Stretch Assignment: Climate Change Adaptation, Environment & Resilience Specialist (P3), UNICEF CO Dakar
Title: Climate Change Adaptation, Environment & Resilience Specialist (P3)
Level: P3
Reports to: Deputy representative
Duration: 3 to 6 months
Location: Dakar, Senegal
Eligibility: All Fixed-Term, Permanent or continuing appointment UNICEF staff members currently working in UNICEF worldwide.
Background
Purpose of the Position
This assignment presents an excellent professional development opportunity for a qualified staff member from another UNICEF office or a National Committee to join the UNICEF Senegal team, gain exposure while contributing to the achievement of humanitarian and development results in a stable working environment.
The Climate Change Adaptation, Environment & Resilience Specialist (P3) stretch assignment will provide a great chance for you to develop your career by learning new skills and competencies outside of your current position.
Under the general guidance and supervision of the Deputy Representative the selected candidate will be supporting the climate change adaptation and environment portfolio within the UNICEF Senegal programme. The role will focus on strengthening policy engagement, climate finance, partnerships, knowledge management and the integration of child-sensitive climate adaptation across UNICEF programmes. The candidate will contribute to the design, technical quality assurance, monitoring and documentation of climate-related initiatives, while supporting resource mobilization efforts (including with the GCF) and ensuring alignment with UNICEF's global climate priorities. The selected candidate will provide strategic technical support to the implementation of the Green Schools Initiative, contributing to its positioning as a flagship model for climate-resilient education in Senegal. The project aims to transform schools into climate resilience hubs capable of protecting children, ensuring continuity of education, and supporting community adaptation. Building on the Green Schools initiative and targeting the particularly climate-vulnerable regions of Matam and Tambacounda, the approach places girls at the center of resilience, air quality and early warning mechanisms, strengthening their leadership and participation in local adaptation efforts. In doing so, the project contributes to national sustainable development priorities and to the integration of children's needs into climate policies, while promoting gender equality and social cohesion.
The selected candidate will support strategic coordination with key government counterparts, including the Ministry of National Education, Ministry of Environment and Ecological Transition, Public Health and Public Hygiene, and Hydraulics and Sanitation when needed. The role will contribute to technical exchanges, policy dialogue, donor engagement and the identification of climate financing opportunities, while supporting the documentation of lessons learned, knowledge products and evidence to facilitate national scale-up and regional replication of successful approaches.
Duration
This stretch assignment will be for a period of 3 to 6 months.
Summary of key functions/accountabilities:
- - Implementation of the CO Climate Strategy and related activities
- Support the development and the implementation of national policies/plans, such as the National Adaptation Plan, Nationally Determined Contribution and sectoral plans , ensuring the integration of child-sensitive climate adaptation approaches.
- Support for the development of concept notes and donor proposals, including the finalization of the Green Climate Fund proposal on strengthening the resilience of the health system to climate impacts, once it reaches Board review.
- Identify and support engagement with climate financing opportunities, including GCF, Adaptation Fund, bilateral donors and philanthropic partners.
- Liaise with UNICEF Centre of Excellency (CoE), Regional Office and the UNICEF France National Committee, facilitating technical exchanges and ensuring alignment with global climate priorities.
- Represent UNICEF at Climate and Environment Working Group meetings and other external engagements related to the topic, when required and in the absence of the team lead.
- Support the documentation and knowledge management of climate and environment activities, including the preparation of technical reports, donors updates, and the consolidation and dissemination of results and good practices from across UNICEF’s interventions for internal use.
- Contribute to the monitoring of UNICEF-supported climate activities through field visits, surveys and exchange of information with partners, to assess progress, identify implementation bottlenecks and recommend corrective actions. Support organizing national and international CC workshops/ meetings within the framework of the ongoing projects or meetings
- - Support and monitor the implementation of the Green Schools Initiative
- Provide strategic technical guidance for the implementation and scale-up of the Green Schools Initiative as a model for climate-resilience.
- Support the multisectoral coordination among UNICEF sections, government counterparts and other stakeholders involved in the initiative.
- Support the collaboration with the Ministry of National Education, the Ministries of Environment and Ecological Transition, Public Health and Public Hygiene, and Hydraulics and Sanitation, as well as regional and local authorities.
