Project Coordination Consultancy (Remote/Work from home) - Ref#577723

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, hope.

Consultancy Title: Project Coordination Consultancy

Section/Division/Duty Station: Climate Environment Energy & Disaster, Programme Group, UNICEF NYHQ

Duration: 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025

Home/ Office Based: NYHQ / Remote

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

To address the growing climate and disaster risk finance gap for children, UNICEF has launched the Today & Tomorrow Initiative (TTI), 3-year pilot (2022-2025), a pioneering climate and disaster risk finance mechanism specifically designed to target and protect children.

TTI represents a paradigm shift, moving from a traditional ex-post humanitarian response to a more proactive ex-ante risk management approach. By leveraging innovative solutions like parametric insurance, TTI delivers rapid finance for relief and recovery with an explicit focus on children’s needs. The Today pillar of TTI emphasizes preventing and reducing climate risks and building long-term climate resilience, recognizing that this critical work must begin now.

Following the pilot phase, the initiative aims to scale up, extending its reach to additional countries, addressing more climate hazards, and empowering vulnerable children exposed to the multifaceted threats of climate change.

As a flagship initiative under Area of Acceleration 1 of UNICEF’s 2023-2030 Sustainability and Climate Action Plan, TTI also contributes directly to Goal Area 4 of UNICEF’s 2022-2025 Strategic Plan: ensuring that every child lives in a safe and clean environment.

UNICEF seeks a highly motivated, organized, and innovative consultant to effectively coordinate, implement, and monitor the results of TTI during its 3-year pilot phase (2022-2025). The consultant will also play a key role in supporting the growth and scaling of the initiative to maximize its impact.

Under the supervision of the PG CEED team, the consultant will work in close collaboration with the Innovative Finance for Children (IF4C) team, EMOPS, PPD, and other relevant stakeholders, including regional and country offices. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a transformative initiative at the intersection of climate action, disaster risk finance, and children’s rights.

Scope of Work:

Under the supervision of the CEED Programme Specialist, the consultant will support the CEED team in advancing the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (SCAP). The consultant will collaborate closely with team members and relevant UNICEF divisions to perform the following tasks:

Objective 1: Maintain Detailed Work Plans and Organize TTI Coordination Meetings

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive work plan for TTI, ensuring tasks are prioritized, scheduled, and assigned clear roles and responsibilities.
• Organize and facilitate monthly meetings with TTI focal points at regional and country office levels to track progress, identify challenges, and explore opportunities.
• Monitor initiative progress and provide monthly updates to UNICEF HQ teams.
• Conduct an annual review (in 2025) of the TTI Standard Operating Procedures in collaboration with PG CEED, EMOPS, PPD, and other relevant teams.

Objective 2: Support Timely Donor Reporting and Briefings

• Prepare and submit annual donor reports in close collaboration with technical partners, including: One financial report, one annual narrative report, one semi-annual report, as per GRiF reporting requirements for TTI.
• Coordinate and support the organization of at least two donor briefings per year, in collaboration with Country Offices (COs), Regional Offices (ROs), and HQ divisions (PG, EMOPS, PFP and PPD).

Objective 3: Provide Technical Guidance and Support

• Deliver technical assistance and backstopping support to the eight target Country Offices
• Develop and disseminate two technical guidance materials and one thought leadership piece annually, in consultation with pilot Country Offices and relevant HQ divisions.
• Support coordination of processes required to scale up the initiative.
• Provide recommendations to the HQ team for scaling up the initiative, drawing on lessons from the pilot phase and insights from other UN agencies (e.g., WFP).

Objective 4: Implement a Comprehensive Knowledge Management and Communication Plan

• Develop and implement a comprehensive knowledge management (KM) and communication plan for TTI.
• Manage the TTI KM workspace and KM Hub in SharePoint to ensure efficient information sharing.
• Develop and execute a robust communication strategy, collaborating with relevant teams (e.g., Communications, PG, EMOPS, PFP, and PPD) to ensure broad dissemination of TTI-related information.

Please note that these tasks may require travel, which UNICEF will cover in coordination with and upon approval from the supervisor. 

