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Purpose of Activity/Assignment:
Uzbekistan, located in the Central Asian Region, has experienced a significant increase in cross-border movements of people, livestock, and goods due to globalization. This increased flow has raised concerns about the potential spread of infectious diseases. Furthermore, the emergence of novel viral infections on a global scale, such as COVID-19 and Ebola, has highlighted the need for robust public health infrastructure to effectively respond to health emergencies.
In 2012, Uzbekistan ratified the International Health Regulations (IHR – 2005), committing to promptly notify the World Health Organization (WHO) about the occurrence and spread of highly dangerous infections. The Ministry of Health and Committee on Sanitary-Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan has been entrusted with ensuring public sanitary and epidemiological welfare.
Risk communication plays a crucial role in effectively managing health emergencies. To be effective, it must take into account various factors, including social, religious, cultural, political, and economic aspects associated with events, as well as the opinions of affected populations. Uzbekistan has adopted a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to risk communication, utilizing multiple channels and platforms, including state-owned media, to disseminate information and advice.
Uzbekistan underwent a Joint External Evaluation (JEE) of its core capacities for International Health Regulations (IHR) in May 2022. The evaluation was conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and assessed the country’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to public health risks. The mission report was published on April 25, 2023, and is available on the WHO website 1. The report provides a detailed analysis of Uzbekistan’s IHR core capacities and outlines the country’s strengths and areas for improvement. The report highlights Uzbekistan’s need to enhance its emergency preparedness and response capacity to effectively address multi-hazard emergencies, including highly contagious and dangerous infections and epidemics. The Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) are the key institutions responsible for ensuring public health and safety during emergencies. To support these efforts, a national consultant is required to provide technical expertise and guidance in strengthening the emergency preparedness and response capacity of MoH and MES.
Objective:
An international consultant will be tasked with achieving a range of objectives. These include providing support for the design and development of Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for the selected regions, including conducting EOC operation staff capacity building training, tabletop exercises (TTX) and workshops. To ensure effective coordination among stakeholders, conducting in-country SOP development workshops, developing comprehensive activity reports that outline progress and recommendations, assisting in the development of webinar materials and delivering training sessions. Furthermore, the consultant will contribute to the development of the final report, which will provide a comprehensive summary of all activities conducted throughout the project.
Scope of Work:
Under the supervision of Emergency, Climate Change and DRR Officer and in collaboration with UNICEF staff members, the
international consultant will undertake the following activities:
a. In-Country SOP Development Workshop:
− Review the existing and developed SOPs for activation and operation of EOC at national, regional and district levels
within Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan (CSEWPH)
divisions.
− Based on existing SOPs findings, conduct a 4-day in-country SOP development workshop at all required levels for
CSEWPH professionals.
− Develop post-training recommendations with clear tasks given to CSEWPH professionals on the way forwards with
deadlines to finalize and operationalize the SOPs.
b. UZB EOC/MES Staff Led joint EOC TTX Workshop:
− Review and recommend corrections to interagency (MoH/MES) joint response/EOC activation SOP developed by
national consultants.
− Based on SOPs review, develop joint EOC operations, activation, and management, including IMS training materials.
− Submit workshop materials to UNICEF for review and comment at list 3-days prior to workshop.
− Conduct a 5-day in-country EOC management and operation TTX workshop.
− Ensure translation of workshop materials into Uzbek and Russian languages.
− Send all materials in English, Uzbek, and Russian to UNICEF at least 7 days prior to the workshop.
c. Emergency Operation Center Design and Development session/presentation:
− Provide technical expertise in designing and developing an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) specifically tailored to
the regions of Uzbekistan, with Termez as an example.
− Facilitate the translation of sessions materials into Uzbek and Russian languages.
− Send all materials in English, Uzbek, and Russian to UNICEF prior to the session.
− Coordinate and conduct 1-day online EOC design session to the CSEWPH regional and national management/key staff.
d. Final Report:
− Develop a draft final report outlining all activities conducted and providing recommendations.
− Submit the draft final report to UNICEF for review.
− Incorporate any comments into the draft report.
− Finalize the final report.
Ensure translation of the final report into Uzbek and Russian languages.
Work Assignments Overview – Deliverables/Outputs – Timeline – Payment Structure
1. The consultant will develop a PHEM/EOC operation Exercise Design and Development Handbook that will serve as a tangible outcome of the workshop, enabling participants to enhance their knowledge and skills in creating effective PHEM exercises. It will act as a reference guide for future exercise development endeavors and contribute to strengthening emergency preparedness and response capacities in the field of public health. – EOC operation Exercise Design and Development Handbook – 31 May 2024 – 15 w/d.
2. The consultant will develop an interagency (MOH/MES) and internal SOPs drafted by national consultant which will serve as a tangible output of the workshop, equipping participants with the knowledge about the interagency and internal robust SOPs, their activation and use. It will facilitate the standardization and harmonization of procedures, promoting consistency and effectiveness in emergency response efforts. By providing a comprehensive resource in multiple languages, the developed SOPs will support the capacity building and knowledge-sharing objectives of the workshop, benefitting the broader emergency management community – Interagency and internal SOP -17 June 2024 – 15 w/d.
3. The consultant will develop handbook and conduct a Tabletop Exercise that will equip participants with the practical skills and knowledge on EOC operation/coordination and tools to design and conduct effective tabletop exercises. Developed materials will act
as a reference guide for future exercise endeavors and support the capacity building of the local staff in the regions. By providing translated versions, the handbook will cater to the diverse linguistic needs of participants, promoting inclusivity and knowledge-haring
in the field of emergency management – Tabletop Exercise (TTX) and Development of Handbook – 28 June 2024 – 10 w/d.
4. The consultant will develop materials such as the plan, training materials, and agenda, as well as the activity report summarizing the workshop outcomes. The UZB CSEWPH staff will collaborate with UNICEF throughout the process to incorporate feedback, ensure translations, and submit the required materials within the specified timeframes – Workshop Materials and Activity Report –
15 July 2024 -10 w/d.
5. The consultant will develop a Final Report that will be structured to include an Executive Summary, Introduction, Methodology, Activities Conducted, Findings and Results, Recommendations, and Conclusion, with Annexes for supplementary materials – Final report 22 July 2024 – 5 w/d.
Total: 55 w/d
International and Local Travel is required.
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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.
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.