UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.
Addressing climate change is one the key global challenges and priorities for UNDP. Working in over 170 countries and territories, UNDP is uniquely placed to work with all sectors of society to help mobilize the institutions and resources required to support countries implement their climate action targets in the context of the Paris Agreement.
Climate change impacts human health and the health sector in various ways: rising temperatures lead to increased heat strokes and deaths related to cardiovascular or respiratory issues; extreme precipitation and flooding result in damages to health infrastructure and the aggravation of water-borne diseases; mudflows and landslides cause accidents and injuries. Climate change will bring major changes to the epidemiology of infectious diseases through changes in microbial and vector geographic range. Climate change, interacting with environmental change more broadly, has already made conditions more favourable for the emergence and spread of certain infectious diseases. Global warming, change in precipitation regime and increased frequency of extreme events such as droughts and floods directly affect availability of safe water. This exemplifies the complex interaction between different health impacts. The direct effects of climate change on health are compounded by indirect climate change impacts like loss of food supply – linked to droughts, floods and cold spells – which can create and exacerbate nutritional issues, subsequently increasing the vulnerability of populations to disease and mortality.
Countries in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA) will experience a wide range of negative health impacts triggered by climate change, yet many of them lack the capacity and resources needed to prepare for and respond to this challenge. In 2020 the national public health systems in EECCA have been significantly affected by COVID-19. Support is required to make sure that COVID-19 recovery investments are climate informed and climate-proof.
UNDP seeks to engage a consultant as a Programme Development Specialist (hereinafter “Consultant”) on climate resilient health services in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA) to support the region and COs based staff with delivering technical assistance to client Governments. The consultant will be expected to deliver high quality, cutting-edge technical advisory support to the development of a Concept Note and pre-feasibility study for the vertical fund regional programme/project focused on climate resilient health services in the EECCA region. He/she will coordinate, working via global and region-based technical advisors across UNDP’s GPN.