Individual International Consultant to Undertake the After-Action Review of the UNICEF Yagi Response in Viet Nam

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Purpose of Activity/Assignment: 

Background

On 7 September 2024 typhoon Yagi (strongest in 70 years) made landfall in northern Viet Nam, affecting millions of people and children. Yagi winds speeds reached 120 km/h with gusts reaching 200 – 220 km/h in many areas. Heavy and prolonged rain was reported with more than 400 mm in some areas and 200 mm in many. On the same day, the Viet Nam Dyke and Disaster Management Authority (VDDMA) announced the activation of the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Partnership, which includes government bodies, UN agencies, INGOs and DRR/humanitarian partners. According to the Viet Nam Multisector Assessment 320 people were reported killed, 25 missing, and 1,978 injured. Three months after the Typhoon children and families in affected areas still faced acute deprivations and risks with an estimated 4 million children living in the most affected 14 provinces.[1]

On 3 September UNICEF started tracking typhoon Yagi heading toward Viet Nam, provided updates on its trajectory, and worked with interagency partners and sector partners to prepare for the impending emergency. UNICEF also disseminated preparedness and life-saving messages, including jointly with DRR partners, reaching 19 million people. In the immediate aftermath of the typhoon, UNICEF’s response – in coordination with the authorities, UN agencies, and sector members – focused on rapid assessment, mobilization of partners and resources, sector coordination and emergency interventions in WASH, nutrition, health, education and child and social protection. A supply plan was activated, including pre-positioned essential supplies at national level, in warehouses across the region.

Purpose and Objectives of the Assessment

The purpose of this After-Action Review (AAR) is to generate evidence for learning and secondarily for accountability on key elements of UNICEF’s response to and preparation for Typhoon Yagi in Viet Nam. The AAR findings, conclusions and recommendations will provide insights and lessons learnt from the on-going emergency and recovery response to Typhoon Yagi which will help to strengthen UNICEF Viet Nam Country Office (VCO) preparedness and response to future emergencies.

The specific objectives of the AAR are to:

1. Review the adequacy of UNICEF preparedness and opportunities for strengthening VCO capacity;
2. Review the efficiency, effectiveness and timeliness of UNICEF’s preparedness and programmatic and field response, including early warning system, needs assessment, humanitarian programme design and structure, supply deployment and monitoring, prioritization, partnership activation, coordination and management, human resource capacity and management, performance monitoring, information management, reporting;
3. Review the efficiency and effectiveness of UNICEF advocacy, communication and resource mobilization to effectively support the response;
4. Review the UNICEF internal mechanism on leading the response, by assessing the internal coordination and the support of EAPRO and HQ to the VCO;
5. Review UNICEF’s role within the sector coordination structure in support of a national response;
6. Distil good practices and lessons learnt observed that could be considered for replication across UNICEF.

Expected Users

The expected primary audience of this AAR is UNICEF Viet Nam and EAPRO. The evidence will be used to strengthen the country office’s emergency and recovery response and improve preparedness for future typhoons. Potential secondary audiences are policy and decision makers from the Government of Viet Nam and other UN agencies, donors and partners involved in the response operation – if deemed relevant and appropriate. The evidence will also help inform practices at regional and global levels when relevant.

Management, Governance and Accountabilities

The AAR will be managed by the UNICEF’s Multi-Country Evaluation Specialist based in Bangkok and covering Viet Nam, Lao DPR and Thailand, in coordination with the UNICEF Viet Nam Chief of PME, with guidance from the EAPRO Regional Evaluation Adviser, the EAPRO Regional Emergency Specialist and overall oversight from the VCO Representative and Deputy Representative.

The VCO sectoral and cross-sectoral leads, as well as the emergency core team, will provide documentation, data and materials that is not readily available and accessible, to inform the review. The VCO will appoint a focal point for this assessment who will provide logistical support and act as a resource staff for the exercise, including helping to arrange for the validation and sensemaking workshop and interviews with key stakeholders in Viet Nam.

