Terms of Reference for a Consultant Emergency Specialist (Humanitarian Learning and Development) 6 months
- Overview
The Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPs) would like to engage a consultant for six months to support the implementation of UNICEF’s Humanitarian Learning Strategy and Framework in the development and delivery of identified humanitarian learning and development products and materials for UNICEF staff. Strengthening humanitarian action is a key priority for UNICEF within its 2014 – 2017 Strategic Plan to enable UNICEF to deliver effective humanitarian response and development programming for children. Humanitarian action comprises of:
- Emergency preparedness, humanitarian response and early recovery interventions that support the achievement of the UNICEF Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action; and
- Reduction of vulnerability to disaster and conflict through multi risk-informed programming to build resilience and encourage rapid recovery for sustainable development.
As such, UNICEF seeks to ensure all staff will understand the humanitarian context and be able to apply UNICEF’s humanitarian policies and procedures and deliver its programmes more effectively to meet the needs of children given the growing demands and complexity of the humanitarian landscape.
Purpose
Update, develop, pilot and support delivery of identified humanitarian learning and development products and materials for UNICEF staff.
Employment Full time
Fees TBD (market rates apply)
Location New York Headquarters – with expected travel of 2-3 trips (regional offices, 1 Geneva)
Duration 6 months (1 July 2016 – 31 December 2016)
Start Date Preferred 1 July 2016
Reporting to Manager, Humanitarian Learning and Development, UNICEF HQ.
- Justification
A consultant, under the supervision of, and working closely with the Manager, humanitarian learning and development, is required to support EMOPs to implement UNICEF’s humanitarian learning and development strategy and learning priorities over 2016-17. There have been a number of learning initiatives developed and delivered regionally and at HQ for staff in UNICEF’s country offices. The learning demands arising from the recent surge in emergencies that UNICEF has responded to over the past five years and the changes in policies, guidance and global operating landscape faced by staff, has meant however that a significant updating of existing programmes, and identification and development of new learning interventions and packages is required to meet staff learning needs.
Core priorities for 2016-17 include the:
Review and update of a field based humanitarian action: emergency preparedness and response programme
Development of a field based emergency response essentials learning programme
Development and implementation of humanitarian leadership learning for senior managers (and emerging leaders)
Development and implementation of distant learning opportunities in regards to humanitarian action fundamentals (five core areas for 2016; five core areas for 2017) all staff
Emergency preparedness and response simulation training for senior surge team members
Implementation of field based humanitarian learning in regards to risk informed programming and resilience, disaster risk reduction and peacebuilding
Supporting mainstreaming of humanitarian action learning into generic mandatory learning programmes for UNICEF staff and sector specific learning programmes
In particular, a consultant is required to support the updating, harmonising and pilot testing with regional offices, colleagues in EMOPs and other UNICEF divisions, existing field based humanitarian action programmes in the area of emergency preparedness and response that will be delivered to UNICEF country offices, including for and with inter-agency and other partners as required.
Specific Tasks
The consultant will:
Review existing emergency preparedness and response training currently used by UNICEF regional offices and for UNICEF standby partners; and through review of new policies, procedures and guidelines and close consultation with regional offices (and through them country offices) and HQ divisions, update, harmonize and design (i) emergency preparedness and response learning package; and (ii) emergency response essentials learning package for delivery by Regional Offices to Country Offices.
Support the piloting of the updated learning packages with identified Regional Offices and make any further adjustments as required.
Coordinate closely in all development work with Regional Offices (regional emergency advisors and their teams), other sections of EMOPs office in Geneva and New York, in particular, the Humanitarian Policy Section and Cluster Coordination Unit, the Humanitarian Action and Transitions Section (HATIS), Division of Human Resources and Emergency focal points in the Programme Division.
Ensure that learning programmes take into consideration other inter-agency and other humanitarian learning initiatives and programmes and seek out opportunities to partner with other organisations and utilize latest learning tools, technologies and methodologies.
Contribute to the development of content for distance learning products and interventions that focus on fundamentals of humanitarian action and use a range of methodologies such as webinar, online learning, case study and good practice discussion.
Deliverables
The consultant will be expected to deliver:
Updated draft field based emergency preparedness and response learning package for pilot delivery face to face – by 30 September 2016
Draft field based essential emergency response tools learning package for pilot delivery face to face– by 30 September 2016
Support to pilot of the updated / new humanitarian action: emergency preparedness and response; and response skills essentials learning package – October to November 2016
Final version of field based humanitarian action: emergency preparedness and response learning package, and, essential response skills learning package– by 31 December2016
Provide content input and advice to the development of core distance learning humanitarian action products: in the area of fundamentals of humanitarian principles; humanitarian action; response; transformative agenda and cluster coordination.
The consultant is expected to work closely with the manager, humanitarian learning and development and other identified staff involved in the development of learning packages.
Expected Background and Experience of the Consultant
The consultant to undertake the work will have the following profile:
Qualifications/Requirements
Education
- University degree in one or more of the following disciplines: economics, international or humanitarian affairs, education, learning and training, human resource management, social sciences or related area; and
Experience
- A minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience, at the national and international levels, in the area of humanitarian action, emergency preparedness and response.
- Familiarity with and field experience in humanitarian, emergency preparedness and response at agency and/or inter-agency level
- Experience as a facilitator in emergency preparedness and response training and simulation.
Technical knowledge and skills
- Capacity to and experience in drafting and preparing learning and training content
- Knowledge of the UN and UNICEF’s system’s policies and procedures, including humanitarian response mechanisms
- Demonstrated knowledge of the Transformative Agenda and the Cluster approach.
Competencies
Communicates effectively to varied audiences, including during formal public speaking
Consistently achieves high-level results, managing and delivering projects on-time
Creates and encourages a climate of team-working and collaboration in a multi-cultural environment
Analyzes and integrates potentially conflicting numerical, verbal and other data from a number of sources
Demonstrates, applies and shares expert technical knowledge across the organization
Ability to write clearly and concisely
Sets clearly defined objectives and plans activities for self and project team
Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
How to apply:
Qualified and interested applicants may send applications to gtuan@unicef.org and mpejovic@unicef.org by the deadline of 3 June 2016, 6:00 pm NY time, quoting “Emergency Specialist (Humanitarian Learning and Development)” in the e-mail subject line. Kindly include a cover letter, CV, Daily Expected Consultancy Rate and signed UN Personal History Form or P11 form, available at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc. UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. Please note that only candidates who are under serious consideration will be contacted. Applications submitted without a requested daily rate will not be considered.
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