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, Results
UNICEF works to protect the rights of every child in Sri Lanka. Our goal is to ensure that all of our children survive, thrive and fulfill their vast potential.
In a world that is rapidly changing, children are faced with complex challenges and unprecedented opportunities. UNICEF’s programs are designed to reach and benefit all children so that they can withstand these challenges, leverage these opportunities and be the drivers of their own destiny.
UNICEF is committed to creating a country in which every child is free to learn, play and grow. Our programs work towards providing all children in Sri Lanka with shelter, nutrition, protection and education, wherever they may be. We strive to create communities in which children can live with dignity and hope, free from discrimination, violence and fear.
We make every effort to create and maintain environments that will enable and empower children to be the very best that they can be.
In this way, all children will not only benefit from economic and social growth but will become the driving force behind sustainable national development.
For over 50 years, with the help of our vast network of partners, UNICEF has made significant strides in raising health, education and protection standards for children in Sri Lanka. From achieving Universal Child Immunization (1989) to establishing The National Child Protection Authority (1998) to providing decades of crucial relief in the wake of devastating conflict and natural disaster, UNICEF has played a pivotal role in creating an environment in which children have the best chance to survive and thrive.
Yet, many challenges still exist, especially for the most vulnerable. Some national and regional bodies require resources and reinvigoration. Individuals and institutions need to be strengthened, coordinated and aligned with global standards so that children enjoy support in their schools, communities and homes to help them overcome challenges and unleash their full potential into the world.
Due to our long-standing reputation as an experienced, neutral and collaborative partner, UNICEF is ideally suited to drive these efforts. Our history of success in Sri Lanka is built on our ability to tap into a wide network of national and international partners which, in turn, is bolstered by our own far-reaching presence in the field. In working closely with these government, non-government and private entities, UNICEF takes a leadership role, drawing on our technical expertise to accurately assess existing challenges and develop, execute and coordinate solutions that are relevant and scalable on the ground. For more information about UNICEF Sri Lanka and its work visit: http://www.unicef.org/srilanka
How can you make a difference?
Purpose /Background:
Climate change is a global risk that is felt at both local and individual levels. Being an island, Sri Lanka continues to be highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and children’s learning continues to be disrupted by stronger and frequent monsoons, worsening droughts and regular widespread floods and landslides. In light of these circumstances, a climate resilient education system is critical to promoting quality learning in Sri Lanka.
Building on the Ministry of Education’s (MoE) work on Comprehensive School Safety, UNICEF is supporting the MoE on strengthening the education system to advance climate resilience, through several key activities planned for 2025. One key action is the development of a national Climate Resilient Education Framework. This framework would underline the key priorities to be addressed along with required actions to transform many aspects of the education,including the curriculum, teacher education, greening school spaces, energy reduction, waste management etc. In collaboration with other government stakeholders and development partners, this work aims to improve equity by providing a sustainable solution for the education system to ensure safe, resilient, accessible and green facilities that enhance quality learning in schools.
Other key activities include exploring and testing school-based climate resilience activities. These school-based activities would prepare principals, teachers, learners, parents, and communities for a climate smart future through awareness-raising, capacity development, participation in climate-smart teaching and learning activities, promoting greening school activities and environment, strengthening school plans and policies to be climate resilient, etc.
This Terms of Reference seeks a national consultant to work for UNICEF Sri Lanka in close support of the Ministry of Education and other partners to provide technical support that helps advance: 1) developing the Climate Resilient Education Framework and 2) designing, testing, monitoring and documenting the pilot programme on Climate Smart Schools to inform further improvements to the Framework.
Activities and Tasks
Under the overall guidance of the Chief of Education, the National Consultant will work with and report to the Education officer on the following activities:
1. Develop a detailed work plan and timeline and submit them to UNICEF for review and finalize based on UNICEF’s feedback
2. Participate in meetings and consultations with the MoE, including Steering Committee on Climate Resilient Education meetings, document key discussions and follow-up on action items.
3. Technically lead the development and drafting of a costed Climate Resilient Education Framework, and defined roles and responsibilities, through consultative workshops with key stakeholders in the education sector, considering feedback and recommendations from an UNICEF Regional International Consultant working on education and climate action.
4. Support piloting the “Climate Smart School’ programme through 1) Mapping the existing teaching-learning materials and identify materials that could be contextualized and used for the pilot programme in schools and 2) developing an orientation package for education officials, principals, teachers and parents to sensitize and create awareness among the school community to support the programme.
5. In consultation with the MoE and UNICEF, design a pilot programme on climate-smart schools for schoolbased interventions with an aim to scale up to national level, targeting each 10 schools in five provinces: Western, Northwestern, North Central, Eastern and Uva provinces.
6. Develop baseline and endline assessment tools for the pilot programme, conduct the assessments, and submit separate reports for the baseline and endline assessments.
7. Develop a monitoring framework with key indicators and tools for the pilot programme and provide guidance to the MoE officials on executing the monitoring process.
8. Incorporate comments on draft documents and submit final report of the assignment including the pilot programme, documenting the results, lessons learnt, and recommendations. The final report needs to include a plan for scaling up the Climate Smart School programme across all schools, along with a comprehensive investment plan outlining investment requirement, funding strategy, risk management and sustainability approach.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum Qualifications required:
• Masters - An advanced university degree with experience in Climate Science, Disaster Risk Management, International Relations, Education, Environmental Science/Policy, Social Policy, Economics, or a field related to climate and disaster risk reduction. Two years of additional relevant work experience that was gained after obtaining a bachelor’s degree may be accepted in lieu of advanced university degree
Experience/ Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:
Years of experience:
- A minimum of 4 years of relevant work experience in Education, preferably with experience working on curriculum, teaching, and learning material, learning assessment or education policy.
- Relevant experience and knowledge on climate action and environmental policy is an asset.
- Relevant experience in an UN system agency or organization is an asset.
Skills:
- Good knowledge of education and climate, curriculum, pedagogy, learning assessment etc.
- Proven experience in conceptualizing and developing policy framework and action plans through consultation.
- Communication and interpersonal skills to steer and facilitate discussions.
- Knowledge and experience in behavior change communication related work would be an advantage.
- Proven experience in programme design, monitoring, and evaluation.
- Excellent quantitative and qualitative data analysis skills.
- Experience with the ethics of evidence generation; familiarity with ethical safeguards.
Languages:
- Excellent language skills in English and either Sinhala or Tamil.
How to apply:
Qualified candidates are requested to submit a resume and other relevant documents
Please complete your profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system. https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_consultancy_assignments.html
Please indicate your ability, availability and fee/rate in LKR to undertake the terms of reference above. (Indicate an all-inclusive fee (including lump sum travel, IT accessories, Internet and subsistence costs, as applicable) to undertake the tasks in the Terms of reference. Office 365 license will be provided by UNICEF, as applicable)
Applications submitted without a fee/rate will not be considered
Duration - July 2025 - June 2026 (100 days)
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.
If you think this position might be for you, please take the time to review our Country Office Mutual Agreements before you apply.
If you believe you can be a team member that can uphold these everyday, then we look forward to receiving and reviewing your application.
