Home-based: Consultancy for development of a white paper unpacking the IASC concept of Provider of Last Resort (50 working days; with travel as needed) – Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPS)

UNICEF Geneva EMOPS is seeking a qualified Consultant to develop a white paper through a consultative process, internally and at inter-agency level, reflecting on the concept of Provider of Last Resort and how UNICEF should understand its application as a Cluster Lead Agency.

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, dedication.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment

To develop a white paper through a consultative process, internally and at inter-agency level, reflecting on the concept of Provider of Last Resort (PoLR) and how UNICEF should understand its application as a Cluster Lead Agency.

Scope of work

The second evaluation of UNICEF’s role as Cluster Lead Agency (CLARE II) published in 2022 underscores UNICEF’s status as a potential key player in shaping the humanitarian architecture and the rules that govern it. UNICEF leads or co-leads three clusters and one area of responsibility and brings a wealth of experience to the system and its processes and guidance. CLARE II identifies the need to address issues around the governance of the clusters that are either unclear or outdated in existing IASC guidance. Among other recommendations, CLARE II calls for UNICEF to “advocate for IASC to review the concept of provider of last resort with a view to making the concept more transparent and ensuring that it is more consistently applied (or rejected); currently, the concept obscures, rather than strengthens, accountability.”

To deliver on our accountabilities and ensure the cluster approach remains a predictable source of coordination, the Global Cluster Coordination Section (GCCS) is seeking to work with a consultant in the development of a white paper to help UNICEF develop internal understanding and agreement on the concept of Provider of Last Resort and what it entails. While helping to clarify the expectations and benchmarks across UNICEF headquarters, regional offices and country offices, the paper may also serve external engagement needs, particularly regarding UNICEF’s contribution to ongoing reflections on shaping the humanitarian architecture within the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC). Building on the (IASC) Cluster Coordination Reference Module (CCRM), UNICEF guidance such as its emergency planning guidance and resources available across other Global Clusters, the white paper will help bring clarity and agreement within UNICEF first, and eventually beyond UNICEF to actors grappling with the same kind of questions, particularly other Global Clusters through the GCCG or Cluster Lead Agencies including through the IASC Emergency Directors Group.

The consultant will follow a comprehensive desk review of relevant documents (including detailed operational plans), a substantive consultative process with key internal and external stakeholders, as well as documenting how the concept of Provider of Last Resort has been understood and implemented over time, examples of best practice or practice where important lessons can be drawn, and the expectations and support from the humanitarian system to this role (including funding from donors). Internal stakeholders should include, among other, the Global Cluster Coordinators of UNICEF-(co-)led clusters/AoR as well as UNICEF Programme Group, DAPM, and UNICEF staff working at regional and country level. Close collaboration and engagement with OCHA counterparts, other clusters, donors and partners will also be required. A Refence Group will be established to support the work with possible participation of external partners.

The work will be shared with the Global Cluster Coordinators Group and consultation will include their interest in eventually contributing to and adopting the paper as a joint reference piece.

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks / Milestone	Deliverables / Outputs	Timeline / Deadline
Desk review of relevant documents and initial discussion with Reference Group and key stakeholders.	Reference Group ToR Inception report with clear timelines and methodology for the update	6 working days; Reading and inception meetings, prep RG meeting
In consultation with Reference Group, identification of key informants (KIs) (internal and external) followed up with Key Informant interviews or Focus Group Discussions (estimated 30-35 meetings covering HQ, RO and CO)	Update on KIs to Reference Group (including full notes from KIIs)	12 working days; 4 weeks with scheduling, questionnaire, etc.
Gather information at global and country level for development of reference case studies following recommendation of the Reference group.	At least four (4) Country case studies of good practices or lessons to be learned	15 working days
Outline content of the white paper and its supporting tools and annexes if relevant	Table of contents and its annexes validated by the reference group	2 working days
Draft v1 of the PoLR white paper (this version should be edited by a professional editor for clarity and conciseness in style and structure)	V1 drafted and shared with KIs for comments (several rounds of presentation may be needed)	8 working days (plus unpaid time for editing)
Draft v2 based on feedback and presented to Reference Group and EMOPS and Global Clusters for final input (likely 3 different presentations)	V2 drafted and presented	4 working days
Final version	Final version of the white paper on Provider of Last Resort	3 working days

Estimated Duration of the Contract

50 working days between May and October 2024.

Consultant’s Work Place and Official Travel

The Consultant will be remote/home-based.

Should the selected candidate be based outside of Switzerland, international travel to Geneva is foreseen as part of this assignment. The consultant will arrange her/his travel as and when they take place, and related costs will be reimbursed per UNICEF travel policy.

Travel Clause

• All UNICEF rules and regulations related to travel of Consultants apply.
• All travels shall be undertaken only upon the prior written approval by UNICEF.
• The consultant must be fit to travel, be in a possession of the valid UN BSAFE certificate, obligatory inoculation(s) and have a valid own travel/medical insurance and an immunization/vaccination card.

Estimated Cost of the Consultancy & Payment Schedule

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of an invoice and satisfactory completion of the above-mentioned deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

Please submit a professional fee (in USD) based on 50 working days to undertake this assignment, without travel fees as this will be reimbursed as and when they take place.

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

• Advanced University degree in International Affairs, Public Policy, Economics, Social Sciences, or related fields. *A first level university degree with 2 more years of relevant experience will be considered.
• Oral and written fluency in English required.
• Ten (10) years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in Emergencies and programming, at least half of which working with humanitarian coordination.
• Experience working directly in or with clusters is an asset.
• Experience in country emergency planning, implementing or management highly desirable.
• Experience as a Representative/Country Director and/or leading HCTs/UNCTs is an asset.
• Exceptional understanding of humanitarian and development coordination architecture, stakeholders, and realities such as politics, capacities, etc. (Preferably demonstrated across at least 3 country contexts).
• Outstanding strategic thinking.
• Strong interpersonal, leadership and communication skills.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS), and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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 to become a part of the organization.

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:

Please include a full CV and Cover Letter in your application. Additionally, indicate your availability and professional fee (in USD) to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a professional fee will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

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.

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. 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.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.