Scope of Work:

Assessment Scope:

The AAR will cover UNICEF’s response in Viet Nam, starting from early September 2024, when the typhoon started being tracked, until the validation and sensemaking workshop when learnings are shared. It will cover UNICEF Viet Nam’s multi-sectoral actions across the areas of WASH, nutrition, education, and child protection, and EAPRO support. Geographically, the AAR will focus on partners with whom UNICEF has signed the Emergency Project Document (the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD)) at the national level and at the sub-national level, the most affected northern provinces of Dien Bien, Lao Cai, Cao Bang and Yen Bai that UNICEF is supporting. Pre-emergency issues will be looked at in relation to contingency planning and preparedness.

Key Questions and Issues

Outlined below are the key questions and issues that will be assessed under the objectives of AAR. They can be commented on and refined by the bidders in their technical proposals. The issues and questions will be prioritized and refined further during the inception phase.

1. Adequacy of UNICEF preparedness and opportunities for strengthening VCO capacity

– How adequate were UNICEF’s preparedness activities in enabling a timely and effective response to Typhoon Yagi? To what extent were the preparedness activities based on evidence from previous Typhoon responses? What specific areas need improvement to strengthen future preparedness?

– To what extent did UNICEF Viet Nam’s pre-existing systems (e.g., early warning mechanisms, contingency planning, human resource surge pool) support the response effectively?

2. Efficiency, effectiveness, and timeliness of UNICEF’s preparedness and programmatic and field response:

– To what extent did UNICEF’s response address critical gaps in the government-led response, ensuring alignment with national and sub-national priorities?

– How effectively did UNICEF conduct needs assessments in collaboration with stakeholders to inform programmatic design and prioritize actions?

– To what extent did the timeliness and efficiency of supply deployment and monitoring meet the needs of affected populations?Efficiency and effectiveness of UNICEF advocacy, communication, and resource mobilization

– How effectively did UNICEF mobilize financial and human resources for the response? What could improve this process in future emergencies?

– To what extent did UNICEF’s communication efforts, both internal and external, partnerships and positioning support resource mobilization and advocacy for the needs of affected populations?

3. UNICEF’s internal mechanism on leading the response, including coordination with EAPRO and HQ

– How effectively did UNICEF’s internal coordination mechanism, including between the VCO, EAPRO, and HQ, facilitate effective and efficient decision-making and actions – including field response coordination, use of key internal coordination platforms (e.g. EMT, ETT, etc.)?

– To what extent were roles, responsibilities, and expectations at each level clear and conducive to an efficient response?

4. UNICEF’s role within the sector coordination structure in support of a national response

– How effectively did UNICEF fulfill its sector coordination role in supporting the government-led response? What value did this add to overall coordination efforts?

– Were mechanisms for inclusive coordination with government and humanitarian actors established early and managed effectively?

5. Good practices/lessons learnt that could be considered for replication across UNICEF

– What specific good practices emerged from UNICEF’s response to Typhoon Yagi, particularly in areas of preparedness, programme design, or coordination?

– How can these practices be institutionalized and replicated in future responses across UNICEF?

6. Cross-cutting questions

– To what extent did UNICEF integrate gender-sensitive, equity-focused, and accountability measures (including PSEA, AAP) into its response?

– What were the key bottlenecks or gaps during the emergency and recovery response – both in terms of UNICEF’s response as well as due to other external factors in the context of government’s complex ODA procedures – and how were these addressed? 

Approach and Methods

The AAR will include:

– Desk review of key documentation and other resources available from the response, including response and preparedness plans, communication with partners, situation reports, terms of references for individuals and emergency teams involved in the response, partnership documents, recording/meeting minutes from key emergency response meetings, etc.

– Interviews with key stakeholders internally (key UNICEF staff in the VCO and Field Offices as well as at EAPRO and on surge roles) and some select external partners among implementing partners, partner UN agencies, key donors, and Government;

– Field observation, focus group discussion, and/or survey with key beneficiaries if possible/feasible;

– Validation and sensemaking workshop with UNICEF Viet Nam, to share findings and co-create learning and recommendations at the country level with stakeholders, prior to the finalization of the AAR report.

