UNICEF is seeking experienced climate professionals for a three-year Long-Term Agreement (LTA) covering two specialist consultancy categories: Senior Climate Finance and Resource Mobilization Expert and Senior Climate Adaptation Partnerships and Advocacy Expert. Applicants can apply for one category or both, depending on their qualifications and experience.
This is not a conventional single-position consultancy with a fixed set of daily duties. UNICEF intends to establish a pool of pre-qualified senior experts who can be engaged when specific climate finance, partnerships, fundraising, adaptation, advocacy or climate-related assignments arise. Individual contracts will define the specific work, deliverables and timelines.
UNICEF Senior Climate Experts LTA: Key Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | UNICEF |
| Opportunity | Long-Term Agreement for Individual Consultants |
| Categories | Senior Climate Finance and Resource Mobilization Expert; Senior Climate Adaptation Partnerships and Advocacy Expert |
| Contract type | Consultant |
| Level | Consultancy |
| Listing duty station | Geneva |
| Location shown in vacancy | Switzerland, Italy |
| Detailed working arrangement | Projects completed from home; duty station stated as anywhere in the world |
| LTA duration | Three years |
| Language | English required |
| Deadline | 22 September 2026 |
| Job number | 595589 |
| Travel | No travel envisaged, although specific travel may be agreed and reimbursed on actuals |
| Application | Online UNICEF application portal |
The vacancy was advertised on 9 September 2026, with applications due by 22 September 2026. The listing identifies Geneva as the duty station and Switzerland and Italy under location, while the detailed duty-station section states that projects will be completed from home and may be undertaken from anywhere in the world.
What is UNICEF hiring these climate experts to do?
The LTA is intended to give UNICEF rapid access to specialized senior expertise as climate finance and partnership needs arise. The Climate Partnerships team within UNICEF’s Private Fundraising and Partnerships Division is working to strengthen the organisation’s role in climate finance, develop financing models, build relationships with financial partners and identify funding opportunities for children.
Experts engaged through the agreement may support areas such as climate finance mobilization, partnership development, proposal development, donor and investor engagement, policy analysis, advocacy, strategic communications and participation in major climate-related processes and events.
The actual assignment will depend on UNICEF’s needs. Potential work includes strategic advice, development of financing approaches and investment cases, research and analysis, preparation of strategic documents, briefing materials and presentations, capacity-building activities, and stakeholder coordination.
Category 1: Senior Climate Finance and Resource Mobilization Expert
This category is aimed at highly experienced professionals with a strong background in climate finance, sustainable finance, international development finance or related areas.
Applicants need an advanced university degree in finance, economics, climate finance, environmental management, public policy, sustainable development, international development or a related field. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted instead of an advanced degree.
The experience requirement is substantial: UNICEF requires at least 20 years of progressively responsible professional experience in climate finance, sustainable finance, international development finance, blended finance, resource mobilization or related fields.
The successful applicant should also demonstrate experience with organisations such as multilateral development banks, climate funds, bilateral donors, development finance institutions, philanthropic organisations, investors or private-sector partners. Experience developing financing strategies, funding proposals, investment cases, concept notes or resource-mobilization initiatives for climate programmes and partnerships is also required.
Strong knowledge of international climate finance architecture, including blended finance and innovative and public-private financing models, is another core requirement. UNICEF also identifies fundraising, partnership development, donor engagement and strategic partnership-building experience as desirable.
Category 2: Senior Climate Adaptation Partnerships and Advocacy Expert
The second category focuses on climate adaptation, resilience, policy, partnerships and advocacy.
Candidates need an advanced university degree in climate, environmental sciences, water resources management, engineering, public policy, sustainable development, international development or a related field. As with Category 1, a first-level university degree combined with additional relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.
The minimum professional experience is 15 years of progressively responsible experience in climate adaptation, resilience, climate policy, environmental programmes, climate partnerships, advocacy or related fields.
