Individual Consultancy to Support strengthening national capacities in disaster risk-prone areas

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

According to UNICEF’s Climate Risk Index (CCRI), children in the Central Asian region are vulnerable to climate change and most are already exposed to at least one climate and environment hazard, such as air pollution, floods, or heatwaves. Vulnerability to climate change calls for an increased focus on climate change adaptation actions intended to increase the resilience of the health; education; water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and other sectors that are vital for the well-being of children. Work on climate adaptation requires increased focus by UNICEF and partners on building the resilience of children, families, communities, considering the gaps in the implementation of adaptation plans and strategies across the region.

Therefore, the UNICEF’s interventions at regional and national levels in emergency preparedness and response will be aimed at enhancing children’s and community, schools’ participation, resilience, protection and accountabilities in line with the strategic priorities of the Government of Turkmenistan, and complementing ongoing and planned joint activities with IFRC/NRCSs. There are 4 dimensions of the project:
1. Disaster preparedness and response component: Community-based and child and health centered emergency preparedness and response strengthened;
2. Child and Community Centered Disaster risk reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA): Child and community-based disaster risk reduction and climate change related interventions and school safety to enhance children and their community preparedness for possible disasters, reduce their impact and contribute to child sensitive national DRR and CCA policies, strategies and plans;
3. Youth Empowerment: Young volunteers, adolescent girls and boys in disaster risk-prone areas engaged in community disaster preparedness, DRR and climate action;
4. Shock Responsive Social Protection: Support the development of coordination, governance, financing, and/or programme design for social protection in emergencies in all five Central Asian countries.
All approaches will be of gender and risk-informed, promoting community engagement and accountability and protection from sexual abuse and exploitation nature

How can you make a difference? 

The National Consultant will support implementation of activities under the Programme Document “Strengthening Local and National Capacities for Emergency Preparedness and Response in High Earthquake Risk and Natural Hazard Prone Countries of Central Asia” signed between UNICEF CO and National Red Crescent Society of Turkmenistan (NRCST) and activities under the Action Plan of the Prudential Grant with active engagement of Ministry of Education and key stakeholders through contributing into above 4 areas:
1. To contribute to the development and introduction of the Methodology to assess the national disaster risks focusing on the needs of children considering and developing the possible disaster scenarios and consequences;
2. To support national partners in assessment of the local development plans leveraging with the key pillars of DRR focusing on the rights and needs of children, including those with disabilities;
3. To support the International Consultant in revision and updating the national and regional level DRR plans ensuring reflection of the voices and needs of children, adolescents and young people;
4. To continue strengthening school and community-based and child-centered emergency preparedness and response including WASH, Gender in Emergency, Non-structural School Safety, School DRM components, including practicing the non-structural safety measures;
5. To support development, adaptation and piloting of a tool for assessing safety and reducing GBV risks (including at WASH facilities);
6. To ensure engagement of young volunteers, adolescent girls and boys in disaster risk-prone areas in community disaster preparedness and school safety through implementation of school-based and community-based interventions;
7. To organize and conduct the youth consultations to identify risks in schools and communities and developing mitigation proposals, such as hazard and vulnerability mapping;
8. To contribute to the establishment and operationalization of a coordination mechanism for introduction of child-sensitive approaches in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation interventions;
9. To support organization and implementation of school and community-based preparedness and mitigation interventions focused on youth-led small-scale projects on climate change and DRR

Scope of Work:

Under the supervision of Emergency, Climate Change and DRR Officer and in collaboration with Social and Behavior Change Officer and with support of international expertise provided by Regional Office, to:

