National Consultant: Support to the Formulation of a WASH National Climate Adaptation Plan in Afghanistan

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture., coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, protection.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbkJiMmvKqk

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

Scope of Work:

The local consultant will provide both technical and logistical support to the formulation of Afghanistan’s WASH National Adaptation Plan (WASH-NAP), ensuring that field insights, stakeholder perspectives, and national evidence are integrated into a cohesive and prioritized action plan. The consultant’s contributions will span five interconnected tasks:

1.  Desk Review of Climate-WASH Evidence and Policies. The objective of this task is to consolidate the available national evidence on climate risks, WASH system vulnerabilities, and existing adaptation frameworks to avoid duplication and provide a clear analytical foundation for the WASH-NAP. Review and synthesize key climate and WASH policy documents, including, including: National Climate Risk Assessment for WASH, Basin-level climate risk narratives, Afghanistan Climate Rationale for WASH (2024–2025), Climate-Resilient WASH Response Framework, Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), National WASH and climate-related policy and strategy documents.

• Review and synthesize key climate and WASH policy documents, including: National Climate Risk Assessment for WASH, Basin-level climate risk narratives, Afghanistan Climate Rationale for WASH (2024–2025), Climate-Resilient WASH Response Framework, Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), National WASH and climate-related policy and strategy documents.
• Identify institutional and policy gaps, overlaps, and enabling or constraining factors for climate adaptation in the WASH sector.
• Identify national targets, indicators, development priorities, and relevant financing frameworks.
• Summarize climate-sensitive health and gender-related vulnerabilities based on existing research and assessments.

2.   Field Work in Climate Hotspots – Resilience Assessment and Identification of Adaptation Options. Undertake field visits in selected regions to assess the resilience of WASH infrastructure and service delivery systems. The consultant will collect local-level data through site assessments, and conduct interviews with WASH service providers, local authorities, and users to understand exposure to climate hazards and adaptation needs with a dual objective:

• Assess the resilience of WASH infrastructure and services in the face of climate hazards (e.g., floods, droughts, heatwaves).
• Identify and document climate-resilient adaptation solutions, including locally appropriate measures for both urban and rural WASH services
• Conduct field assessments in 3–4 purposively selected climate hotspot areas, representing diverse geographies and hazard profiles (e.g., floods, droughts, heatwaves) and vulnerabilities.
• Undertake infrastructure inspections of rural and urban WASH systems (e.g., water supply, sanitation, institutional WASH), focusing on exposure to climate hazards and adaptive capacity.
• Facilitate structured interviews and focus group discussions with: Service providers, local authorities, Community members (including women and vulnerable groups)
• Document the climate resilience of existing WASH systems and identify scalable adaptation practices and promising solutions (including low-cost, nature-based, and inclusive approaches).
• Triangulate findings using topline questions related to: Climate risks and system failures, Risk assessment and mapping, Climate adaptation and mitigation actions, Outcomes and ecosystem/community impacts.Reporting Output: A Field Report summarizing: i) Differences by region and hazard type, ii) Rural vs urban system performance, iii) WASH system exposure scoring (qualitative), iv) Notable project insights, v) Programmatic recommendations per WASH system (infrastructure, community, governance, environment)

3.         Key Informant Interviews. Facilitate targeted consultations and interviews with representatives from NEPA, line ministries, UN agencies, NGOs, and sector experts. These interviews will help validate findings from the desk review and fieldwork, identify policy and capacity gaps.

• Conduct 10 to 15 semi-structured interviews with national and subnational actors, including: WASH sector experts, local authorities officials (NEPA, Ministry of Public Health, Rural Development, etc.), Development partners and donors. Validate findings from Tasks 1 and 2

4.         Costing of Adaptation Options. Facilitate targeted consultations and interviews with representatives from NEPA, line ministries, UN agencies, NGOs, and sector experts. These interviews will help validate findings from the desk review and fieldwork, identify policy and capacity gaps, and collect input for costing and prioritization of adaptation options. 

• Conduct 10 to 15 semi-structured interviews with national and subnational actors, including: WASH sector experts, local authorities (NEPA, Ministry of Public Health, Rural Development, etc.), Development partners and donors. Validate findings from Tasks 1 and 2

5. Collect costing data and technical inputs        

• Collect costing data and technical inputs to support the estimation of implementation costs for adaptation actions. Facilitate 1–2 technical meetings to define unit cost ranges for key adaptation options and discuss assumptions for scalability and lifecycle cost.

6. Support to In-Country Stakeholder Workshop. Contribute to the preparation and facilitation of national workshop. This includes logistical support, preparation of background materials or session inputs, and facilitation of group discussions during the workshops (e.g., appraisal of adaptation options).

• Provide full logistical and coordination support to the national in-country workshop, including: i) Identification and invitation of participants (in coordination with UNICEF and NEPA), ii) Venue selection and logistical arrangements, iii) Preparation and printing of workshop materials, iv) Training of table facilitators and rapporteurs, v) Note-taking, documentation, and support during group discussions
• Assist in compiling the workshop report and finalizing the prioritization matrix of adaptation actions.

7.         Reporting and Preparation of Deliverables. Support the drafting of technical deliverables including summaries of risks, adaptation options, policy gaps, and costed action plans. Contribute to the development of policy recommendations, workshop reports, and the final WASH-NAP document through written inputs, reviews, and integration of feedback.

• Provide technical inputs and support the preparation of all project deliverables (D1–D8), in close coordination with IVL and UNICEF.
• Prepare clear and concise reports for Task 2: Field Work Findings and Task 3: Interview and Costing Summary
• Contribute to the synthesis of policy recommendations, national-level WASH-NAP narrative, and final presentation materials.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Applications must include:

• Cover letter.
• Resume.
• Samples of previous work.
• Financial offer in USD. (This should only be the day rate for working days. UNICEF will provide a daily subsistence allowance for calendar days spent in Afghanistan, including weekends, to cover out-of-pocket costs while in-country, including accommodation. Travel, international and local, will be reimbursed.)
• Applications submitted without financial and technical proposals will not be considered.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advanced 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.

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

• Advanced Degree in Climate Change, Environmental Science, Water Resources Management, Environmental Engineering
• PhD and any other courses on climate change is an asset
• A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in relevant field is required.
• Proven track record in developing climate adaptation strategies, risk assessments, and policy integration.
• Experience working with local authorities, UN agencies, and development partners on climate-related planning.
• Strong knowledge of climate risk and vulnerability assessments (especially for WASH).
• Strong knowledge of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and UNFCCC processes.
• Strong knowledge of water security, disaster risk reduction, and nature-based solutions.
• Ability to integrate gender, equity, and social inclusion into climate adaptation planning.
• Familiarity with GIS tools, climate modelling, and data analysis.
• Ability to work in a transdisciplinary team and in general be a good team player
• Fluency in English (verbal and written). Good written and spoken skills in local languages
• Core Competencies
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and facilitation abilities.
• High-level report writing and presentation skills.

How to apply:

• Interested applicants are required to submit a financial proposal with an all-inclusive fee.  Please see the financial proposal template here: Consultancy Financial Offer template.docx
• Applications without a financial proposal will not be considered.

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. 

Interested consultants are required to apply online, indicating availability and all-inclusive lump sum fee to undertake the terms of reference.

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.