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, Results 

UNICEF works to protect the rights of every child in Sri Lanka. Our goal is to ensure that all of our children survive, thrive and fulfill their vast potential.

In a world that is rapidly changing, children are faced with complex challenges and unprecedented opportunities. UNICEF’s programs are designed to reach and benefit all children so that they can withstand these challenges, leverage these opportunities and be the drivers of their own destiny.

UNICEF is committed to creating a country in which every child is free to learn, play and grow. Our programs work towards providing all children in Sri Lanka with shelter, nutrition, protection and education, wherever they may be. We strive to create communities in which children can live with dignity and hope, free from discrimination, violence and fear.

We make every effort to create and maintain environments that will enable and empower children to be the very best that they can be.

In this way, all children will not only benefit from economic and social growth but will become the driving force behind sustainable national development.

For over 50 years, with the help of our vast network of partners, UNICEF has made significant strides in raising health, education and protection standards for children in Sri Lanka. From achieving Universal Child Immunization (1989) to establishing The National Child Protection Authority (1998) to providing decades of crucial relief in the wake of devastating conflict and natural disaster, UNICEF has played a pivotal role in creating an environment in which children have the best chance to survive and thrive.

Yet, many challenges still exist, especially for the most vulnerable. Some national and regional bodies require resources and reinvigoration. Individuals and institutions need to be strengthened, coordinated and aligned with global standards so that children enjoy support in their schools, communities and homes to help them overcome challenges and unleash their full potential into the world.

Due to our long-standing reputation as an experienced, neutral and collaborative partner, UNICEF is ideally suited to drive these efforts. Our history of success in Sri Lanka is built on our ability to tap into a wide network of national and international partners which, in turn, is bolstered by our own far-reaching presence in the field. In working closely with these government, non-government and private entities, UNICEF takes a leadership role, drawing on our technical expertise to accurately assess existing challenges and develop, execute and coordinate solutions that are relevant and scalable on the ground.  For more information about UNICEF Sri Lanka and its work visit: http://www.unicef.org/srilanka

How can you make a difference?

Purpose-

The selected consultant will lead the production of Climate and Environmental Strategy for the UNICEF Sri Lanka Country Office (CO) and provide direction and support to implement its recommendations.

Will be responsible for collecting, compiling and reviewing key resources (web-based), gathering in-country information, and undertaking a key-stakeholder analysis. In addition, the incumbent will work closely with CO management and technical staff in relevant sections within the CO to identify and develop programming options and recommendations for the successful integration of climate, energy and environment (CEE) issues in the country programme cycle.

If needed, the consultant will liaise with the climate, energy and environment team in the UNICEF Regional Office (South Asia) and HQ/NY for support, feedback and coordination.

Scope of the work

The purpose of the assignment is to support UNICEF Sri Lanka Country Office to develop a Climate and Environment Strategy for Children and to provide technical support to review and develop relevant technical documents.

The specific scope and objectives of the consultancy is,

1.            To develop a country level climate and environmental strategy for UNICEF to address the risk of climate change for children including the Education, Child Protection, Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Health and Nutrition, WASH or Social Protection sectors.

2.            To review the content of existing and planned climate change related training materials, reports, presentations and technical guidelines developed by the country Office and provide feedback and make necessary improvements.

Climate change, energy access and environmental degradation are equity issues, with children and young people often being the most vulnerable and affected. Addressing climate change, energy access and environmental degradation is therefore vital for building a more sustainable future for children. In addition, it is imperative that we integrate our actions on the SDGs and our humanitarian responses. Each of the core sectors UNICEF has been engaging in health, nutrition, water and sanitation, child protection, social inclusion and education – is affected in some way by climate change and/or environmental degradation. Fortunately, each stream of UNICEF work also presents opportunities to take action on climate, energy and/or the environment in order to deliver more sustainable results. There are major implications of climate change, lack of energy access and environmental degradation for children and UNICEF has strong potential to strengthen the response to these issues.

