignity.
We are UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund.
Context
Roughly 80% of Nepal’s population are at risk to natural disasters, and UNICEF’s Child Climate Risk Index (2021) rank Nepal’s children’s exposure to climate change as extremely high. Extreme weather events and subsequent implications have profound effects on children’s health, protection, learning and development. A recent study by UNICEF and partners in risk-prone areas of Nepal shows that half of those injured or killed in natural disasters in the last five years were young people, and half of those getting sick following a climate event were children. Furthermore, young people strongly felt that climate change negatively affected their education, access to (clean) water, and their family’s livelihood.
UNICEF Nepal works at national, provincial and local level to support the Government of Nepal, while also working with civil society organizations and research institutions, to build resilience to climate change and reduce the impacts caused by environmental degradation, according to national strategies and policies.
Working in partnership with Jersey Overseas Aid (JOA), UNICEF aims to establish a virtuous cycle of human development to enable local communities to conserve forests, improve maternal and child health and enhance local livelihood opportunities for 12,000 rural households across six municipalities in Karnali and Sudur Pashchim Provinces. The project intends to reach 20,000 children and their rural communities, benefitting from: improved air quality; increased disaster resilience at schools and health facilities through green zones; increased livelihood opportunities; and the conservation of the natural environment. The project’s activities aim to contribute towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) , particularly Goals 3, 5, 7 and 13, as a reduction in collection and use of fuelwood will have a positive and empowering impact on women and children’s health and wellbeing. The individual contractor is expected to provide intense technical support to the team and partners for addressing the capacity gaps in successful implementation of the project and thus achieving the intended results. S/he will also closely support the Chief-Emergency/ Emergency Specialist for overall management of the project while undertaking some day-to-day management functions as delegated.
UNICEF’s Strategic Plan (2022-2025) recognizes that climate change and environmental degradation are existential threats to a child’s ability to survive, grow, and thrive, that ultimately impinge their rights as enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. UNICEF’s new Strategic Plan draws stronger links between responses to climate change and disaster risk reduction as children increasingly need holistic solutions that address both sudden-onset impacts of disasters and climate change such as floods and resilient solutions that promote climate-smart development, including through empowering young people to be climate and environmental champions. As UNICEF in Nepal is developing its new country programme (2023 – 2027) to address needs of children, women and the most vulnerable according to emerging global and national priorities, the individual contractor will support mainstreaming and strengthening CEED components in the new country programme, as well as supporting ongoing and emerging activities related to CEE.
Task description
Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Program officer ( Planning and DRR ) in Nepalgunj field office or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV Climate Change and energy Specialist will:
1) Communication and Coordination
- Establish stronger coordination and collaboration with target municipalities to ensure the CEE programme implementation in accordance with the plan of action.
- Support the development of disaster preparedness and response plan incorporating CEE components.
- Establish good professional relations with community members, social/infrastructure development sections of target municipalities, and other stakeholders present in the municipalities.
- Work in close coordination, cooperation and collaboration with CEE/DRR focal persons of the municipalities.
2) Local system strengthening:
- Ensure DRR/emergency and CEE are functional at all the levels in municipalities in accordance with the new governance structure at local level.
- Arrange monthly meetings with the focal persons of programme municipalities to share progress, discuss issues and develop monthly action plans—the meeting minutes to be shared to UNICEF Nepalgunj Zonal Office.
- Make the monitoring plan based on the work plan, set the target for each month , monitor the field activity and track results against the set timeline and report it to the municipalities assigned, and to UNICEF on monthly basis or whenever needed.
- Support to provide the training for women group, child clubs members at the municipality/ward/community levels on the importance of CEE and mainstreaming into school and Local government annual plan
- Support for the refresher training for community-level activities, such use of ICS, replacement and renovation of ICS which are not functional
- Coordination and collaboration with LGs and UNICEF field office for effective implementation of Eco Zone Programme in 6 municipalities.
- Support for local government system strengthening on use of Eco Cook stove in community level
- Support for carbon financing from local government through providing local level information
- Support for regular reporting -monthly report, bimonthly and annual report
- Provide technical support and guidance to social mobilizer and technicians for the social mobilization:
- Coordinate and support the installation, repair and maintenance of ICS, and possibly scaling it up to communities in need of clean cooking mechanisms.
3) Monitoring and provision of technical support through field visits
- Ensure results vis-à-vis targets (periodically, on monthly, quarterly, and bi-annual basis) set by the Zonal Office are met.
- Arrange/coordinate with the municipalities for joint monitoring visits of the programme areas and communities.
- Facilitate donor visits and third-party monitoring visits in programme areas.
- Support programme municipalities for proper reporting, recording, documentation and timely reporting (physical and financial as per UNICEF’s HACT standards and protocol).
- Periodically update the progress made in the field in given reporting formats (M&E, Activity progress reporting, monthly, quarterly, bi-annual and annual reports).
- Documentation of learning and innovations as case study or Human-interest story from the field.
- Facilitate local, national, and in
- Any other related task as may be required or assigned by the supervisor
Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:
- Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day).
- Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country.
- Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
- Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.
- Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers.
- Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.
- As an active UNICEF team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNICEF and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:
- Submission monthly work plan, monitoring plan
- Joint monitoring visit with government counterparts (Federal, Province and Local level)
- On site coaching to social mobilisers for the timely and effective implementation of the programme
- Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment
- A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in, and capacities developed
Eligibility criteria
Age
27 – 80
Nationality
Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.
Requirements
Required experience
5 years of experience in local government, international development organization, national government, NGO or the private sector; work experience related to any carbon trading project and/or afforestation will be an asset and experience as a professional progressively responsible for projects/programmed trainings and experiences in social mobilization, CEE field, disaster risk reduction/emergency, local-level planning process, energy, Communication for Development, focusing on local government and community mobilization will be an asset.; Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills; Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing; Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development; Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel; Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.); e-LMIS; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment; Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; Sound security awareness; Have affinity with or interest in UNICEF core value (care, respect, integrity, trust, and accountability) volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.
Area(s) of expertise
Social work, Crisis and emergency response, Development programmes
Driving license
–
Languages
Nepalese, Level: Fluent, Required
English, Level: Fluent, Required
Required education level
Bachelor degree or equivalent in Management, Education, Humanities and Social Science or relevant fields, with a focus on climate change, environmental policy, forestry, disaster risk reduction, emergency preparedness & response, rural development and sociology;
Competencies and values
Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNICEF; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNICEF procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented;
Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNICEF in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority.
Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues;
Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment.
Planning and organizing effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities.
Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;
Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary.
Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNICEF’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.
Other information
Living conditions and remarks
The “climate change and Energy Specialist (UNV)” will be based in Municipality office of Khadachakra municipality Kalikot and Badimalika municipality Bajura : with frequent visits to two other supported municipality Triveni, Ramaroshan, Raskot and Simta . The security situation in all locations is normal and have road access. Moreover, all basic services/facilities are also available in all locations.
As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan.
The contract lasts for the period indicated above with possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment. Travel to duty station (if applicable) and a Settling-In-Grant will be provided in the event the duty station is not within commuting distance from the place of recruitment. The applicable Volunteer Living Allowance is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities and normal cost of living expenses. Life, health and permanent disability insurance are included (health insurance for up to 3 dependents), as well as final repatriation (if applicable) and resettlement allowance for satisfactory service.
Fluency in local language is an advantage
Inclusivity statement
United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
Reasonable accommodation
UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for UN Volunteers 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 recruitment process and afterwards in your assignment.
Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements
In addition to duty station-specific vaccine requirements, appointments 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 appointment. It does not apply to UN Volunteers 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 contracts.
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