Applicants must demonstrate expertise in climate adaptation and resilience, including experience connected with climate-resilient development, social services, infrastructure or community-based approaches. Experience with international climate processes, climate policy forums, UNFCCC mechanisms and related multilateral platforms is highly desirable.
The role also calls for experience in advocacy, policy development and strategic positioning, together with the ability to prepare policy briefs, strategic papers, advocacy materials, technical guidance, presentations and briefing notes for senior stakeholders.
Can applicants apply for both categories?
Yes. UNICEF explicitly allows candidates to apply for one category or all categories according to their qualifications and experience. A candidate may ultimately be awarded an LTA for one or more categories.
Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the opportunity. Knowledge of another UN language is considered an asset.
For both categories, experience working with UNICEF, UN agencies, governments, international organisations or other multilateral institutions can strengthen an applicant’s profile, although the vacancy describes this experience as an asset rather than a universal minimum requirement.
How does the UNICEF Long-Term Agreement work?
The LTA will run for three years, subject to satisfactory performance evaluation and continuing need for the service. UNICEF states that the agreement will have a fixed fee rate for the three-year period, but it does not guarantee that any particular quantity of services will be purchased.
When UNICEF needs services covered by the agreement, the requirement will first be presented to the top-ranked LTA holder. If that consultant is unavailable, UNICEF may approach the next-ranked consultant and continue down the ranking as necessary. Once availability and interest are confirmed, a contract will be issued using the agreed LTA prices or fees. Payment is made after completion of the deliverables and submission of invoices for the work completed, subject to satisfactory performance.
The detailed duty-station section says projects will be completed from home. No travel is envisaged, although UNICEF may require travel for specific events or meetings in some circumstances, with travel costs such as tickets and lodging agreed between the supervisor and consultant and reimbursed on actuals.
What documents are required to apply?
Applicants must clearly state which category they are applying for and submit four separate application components through the online portal:
- A cover letter explaining suitability for the position.
- A CV.
- At least three work samples for each category applied for, combined into a single document where multiple categories are selected.
- A financial proposal using UNICEF’s provided template.
The financial proposal template is provided with the vacancy. UNICEF specifically instructs applicants not to enter financial information elsewhere in the online application form and to mark the fee-related questions as “n/a or 00.”
This documentation requirement is important because UNICEF states that applications missing any of the four required documents will be considered incomplete and invalid and will not be considered further.
Applicants should also be aware that attempts to improperly influence the selection process can result in automatic disqualification, while joint applications from two or more individuals are not accepted. UNICEF does not charge applicants a fee at any stage of the process.
Important consultancy conditions
This opportunity is for individual consultants rather than UNICEF staff members. Consultants and individual contractors are not considered staff members under UNICEF and UN Staff Regulations and Rules and are not entitled to staff benefits such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage. Their conditions are governed by their contracts and applicable consultant and contractor terms.
The consultant is responsible for determining and paying applicable taxes or duties under relevant laws. UNICEF also states that selected candidates are responsible for ensuring that any applicable visa and health insurance requirements remain valid throughout the contract.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and moved forward in the selection process.
Who should consider applying?
This LTA is specifically suited to senior climate professionals with extensive experience, rather than candidates seeking an entry-level or early-career opportunity. Category 1 requires at least 20 years of relevant professional experience, while Category 2 requires at least 15 years.
The strongest fit depends on an applicant’s professional background. Climate finance specialists with substantial resource-mobilization, financing and investment experience should examine Category 1, while professionals whose expertise centres on adaptation, resilience, climate policy, partnerships and advocacy should consider Category 2. Candidates meeting the requirements of both categories can apply to both.
UNICEF also states that qualified candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply and that persons with disabilities are encouraged to participate.
Application deadline
The UNICEF Long-Term Agreement for Senior Climate Experts was advertised on 9 September 2026, and the stated deadline is 22 September 2026, Western Europe Daylight Time. Applicants should ensure that all four required documents are prepared and submitted through the online portal before the deadline.