UNICEF has made a systematic effort to step up its work on climate, environment and sustainable energy for children. The organization has issued an Executive Directive on integrating a climate, sustainable energy and environment focus into country programming, and established environmental issues as a core pillar of its 2018-2021 Strategic Plan (Goal Area 4 – Safe and Clean Environment) including commitment to work on climate change under the Common Chapter with UNDP, UNFPA and UN Women.

Sri Lanka is an island nation with its climate variation based primarily on the country’s topography. Sri Lanka is situated outside the cyclone belt but has been impacted periodically with increasing frequency and intensity of these hazards due to sea level rise, changes in rainfall patterns and rise in temperature. Climate change in Sri Lanka is observed in the slowly rising temperatures and increasingly erratic rainfall seasons .  The number of warm days has increased in all districts and cold nights have decreased, resulting in high evaporation losses . Trend analysis of temperature reveals that both daytime maximum and nighttime minimum temperatures are significantly increasing at a rate of 0.01 to 0.03 oC per year .    Climate variability already strongly influences activities across Sri Lanka which is considered a highly vulnerable country to climate change.

Climate change has both direct and indirect effects on the physical and mental health of children. The direct impacts of climate change disproportionately burden children at the same time as they are developing psychologically, physically, socially, and neurologically. Food insecurity is a serious challenge for Sri Lanka, with an estimated 17 percent of the population experiencing moderate acute food insecurity in March 2023. In May 2017 and May 2018 Sri Lanka was severely affected by two of the heaviest rainfalls on record. Both were brought about by southwest monsoons and caused devastating floods and landslides across the country. According to Post Disaster Needs Assessments (PDNA) conducted for both years, 173 schools in 2017 and 336 in 2018 suffered damage. The damage varied in extent from substantial to less extensive damage to physical infrastructure including damage to assets and equipment including flooring, roofing, walls, fencing, water and sanitation facilities, classroom furniture, computer, science lab and sports equipment.

Within this Context, UNICEF Sri Lanka is planning to develop the Climate and Environmental Strategy for the UNICEF Sri Lanka Country Office, examining the baseline situation of climate, energy and environment-related issues affecting children and how they relate to UNICEF’s priorities. The report looks at stakeholders, government policies and relevant programmes in Sri Lanka. It will also provide recommendations on how UNICEF Sri Lanka could further incorporate and strengthen work on climate, energy and environment-related issues in its country programme.

Description of assignment:

Work Assignment Overview

1) Generate a baseline CEE and children report

•              Adapted outline of the generic template for the Climate and Environmental Strategy reports developed, tailored to UNICEF Sri Lanka’s needs

–              Review example reports from other country offices and the global guidance materials.

–              Propose any changes needed to accommodate the national context and CO priorities.

•              Desk review and provide overview of climate, environment and energy (CEE) baseline

–              Map existing interventions and initiatives that the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment and any other relevant Ministries or institutions supporting  environmental health targeting children and youth.

–              Review existing and revised climate change-related policy documents such as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plan (NAP), National Communications, National Climate Change Policy, National Environmental Act, National Environmental Policy, National Environmental Action Plan, Nationally determined contribution implementation plan, National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy.

–              Review and compile existing country evidence and data and compile key national policy documents related to climate, health and environment including an analysis of if, and how, they reference children and health related issues and services for children such as nutrition, social protection, health, and WASH.

–              Provide a brief synthesis of the above, and general implications for the country’s sustainable development, with a focus on issues as they relate to UNICEF’s mandate.

–              Review key policy documents related to climate, energy and environment and UNICEF’s corporate priorities with a view of assessing child-rights and CEE linkages in Sri Lanka.

–              Compile and evaluate list of recent and on-going and planned CEE activities in Sri Lanka.

–              Identify knowledge and information gaps including an analysis of if, and how, they reference children and essential social services for children such as education, social protection, health, and water. Collect, incorporate and triangulate comments from all stakeholders with reference materials from the desk review.

