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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, Care  

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

Disasters, climate change, and environmental degradation present significant and escalating threats to the well-being of children globally. In order to protect the lives, health and well-being of children and strengthen the resilience and capacity of their communities to adapt essential social services to a changing climate, more frequent/extreme disasters and a degrading environment, a comprehensive child-inclusive subnational risk assessment along with data systems and policies that work across development and disaster management to identify and prioritize the most vulnerable children and services are needed. This data and analysis can be used to inform multiple purposes: disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, preparedness planning, and wider development agendas.

The availability of coherent, accessible, and updated information is considered a priority to inform decision makers and promote processes of climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and more sustained and resilient development. Those efforts should be based on a shared analysis of risks, including multiple shocks and stresses threats, both natural and man-made threats, and using an integrated, multi-sectoral approach. This will facilitate planning and prioritization of risk areas and a better understanding of the underlying causes of increased risk levels.

Eswatini faces significant challenges from climate change, including more frequent and intense droughts, floods, and extreme weather events. The country’s reliance on rain-fed agriculture makes it particularly sensitive to shifts in rainfall patterns, while water scarcity in the drier lowveld regions exacerbates these vulnerabilities. Hydrological disasters, such as prolonged droughts, erratic rainfall, and severe storms, have led to compromised agricultural productivity, directly affecting food security and economic stability. Given that a large portion of the population depends on agriculture for both employment and subsistence, these climate-related challenges threaten livelihoods and the overall resilience of communities across the country. Eswatini is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to a combination of political, geographic, and social factors, ranking 137th out of 181 countries in the 2020 ND-GAIN Index. A lower ranking indicates a country’s greater vulnerability, while a higher score reflects greater preparedness to improve resilience. In recent years, Eswatini has experienced significant fluctuations in rainfall patterns, along with recurring droughts. These changes are expected to increasingly threaten agricultural production, particularly for smallholder farmers and rural communities. Land degradation and soil erosion, intensified by heavy rains, further heighten the vulnerability of the over 70% of the population that depends on agriculture for their livelihood. Decreased precipitation and prolonged drought periods are also anticipated to negatively impact the agricultural and livestock sectors. Drought risk is a particularly pressing concern. The aftermath of severe droughts has left 25% of the population vulnerable and currently experiencing food and water insecurity, with many households still dependent on welfare and social safety nets for survival. As a result, families face loss of livelihoods, children face disruption of education and limited access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene, health and nutrition, and child protection services. There is also a greater risk of exploitation, abuse, violence, and family separation.
The CCRI-DRM is a composite index that helps to understand and measure the likelihood that climate, environmental and other types of shocks and stresses lead to the erosion of development progress, the deepening of deprivations, and humanitarian crisis that affect children and vulnerable households and groups. It seeks to identify which areas are at risk of deepening child deprivations and humanitarian situations affecting children because of their exposure to these shocks and stresses, and to understand the underlying factors that could contribute to these risks. Emphasis will be placed on the use of the CCRI-DRM assessment model and the interactive platform, providing direct technical assistance to government institutions to include child sensitive climate and disaster risk data and analysis in their planning and programming procedures. The overall objectives of the CCRI-DRM are to support the establishment of a national-led, multistakeholder framework on the nexus between children’s climate and disaster risks and the development of their full potential in Eswatini. The CCRI-DRM subnational assessment is envisaged to capture the following components:
• A subnational Children’s Climate Risk Index - Disaster Risk Model for Eswatini;
• An interactive platform making the CCRI-DRM model and underlying indicator data, as well as other relevant indicators open source and publicly accessible.
• A multi-stakeholder technical platform guiding the production and update of the CCRI-DRM and the analysis and use of its’ results.
• A CCRI-DRM analytical report to support the alignment and coordination of planning and programming efforts of national actors with informed by identified child vulnerabilities and risks from climate, environmental and other shocks and stresses and climate changes.
• The promotion and facilitation of the use of evidence on climate, environmental and disaster risks to support climate change mitigation and adaptation, emergency preparedness and response, disaster risk reduction, resilient development.
The purpose of this assignment is for a consultant to support UNICEF and the Government of Eswatini in developing the Eswatini Children’s Climate Risk Index -Disaster Risk Model (CCRI-DRM) at sub-national level. For this assignment, the consultant will work with UNICEF and relevant government and non-government partners to identify, compile and analyze existing data sources and platforms to capture 1) climate and disaster risk and 2) vulnerability, especially for children, families, and their communities to these risks at the national and regional/sub-regional level. Subsequently, an interactive open-source visualization platform presenting the subnational risk model and underlying indicators data will be embedded or developed with support from UNICEF that will assist with prioritization and planning for risk mitigation and adaptation – as well as inform preparedness and investment priorities.

