Second Study on Return on Investment for Emergency Preparedness Consultancy

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Description

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• Review the existing RoI methodology, toolkit and business case produced by the initial studies, including the specific preparedness interventions to be studied, developing data collection methods, and selecting appropriate analytical tools, among others.
• Collecting and analysing data, which would involve gathering data on the costs and benefits of preparedness interventions, as well as on the context in which the interventions were implemented.
• Conducting cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analyses, which would involve comparing the costs of preparedness interventions to the benefits they generate, both financial and non-financial.
• Provide an analysis of the previous study recommendation feasibility. The analysis/evaluation should build the evidence-based case for a return on investment for preparedness to:
• assess planned and existing preparedness investments in terms of potential cost savings and response time;
• compare different preparedness interventions along these two dimensions
• identify opportunities to reduce costs and increase the speed of humanitarian response;
• establish linkages between preparedness and anticipatory action for forecastable hazards.
• Design improvements to the existing methodology drawing a RoI analysis for each of following recent initiatives, investments and efforts undertaken by UNICEF EMOPS NYHQ:
• Risk analysis including use of Geosight platform
• Horizon Scan
• First Action Initiative (FAI) and Co-Funding Initiative (CFI)
• Anticipatory Actions*
• Emergency Preparedness Platform (EPP)
• Simulation Exercises
• Relevant preparedness interventions at the regional or global level, such as market-shaping initiatives and regional rosters
• Anticipatory Action being quite recent in UNICEF (see Anticipatory Action Framework developed by RAPS in 2023), the lack of historical data within UNICEF may hinder a proper RoI analysis, however examples from other agencies can be assessed to complement the analysis
• The consultant is expected to write a final report that presents the findings of the study, including the ROI of different preparedness interventions and recommendations for improving the effectiveness of humanitarian preparedness for non-technical and technical audience making the case towards timely, effective, and efficient emergency response.

• A desk review and objective assessment of the implementation and effectiveness of above UNICEF’s humanitarian preparedness investments including anticipatory action initiatives in carefully selected sample of countries recently affected by a humanitarian crisis. This will include potential risks for which the preparedness and anticipatory action (as applicable) projects were designed, in terms of the type of emergency, its frequency, duration and intensity, and the number of affected people.
• An analysis of the data systems, based on the previous categorization of investments, with a critical view and suggestion on potentially improved categories:
• Infrastructure/process pre-positioning
• Long-Term Agreements (LTAs)/Programme Cooperation Agreements (PCAs)/Contingency Humanitarian Program Documents (HPD)
• Skills and capacity strengthening (government included)
• Supplies, equipment, and capacity pre-positioning
• Coordination
• Stakeholders Consultations with relevant UNICEF staff, partners, and other agencies or experts involved in emergency preparedness, including anticipatory action, and response. Propose recommendations on the improvement of timeliness, efficiency, and effectiveness of humanitarian response efforts.
• Three detailed investment cases/business cases at country level linked with the above preparedness and anticipatory action (as applicable) initiatives for 3 countries (1 per country) preferably not considered in the 2015 & 2016/17 study and presenting distinct types of crises (Public Health Emergencies, Climate related event, Conflict related event). Travel to the 3 COs will be expected. The RoI improved model will then be peer reviewed.
• A comprehensive report documenting the recommendations and conclusions drawn from the evaluation exercise.

• Master’s degree in economics, Data & Statistics, Information Management, Financial Management, Planning Monitoring and Evaluation, MBA, Disaster Risk Management, Humanitarian Action, Social Sciences, International Development, or other relevant areas. * Minimum requirements to consider candidates for competitive process  
• At least 8 years of relevant experience and proven expertise in humanitarian preparedness and response, with a strong understanding of preparedness systems evaluation, preferably within UN agencies’ framework with knowledge of relevant Programming Guidelines at field and HQ.
• Experience in documentation to convey humanitarian and development programming efforts.
• Proven record of accomplishment of similar studies, elaboration of business cases, investment cases, impact evaluation or building financial models
• Knowledge of statistics software’s/applications and related IT literacy
• Ability to analyze humanitarian data & statistics and convert these into visual and easily understandable information
• Capacity to familiarize or experience with UNICEF’s work and UN agencies work in emergencies
• Fluency in English language, written and spoken, with ability to convey technical language in simple English.
• Excellent writing and editing skills.
• Good iinterpersonal skills
• Experience working in a multicultural team and environment and meeting strict deadlines.
• Listed requirements will be used for technical evaluation in the competitive process

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