–              Analyse CEE interventions for relevance to UNICEF programming, including identifying direct opportunities and threats to current program activities.

•              Conduct interviews & meetings with key stakeholders in the area of CEE and child rights

–              Conduct interviews with UNICEF sections, external partners and stakeholders on CEE issues affecting children.

–              Provide an overview of the child-CEE nexus, including analysis of implications for UNICEF sectors (i.e. Health, Education, DRR, WASH, Child Protection, Social Policy, Nutrition)

–              Identify partnership and funding opportunities to support UNICEF program recommendations.

–              With reference to climate finance mechanisms, bilateral funding and/ or Government budgets, identify funding opportunities to support CEE-child nexus activities.

–              Identify appropriate CEE-child rights linkages and evaluate relevance for potential UNICEF programming options and identify new CEE-Child nexus issues/ themes for CO consideration.

–              Prepare and present a summary presentation of findings for CO and relevant Government and development partners.

•              Identify priority entry points for UNICEF engagement and programming of CEED

–              With CO sections and Management, develop and define priority areas for UNICEF engagement in programming and advocacy.

–              In close collaboration with UNICEF country office staff, identify and evaluate potential entry points for UNICEF engagement with CEED.

–              Propose options for prioritization of issues and entry points and facilitate the decision-making process.

–              Present the analysis, findings, recommendations to UNICEF staff.

–              Finalize the Climate and Environmental Strategy and costed action plan for the UNICEF Sri Lanka Country Office incorporating feedback from UNICEF.

•              Review the content of climate change related training material, reports, presentations and technical guidelines, and provide feedback and make necessary improvements.

–              Review other relevant technical documents developed by UNICEF CO and relevant government partners with related to planned assignments, research, studies, donor proposals and reports, ToR, trainings and policy and advocacy documents on climate change, water, environment, energy and DRR and make necessary improvements/revisions and adjustments. The suggested key documents are:

o             The baseline assessment report on climate resilience of rural water supply schemes

o             Climate Resilient WASH assessment of Health Care Facilities

o             Training Guideline developed for the ToT, targeting government officers.

o             Provincial level climate resilient improvement plans for WASH (including energy and health care waste) in Health Care Facilities.

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

Minimum Qualifications required:

Master’s degree :  • Environmental science •     Climate Change •     Natural resource management •     Meteorology •          Energy •        geography •           Social and economic development •        Development Studies & Public Policy

Experience/ Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

•         Post Graduate qualifications in geography, environmental science, Climate Change, natural resource management, meteorology, energy, public policy, social and economic development, or related areas.

•         Excellent writing skills required.

•         Excellent research skills required.

•         At least 8 years of relevant professional experience in the fields related to  environment, Science, Climate Chang, Energy and Natural Resource Management as well as experience in working with governmental entities, research and policy institutions and communities

•         Demonstrated expertise in child rights or any of UNICEF’s main areas of work (health, WASH, nutrition, child protection, DRR, social policy, education,) is considered an asset.

•         Past work experience with Government, UNICEF or sister UN agencies in undertaking similar assignments will be an added value.

•         Solid knowledge of UNICEF policies and procedures or other international development agencies is considered an asset.

How to apply:

Qualified candidates are requested to submit a resume and other relevant documents

Please complete your profile in UNICEF’s e-Recruitment system. https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_consultancy_assignments.html

Please indicate your ability, availability and fee/rate (in LKR) to undertake the terms of reference above. (Indicate an all-inclusive fee (including lump sum travel, IT accessories, Internet and subsistence costs, as applicable) to undertake the tasks in the Terms of reference. Office 365 license will be provided by UNICEF, as applicable)

Applications submitted without a fee/rate will not be considered

Duration – 5 Months (100 days)

start date – October 2024

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit  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.

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 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.

If you think this position might be for you, please take the time to review our Country Office Mutual Agreements before you apply.

If you believe you can team member that can uphold these everyday, then we look forward to receiving and reviewing your application.

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