Norwegian Capacity
The main purpose of this assignment is to strengthen capacities of the UNICEF WCA Regional Office and its partners in scaling up its regional strategy of the WCA region by strengthening our Response, Recovery, Resilience and Sustainability efforts while scaling up low-carbon, resilience building and development. The assignment is designed to align with UNICEF’s global strategy on energy and environment as well as the reimagine leading to resilient and sustainable solutions and systems to vulnerable communities, households and children.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this assignment is to contribute to scaling up renewable energy usage and low-carbon resilience building and development for children and the communities they live in. The specific objectives of the assignment are to:
• Strengthen and provide technical support to sector programmes for the scaling up renewable energy usage and low carbon resilience building and adaptation for vulnerable communities within the region through supporting multi-sectoral programme development, tools and guidance
• Strengthen UNICEFs renewable energy and low carbon development programming across the sectors of WASH, Health and Education in the region and enhance collaboration with partners in order to leverage results for children.
Responsibilities and management arrangement
Under the direction of the Climate Change Specialist, and in close coordination with other members and technical specialists of the WASH Team and other sections as appropriate, responsible for / support the development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of renewable energy usage and lowcarbon development programming.
INDICATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS
1. Support the scaling up renewable energy usage and low carbon resilience building, climate mitigation and adaptation activities in the region
– Support the scaling up sustainable energy solutions for basic service delivery
– Identify targeted initiatives which UNICEF will further develop into flagship multi-country programmes in order to deliver results at scale in support of it cooperate initiatives
– Responsible for supporting and coordinating activities on renewable energy usage and low carbon resilience building, climate mitigation and adaptation, including with other NORCAP climate experts and UNICEF stakeholders in the region.
– Provide technical guidance and support to UNICEF RO sections and COs strategic Renewable and Sustainable Energy Programming and projects.
– Ensure that UNICEF engagement in the area of renewable and sustainable energy programming is well coordinated within and outside UNICEF and are progressively integrated UNICEF country programmes.
– Support regional lesson learning activities and good practices whilst ensure linkages/ knowledge exchange with regional and global stakeholders.
– Ensure that the interventions of UNICEF are well aligned with government strategies and planning, and other country-level Plans and strategies for energy access
2. Climate Finance, partnerships and resource mobilization and provide linkages to regional and global efforts
– Support fundraising on climate change mitigation and adaptation and service delivery through Renewable Energy use and low carbon approaches and climate resilience in line with UNICEFs key thematic areas.
– Support pursuits on climate finance (global climate funds, bilateral, private sector) for UNICEF through identifications of opportunities and establishing partnerships with relevant focal points and partners.
– Work closely with financial institutions to support access to green funding for UNICEF programmes
– Undertake economic and financial analysis on proposed investments for inclusion in concept notes and proposals in order to support partnerships and resource mobilization efforts in renewable energy.
– Support concept note and proposal development for fundraising for climate change adaptation and mitigation as needed.
3*. Evidence, analysis, policy advocacy and positioning of UNICEF***
– Build on existing NORCAP initiatives on climate services and renewable energy to support data needs for UNICEFs thematic priorities and child focus on climate services related to WASH, health, nutrition, education, child protection and disaster risk reduction.
– Support and co-ordinate activities on the renewable energy and energy efficiency market in the region – Support UNICEF on evidence generation, policy advocacy and positioning in the areas of renewable and sustainable energy with governments, private sector and financing institutions
– Work with other agencies on the development and interpretation and presentation of child focused Renewable and Sustainable Energy models and systems
4. Communication, Collaboration, Networking and Partnership
– Collaborate with Renewable Energy Institutions such as IRENA and other regional energy centers in order to build up renewable energy knowledge and partnerships within the region.
– Contribute to UNICEF knowledge management regarding renewable energy and low carbon development approaches.
– Exchange information and experience, and identify new strategies and courses of action to accelerate the achievement of UNICEF’s renewable energy and low carbon development programme goals and objectives;
– Develop and deliver presentations for energy forums as requested including with partners such as UNEP, UNDP and regional institutions and networks as well as the private and public sectors.
– Conduct field visits where possible to collect data and provide technical support on program design and implementation.
5. Promotion of UNICEF’s Global Goals
Promote UNICEF’s goals through advocacy and policy dialogue, active engagement in communication, networking and participation, leveraging the strength of UNICEF’s mission, goals and programmes with reference to the UNICEF’s overall Climate Energy and Environment Response.
KEY EXPECTED RESULTS
1. Timely and accurate technical assistance is provided to Regional Office Sections and Country Offices to carry out renewable energy and low carbon development programme design, delivery evaluation and reporting in compliance with the established guidelines and procedures.
2. Using available related renewable energy and low carbon development data to support programme development and community resilience
3. Operational research on renewable energy and low carbon development data scaling-up and strengthening;
4. Promotion of knowledge management through drafting/finalizing key renewable energy and low carbon development related program good practices, lessons learned, and facilitating knowledge/information exchange within the region.
5. Renewable energy and low carbon development programmes are effectively promoted and are coherent and add value to programme management processes through results-based management in the Region.
6. Effective communication and networking at renewable energy and low carbon development meetings are achieved through partnership and collaboration with other UN agencies, donors and NGOs. This will be achieved through exchanges of practical experiences, new conceptual developments, advocacy and sectoral leadership.
7. The expert will be available for short-term missions, trips or other activities requested by NORCAP for up to 10% of the expert’s time during the contract period and in coordination with her/his manager to avoid the disruption of ongoing activities.
TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
– An advanced degree or higher qualification in climatology, geology or earth sciences, climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, engineering, social and economic development, international cooperation or environmental sciences as well as additional project/financial management designations or a related field.
– 7 years of professional work experience in the UN or other international development organizations, national governments or the private sector.
– Knowledge and proven analytical skills and experience in experience in renewable Energy / energy efficiency, low carbon development, impact investment, project development, drafting, implementation, monitoring, reporting and verification.
– Practical working experiences with planning, modelling, analysing and incorporating energy, requirements in at least one of the UNICEF sectors including WASH, education public health or other relevant areas.
– Background/familiarity to approaches for development, implementation and management of renewable Energy / energy efficiency and low carbon development approaches to disaster risk management and reduction, resilience building, education, health and WASH
– A basic understanding of UNICEF’s core commitments to children in humanitarian action, humanitarian principles, standards, coordination mechanisms (including the WASH cluster), gender and diversity aspects of humanitarian work and / or a willingness to learn these areas via the Humanitarian Learning Pathways.
– Extensive knowledge of financial, regulatory and/or policy frameworks, renewable energy financial management (including community involvement and capacity issues)
– Ability to apply knowledge from contemporary research in the field of energy, and translate this into humanitarian settings
– Fluency in English (verbal and written). Good written and spoken skills in French will be an important asset.
PERSONAL SKILLS AND QUALITIES
Applicants must be able to demonstrate:
– Strong levels of self-awareness and ability to self-manage and operate safely and securely in rapidly changing emergency contexts.
– Personal drive for results.
– Ability to work effectively in a diverse and multi-cultural team to achieve goals.
– Ability to develop new and nurture existing internal and external networks, partnerships and relationships which deliver results.
– Ability to communicate clearly, confidently and persuasively, both orally and in writing.
– Ability to analyse information, solve problems and make decisions in complex, challenging and rapidly evolving environments.
– Strategic thinking
– The highest levels of personal integrity and commitment to adhering to required standards of conduct and behaviour.
– A willingness and commitment to serve the children and their communities affected by disasters in the face of potential hardship and personal sacrifice.
How to apply
Please apply :