Consultancy for Review of UNICEF’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) Mechanism, Remote & Travels for data collection, 4 months

UNICEF maintains an Emergency Response Team (ERT) for rapid deployment during crises like natural disasters, conflicts, and health emergencies. Regular evaluations are essential to assess the team’s effectiveness and relevance. Currently, UNICEF is seeking an external expert to review the functionality and effectiveness of its global ERT surge mechanism. The expert will provide recommendations to enhance the efficiency of the mechanism for future emergency preparedness and response efforts.

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, Courage!

How can you make a difference? 

UNICEF is the leading humanitarian and development agency working globally for the rights of every child. Child rights begin with safe shelter, nutrition, protection from disaster and conflict and traverse the life cycle: pre-natal care for healthy births, clean water and sanitation, health care and education. For UNICEF to meet this mandate and its Core Commitments for Children, in the context of increasingly complex humanitarian crises, there must be effective systems and practices in place to attract, retain, develop, engage, reward, and deploy appropriately qualified people for humanitarian action, both preparedness and response, but also in building organizational resilience in humanitarian crises management.

UNICEF maintains an Emergency Response Team (ERT) for rapid deployment during crises like natural disasters, conflicts, and health emergencies. Regular evaluations are essential to assess the team’s effectiveness and relevance. Currently, UNICEF is seeking an external expert to review the functionality and effectiveness of its global ERT surge mechanism. The expert will provide recommendations to enhance the efficiency of the mechanism for future emergency preparedness and response efforts.

The primary objectives of this review are as follows:

• Assess the relevance, coherence, effectiveness, and efficiency of the ERT as a surge mechanism, including the HQ ERT coordination a) when based with the Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPS) , and b) when based with the Division of Human Resources (DHR). Identify the strengths, weaknesses, lessons, and any areas for improvement.
• Assess the relationship between the global ERT mechanism and regional surge and deployment mechanisms with a focus on complementarity, coherence and alignment of surge deployment instruments used for supporting Offices responding to humanitarian crisis
• Examine  the extent to which the UNICEF ERT mechanism aligns with international best practices, standards, and guidelines for humanitarian response.
• Develop a series of costed ERT model options to enhance the agility, quality, effectiveness, and sustainability of the ERT Mechanism for review.
• Provide actionable recommendations for optimizing the UNICEF’s ERT Mechanism, including its quality, effectiveness and impact,  to better meet the evolving needs and challenges of humanitarian crises and emergencies.

1. Scope of Work:

• Assess UNICEF’s ERT Mechanism and its ability to position UNICEF to effectively deploy specialized technical capacity in a timely manner to all typologies of humanitarian contexts and high-threat environments globally.
• Conduct a thorough assessment and mapping of existing ERT functions, roles, and responsibilities including organizational structures, policies, procedures, systems, and resources that support the ERT mechanism.
• Conduct a comprehensive Desk Review of relevant internal and external documentation, reports, lessons and data related to past deployments and responses.
• Conduct key informant interviews with  key stakeholders within UNICEF to gather insights, perspectives, experiences and lessons  on the ERT mechanism’s strengths, weaknesses and areas for improvement.
• Benchmark the ERT Mechanism against industry standards and best practices, including mechanisms used by other humanitarian agencies.
• Analyze emerging trends, technologies, and methodologies in humanitarian response and their implications for the ERT mechanism.
• Develop a comprehensive report outlining findings, conclusions, and actionable recommendations.

1. Deliverables: The consultant will deliver the following:

• An inception report detailing the proposed methodology, lines of inquiry, work plan, and timeline for the review.
• A draft report presenting the findings, analysis, and recommendations for review and feedback.
• A final report incorporating feedback and revisions, along with any additional documentation or annexes deemed necessary.

