UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to play!

UNICEF is scaling up efforts to protect children from the increasing impacts of climate change, environmental degradation, and disasters. Guided by UNICEF Strategic Plan (2026–2029) and the Sustainability and Climate Change Action Plan (SCAP) 2023–2030, UNICEF Pakistan works, with and in support of federal and provincial governments, across all sectors—WASH, health, education, nutrition, social protection, and child protection—to build climate resilience, reduce risks, and advance sustainable development for every child. 

To respond to periodic requirements for specialized technical expertise, UNICEF Pakistan intends to establish a Generic Consultant Roster (GCR) of pre-vetted individual consultants with relevant expertise in these areas. Rostered consultants may subsequently be considered for specific, temporary and deliverable-based assignments at national or provincial level.

Inclusion in the roster does not constitute a commitment or guarantee of engagement. Any subsequent consultancy will be subject to specific approved TOR, availability of funding, appropriate selection and completion of applicable contracting and compliance requirements.

How can you make a difference?

Under the UNICEF PCO CEE Roster of Consultants, UNICEF seeks qualified consultants across complementary areas of expertise to perform a range of duties in support of UNICEF and government partners, contributing to the development and strengthening of systems that protect children from climate- and disaster-related risks.

The individual consultant will provide specialized technical expertise in one or more of the following areas which apply to the Climate Change, Energy and Environment sectors and/or UNICEF programming where appropriate. Specific deliverable will be defined through assignment-specific TORs.

CEE Policies, Strategies and Plans
Climate Finance
Renewable Energy
Climate Data, Information, Innovation and Research
Environmental Health (Air Quality, Lead, Toxic Chemicals, etc.)

Selected consultants will work closely with the UNICEF CEE programme team to ensure national and sub-national level efforts are aligned with the intergovernmental processes on climate action. Where relevant, consultants will integrate the Declaration on Children, Youth and Climate Action and its implementation guidance into deliverables.

Applicants may apply to one or more areas of expertise.

Areas of Expertise & Indicative Tasks

Area 1: Climate, Energy and Environment Policies, Strategies and Plans Support

The Climate Policies expert(s) provides guidance on climate, environmental, and disaster risk reduction policies, strategies and plans, responding to technical queries, and ensuring alignment with global policy processes.

Indicative Tasks

Provide technical support to the development of CEE related policies, strategies and plans, ensuring the development of child sensitive and child-responsive policies and strategies.

Support NDC and NAP implementation processes, providing technical guidance to integrate child-sensitive measures into climate plans, develop operational resources for translating commitments into actionable programs at national and subnational levels.

Support high-level political engagement: Support to ensure national and regional climate policies prioritize children’s rights, vulnerabilities and perspectives by tracking regulatory frameworks, engaging with government partners across sectors, and promoting alignment with child rights standards.

Area 2: Climate Finance

The Climate Finance Expert(s) will play a central role in supporting UNICEF Pakistan in timely access to specialized expertise in Climate Finance to design, assess and scale climate-resilient investments that safeguard the continuity of essential services for children and accelerate results in the context of a changing climate.

Indicative Tasks

Climate Finance Concept Note, Project Information Note (PIN), proposal development Lead, responsible for overall proposal management, quality assurance, team coordination, and compliance with donor requirements. The consultant coordinates multidisciplinary teams, ensures technical coherence and compliance, manages timelines and risks, and leads donor engagement through review and approval stages.

Climate Finance Technical Design, providing technical, scientific, and sectoral expertise on project architecture, climate rationale, institutional arrangements, and key annexes. Sector Specialists (Health, WASH, Education, Nutrition, Child Protection and Social Policy) lead climate rationale, intervention logic, feasibility, results frameworks, and operational design across child-critical sectors.

Economic and Financial Analysis (EFA), delivering budgets, co-financing structures, and robust economic and financial analysis. Leads relevant financial modelling and economic analysis to ensure proposals are financially viable, cost-effective, sustainable and in line with donor requirements.

Climate Investments, Carbon Finance & Market Shaping: Financing for scaling and sustaining climate innovations including undertaking financial feasibility and cost-benefit analysis, PPP development, carbon market methodology and MRV system design.

Area 3: Renewable Energy

Under the UNICEF PCO Roster of Sustainable Energy Consultants, UNICEF Pakistan seeks qualified consultants to provide technical support on sustainable energy programming and financing, with a strong focus on child-sensitive approaches across three complementary areas of expertise:

Indicative Tasks

Sustainable Energy Programming, Policy, and Capacity Building: support UNICEF in strengthening child-sensitive sustainable energy programming, policy integration, and institutional capacity, with particular attention to renewable energy, energy efficiency, and clean cooking.

