Climate Change Specialist

Organizational Context

UNICEF is dedicated to providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children globally, focusing on health programs that support national priorities and positively impact disadvantaged children. In Nigeria, a country highly exposed to climate-related shocks, UNICEF advances climate action as a cross-sectoral priority. This involves strengthening climate-resilient basic services, promoting clean energy, engaging youth, and advocating for child-sensitive climate policies. The organization collaborates with government ministries and partners to integrate children's needs into national climate policy processes.

Job Purpose

This role supports UNICEF Nigeria in strengthening coordination, evidence generation, program integration, documentation, and knowledge management for child-sensitive climate action. The specialist will contribute to implementing the Climate Landscape Analysis for Children (CLAC) Action Plan and related climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience interventions. The assignment aims to complement existing technical capacities, foster collaboration across program sections, field offices, government counterparts, UN agencies, development partners, civil society, and youth platforms. The volunteer will provide practical implementation support, engage in policy dialogue, monitor progress, report on activities, and document UNICEF-supported climate actions, ensuring climate considerations are integrated into programs and lessons learned are captured for organizational learning, advocacy, and resource mobilization.

Responsibilities

The Climate Change Specialist will provide technical support to mainstream climate change into sectoral programs by compiling information, assisting in applying climate-risk informed approaches, and fostering collaboration across UNICEF sections. They will support the development and use of tools for integrating climate risk analysis and resilience measures, and contribute to the CLAC Action Plan implementation. In coordination, finance, and partnerships, the specialist will support government efforts in climate financing, engage in policy dialogue with various stakeholders, and coordinate climate change technical meetings. They will also support strengthening partnerships and ensuring meaningful engagement with children and youth. For evidence, research, and knowledge management, the role involves supporting the development of research tools and knowledge products, contributing to climate risk analyses, and documenting best practices and lessons learned. Finally, in monitoring, reporting, and documentation, the specialist will track climate-related program indicators, conduct field monitoring visits, contribute to various reports, and ensure climate change outcomes and lessons learned are consistently captured and reported.

Work Experience

A minimum of 3-5 years of relevant experience is required, specifically in climate change and climate financing, policy, coordination, youth engagement, or knowledge management. Experience working with government institutions, UN agencies, development partners, civil society, youth networks, or community-based organizations is also necessary. Strong analytical, research, documentation, data analysis, monitoring, and reporting skills are essential, along with excellent communication, facilitation, and partnership-building abilities.

Skills

Key competencies include building and maintaining partnerships, demonstrating self-awareness and ethical awareness, driving for results, innovating and embracing change, managing ambiguity and complexity, strategic thinking, and collaborative work. Technical expertise areas include climate change, environment, and energy.

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