Scope of Work:

The initiative will support Eswatini to respond to the need for an integrated child-sensitive disaster risk information system and platform for governmental institutions at national and subnational levels. The CCRI-DRM platform will bring together data from different sources that already exist across various institutions and subsequently provide humanitarian and development partners up-to-date, context-specific information at subnational level on children’s vulnerabilities, including those related to health, education, water, sanitation and hygiene, child protection and social protection, and their exposure to climate, environmental and other natural and anthropogenic hazards, shocks and stresses and disasters. This will allow for the development of tailored preparedness, mitigation, and response mechanisms informed by subnational risk data and analysis.

In the specific:

• The consultant will support the development and implementation of the Eswatini subnational CCRI-DRM assessment and interactive platform, based on the existing NDMA’s inform risk model and from building stakeholder arrangements, conceptual design, consolidation of the CCRI-DRM indicator data through to the construction of index, including series of consultations and trainings of key national partners. S/he will work under the general guidance and supervision of the Chief of Child Survival and Development (CSD)
• and engage and work closely with UNICEF programme officers and Government and Non-Government partners to carry out the following specific tasks:
• Work with a multi-stakeholder Technical Working Group (TWG) to guide and facilitate the development of the CCRI-DRM, while also supporting a lead (or co-leads) in engaging and facilitating inputs of other relevant line ministries, institutions, and partners. This may among others include supporting the lead (or co-leads) and Technical Working Group with the development of a concept note, ToR and work plan, meeting agendas, data sharing agreements.
• Conduct a participatory diagnosis of national capacities to provide reliable, objective, timely and sustainable information to feed the CCRI-DRM model and interactive platform.
• Conduct research and review existing tools and sources of shocks and stresses, exposure and vulnerability data and information and work with respective Government and Non-Government partners to identify existing risk factors and available indicators and data sources for the construction of the subnational CCRI-DRM model.
• Facilitate and support the development of the theoretical framework of the country’s subnational CCRI_DRM model and the establishment of indicators and data sources, based on that of the global Children’s Climate Risk Index in consultation with the TWG and relevant other stakeholders.
• Facilitate and support the development and implementation of the first version of the Eswatini subnational CCRI-DRM model in close collaboration with the TWG, including collection, compilation and cleaning of secondary indicator data; establishing data sharing mechanisms, procedures and tools; constructing the model indices and documenting metadata; managing a review and validation process with the TWG and other stakeholders and making necessary revisions to the model; preparing documentation of the model and it’s results; and presenting and explaining the model and results to TWG and associated stakeholders.
• Support complementary sectoral analysis to support sector decision making.
• Work in close collaboration with the TWG and UNICEF throughout the process and deliver training so they are able to maintain the model and interactive platform and make updates and adjustments in the future. 

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

Masters

Degree in Social Sciences, Data Science, Statistics, Public Policy, Development, or related degree areas of work. In lieu of an advanced degree, a bachelor’s degree may be accepted in combination with 8 years of relevant experience.

• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience related to the development of information systems, management and analysis of quantitative data.
• Experience in the statistical systems, data exchange and information sharing mechanisms/structures in Eswatini; with this experience related to climate and disaster risk management areas a strong asset.
• Knowledge of national and local governance and climate change and disaster risk management, and of the systems in place to respond to risk and vulnerability.
• Experience of working with government partners including relevant line Ministries and stakeholders including UN agencies.
• Experience in facilitating inter-institutional working groups and coordination mechanisms with multiple members and associated stakeholders.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel.
• Analysis skills and quantitative and qualitative synthesis of information.
• Experience in researching and preparing written analytical reports in an accurate, concise, and timely manner.
• Experience in organization, facilitation, systematization, and presentation of results.
• Skills for facilitating and managing training processes.
• Excellent oral and written English skills.
• Experience working with open-source GIS technology is an asset.
• Excellent personal and professional communication and presentation skills.
• Strong analytical and communications skills, and a proven ability to draft a wide range of documentation (correspondence, briefing and concept notes, talking points etc.).
• Proven advocacy, analytical and writing skills.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment.

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 committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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.