– The AAR international consultant will be supported by the multi-country Evaluation Specialist who will conduct half of the interviews with key stakeholders and co-facilitate the validation and sensemaking workshop together with the AAR consultant.

The AAR may benefit from the monitoring data of Typhoon Yagi response interventions conducted by VCO and a third party. 

The Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Actions, particularly the Child Protection Commitments, and the holistic, multi-sectoral theory of change and framework of Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (CPHA) serve as the overall framework for this review. The AAR complements and builds on other reviews, including the global Emergency Preparedness Evaluation and the CERF review.

Ethical Considerations

While the AAR is not an evaluation by UNEG definition, it does conform to certain norms and standards set by UNEG[2] including utility, independence, impartiality, ethics, transparency, professionalism, human rights and gender equality. Additionally, the assessment team is expected to comply with the UNICEF Ethical Guidelines and standards for research and analysis.[3]

[2] UNEG, Norms and Standards for Evaluation, 2017.

[3] UNICEF procedure on ethical standards in research, evaluation, data collection and analysis (2021).

For Full Work Assignments and Deliverables, please refer to the TOR as attached  TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT.pdf

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

– Master’s degree or equivalent in Development Studies, Economics, Social Studies, International Relations or other related fields.

– Demonstrated experience working with international organizations (e.g., the United Nations) in conducting assessments, reviews, and evaluations of humanitarian programmes, disaster risk reduction, and emergency response. Experience of leading or working on an assessment, review and/or evaluation of a recent major humanitarian disaster is an added advantage.

– Good knowledge of strategic and operational management of humanitarian operations and an ability to provide strategic recommendations to key stakeholders.

– Experience in organizing workshops and facilitating consultation to bring consensus to discussions.

– Experience: At least 8 years of experience in research, monitoring, evaluation and learning processes. Preference will be given to candidates with experience in conducting assessments, reviews and evaluations for emergencies, humanitarian response, disaster risk reduction and preparedness.

– Competencies: Proven skills in research, evaluation, and use of quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis techniques. Strong analytical skills and ability to clearly and succinctly synthesize information, draw practical conclusions, make recommendations and to prepare well-written reports in a timely manner.

– Language: Excellent command in written and spoken English language.

– Prior work experience in Viet Nam, and proficiency in Vietnamese will be 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. 

Evaluation Criteria:

A) Technical Evaluation (e.g. maximum 75 Points)               

– Educational background: At least a master’s degree in a relevant academic field (15)

– Relevant work experience:

At least 8 years of experience in research, monitoring, evaluation and learning processes. Demonstrable experience working with international organizations (e.g., the United Nations) in conducting assessments, reviews, and evaluations of humanitarian programmes, disaster risk reduction, and emergency response.  Experience of leading or working on an assessment, review and/or evaluation of a recent major humanitarian disaster is an added advantage. Experience in organizing workshops and facilitating consultation to bring consensus to discussions (50)

– Required language(s):

Excellent command in written and spoken English language.  Strong analytical skills and ability to clearly and succinctly synthesize information, draw practical conclusions, make recommendations and to prepare well-written reports in English. Proficiency in Vietnamese will be an asset (10)

B) Financial Proposal (e.g. maximum of 25 Points)

The maximum number of points shall be allotted to the lowest Financial Proposal that is opened /evaluated and compared among those technical qualified candidates who have attained a minimum 50 points score in the technical evaluation. Other Financial Proposals will receive points in inverse proportion to the lowest price.

The Contract shall be awarded to candidate obtaining the highest combined technical and financial scores, subject to the satisfactory result of the verification interview if needed.

Submission of applications:

a. Letter of interest/CV;

b. Three references of relevant previous assignment(s);

c. Financial proposal: All-inclusive lump-sum cost including consultancy fee, travel and any other relevant costs for this assignment.  

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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.