Job Opportunity for Programme Officer (Climate, Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction) at UNICEF in Delhi

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, AN ADVOCATE

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

How can you make a difference?

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children in the world’s thereby ensuring a better future for every child, this is the chance to make a difference.

Job Organizational Context

The Climate, Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction Officer is to be housed in Mumbai Field Office and will reports to the WASH Specialist who is at Level 3 (NOC).

Purpose Of The Job

This position will be in a key strategic position to support UNICEF Mumbai in driving the Climate Adaptation, disaster risk reduction and resilience agenda forward, given the considerable size and complexity in drought and flood prone areas as well as UNICEF MFOs own positioning at State Disaster Management Authority and Department of Environment and Climate Change. The position will support the mainstreaming of DRR, climate and resilience by supporting UNICEF’s sections with focus on WASH, Education, and SPSP with programme design, planning and implementation, data analysis and progress reporting. This includes providing support and developing Government’s and development partner’s capacities across the sectors, disaster preparedness, response and resilience as well as promoting child centered DRR and CC programming.

Major Duties And Responsibilities

Support to program development and planning:

• Ensure that UNICEF engagement in CEED and resilience is well coordinated within and outside UNICEF, and that UNICEF progressively integrates climate change action into office programs.
• Conduct/update situation analysis for the program sector/s for development, design and management of Climate Action and Youth engagement related programs. Research and report on development trends (e.g. climate finance, integration of CEED in WASH flagships, integrating lens of children in State Action Plan for Climate Change) for higher management use to enhance program management, efficiency and delivery of results.
• Contribute to the development/establishment of CCES-DRR program goals, objectives and strategies and results-based planning with WASH-CCES, Education and shock responsive social sector recovery through analysis of adaptations and capacity building needs and areas for intervention and submission of recommendations for priority and goal setting.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes by executing/administering a variety of technical program transactions, preparing materials/documentation and complying with organizational processes and management systems, to support program planning, results-based planning (RBM) and monitoring and evaluating results.

Prepare required documentations/materials to facilitate the program review and approval process.
Program management, monitoring and delivery of results for CCES-DRR:

• Work closely and collaboratively with internal and external colleagues and partners to discuss operational and implementation issues, provide solutions, recommendations and/or alert appropriate officials and stakeholders for higher-level intervention and/or decision.
• Establish climate, environment and risk informed focused partnerships with CSO, Government, UN and development partners.
• Identify how UNICEF programmes can support climate and disaster preparedness funding and financing priorities by establishing partnerships with relevant focal points and potential partners for UNICEF.
• Participate in planning, monitoring and evaluation exercises, program reviews and annual sectoral reviews with SDMA, DDMA’s and other counterparts to disaster preparedness, adaptations, management and response.
• Prepare communication strategies and implementation plans and activities for maximum communication impact and outreach to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances for sustainable results and resilience programmes and emergency interventions.
• Prepare regular/mandated sectoral program/project reports for management, donors and partners to keep them informed of program progress.

Technical and operational support to program implementation:

• Conduct regular program field visits and surveys and/or exchange information with partners/stakeholders to assess progress and provide technical support, take appropriate action to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for resolution. Report on critical issues, bottlenecks and potential problems for timely action to achieve results.
• Provide technical and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners and understanding of UNICEF policies, strategies, processes and best practices on clean and risk informed environment and related issues to support program implementation, operations and delivery of results.

Networking and partnership building:

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with WASH, SDMA and sector government counterparts, UNICEF partners and national stakeholders through active sharing of information and knowledge to enhance program implementation and build capacity of stakeholders to deliver concrete and sustainable results.
• Draft communication and information materials for MFO program advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances and support fund raising for CCES and DRR.
• Research information on potential donors and prepare resource mobilization materials and briefs for fund raising and partnership development purposes.
• Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building:
• Support communication and policy advocacy regarding climate change, environmental degradation and child rights
• Assist WASH Specialist of MFO with oversight of research and ensure results are available for use in knowledge products
• Promote critical thinking, innovative approaches and good practices for sustainable CEED and resilience programme initiatives through advocacy and technical advisory services.
• Keep abreast, research, benchmark, introduce and implement best and cutting-edge practices on climate risk monitoring/management and information systems. Institutionalize and disseminate best practices and knowledge learned.
• Contribute to the development of policies and procedures and introduce innovation and best practices to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programmes and projects.
• Participate as resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders.

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

Education

A University Degree in Social Work, Water Supply and Sanitation, Disaster Management, Environment- Climate Change or other Social Science field is required.

Work Experience

A minimum of 2 years of progressive professional experience in social development planning and management in Water Resource Management or Climate. Experience of Youth Engagement on climate action and / other related areas at state/national level will be an asset. Relevant experience in WASH-DRR and Environmental Sustainability and related areas, programme / project development and management in a UN System agency or organization will be an asset.
Experience in emergency response will be an asset.

Languages

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values 

Competency Areas

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework 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.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

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 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.

UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

Remarks

• This position is based in Mumbai (India).
• Selected applicant will have a 364 days Temporary Appointment contract.
• UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited / recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/.
• UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.
• UNICEF does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process including application, interview, meeting, traveling, processing, training etc. UNICEF is a non-smoking working environment.