Mission and objectives

UNICEF has a long-term commitment to Iraq’s children and young people, with the first formal cooperation agreement signed with the Government in 1963. UNICEF works in close partnership with the Federal through established Cooperation Agreements. UNICEF has a broad geographic presence in the country with four offices located in Basra, Baghdad, Erbil and Dohuk. UNICEF collaborates with UN agencies, international and national NGO partners to meet the humanitarian and development needs of most vulnerable children and young people. In recent years, UNICEF’s work to support the unique needs of young people has gained momentum, as the challenges facing them have come more sharply into view. UNICEF is committed to deliver for all children and young people through its overall impact goal of ‘realizing the rights of every child, especially the most disadvantaged. The UNICEF Strategic Plan, 2018−2021 recognizes the whole spectrum of young people, including young adults or youth over 18, and includes in its Change Strategies “supporting young people and children as agents of change.” Taking its cue from the strategic plan, the Global Communication and Advocacy Strategy 2019−2021 (GCAS) asserts the important role that young people can play in the successful realization of UNICEF’s mandate, and outlines the need to listen to, co-create and collaborate with young people and create meaningful engagement opportunities for them to make a difference. Being important drivers of change, children and young people are essential partners and contributors to both the development and implementation of UNICEF’s Strategic Plan 2022 2025. With a new and ambitious SP, UNICEF intends to be deliberate and committed in fully involving children and young people in creating the solutions to accelerate the realization of the SDGs and driving change forward.

Context

The Paris Agreement requires each party to update its NDC periodically to reflect its highest possible ambition in light of its national circumstances and capabilities. The revision of NDC is essential for enhancing climate action and achieving global climate targets. The Iraq’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) is a critical component of its commitment under the Paris Agreement to combat climate change and contribute to global climate goals. The NDC outlines Iraq’s climate action plans, including its targets for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction and adaptation strategies. UNCT, led by RC critical role in supporting governments in developing and implementing National Determinate Contributions (NDCs). Utilize platforms and mechanisms already in place that bring together UN System actors around climate change. RC & UNCT provide national platforms for coordination and high-level engagement with Government counterparts and other stakeholders. UNICEF is seeking a dedicated international UN volunteer to work closely with UNICEF country team, Government and Non-Government partners to support UNICEF Climate actions and NDC revision. The objective of supporting the revision of the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) is aligned with international climate agreements

Task Description

The international UNV Specialist will support and coordinate multi-sectoral Climate related activities of UNICEF Iraq. This will include working with sections of WASH and Climate, ADAP and SBC. Under the direct guidance of the Deputy Representative and the supervision of, the Chief of WASH, with technical dotted lines to the chiefs of ADAP and SBC. the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: Prepare inputs and support the required Climate-related analyses/studies, advocacy notes, workshops and seminars for: • Promoting Youth Engagement in Climate Action and Advocacy, the advocacy note aims to highlight the importance of scaling up and accelerating investment in child- and youth-responsive adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and mitigation measures. It seeks to empower young people by equipping them with the knowledge and skills, and by involving them in policy revision and climate actions in line with the Declaration on Children, Youth, and Climate Action. • Advocating for validated and cost-effective Climate-smart actions, the advocacy note aims to urge the Government to leverage resources and adopt and scale up validated and documented innovations in water use, reuse, rainwater harvesting, and greening of institutions. Showcase best practices on shifting from water scarcity towards water security through the Inclusive Access to Sustainable Water & Sanitation Services Programme in Iraq. • Advancing Climate Modelling for Sustainable Development, through support develop-ing a cutting-edge climate modelling system tailored to Iraq’s specific climatic condi-tions, improve understanding of regional climate dynamics and variability, assess po-tential impacts on key sectors such as agriculture, water resources, and public health and formulate evidence-based adaptation and mitigation strategies. • Supporting a collaborative approach for social and behavioral change to ensure sus-tainable climate action, through the certation of a collaborative platform for shared learning, where participants, including youth groups, can explore innovative strategies, applying behavioral sciences and showcase community and youth led actionable solu-tions relevant to the Iraqi context to be scaled up. Support UNICEF Contributions to the current NDC’s 3.0 revision: • Draft analytical report on the integration of youth engagement and child rights ensuring that climate strategies are more comprehensive, inclusive and effective, ultimately leading to stronger and more sustainable climate action. Support developing UNICEF proposals to GCF. • UNICEF is a readiness partner for GCF meaning we can access readiness funds but we are also closer to getting accreditation on GCF. Hence the UNV will contribute to drafting multi-sectors climate related proposals.

Competencies and values

Competencies and Values ☒ Accountability ☒ Adaptability and Flexibility ☒ Building Trust ☒ Commitment and Motivation ☒ Commitment to Continuous Learning ☒ Communication ☒ Creativity ☒ Empowering Others ☒ Ethics and Values ☒ Integrity ☒ Knowledge Sharing ☒ Planning and Organizing ☒ Professionalism ☒ Respect for Diversity ☒ Self-Management ☒ Technological Awareness ☒ Working in Teams

Living conditions and remarks

Baghdad is a Category E hardship duty station and non-family duty station. The Rest and Recuperation (R&R) cycle for the Baghdad duty station is 4 weeks, with the designated place of R&R being Amman. Movement of international staff is restricted and takes place in UN vehicles. Working for the UN in Iraq provides an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential. As this is an international UN Volunteer specialist assignment, the HE will be responsible for arranging volunteer housing. International UN Volunteers receive a volunteer living allowance to sustain a basic, adequate, and safe lifestyle. This allowance varies from one location to another depending on local living costs, but all International UN Volunteers specialists in the same location receive the same allowance. Below is a summary of the Conditions of Service. Allowances The purpose of allowances for international UN Volunteers specialists is to enable the international UN Volunteers to sustain a modest and secure standard of living at the duty station. The allowances are in no way to be understood as compensation, reward, or salary in exchange for volunteer work. Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA): All international UN Volunteers specialists are entitled to a monthly volunteer living allowance of USD 3,746.84 The purpose of this allowance is to cover the basic living costs of the international UN Volunteer. The allowance is to ensure that the volunteer can sustain a basic, adequate, and safe lifestyle. The monthly allowance rate is a fixed rate for the duty station as established by UNV headquarters.