National expert to support in mainstreaming child rights in Kazakhstan Nationally Determined Contribution and national UNFCCC commitments

Duration: from 25 November 2024 to 31 March 2025

Workplace: office-based

Modality: part-time

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, a fair chance

Background (Climate Consultant NDC).docx

Purpose of the assignment

The purpose of this assignment is to provide technical expertise, support and guidance to UNICEF in Kazakhstan and to the Technical Working Group under the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources on the NDC development aimed at making the NDC child centered. Actionable recommendations for improving the NDC and enhancing climate adaptation and mitigation efforts should be developed. A comprehensive report detailing findings, assessments, and recommendations, suitable for presentation to policymakers and stakeholders will be prepared.

The consultant will play a critical role in integrating social services that children rely on and child-centered approaches into Kazakhstan’s NDC 3.0 and other climate-related policies, plans and initiatives, such as National Adaptation Plan and Roadmap to implement the Carbon Neutrality Strategy till 2060. The consultant will provide strategic guidance on the integration of education, health and social protection in NDC 3.0.

The key objectives of this assignment include:

1. Review and analysis of the existing Kazakhstani and international climate change policies, plans and strategies with a particular focus on children and youth;

2. Enhance the child sensitivity of the NDC, utilizing the UNICEF global NDC Toolkit via providing technical expertise on child-sensitive climate mitigation and adaptation measures (identifying key vulnerabilities of children and youth to climate change impacts; developing strategies to integrate children and youth into climate action planning; designing child-sensitive climate mitigation and adaptation measures);

3. Strengthen the capacities of the government officials, civil society organizations, youth and other relevant stakeholders on child-sensitive climate change issues;

4. Ensure child-sensitive interventions in Kazakhstani UNFCCC’s Commitments, such as NDC though integrating the sections related to children and youth ensuring they align with national priorities and international commitments.

Scope of Work

Under the supervision of the Deputy Representative and the Climate Change Programme Officer, the consultant/expert will undertake the following tasks and produce the specified deliverables. This assignment requires close consultation and collaboration with the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, Kazakhstan Hydrometeorological services, Ministry of Emergency Situations, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, and other government and development partners, UN, and UNICEF relevant colleagues to ensure all tasks are completed by March 2025.

Work Assignment Overview Climate Consultant NDC.docx

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

• Education: advanced degree in climate change, environmental science, climate change.
• Experience:
• At least 8 years of experience working on climate change issues, with a focus on children and youth or social services.
• Strong understanding of child rights and development.
• Proven experience in developing and implementing climate change policies and strategies.
• Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills.
• Fluency in Kazakh and Russian. English is very desirable.
• Highly developed communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and respond to feedback in a timely and professional manner.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (https://www.unicef.org/about/unicef-culture)

Evaluation Criteria

Technical evaluation weighs 70%, while Financial evaluation – 30%

A) Technical Evaluation (maximum 100 scores)

• Expertise in climate and environment program area: The candidate should have experience and demonstrate a thorough understanding of climate change programming. He/she should be aware of the climate related policies, plans, such as NAP, NDC, programmes, regulations, guidelines, and best practices in climate change and environment programming – 40 scores.
• Experience in creating policy documents, strategies, and plans: The candidate should have knowledge and skills in developing and implementing plans, standards and recommendations for climate and environment programs based on the available data sources and relevant studies’ findings related to climate and children and youth. He or she should be able to prioritize tasks, establish objectives, and take part in formulating policy and programme action, in line with the high quality standards – 20 scores.
• Experience in planning climate and environment programmes. The candidate should have understanding of climate change and environment principles and climate resilience practices in sectors, such energy, education and other sectors children rely on, policy development knowledge, including stakeholder engagement, including youth, goal setting, and monitoring and evaluation – 20 scores.
• Experience in developing training modules and materials and facilitation of the capacity strengthening sessions for stakeholders in climate change and children and youth. The candidate should have knowledge and skills in adapting training materials to meet the needs of the target audience, organize training content into modules and sessions – 20 scores.

B) Financial Proposal (e.g. maximum of 30 scores)

Candidates must submit a financial proposal for the whole assignment based on these Terms of Reference. The financial proposal should clearly state the cost of the services for each Deliverables/Outputs.

Financial proposal is maximum 30 points. The lowest financial proposal, will receive the highest score during financial assessment. This is the main principle because saved funds will be directed towards other activities to aid children in Kazakhstan. Only financial proposals that fully cover all deliverables outlined in the terms of reference will be considered. Proposal should include 1 internal travel to facilitate stakeholder consultations in Almaty (2-day trip).

Application requirement

The consultancy is open to individual national applicants.

Applicants are required to provide:

• A short cover letter, highlighting relevant experience with similar type of assignments (max 300 words).
• CV of the individual applicants
• Financial proposal including number of days for undertaking the assignment, daily fee, travel costs. Travel costs will be pre-approved by UNICEF as per the UNICEF rules and regulations for travel for consultants i.e., irrespective of the distance and duration of the flight, most direct and economy flight ticket shall apply.
• Samples or links to at least 2 related pieces of work previously conducted by the consultant.

The shortlisted applicants will be contacted by UNICEF for technical discussion and interview.

Interested candidates should submit the following documents through the link: https://www.unicef.org/careers/

The financial proposal should include all possible costs related to the implementation of the tasks under the present TOR including in-country travel expenses. UNICEF does not provide or arrange health insurance coverage.

The financial proposal must be submitted in a separate file of non-editable format (e.g. PDF). Consultancy fees should be broken down to show the details for the below-mentioned deliverables.

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 jobs-near-me.org 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: 

• Completion of the UN/UNICEF mandatory trainings is obligatory upon commencement of the contract.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
• All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and that UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future. This ToR is an integral part of the contract (SSA) to be signed with the consultant.
• Costs indicated are estimated. Final rate shall follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee. Consultants will be asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.
• UNICEF will only make milestone payment based on achievement of specific deliverables. Also note that UNICEF does not make advance payment and UNICEF is exempted from paying VAT and any other form of taxes. Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. Four payments will be made based on the deliverables outlined in the Work Assignment Overview. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory or if work/outputs are incomplete, not delivered, or for failure to meet deadlines (fees reduced due to late submission: 20 days – 10%; 1 month-20%; 2 months-50%; more 2 months – payment withhold).
• The Consultant will perform his/her duties in line with UNICEF standards and procedures.
• Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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.

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