National Consultant for Technical Support to Implement the Climate Smart School Initiative

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, operates in over 190 countries and territories with a mission to save children's lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. The organization is committed to promoting the rights of every child, ensuring that they have access to education, health care, and protection from harm. UNICEF employs a diverse workforce and offers opportunities for professional and personal development, fostering a culture of belonging and growth. The organization is known for its attractive compensation and benefits package, and it emphasizes the importance of its core values: Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

Job Overview:
The National Consultant for Technical Support to Implement the Climate Smart School Initiative will play a crucial role in addressing the impacts of climate change on education in Bhutan. The consultant will provide strategic programming and design, technical guidance, and support to UNICEF and government partners to operationalize the initiative. This includes overseeing technical quality, strengthening stakeholder coordination, developing implementation frameworks, supporting capacity building, establishing monitoring systems, and contributing to the national scale-up of climate-smart school models. The initiative aims to transform schools into climate-resilient, low-carbon, energy-efficient, and sustainable learning environments, addressing issues such as reliance on fuelwood, power outages, and inadequate infrastructure that affect children's learning and safety.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for a variety of tasks, including:

• Providing strategic programming and design for the Climate Smart School Initiative.
• Offering technical guidance and support to UNICEF and government partners.
• Overseeing the technical quality of interventions and ensuring alignment with best practices.
• Supporting the development of implementation frameworks for the initiative.
• Facilitating stakeholder coordination among various partners involved in the initiative.
• Conducting capacity building activities to enhance the skills of local stakeholders.
• Establishing monitoring systems to track the progress and impact of the initiative.
• Contributing to the national scale-up of climate-smart school models based on evidence gathered from pilot projects.
• Engaging in policy development and providing recommendations to the government for scaling up successful interventions.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a master's university degree in one of the following fields: Renewable Energy Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Climate Change, Sustainable Development, Energy Management, or Climate Resilience. Additionally, candidates should have a minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in relevant areas, including climate-resilient infrastructure projects, renewable energy systems, energy efficiency, and education sector projects. Experience working with governments and development partners, as well as developing policy frameworks and guidelines, is essential. Demonstrated expertise in stakeholder engagement and capacity building is also required.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a master's degree in a relevant field such as Renewable Energy Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Climate Change, Sustainable Development, Energy Management, or Climate Resilience. This advanced education is crucial for understanding the complexities of climate change and its impact on education and infrastructure.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in areas related to climate-resilient infrastructure, renewable energy systems, energy efficiency, and education sector projects. Candidates should have a proven track record of working with governments and development partners, developing policy frameworks, and engaging stakeholders effectively. Experience in capacity building and technical support is also essential for this role.

Languages:
Excellent written and spoken English is mandatory for this position. Additionally, experience in Bhutan or South Asia, as well as familiarity with UNICEF, UN agencies, GCF, or climate-financing initiatives, is desirable. Knowledge of child-centered and inclusive education programs is also beneficial.

Additional Notes:
The contract duration for this consultancy is 6.5 months, and the working arrangement is remote. UNICEF promotes a diverse and inclusive workplace and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities. The organization adheres to a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with its aims and objectives, including discrimination and abuse. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and reasonable accommodations will be provided for persons with disabilities throughout the recruitment process.