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Objective 1: Maintain Detailed Work Plans and Organize TTI Coordination Meetings

• Deliverable 1: Comprehensive TTI Work Plan. A detailed work plan, including prioritized tasks, timelines, and assigned roles and responsibilities, finalized (31 January 2025)
• Deliverable 2: Monthly TTI Coordination Meetings. Documentation of 12 monthly meetings with TTI focal points, including meeting agendas, minutes, and actionable next steps for regional and country office teams (31 December 2025)
• Deliverable 3: Monthly Progress Updates. 12 monthly progress reports summarizing key achievements, challenges, and recommendations, submitted to UNICEF HQ teams (31 December 2025)
• Deliverable 4: Annual Review of TTI Standard Operating Procedures. Review of the TTI Standard Operating Procedures, developed in collaboration with relevant teams, including proposed revisions and implementation recommendations (15 March 2025)

Objective 2: Support Timely Donor Reporting and Briefings

• Deliverable 5: Annual Financial Report. Prepare and submit one detailed financial report in collaboration with technical partners, meeting donor requirements (15 December 2025)
• Deliverable 6: Annual Narrative Report. Prepare and submit one comprehensive narrative report summarizing progress, results, and lessons learned for donor accountability (15 December 2025)
• Deliverable 7: Semi-Annual Report. Prepare and submit one semi-annual report in compliance with GRiF reporting requirements for TTI (15 July 2025)
• Deliverable 8: Donor Briefing Coordination. Organize and support two donor briefings in collaboration with COs, ROs, and HQ divisions (30 April 2025, 30 September 2025)

Objective 3: Provide Technical Guidance and Support

• Deliverable 9: Monthly Technical Assistance. Provide targeted technical assistance and backstopping support to eight Country Offices through one virtual session per office each month over a 12-month period. Each session will include at least one hour of customized support, addressing predefined technical needs and followed up with additional guidance and clarifications via email. A detailed summary report will be produced after each session, capturing key achievements, challenges encountered, and actionable recommendations for advancing priorities (31 December 2025)
• Deliverable 10: Technical Guidance Materials. Develop and disseminate two technical guidance materials in collaboration with pilot Country Offices and relevant HQ teams (31 May 2025)
• Deliverable 11: Thought Leadership Piece. Produce one thought leadership piece highlighting key learnings and innovations from the pilot phase (15 November 2025)
• Deliverable 12: Scaling Up Recommendations. Provide a detailed set of recommendations to the HQ team for scaling up the initiative, incorporating lessons learned and best practices from pilot phases and insights from other UN agencies (15 October 2025)

Objective 4: Implement Comprehensive Knowledge Management and Communication Plan

• Deliverable 13: KM and Communication Plan. Develop and implement a comprehensive KM and communication plan for TTI (30 March 2025)
• Deliverable 14: KM Workspace Management. Ensure the TTI KM workspace and KM Hub on SharePoint are up-to-date, with all relevant documents easily retrievable, monthly updates adding at least five new resources, biweekly user monitoring, and semi-annual structural reviews to optimize collaboration and accessibility (31 December 2025)
• Deliverable 15: Communication Strategy. Develop and execute a robust communication strategy in collaboration with relevant teams to ensure broad dissemination of TTI-related information (31 December 2025)

Qualifications

Education:

Advanced university degree (Masters) in the area of sustainability, climate science, international development, public administration, or a related field focused on climate resilience or sustainability.

Work experience:

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:

• At least 8 years of experience in programme management, donor engagement, and technical guidance related to climate action, disaster risk reduction, sustainability, and innovative financing mechanisms.
• Proven ability to develop detailed work plans, knowledge management strategies, and technical guidance materials aligned with organizational goals.
• Expertise in innovative financing for climate resilience, including mechanisms like Green Climate Fund proposals, insurance-backed anticipatory action, and climate disaster risk financing instruments.
• Skilled in producing high-quality reports, guidance documents, and advocacy materials, including donor briefings and multimedia content.
• Experience coordinating multi-stakeholder meetings, facilitating workshops, and delivering capacity-building initiatives.
• Expertise in synthesizing complex information into actionable recommendations and targeted messaging for diverse audiences.
• Strong organizational skills with proficiency in digital collaboration tools such as SharePoint and Microsoft Office.
• Previous experience working with UNICEF or other UN agencies is highly desirable.
• Fluency in English is required. knowledge of another official UN language is considered as an asset.

Requirements:

Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and

- Upload copy of academic credentials

- Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :

• • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability

- Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.

- At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.

- Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. 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.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: UNICEF_Competencies.pdf">Here

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:

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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.