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The Europe and Central Asia region is vulnerable to climate change and has experienced an average warming of 1°C since historical records began, and in recent years has seen an increased occurrence of extreme weather events and natural hazards. Climate change projections predict a warming of 3°C by 2050s and of 5°C by the end of the century, with sub-regions predicted to become even warmer.

The availability of coherent, accessible, and updated information is considered a priority to inform decision makers and promote processes of climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and more sustained and resilient development. Those efforts should be based on a shared analysis of risks, including multiple shocks and stress threats, both natural and man-made threats, and the use of an integrated, multi-sectoral approach. This will facilitate planning and prioritization of risk areas and better understanding of the underlying causes of increased risk levels.

According to the National Children’s Climate Risk Index (CCRI), Turkmenistan has a one of the high-risk levels in Central Asia. Turkmenistan also has the high risk for droughts in the region of Europe and Central Asia region (ECAR). In addition, it is highly exposed to a range of other climate hazards, including heatwaves, water scarcity, environmental and land degradation, air pollution and etc.  According to the Climate Risk Index, 1.6 million children in Turkmenistan are at high risk of climate change, that is the highest in ECAR (calculated as a combination of shocks and child vulnerability).

UNICEF is seeking a dedicated, proactive consultant to work closely with UNICEF country team, government and non-government partners to develop a theoretical framework for the CCRI-DRM model, facilitating the identification of indicator data sets and the development of the CCRI-DRM index indicators and model with government line ministries, and the preparation recommendations to develop the nationally focused CCRI-DRM model, tools, procedures, and documentations for the development of the CCRI-DRM.

Purpose of Consultancy

With that, the overall purpose of the assignment will be as follows:

The initiative will support Turkmenistan to respond to the need for an integrated child-sensitive disaster risk information system and platform for governmental institutions at national and subnational levels. The CCRI-DRM platform will bring together data from different sources that already exist across various institutions and subsequently provide humanitarian and development partners up-to-date, context-specific information at subnational level on children’s vulnerabilities, including those related to health, education, water, sanitation and hygiene, child protection and social protection, and their exposure to climate, environmental and other natural and anthropogenic hazards, shocks and stresses and disasters. This will allow for the development of tailored preparedness, mitigation, and response mechanisms informed by subnational risk data and analysis.  The overall objectives of the CCRI-DRM are to support the establishment of a national-led, multistakeholder framework on the nexus between children’s climate and disaster risks and the development of their full potential in Turkmenistan.

Scope of Work:

Under the supervision of Emergency Officer and expertise, provided by the Regional Office, the International Consultant will:

• Support country emergency and DRR readiness through the desk analysis of the existing emergency and DRR legal and regulatory framework identifying the gaps and developing recommendations;
• Facilitate the initial workshop conducted by the HQ experts to introduce the CCRI/DRM concept, operational and functional advantages by showcasing the regional and international experience;
• Facilitate consultations with the key national stakeholders to collect the data and agree on the initial composition of the national CCRI/DRM model;
• Lead the design and development of the national model of Children’s Climate Risk Index – Disaster Risk Model for Turkmenistan;
• Modelling the initial interactive platform of the national CCRI-DRM and underlying indicator data, as well as selection of relevant indicators;
• Develop a CCRI-DRM analytical report to support the alignment and coordination of planning and programming efforts of national actors with identified child vulnerabilities and risks from climate, environmental and other shocks and stresses and climate changes;
• Develop the Methodology to collect and integrate the relevant national data and the ways of incorporation into the national CCRI/DRM model;
• Promotion and facilitation of use of evidence on climate, environmental and disaster risks to support climate change mitigation and adaptation, emergency preparedness and response, disaster risk reduction, resilient development;
• Introduction, piloting and operationalization of the national model of CCRI/DRM;
• Capacity development sessions for the key national stakeholders to familiarize with operational and functional modalities of the national CCRI/DRM model.
• Development of Final Report complemented by all developed training materials and interim reports.

The duration of the consultancy is 85 days. The assignment should be carried out in the period of November 20, 2024 – December 12, 2025, with two in-country visits.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

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UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Remarks: 

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

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.