UNICEF recherche un Expert consultant en finance climatique, Section Eau et Assainissement, Etats-Unis.

UNICEF recherche un Expert consultant en finance climatique, Section Eau et Assainissement, Etats-Unis.

Climate change and environmental degradation are some of the biggest threats affecting the world’s children and have the potential to undermine many of the gains we have made in child survival and development. Over a billion children are already at extremely high risk of environmental and climate hazards including heat waves, floods, cyclones, etc. There is an urgent and acute need for countries to adapt, prepare and build climate-resilient, low-carbon social services, such as – water and sanitation (WASH), healthcare, education, nutrition, social protection and child protection – for current hazards, and in preparation for more frequent and severe climate hazards.  Moreover, as there are limits to climate change adaptation, and some impacts are irreversible, effective humanitarian responses that do no harm and concurrently reduce the risk from recurring climate change impacts are necessary.   UNICEF, with our extensive field presence in the hardest to reach places, aims to support climate resilient and low carbon communities for every child. These are among the best investments we can make for the most vulnerable children who live in communities that are at most risk from the impacts of climate change and compounded risks.

Climate financing (defined here as funding from the ‘vertical’ climate funds such as Green Climate Fund (GCF), Global Environment Facility (GEF), Adaptation Fund (AF), and Least Developed Country Fund (LDCF)), for both mitigation and adaptation, to increase the resiliency of social services, is growing but needs to expand be scaled-up significantly, sustainably and urgently. Currently, UNICEF is a Delivery Partner for GCF Readiness, and its application to be an accredited entity is under review.  This assignment will be performed both in anticipation and support of UNICEF’s application for accreditation and to deepen UNICEF’s partnership with entities that are already accredited.  The role of this consultant is to  :

1) examine the current capacity of UNICEF’s organizational structures and processes to implement climate finance projects and propose a ‘fit-for-purpose’ business model that will enable UNICEF to progressively scale up its ability to deliver; 2) identify potential partnerships; and 3) contribute to UNICEF capacity development and engagement at all levels.

Scope of Work:

Specifically, the Consultant will be expected to:

1. Examine the current capacity of UNICEF’s organizational structures and processes to identify and implement climate finance projects :

• Identify the in-house/internal mechanisms, bottlenecks and resources (e.g. legal, financial) at headquarters and regional/country office levels required to support the identification, design and successful delivery of large-scale climate financing for UNICEF’s programmes, and recommendations to address these;
• Support a review of climate finance initiatives underway in UNICEF (Headquarters, regional and country offices) to identify gaps and areas of potential collaboration;
• Develop a “fit for purpose” business model that will enable UNICEF to progressively scale-up its ability to deliver climate investment projects, including associated resources required;
• Identify potential viable climate cofinancing opportunities and mechanisms for UNICEF sectors and programming contexts;
• Review UNICEF’s GCF accreditation submission and support follow-up, including to supply additional information/ clarifications / revisions (if / as needed);
• Support the development of advocacy materials on climate finance.

2. Identify potential partnerships (per region, per sector, cross-sectorally) (including, but not limited to Accredited Entities to vertical funds with the right level of accreditation and financing mechanisms for potential UNICEF projects) that could be explored by UNICEF country and regional offices to co-develop and submit bankable project proposals for climate finance :

• Identify potential strategic partnerships (through an inclusive process) to build UNICEF’s capacity to develop bankable projects (including Accredited Entities, universities etc);
• Work with legal/financial/partnership teams to identify what is required to work with specific partners (tradeoffs, costs, utilizing existing agreements, etc.);
• Draft outreach content / key messages (general and specific to each partner) highlighting UNICEF’s added value and complementarity;
• Develop Business Cases (for each of UNICEF’s key programming sectors) to leverage the engagement of the private sector and key international financial institutions into UNICEF’s key sectors;
• Support and participate in partner dialogues;
• Identify and support internal and external advocacy efforts.

• Work with UNICEF staff to advocate for and contribute to strategy and direction of key climate funds in relation to children, youth, education, WASH, nutrition, child protection, social protection, and operating in humanitarian settings (as examples).

Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s degree in Data analysis, GIS, sustainable development, climate, DRR, resilience, social policy, economics, health, water resources, engineering or other related discipline.

Language  Proficiency :

• Fluency  in English is required; French, Spanish and/or Arabic would be advantageous.

Work experience:

• Minimum  10 years of relevant experience in climate finance, climate change projects, DRR, resilience, social policy, or other related discipline
• Excellent  writing and communication skills; expertise in risk finance, private sector, public finance, sustainable development.
• Must  have experience in the development of at least two approved climate finance proposals.

Requirements

Completed profile in UNICEF’s e-Recruitment system and provide Personal History Form  Upload copy of academic credentials.

Financial proposal that will include:

• your daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference;
• 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.

Deadline for application : 18th December 2022

Apply here