- Contribute to the preparation of technical communication and donor reporting materials for technical and financial partners.
- Support the documentation, promotion and knowledge management of the project and the activities especially on the resilience, gender, education and community mobilization aspects.
- - Youth Engagement
- Engage with Social Behavior Change colleagues, and Advocacy and Communication section, U-Report and youth networks to strengthen youth- and child-centered CC initiatives,
- Support the development of advocacy materials and strategic communication campaigns on climate change and children's resilience.
- Contribute, as relevant, to the preparation of UNICEF participation in major climate events (COP, Africa Climate Summit, regional forums, etc.)
- - Climate, Environment & Resilience transversal team support and mainstreaming
- Support the mainstreaming of CC, environment and resilience approaches in UNICEF-key sectors (nutrition, health, education, WASH, social protection and child protection)
- Provide technical support to programme sections in the development of climate-sensitive interventions and resource mobilization efforts, when needed.
Minimum Qualifications and Competencies
Education: An advanced university degree is required, preferably, in one of the following fields: Climate science, environmental science, disaster risk reduction, international development, international relations, government, public administration, public policy, social policy or other relevant disciplines
Work Experience: A minimum of four years of progressively responsible professional work experience at the national and/or international levels in programme/project development, focused on developing countries in areas related to development cooperation in climate change adaptation and mitigation, environment, and socio-economic development and recent/current experience in climate and environment within UNICEF.
Experience in integrating climate considerations into development programmes or social sectors (such as health, WASH, education or social protection) is an asset, as is familiarity with climate policy processes such as National Adaptation Plans (NAP), Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), or sectoral climate strategies, and experience working with government institutions, the UN or other international development organizations.
Other desired technical knowledge includes climate risk analysis, climate-resilient systems strengthening, environmental sustainability, and integration of climate considerations into social sectors; familiarity with climate finance mechanisms or proposal development (e.g. Green Climate Fund) is an asset.
Excellent oral and written communication skills; strong drafting, formulation and reporting abilities. Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing.
Recent experience in climate and environment within UNICEF is highly desirable.
Familiar with children’s rights and gender in the context of climate change and environment. Knowledge of gender equality principles and gender responsive programming.
Demonstrated ability to work harmoniously in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious & effective working relationship both within and outside an organization.
Language Proficiency: Fluency in French and English is required.
Competencies of Successful Candidate
Core Values : Care , Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, Sustainability
Core Competencies
- Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (2)
- Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)
- Works Collaboratively with others (2)
- Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)
- Innovates and Embraces Change (2)
- Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)
- Drives to achieve impactful results (2)
- Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)
Applications process:
To be eligible to apply you should have:
- An existing appointment within UNICEF / UNICEF National Committee that runs through the duration of the assignment.
- An agreement from your supervisor and the Head of Office to go on a stretch assignment for the full duration. This is a pre-requisite for the Stretch Assignment.
On receipt of your supervisor’s and the Representative’s agreement (an email approval), submit your application via TMS.
Required documents for your application are listed below:
- your current CV
- your last two PERs
- cover letter
- signed approval letter or email confirmation from the Representative (CO or NC) to release you if selected.
Candidates considered potentially well matched for this stretch assignment may be contacted for interview. Supervisors may also be contacted for references.
The selected applicant would be expected to take up the assignment at the latest by 1 September 2026, for at least 3 months. Once the selection process has been completed, the supervisors will communicate to reach an agreement on the start date for the recommended candidate
Travel and DSA:
- An agreement will be signed between UNICEF PFP and the UNICEF National Committee if the selected candidate comes from a National Committee
- Since the selected candidate retains his/her current position and no changes will be made to his/her employment status (e.g., post level, post number, remuneration etc.), the releasing office will continue to cover his/her full salary.
- The selected candidate will be provided with economy-class airfare, irrespective of the duration of the flight, and DSA at 50% for the full duration of the stretch assignment. If the candidate is from a National Committee, negotiations will be held with the National Committee to determine whether it can finance the DSA.
- This is a development assignment: Your current post and grade will not change, and no additional payments will be made other than those related to travel. Your releasing office will cover your salary.
