This role will lead guidance for policies, programmes, and activities, and general support for the integration and mainstreaming of climate action and sustainability in UNICEF’s Eastern and Southern Africa Region (ESAR), as well as serve as a leading global expert on key CEED (Climate, environment, energy and Disaster Risk Reduction/ DRR) areas. The position will report to the Deputy Regional Director for the ESAR region with a ‘dotted-line’ to the Associate Director for Sustainability and Climate Action in New York HQ.

This Position’s Responsibilities Are Twofold

Provide regional leadership of the Sustainability and Climate Action plan, including for:

• Country Office Implementation of the foundational elements (i.e., data and analysis, advocacy strategy, development of country strategy, implementation of ESS and greening initiatives, staff training)
• Development and implementation of sustainability and climate as part of all country programmes and advocacy in the region
• Design and Implementation of suitable multi-country projects in areas of acceleration in the region
• Development of country and regional evidence, advocacy & partnerships

Provide Global technical expertise on one (or more) of the following key sectors:

• Climate Finance
• Environmental Finance (GEF, etc.)
• Renewable Energy
• Data and Evidence generation

Key Functions And Accountabilities

• Regional Sustainability and Climate Leadership
• Partnership Development
• Integration of Sustainability & Climate in Country Programs
• Technical Support and Multi-Country Projects

Role

In addition, the role would be expected to be a Global technical specialist on one (or more) of the following key sectors:

• Climate Finance: Lead the development of a ‘catalytic’ package designed to unlock climate finance opportunities for UNICEF and governments with whom UNICEF works. This will include feasibility studies and assessments to develop proposals for climate finance; identifying most promising opportunities for financing climate-resilient and accessible Health, Education and WASH services; capacity building for country offices to develop proposals and secure the large-scale funding needed to provide climate-resilient social services for children and young people.
• Environmental and Biodiversity Finance: Lead the establishment of partnerships with organizations focused upon environmental and biodiversity conservation and sustainability initiatives; oversee the execution of funded projects, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s sustainability and climate action plan; lead the measurement of the environmental and social impact of projects, focusing on child well-being and sustainable development.
• Renewable Energy: Provide technical expertise in renewable energy solutions to UNICEF RO’s and CO’s and partners, with a focus on child-centric approaches; Develop renewable energy projects that ensure the critical social service sectors and humanitarian aid that children need to survive and thrive are transformed towards sustainable energy; Support renewable energy capacity building and awareness among UNICEF staff.
• Data and Evidence Generation: Conduct key studies on climate change impacts on children, environmental hazards, and disaster risk reduction strategies; Gather and analyze global and region-specific data to inform evidence-based policy recommendations; Use data-driven insights to advocate for policies and interventions that prioritize child well-being in climate, energy, and environmental initiatives.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in climate change, environmental science, engineering, disaster management, International Development, International Relations, Government, Public Administration, Public Policy, Social Policy or other relevant disciplines is required.
• A minimum of 10 of relevant professional experience in areas related to sustainability, international development, disaster management, environmental issues, public policy, social policy, and children’s health and wellbeing is required.
• Specific experience in policy/advocacy/programming, implementation, monitoring, review and evaluation related to climate change, environment or disaster risk reduction is required preferably in a developing country context.
• In-depth knowledge on climate, environment, and DRR (CEED) impacts, assessments, and adaptation solutions required as well as at least one of the Global technical specialist sectors listed above (Climate Finance; Environmental Finance; Monitoring and Evaluation; Renewable Energy; Data and Evidence generation).
• Familiarity with children’s rights in the context of climate change, environmental degradation and disaster risk reduction required.
• Expertise in staff capacity building, developing tools, and providing training, particularly as part of a global/regional role in support of other country offices will be considered an asset.
• Experience working on CEED issues within UNICEF or other international development agencies is considered an asset.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.