Consultancy to lead development and support delivery of country-specific simulation exercises for selected UNICEF Offices and MENA Regional Office. (Home Based with up to four field missions to facilitate COs and RO simulations)

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.
Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, Care

The UNICEF Humanitarian Review (2020) recommendations underscore the significance of Risk Analysis and Preparedness efforts for strategically positioning and building the organization's capacity for a no-regrets response to crises – deploying the right skills in the right place at the right time to meet the humanitarian needs of all crisis-affected children. As a follow up to the Review recommendations, and in line with global efforts, the UNICEF Middle East, and North Africa Regional Office (MENARO) is providing additional support to Country Offices (CO) to enhance and strengthen emergency preparedness. With the increasing frequency and severity of emergencies, it is critical that COs are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to respond to humanitarian crises quickly and efficiently.

Simulation exercises provide a unique opportunity to test emergency preparedness plans, overall readiness and identify gaps or weaknesses that may hinder the ability of UNICEF to respond effectively. These exercises allow UNICEF staff to simulate realistic emergency scenarios and evaluate their response strategies and procedures. As part of overall humanitarian learning, simulations help contribute to enhance knowledge, skills and actions for better preparedness and response.

The demand for simulation exercises across the MENA region has increased substantially as COs are turning to emergency preparedness and response exercises to help identify challenges and gaps that could hinder a UNICEF humanitarian response. These simulations also help to enhance emergency preparedness/ contingency plans developed through the Emergency Preparedness Platform (EPP) and at the inter-agency level.

How can you make a difference?

Under the direct supervision of Emergency Specialist, the MENARO Humanitarian Section seeks to recruit a consultant to lead the design and support the delivery and facilitation of simulation exercises (both desk-top and field based) for selected UNICEF COs and the regional office. The consultant will be responsible for designing, developing, and facilitating simulation exercises that will test staff emergency response skills and knowledge, as well as country preparedness capacities. The consultant will identify critical actions needed to strengthen the CO’s emergency preparedness/ contingency plan.

The consultant will also design, develop, and facilitate a simulation exercise for MENARO. This simulation will serve as a development opportunity to enhance the skills and capabilities of staff members from selected Cos, the regional office, and staff currently part of emergency surge rosters, ensuring their readiness for deployment in humanitarian crises. Working with UNICEF staff at country, regional and headquarter offices, the consultant will enhance staff skills and knowledge related to emergency preparedness and response through simulations and offer practical experience in responding to emergency situations.

Scope of Work and Workplan (specific dates to be determined in Milestones):

Planning Phase:

1. Develop a work plan for the design, development, and facilitation of simulation exercises for selected COs (to be confirmed) and MENARO with emphasis most likely, worst case crisis scenarios

Design/Development Phase:

1. Develop simulation scenarios that align with the needs and contexts of the selected COs, and learning objectives of MENARO, in line with contingency/response plans, EPP platform (taking into consideration the current EPP review), Emergency Preparedness and Response training package currently being developed and other plans.
2. Develop simulation materials, including facilitator guides, simulation injects, participant manuals and other necessary materials.
3. Review and incorporate feedback from key stakeholders.

Delivery/Facilitation Phase:

1. Lead and support facilitation of simulation exercises in UNICEF COs and MENARO. An important outcome is building capacity of UNICEF staff to facilitate future simulations across the MENA region.
2. Ensure that simulation exercises are conducted in an open and safe environment that allows for practical learning.
3. Collect data during the simulation exercises to evaluate their effectiveness.
4. Support simulation debriefs with participants that allows for the collection of robust lessons learned.

Post-Simulation Phase:

1. Provide a verbal debrief to UNICEF CO/RO staff and other key stakeholders.
2. Prepare a report summarizing the simulation exercise, with a strong focus on key findings, lessons learned and recommendations. Relevant lessons learned and recommendations should then be incorporated into simulation documents and materials (referenced above).

Workplan (specific dates to be determined in Milestones):

Planning Phase:

Develop a work plan for the design, development, and facilitation of simulation exercises for selected country offices and MENARO. By August 2023.

Design/Development Phase:

• For selected Country Offices (up to three): Develop simulation scenarios that align with the specific needs and contexts of each CO, focus on most likely, worst-case risks and test specific preparedness and response capacities in emergency preparedness/ contingency plans by September – October 2023.
• For selected Country Offices (up to three): Develop and/or adapt existing simulation materials, including facilitator guides, simulation injects, participant manuals, and other necessary materials. This includes coordinating UNICEF review of materials and incorporating feedback by September – November 2023.
• For MENARO: Develop and/or adapt existing simulation materials, including facilitator guides, simulation injects, participant manuals, and other necessary materials. This includes coordinating UNICEF review of materials and incorporating feedback by December 2023 – January 2024.

Delivery/Facilitation Phase:

• Lead facilitation of simulation exercises (in an open and safe environment) in three COs (TBC) and MENARO (Amman) by COs: October – December 2023 / MENARO: February – March 2024.
• At the conclusion of each simulation, support collective and individual debriefs with participants that allows for the collection of robust lessons learned by COs: October – December 2023 / MENARO: February – March 2024

Post-Simulation Phase:

• After each simulation (CO and MENARO), prepare a report summarizing the simulation exercise, including lessons learned and recommendations by COs: October – December 2023 / MENARO: February – March 2024
• Ensure lessons learned and recommendations are included in subsequent simulation materials by COs: October – December 2023 / MENARO: February – March 2024
• After each simulation (CO and MENARO), provide a debrief to the UNICEF staff/participants and other key stakeholders by COs: October – December 2023 / MENARO: February – March 2024

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have the below requirement:

Education:

Advanced university degree in social sciences, public administration, law, public health, nutrition, international relations, business administration or other related disciplines.

Experience:

• At least 8 years of progressively responsible professional work experience at the national and international levels in program/project development, emergency preparedness, research, and analysis, and/or monitoring and evaluation.
• Experience in designing and facilitating simulations that test emergency preparedness and response. Experience in, and knowledge of the region is an asset.
• Strong writing skills and demonstrated ability to collect and analyse data in an efficient and effective manner.
• Direct experience in, and/or familiarity with, UNICEF emergency operations is an asset.

Language:

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Arabic or French is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

Core Competencies:

1. Builds and maintains partnerships. (1)
2. Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness. (1)
3. Drive to achieve results for impact. (1)
4. Innovates and embraces change. (1)
5. Manages ambiguity and complexity. (1)
6. Thinks and acts strategically. (1)
7. Works collaboratively with others. (1)

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: Here

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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

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

Applicants are expected to include a cover letter of interest, CV, their approach to the assignment, an all-inclusive technical proposal fee, daily in US$ (including lump sum travel and subsistence costs) to undertake the above TOR. Applications submitted without a proposed fee will not be accepted.

Travel: consultants are expected to travel 4 times to 4 different countries

Duration of assignment: the assignment should start ASAP in August 2023 until 30 April 2024 (up to 100 days)

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 only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/”.

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

Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations, or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract.

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