CEED Policy Specialist

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Position Title: CEED Policy Specialist
Location: Nairobi
Country: Kenya
Deadline Date:

Job Details

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 and offers diverse opportunities for personal and professional development. UNICEF prides itself on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package. The organization is actively involved in addressing significant threats to children's well-being, such as disasters and climate change, through initiatives like the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (SCAP) 2023 - 2030.

Job Overview:
The CEED Policy Specialist will play a crucial role in ensuring that children's needs and perspectives are integrated into national and international policies related to climate change, environmental issues, energy, and disaster risk reduction (DRR). This position involves providing technical advice, strengthening UNICEF's thought leadership, coordinating policy engagement in international forums, and enhancing advocacy efforts for climate programs. The specialist will analyze policy impacts, develop knowledge materials, and engage with stakeholders to promote climate-sensitive programming. The role is vital for mainstreaming sustainability and climate action within UNICEF's operations and policies, ultimately aiming to protect children's health and well-being in the face of climate challenges.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide quality technical advice to ensure children's needs are represented in climate-related policies.
• Strengthen UNICEF's thought leadership on evidence-based policy making in climate, environment, energy, and DRR.
• Coordinate UNICEF's policy engagement in key international climate change forums.
• Engage with partners to enhance advocacy and policy impact of climate initiatives.
• Analyze policy impacts of climate programs and identify improvement opportunities.
• Review ongoing policy initiatives for alignment with SCAP.
• Coordinate policy initiatives with stakeholders, including children and young people.
• Develop policy-related knowledge materials to strengthen UNICEF staff capacity.
• Identify advocacy partnerships to enhance UNICEF's visibility in climate policy. 1
• Support regional teams in policy engagement with governments. 1
• Design child and youth engagement opportunities for policy feedback. 1
• Prepare climate-focused content for advocacy and policy dialogue.

Required Qualifications:

• An advanced university degree in climate change, environmental science, engineering, disaster management, International Development, International Relations, Government, Public Administration, Public Policy, Social Policy, or other relevant disciplines.
• A minimum of 8 years of relevant work experience in climate action, sustainability, international development, disaster risk management, environmental management, public policy, social policy, or children's health and wellbeing.
• Fluency in English is required; knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.
• Specific experience in policy formulation, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting related to climate change and environmental management is preferred.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in relevant fields such as climate change, environmental science, engineering, disaster management, International Development, International Relations, Government, Public Administration, Public Policy, or Social Policy. This educational background is essential for understanding the complexities of climate-related policies and their impacts on children and communities.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 8 years of relevant work experience in areas related to climate action, sustainability, international development, disaster risk management, environmental management, public policy, social policy, or children's health and wellbeing. This experience should ideally include specific involvement in policy formulation and implementation, particularly in developing country contexts, to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities in these areas.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position. Additionally, knowledge of another official UN language such as Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish, or a local language, is considered an asset. This linguistic capability is crucial for effective communication and collaboration in a diverse international environment.

Additional Notes:
The position is full-time and may involve international mobility as part of UNICEF's employment conditions. Candidates must be prepared to undergo rigorous reference and background checks, including verification of academic credentials and employment history. Selected candidates may also be required to provide additional information for background checks. Medical clearance is necessary, and candidates must meet inoculation requirements, including against COVID-1

• UNICEF emphasizes a zero-tolerance policy on conduct incompatible with its objectives, including discrimination and abuse. The organization is committed to diversity and inclusion, ensuring that its workforce reflects the diversity of the children it serves.