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For every child, the right to Health

With over 850 indigenous languages and one of the most ethnically diverse populations, widespread poverty, and gender inequality make it hard for many children to realize their rights. In Papua New Guinea, UNICEF’s works effectively both ‘upstream’ (with governments) and ‘downstream’ (at the grassroots level) to carry out its mission through a programme of cooperation jointly developed with the government guides our work in the country.

How can you make a difference? 

Background/Purpose of the Assignment

UNICEF Papua New Guinea, in partnership with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), is addressing the climate crisis and its impact on children by advancing climate-resilient programming across social services and infrastructure. The programme supports the expansion of climate-resilient social services, as well as the delivery of climate-resilient infrastructure, with the aim of reducing climate-related vulnerabilities in targeted areas. Through these efforts, children in Papua New Guinea benefit—directly and indirectly—from strengthened policies and systems, enhanced institutional capacities, access to climate education and child protection measures, and improved resilience of essential social infrastructure.

By addressing key dimensions of climate vulnerability affecting children, the programme contributes to strengthened resilience and adaptive capacity to environmental shocks, while supporting long-term sustainability. The initiative further supports the Government of Papua New Guinea in building climate resilience across the education, health, nutrition, and child protection sectors, with a strong emphasis on inclusive service delivery, risk-informed infrastructure, and community engagement.

To support effective implementation and coordination of these initiatives, UNICEF seeks to engage an International Programme Consultant under the direct supervision of the Programme Manager, Climate and Sustainable Environment. The consultant will support the Programme Manager in implementation oversight, stakeholder coordination, and progress reporting, working closely with relevant government counterparts, implementing partners, and UNICEF teams in Port Moresby and targeted programme areas.

The consultant will also facilitate cross-sectoral coordination across UNICEF programme sections, contributing to the strategic alignment, efficient implementation, and systematic monitoring of climate-related interventions. This role is critical to ensuring that climate resilience is effectively integrated across relevant components of UNICEF’s programming and that programme objectives are delivered in a coherent and coordinated manner.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Manager, Climate and Sustainable Environment, the Programme Consultant will provide implementation support, and technical inputs across UNICEF’s climate- and environment-related portfolio. The consultant will support delivery through defined deliverables including coordination support, follow-up, monitoring inputs, and documentation, under the guidance of the Programme Manager’s strategic direction and priorities.

1. Programme Coordination, Monitoring and Risk Management

• Facilitate coordination across relevant UNICEF programme sections to support   integrated and timely delivery of climate-related interventions.
• Organize and support regular internal coordination meetings with UNICEF sections, including preparation of agendas, consolidation of progress updates, and documentation of key issues and agreed follow-up actions.
• Monitor implementation progress against agreed plans and timelines, identify emerging risks or bottlenecks, and propose follow-up actions or mitigation measures, as appropriate.

2. Implementing Partner and Output Oversight

• Maintain regular communication with implementing partners and vendors to support smooth implementation and timely delivery of agreed outputs.
• Coordinate with multiple implementing partners engaged across different programme sections to support focused, coherent, and well-organized implementation at the community level.
• Review partner workplans, reports, and key deliverables, and provide programme and technical feedback, as appropriate.
• Provide implementation follow-up and coordination support on deliverables,timelines, and quality.
• Support field monitoring and technical reviews, and document performance, quality, or compliance issues.
• Flag emerging concerns related to delivery, compliance, or risk in a timely manner.

3. Government and Partner Coordination and Engagement

• • and facilitate regular programme-related engagement with national institutions on agreed activities, timelines, and deliverables. Supporting coordination with the National Weather Service (NWS) on activities related to the strengthening of Early Warning Systems (EWS), including follow-up on planned technical actions, timelines, and partner contributions and engagement.
  • coordination with Climate Change Development Authrorties (CCDA) on climate change–related priorities and processes, including the provision of technical support to NDC 3.0 development, broader climate policy coordination, and related inter-agency engagements.
  • operational coordination on climate finance–related initiatives, such as GCF proposal development, and other climate and environment–related coordination as required.
  • commitments, progress, and emerging issues of government counterparts, and escalate matters requiring management decisions to the Programme Manager, as appropriate.
  • coordination with development partners and donors, in alignment with government counterparts and UNICEF priorities, including follow-up on agreed actions and timelines as required.

4. Community Engagement Follow-up and Coordination

• Support coordination and follow-up of partner-led community engagement activities (e.g., consultations, mobilization sessions, WUC/O&M related processes) to ensure timely delivery and alignment with agreed plans.
• Maintain and regularly update a community engagement action tracker, including milestones, responsible parties, deadlines, status, and key risks/bottlenecks requiring follow-up.
• Facilitate follow-up communication with key stakeholders (IPs, schools, communities, District authorities, and contractors as relevant) to ensure agreed action points are implemented.
• Document key community engagement outcomes (minutes, agreements/decisions,attendance, and follow-up actions)
• Flag emerging risks and delays early and propose practical mitigation/follow-up actions for Programme Manager review and decision.

5. Climate, Environment and Technical Contributions

• Support coordination and technical inputs on climate change, and environmental sustainability–related matters, including areas beyond specific project implementation.
• Support the integration of climate and environmental considerations across programme planning, monitoring, and reporting, as well as broader climate- and environment-related initiatives.
• Support coordination on climate finance–related processes, including Green Climate Fund (GCF) proposal development and related engagements, as required.
• Facilitate coordination with technical consultants, engineers, government counterparts, and relevant partners, ensuring alignment and follow-up as needed.

6. Strategic and Operational Support

• Prepare briefing notes, background materials, and analytical inputs to support programme planning and informed decision-making.
• Support follow-up on action points, coordination items, and agreed priorities across programme activities.
• Provide programme and technical inputs to support procurement and contracting processes, including contributions to the preparation and review of relevant Terms of Reference (TORs), scopes of work, and technical inputs, as required.

7. Documentation, Knowledge Management and Reporting

• Provide drafting support and contribute to programme reports, management briefs, and donor-related reporting, as required.
• Document technical meetings, field missions, and coordination discussions, ensuring timely preparation of clear and high-quality minutes, action points, and follow-up records.
• Consolidate and curate key programme documents, including technical references, implementation records, lessons learned, and decision-related documentation, to support effective knowledge management.
• Organize, maintain, and regularly update programme documentation and records,ensuring materials are well-structured, accessible, and up to date.

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:

• A Master’s degree in a relevant field such as international development, public policy, climate change, environmental studies, social sciences, or a related discipline.

Work Experience:

• At least five (5) years of relevant professional experience in programme implementation, coordination, or technical support in development or humanitarian contexts.
• Demonstrated ability to provide strategic and operational programme coordination, management support, and technical assistance in a development context.
• Sound understanding of climate change, environmental sustainability, and climate resilience, including their application across sectoral programmes.
• Strong drafting skills, with proven experience in preparing progress reports, briefs, and programme documentation for internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven ability to coordinate effectively with government counterparts, implementing partners, and technical consultants.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver outputs within agreed timelines.
• Experience working with UN agencies (including UNICEF), international organizations, or donor-funded programmes is desirable.
• Experience in Papua New Guinea and/or the Pacific region is considered an advantage.
• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Experience in PNG and the Pacific is considered an advantage.

For every Child, you demonstrate… our core values of Commitment, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability. 

This position is a short-term assignment and doesn’t give rise to a long-term permanent post with the organization.

Applicants are required to include in their applications a financial proposal which includes a lumpsum amount for consultancy fees, local transportation, and other miscellaneous costs. Breakdown or details of the fee will be much appreciated.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply.

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.

UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

UNICEF does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, or orientation). 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.