Work Assignments Overview	Deliverables/Outputs
1. Preparation and Planning: Review background materials to be provided by UNICEF. Understand the organization’s structure, policies, and previous ERT activities. Develop a detailed methodology and work plan for the assessment, including data collection and analysis approach, lines of inquiry, timelines, and key milestones ensuring that the aspects of Multisectoral programming, Humanitarian Leadership, Duty of Care measures for ERT staff, and Localisation impact are adequately addressed. 2. Data Collection: Conduct interviews with key stakeholders, including organizational leaders, ERT members, and other relevant staff members from country, regional, and HQ levels as applicable Review relevant documentation, reports, and data related to past deployments, responses, and standby procedures. Administer surveys or questionnaires to gather additional insights from internal and external  experts as needed.	An inception report detailing the proposed methodology, work plan, and timeline for the review.
3. Analysis and Evaluation: Analyze the information gathered during interviews, document reviews, and surveys. Evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT analysis) of the current ERT mechanism. Review of HR aspects of ERTs including hybrid working modalities, duty station locations etc. Benchmark the UNICEF Emergency Response Team mechanism against industry standards, best practices, and relevant benchmarks.
4. Research and Benchmarking: Research emerging trends, technologies, and methodologies in humanitarian response. Identify relevant benchmarks and compare the organization’s ERT capacity to these benchmarks. Assess the alignment of the ERT capacity with international standards, guidelines, and frameworks in humanitarian response.
5. Report Writing: Prepare a draft report summarizing the findings, analysis, and conclusions of the assessment. Structure the report to include sections on methodology, findings, analysis, recommendations, and annexes. Ensure clarity, coherence, and conciseness in the report’s presentation.	A draft report presenting the findings, analysis, and recommendations for review and feedback.
6. Review and Feedback: Circulate the draft report to key stakeholders within the organization for review and feedback. Incorporate feedback received into the final report, addressing any comments or suggestions provided. Ensure that the final report accurately reflects the findings and recommendations of the assessment.
7. Finalization and Presentation: Finalize the report, incorporating all feedback and revisions. Prepare for a presentation of the assessment findings, conclusions, and recommendations to the organization’s leadership or relevant stakeholders. Present the final report, highlighting key insights and actionable recommendations for enhancing the UNICEF Emergency Response Team Mechanism.	A final report incorporating feedback and revisions, along with any additional documentation or annexes deemed necessary.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in one of the following fields: social sciences, public administration, law, international relations, policy, business administration or other related disciplines.
• Demonstrated experience and expertise in humanitarian response, emergency management, surge mechanism, standby capacity or related field.
• Proven track record in conducting multi-disciplinary assessments, evaluations, and reviews in the humanitarian sector.
• Demonstrated work experience on global humanitarian issues, including nexus, surge mechanisms, etc.
• Experience with remote and in-person data collection.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to translate findings into actionable recommendations.
• Strong ability to rationalize and process quantitative and qualitative data using dedicated analytical tools and software
• Knowledge of the UN system, UN programming and UNICEF emergency responses considered a plus
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Familiarity with international standards, guidelines, and frameworks for humanitarian response.
• Knowledge of standby capacity and surge mechanisms is a significant advantage.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

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. 

Financial Proposal:

A financial proposal indicating the professional fee as per the below template should be sent separately to this email address: dhr-financial-proposals@unicef.org. Please do not forget to specify your name in the file while saving. Attaching the financial proposal to the application portal will result in disqualification. If there is a need for business travel, the travel costs will be covered by UNICEF separately. The office selects the individual based on the best value for money.

Template for Financial Proposal:

Category/Services (when needed)	Proposed Rate in USD	Unit (specify the unit) e.g. /day, /hour	Remarks
An inception report detailing the proposed methodology, work plan, and timeline for the review.
A draft report presenting the findings, analysis, and recommendations for review and feedback.
A final report incorporating feedback and revisions, along with any additional documentation or annexes deemed necessary.

Important Note:

• Please do not indicate financials anywhere else in the online application form, please mark “n/a or 00” under the fee-related questions in the online application form.
• Financial proposals must adhere to the provided template to allow for comparison with other applicants’ proposals. Alternative formats will not be accepted.

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.