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Mission and objectives
The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favouritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education, hygiene/sanitation and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.
Context
Mozambique is a climate hotspot and powerful effects of climate change affect large populations of poor and vulnerable communities – over half of which are children. The country is highly prone to recurring natural disasters, especially floods, cyclones, and droughts, which are intensifying with climate change, and the central and southern provinces are particularly drought prone. According to UNICEF’s Children’s Climate Risk Index (2021), Mozambique is one of the countries where children are most vulnerable to environmental stresses and extreme weather events. For children living in regions impacted by flood and drought, the risk of deprivation, threat of displacement, and loss of belongings caused by climate-driven disasters is compounded by the lack of household-level resilience and preparation for disasters and appropriate response. Negative coping strategies that affected households apply when facing crises include an increased incidence of child labour, child marriage, and selling of assets. According to a UNICEF U-report poll, children and youth in Mozambique are worried about the impacts of climate change – but they also want to be part of the solution. The overwhelming majority of respondents wishes to have an active role in the green transition, with “lack of knowledge and skills” being the most prominent barrier they perceived. In response, UNICEF Mozambique aims to: i) Protect children from the impacts of climate change through adaptive and green basic and social services; ii) Prepare children and youth for a future with climate change through education, skills and opportunities for engagement; iii) Prioritize children in climate-focused programmes and policies; iv) Green UNICEF’s own programmes and operations. This United Nations Volunteers (UNV) assignment will be a critical part of UNICEF Mozambique’s work towards the above-mentioned objectives, outlined in the Climate Action for Children in Mozambique Programmatic Framework 2022-2026 and UNICEF’s Global Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (SCAP). As a national Youth UNV, the incumbent will be well-positioned to support climate activism in the country and strengthen especially the Action for Climate Empowerment Agenda. S/he will expand access to volunteer, learning and engagement opportunities, leveraging and strengthening UNICEF’s existing collaboration networks and partnerships. In addition, the incumbent will have the opportunity to work on programme development and advancing programme implementation together with programme colleagues (e.g health and nutrition, child protection, social protection, education, WASH, innovation, social and behaviour change, disability inclusion, gender, adolescent engagement).
Task description
Research, evidence generation and development of knowledge products. – Support the generation, collecting and systematizing of evidence on climate change impacts on children and child-centred basic and social services. – Co-lead the development of analysis and monitoring system(s) to capture climate change adaptation and environmental sustainability of child-centred basic and social services. – Supporting the development of knowledge products on climate, energy, environment, and disaster risk reduction, including drafting policy briefs, guides, investment cases and reports. – Support the development of contextualized guidance and recommendations for child-sensitive climate and environment, DRR and energy policies. – Provide research support regarding environmental and climate education and climate-resilient basic and social services. – Lead, review, develop and/or contextualize child- and youth-friendly learning on climate, energy, environment and DRR issues. – Lead the development of child-friendly versions of key national climate change documents. – Support the implementation of climate-related campaigns in collaboration with Government partners and produce communication, outreach and visibility materials on climate change. Programme Development related to climate, environment and DRR. – Support fundraising on climate change mitigation and adaptation, disaster risk reduction and climate resilience in line with UNICEFs mandate and national commitments towards the Paris Agreement (NDC/NAP). – Liaise with Programme section focal points on planning, implementation and of the Programmatic Framework and reporting progress towards climate-focused indicators and provide technical support as needed. – Document and analyze existing experience of climate programming (e.g. cyclone-proof schools, youth engagement, build-back-better approach in WASH). Engagement of Adolescents and Youth – Conduct a mapping and analysis of adolescent and youth-led climate action in Mozambique, barriers and support needs. – Develop an adolescent friendly package of materials for local actions that adolescents can take – Develop short (up to 1 day) capacity building modules for community outreach through different platforms to engage adolescents and youth in climate action – Facilitate participation of children and adolescents in national and sub-national policy and planning processes. – Work with UNICEF Youth Advocates, Adolescent Platform members and national youth delegation on Climate Change by strengthening their capacities in climate and environment, – Support youth advocates’ communication products and campaigns on climate change.