• Support the International Consultant in development and introduction of Methodology to assess the national disaster risks focusing on the needs of children considering and developing the possible disaster scenarios and consequences;
• Support national partners in assessment of the local development plans leveraging with the key pillars of DRR focusing on the rights and needs of children, including those with disabilities;
• Support the International Consultant in revision and updating the national and regional level of DRR plans ensuring reflection of the voices and needs of children, adolescents and young people;
• Provide support to the international consultant in capacity building interventions to strengthen implementation of national DRR plans and applying multi-sectoral child-sensitive approach to disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation;
• Continue strengthening school and community-based and child-centered emergency preparedness and response including WASH, Gender in Emergency, Non-structural School Safety, School DRM components, including practicing the non-structural safety measures;
• Organization of simulations to reduce non-structural risks in the most vulnerable schools in order to ensure school safety;
• Support development, adaptation and piloting of a tool for assessing safety and reducing GBV risks (including at WASH facilities);
• Engage the young volunteers, adolescent girls and boys in disaster risk-prone areas in community disaster preparedness and school safety through implementation of school-based and community-based interventions;
• Facilitate the youth consultations to identify risks in schools and communities and developing mitigation proposals, such as hazard and vulnerability mapping;
• Provide support to the Emergency Officer in establishing and operationalization of a coordination mechanism for introduction of child-sensitive approaches in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation interventions;
• Support organization and implementation of school and community-based preparedness and mitigation interventions focused on youth-led small-scale projects on climate change and DRR;
• Building the capacities of administrators, teachers and students of targete schools in disaster-prone communities to involve adolescent girls and boys in developing family emergency plans, including for people with disabilities, and increasing community disaster preparedness;
• Draft the Interim and Final reports complemented by training and educational materials

Work assignment review and more detailed ToR are available   ToR_BHA_DRR_Preparedness_SSA_National Consultancy.pdf

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

Education
– University degree in law, social sciences, environment, construction, or other relevant field; advanced degree in the same fields will be an asset;

Experience
– Solid experience in working with government partners in the areas related to legislation, human rights, youth policy, education, gender, WASH, school safety aspects, emergency preparedness, climate change and construction;
-Work experience in international projects or programmes with focus on climate change, DRR, emergency, gender, WASH in schools, school safety assessment is an asset;
– Experience to work with school administrations and teachers promoting , gender, WASH, school safety aspects, emergency preparedness, climate change topics is required;
-Good communication and networking skills;
-Knowledge of Turkmenistan’s context and government structures as well as operational aspects of work with the ministries;
– Good technical knowledge and experience of disaster risk reduction/climate change, school safety assessment, emergency preparedness projects implementation at community and school level;
– Extensive experience in interactive training methodologies for adults and children along with strong facilitation skills;
– Experience in data collection, analysis and research;
Language requirements
– Proficient knowledge of Turkmen and Russian

The technical proposal should include
– A cover letter, including
• A summary of experience in similar assignments;
• Links to/attachments of examples of similar work;
– CV of the candidate
– References

Financial Proposal
Candidates are expected to submit a lump sum financial proposal including travel expenses in USD to complete the entire assignment based on the terms of reference. The lump sum should cover deliverables indicated above for the period of 01 February 2024 – 31 January 2025.
The lump sum should indicate separately (1) the consultancy fee for the deliverables indicated above for the period of 01 February 2024 – 31 January 2025 and (2) the travel costs.

Evaluation
Each proposal will be assessed first on its technical merits and subsequently on its price. In making the final decision, UNICEF considers both technical and financial aspects to ensure best value for money.
The Evaluation Team first reviews the technical aspects of the offer on the basis of the qualifications described above and as per the breakdown in the table below, followed by review of the financial offers of the technically compliant candidates:
Contents of the Technical Proposal Score
Similar experience in similar assignments and proof of similar work 25
Technical knowledge and experience of disaster risk reduction/climate change projects implementation 20
Eligibility of the candidate (CV) 15
References 15
Total Score: 75

The proposal obtaining the highest overall score after adding the scores for the technical and financial proposals together, that offers the best value for money will be recommended for award of the contract. A cumulative analysis will be used to evaluate and award proposals. The evaluation criteria associated with this TOR is split between technical and financial as follows: 75% Technical, 25% Financial with 100 % Total

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors 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. 

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. 

Remarks:  

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.