Climate and Environment Specialist

UNICEF BTN organization mission TBD

Bhutan, a mountainous and landlocked country, is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to its unique geographical and environmental characteristics. The country faces challenges such as floods and landslides due to the melting of glaciers, forest fires and flashfloods during monsoon from changing weather patterns. Climate change significantly affects Bhutan’s agricultural sector, which is the primary livelihood source for about 80 per cent of the population. Despite these challenges, Bhutan has taken proactive steps to address the impacts of climate change. The country’s constitution emphasizes environmental protection, with specific articles mandating the preservation of natural resources and biodiversity. Bhutan’s Parliament has enacted laws to safeguard the environment, with a focus on forest cover and sustainable practice. The government has also implemented measures to reduce its carbon footprint, promote green practices, and enhance environmental sustainability. Bhutan’s commitment to addressing climate change is evident through its national policies, participation in international frameworks like the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and efforts to increase carbon sequestration.

In alignment with our commitment to protect children and young people worldwide, UNICEF has launched Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (SCAP) 2023 – 2030. The SCAP prioritizes urgent climate action through systematic change in partnership with public and private sectors to prioritize the needs of children and young people and build their resilience to the climate crises. The SCAP strives to mainstream sustainability and climate action both internally and externally, through protecting the lives, health and well-being of children and their communities; empowering children with developmental opportunities and skills; and reducing emissions and the environmental footprint within UNICEF.

Climate action is a priority for UNICEF. Together with our partners, UNICEF is working towards making the essential social services –water, healthcare, education, protection, and nutrition – more resilient to the effects of climate change. UNICEF aims to work with communities to support mitigation and adaptation strategies, to reduce /address the effects of climate change. UNICEF aims to equip children and young people with the required knowledge and skills needed to enable them to play a positive role in addressing the effects of climate change.

UNICEF Bhutan works with the Royal Government of Bhutan in advancing the wellbeing of children particularly in the areas of health, education, health, water, sanitation and hygiene, child protection, social protection, adolescent development and participation. In collaboration with the government, UNICEF has prioritized climate action in the UNICEF Country Programme Document (CPD) 2024-28. To accelerate the implementation of child-sensitive climate initiatives, UNICEF is seeking the services of a National UNV climate Specialist to support the Bhutan country office.

Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Representative and in coordination with the Climate Focal Person, the national UNV Specialist will undertake following activities:

Programme Development and Strategic Integration
– Coordinate UNICEF’s climate, energy, and environment efforts across all programmes to ensure the integration of climate action into core office initiatives.
– Provide strategic support to UNICEF sections (Health, WASH, Education, Nutrition, and Operations) on climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience planning and programming.
– Identify UNICEF’s niche in addressing climate impacts on children, raising awareness, and designing programmes that protect child rights and promote risk-informed programming.
– Ensure cross-sectoral synergies across key areas (Health, Nutrition, WASH, Child Protection, Education) to enhance the impact of climate programming on children.
– Experience of leading/engagement in UNICEF’s advocacy in national policy dialogues on climate, focusing on NAPs (National Adoption Plans), NDCs (Nationally determined contributions), and national climate strategies.

Programme Coordination and Management
– Coordinate and manage the Climate and Environment programme, ensuring effective task-oriented functioning of the Climate and Environment working group.
– Provide technical and operational support throughout programme stages, ensuring climate, energy, and environment initiatives align with UNICEF’s objectives and government priorities.
– Ensure well-coordinated engagement between UNICEF and government priorities in climate related initiatives.

Advocacy and Policy Engagement
– Provide technical guidance to government officials, private sectors, and civil society on child-sensitive climate policies.
– Support youth climate advocacy initiatives through networks like Scout Volunteers and Young Volunteers in Action including promoting green skills and tangible climate actions at scale.

Data Collection and Evidence-Based Programming
– Coordinate the collection of data supporting climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and building climate resilience in UNICEF thematic areas.
– Provide current data and analysis to inform climate-adapted social services and resilient infrastructure planning.

Partnerships and Resource Mobilization
– Identify strategic partners for addressing the impact of climate change on children and enhance collaboration with government and international stakeholders.
– Develop and manage climate and environment related donor proposals, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s strategic plans and national priorities.
– Participate in regional and global partnerships, ensuring UNICEF’s priorities are integrated into planning and agenda setting for climate resilience and energy programming.

Knowledge Management and Capacity Building
– Strengthen internal capacities and lead the development of learning and capacity-building plans for BhCo on climate change and disaster risk reduction.
– Develop knowledge products and policy briefs on climate change, environmental issues, and child well-being, and ensure the internal coordination of knowledge management.

Monitoring and Evaluation
– Participate in programme reviews, sectoral evaluations, and monitoring exercises with government counterparts, ensuring compliance with programme targets and donor commitments.
– Actively monitor progress through field visits and assessments, addressing challenges and documenting lessons learned.
– Produce sectoral progress reports for management and donors, ensuring alignment with UNICEF and government climate objectives.
– Support development of Human Interest Stories related to climate and environment.

Innovation and Strategic Research
– Track and analyze international and regional climate policy updates, preparing policy briefs and recommendations for UNICEF’s engagement in climate-related initiatives.