Energy Financing: Consultants support UNICEF to strengthen partnerships and mobilize resources for sustainable energy investments benefiting children and youth.

Market Assessments: Consultants apply market intelligence and financial analysis to inform sustainable energy investments.

Area 4: Climate Data, Information, Innovation and Research

Consultant(s) will support UNICEF efforts to access, analyze, and apply data from global, national and local datasets, to inform evidence-based CEE policy, planning, and programming. Additionally, support in this area includes greater understanding and application of climate-smart technologies, environmental sensors, renewable energy systems and climate analytics.

Indicative Tasks

Climate risk and data analysis: Experts in this area lead analytical processes for climate and disaster risk assessments that are child-sensitive, sectorally relevant, utilize the global child hazard database, and align with UNICEF’s global methodologies. This may include sub-national climate hazard analysis, exposure and vulnerability analysis, composite index and statistical modeling, climate risk profiling, and others.

Capacity building and institutional strengthening on climate and disaster risk information: translation technical methodologies into training and institutional development support.

Climate Innovation & Technology: Design, assessment and scaling of innovations for resilient services including climate-smart technologies for social services, heat-resilient and air-quality-safe school environments, renewable energy systems (solar, hybrid, storage, mini-grids), low-carbon and energy-efficient infrastructure

Digital Climate & Risk Analytics: Digital intelligence to strengthen risk-informed programming including predictive climate risk modelling, GIS, geospatial analysis, environmental monitoring dashboards (air, water, heat, pollution).

Area 5: Environmental Health

Consultant(s) will support UNICEF's emerging environmental health agenda on clean air, childhood lead poisoning, toxic chemical exposure, and child-centered environmental governance.

Indicative Tasks

Synthesize evidence on children’s environmental health, including air pollution, lead exposure, and toxic chemicals affecting children.

Provide technical advice and support the development of child-responsive environmental health policies, strategies, regulations, and action plans.

Support environmental health (including air quality, lead, and toxic chemicals) assessments, monitoring, and programme design.

Facilitate stakeholder engagement, policy dialogue, and multisectoral coordination

To qualify as an advocate for every child, you will have…

Minimum requirements:

Education:

Advanced university degree in climate change, climate sciences, water resources, environmental sciences/engineering, public health, , climate change, disaster risk management, natural resources management, development studies, international development, economics, public policy, public administration, law, governance, institutional development, or another relevant discipline. Professional experience in Climate and Environmental science or policy, International Affairs, Public Policy, human rights, sustainability, or any related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum 10 years of relevant professional experience in one or more roster areas, including climate change policy development, climate finance, renewable energy, climate innovation, climate information services, environmental health including air quality programme design.
Demonstrated advanced policy assessment capabilities, especially across climate, environment, energy, and disaster risk reduction contexts;
Experience with government, UN agencies, development partners or other CEE sector institutions;
Ability to translate technical analysis into practical recommendations;
Experience developing technical reports, policies, frameworks, standards, guidelines, tools or knowledge products;
Strong stakeholder engagement and facilitation skills;
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills;
Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
Ability to work independently and deliver quality outputs within agreed timelines.

Skills:

Strong stakeholder engagement and facilitation skills;
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills;
Excellent writing and communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate technical climate concepts, both in writing and verbally is required;
Strong organizational, planning and prioritizing skills;
Technical writing, research and reporting skills are a distinct advantage.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English is required.
Knowledge of Urdu and/or relevant provincial/local languages is an advantage.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. 

Remarks:

Candidates should submit 1) a CV, 2) a short cover letter, 3) 2 writing samples and one sample of a presentation (PPT or other) 4) three contacts for recent client/supervisor references.
Applicants must submit a financial quotation indicating the consultant fee their daily rate. Direct costs will be determined according to assignment-specific TORs and paid according to actual costs or other negotiated direct costs.
Travel may be required for selected assignments, including travel to provincial or field locations for technical assessments, stakeholder consultations, workshops, validation exercises or other approved activities.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
Consultant needs to produce a copy of their health insurance coverage at the time the contract is awarded.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Inclusion in the roster does not constitute a commitment or guarantee of engagement.
Each consultancy will require a specific approved ToR, funding and completion of applicable selection, contracting and compliance requirements.
Consultants may be included in one or more roster areas based on their qualifications and expertise.
Consultants will be engaged in their individual capacity and subject to UNICEF's applicable contractual conditions, safeguarding and conflict-of-interest requirements.

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this role, eligible and suitable females, persons with disabilities and suitable candidates from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for a consultancy with UNICEF are required to obtain necessary clearances from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if necessary, requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

GENERIC CONSULTANT ROSTER - CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT (WASH & CEE) (ISLAMABAD, LAHORE, PESHAWAR, QUETTA, KARACHI) NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL