National Consultant (Mapping of ongoing climate programmes in Bangladesh); Dhaka; Bangladesh

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. 

Background:

One in three children in Bangladesh, or a staggering 19 million, five million of whom are under the age five, are threatened by devastating floods, cyclones, droughts, and other environmental disasters. Bangladesh’s Children are particularly affected by the impacts of climate change such as direct physical impacts causing injury or death, as well as psychological effects. Additional subsequent resource crises such as water crisis, health crisis, educational crisis, protection crisis and participation crises threaten their very lives.

Preliminary assessment of secondary information shows that Bangladesh faces one of the highest degrees of vulnerability to climate change impacts, with floods, cyclones, diseases (such as dengue) and droughts being the most prominent and common type of hazards. This low vulnerability is paired with relatively low readiness to deal with the impacts and is reflected in the ND-GAIN index where Bangladesh ranks 160 out of 181 countries.  Average temperatures are  projected to increase by 1.4 °C and 2.4 °C by 2050 and 2100 respectively, resulting in an almost permanent state of heat wave. Also Bangladesh ’s average cyclonic activity (already one of the highest in the world with on average one severe cyclone every three years) is expected to rise with increasing sea-surface warming and sea level rise and significant impact on populations. For example, Cyclone Sidr November 2007 left more than 2.3 million households affected, and 3,500 people dead and more than 55,000 people sustaining physical injuries. Heavier and longer Monsoons also contributes to the increase in floods.

Cyclones and floods damage and destroy houses, essential infrastructure, local ecosystem, embankments, coastline, and people’s livelihoods as well as prose a heightened risks of injuries, deaths and illnesses. A total of 16.5 million of Bangladesh’s children live near rivers or in coastal areas highly exposed to flooding. The climate impacts affect children, esp. girls, access to education and safety (safe sanitation facilities, inadequate emergency shelter, longer water collection routes, etc.). In nutrition, wasting and stunting rate increases after cyclones due to food insecurity

Where crops and vegetables are destroyed and cannot be produced due to water salinity in coastal locations.  Diarrhea, cholera and typhoid are prevalent among children after cyclones and floods, while children are exposed to sexual abuse in cyclone and flood shelters by pedophiles or orphaned when they lose parents in such disasters. Finally, cases are reported of children forced into child marriage due to poverty and poor socio-economic condition as a result of climate change-induced disasters.

The lack of such critical services, deprive children and girls from fully exploiting their full potential and life opportunities.

While exposure to climate (intensity and frequency) gives a first indication on the impact on children, other risk intensifying factors (poverty, inequality, gender, disability, fragility, humanitarian stress, violence, conflict) define a child’s vulnerability to a climate risk. Children are more vulnerable than adults when exposed to climate risks because of their limited coping capacities and means to respond to climatic changes which are further dependent on the availability of resources with their households. Poorer households are more likely to use negative coping mechanisms (e.g. depletion of assets, reduction of food consumption or purchase of lower nutritional value food, less use of medical services and commodities, allowing children / adolescents to drop out of school to contribute to income generation). If not addressed, projections suggest that climate impact can rise extreme poverty in Bangladesh by another 15 per cent by the year 2030.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The purpose of this assignment is to undertake a comprehensive stock-taking of programming on climate change in Bangladesh, relevant to the sectors which are a priority for UNICEF, and to identify gaps and opportunities to strengthen UNICEF’s programming around climate change.

Since Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts, including increased frequency and intensity of natural disasters, rising sea levels, and changes in precipitation patterns, UNICEF Bangladesh aims to strengthen its climate programming to effectively address the needs of children and vulnerable communities in the face of these challenges.

The key objectives of the consultancy is to:

• To conduct a comprehensive mapping of ongoing climate programming in Bangladesh, including initiatives led by government agencies, NGOs, UN agencies, international organizations, and other stakeholders.
• To analyze the effectiveness, coverage, and impact of existing climate programs, particularly in relation to their ability to address the needs of children and vulnerable populations.
• To identify gaps, overlaps, and areas for synergy among existing climate programs in Bangladesh.
• To provide actionable recommendations for UNICEF Bangladesh to enhance its climate programming and maximize its impact on children and vulnerable communities.

Scope of the Work

The selected consultant is expected to work under the overall guidance of the Deputy Representative, and in close collaboration with the Chief of WASH to map existing, significant climate initiatives/programmes in Bangladesh and provide recommendations for UNICEF Bangladesh’s climate-related programming that align with UNICEF’s comparative advantage and UNICEF’s Sustainability and Climate Change Action Plan.

The scope of work includes the following tasks which should be completed within 2 months (12 weeks) of start date:

• Reviewing relevant literature, reports, and documents related to climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts in Bangladesh.
• Conducting key informant interviews with representatives from government agencies, NGOs, UN agencies, academia, and other stakeholders involved in climate programming in Bangladesh.
• Developing a mapping tool to systematically document ongoing climate programs, including their objectives, target populations, geographical coverage, funding sources, and key activities.
• Analyzing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and constraints/threats (SWOC/T analysis) of existing climate programs, with a focus on their relevance to children and vulnerable populations.
• Identifying best practices and lessons learned from existing climate programs that can inform UNICEF Bangladesh’s future interventions.
• Providing clear and actionable recommendations for UNICEF Bangladesh to strengthen its climate programming, including potential areas for collaboration with other stakeholders.

Please download the TOR for more details:

 BRIEF_TOR.pdf

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

• Master’s degree in social sciences/ Public Policy/Public Administration.
• Advanced degree in environmental science, climate change, development studies, or a related field.
• A minimum of 5 years proven experience in conducting research and analysis related to climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts, preferably in Bangladesh or similar contexts.
• Familiarity with the climate change landscape in Bangladesh, including key stakeholders and ongoing initiatives.
• Strong analytical and writing skills, with the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and concisely.
• Experience working with UN agencies or other international organizations is an asset.
• Ability to speak and write both in English and Bangla language.

1. Technical Offer:

Based on the careful study of the TOR and deliverables, provide technical proposal with:

(1) information on the methodology you intend to use to achieve the outputs of the assignment and complete the deliverables.

(2) Please elaborate on the timeline and milestones.

(3) Also indicate references to the similar assignments that you performed & their contacts, and

(4) attach your CV.

2. Financial Offer:

Should be an all-inclusive (lump-sum) fee for all deliverables and complete output of the assignment as described in the TOR. It should include among others consultancy fee, associated administrative cost, all living and travel cost (please see travel plan in the TOR if applicable). UNICEF will not cover any additional cost. Payment schedule that is linked to milestones and completed deliverables should be included.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

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

  To view our competency framework, please visit  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.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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. 

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.