ESRMP enhancement Consultant, DAPM/PET/RMPIS, NYHQ, remote. Req# 588291

UNICEF is seeking the services of an experienced consultant to support in assessing, enhancing, and integrating the ESRMP platform - Social and Environmental Safeguarding Risk Management Plan. The consultancy will focus on improving user-friendliness, aligning the tool with UNICEF's programme cycle, incorporating comprehensive risk management measures, developing user guides, assessing system integration possibilities, and exploring options for third-party access beyond the SharePoint environment. The details of the required services are defined in the scope of work below

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines fordeveloping countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

Consultancy: ESRMP enhancement Consultancy

Duty Station: RMPS Unit/PET/Division of Analysis, Planning and Monitoring  

Duration: 1 December 2025 – 30 May 2026   

Home/ Office Based: Remote

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

The Risk Management in Programming and Safeguarding (RMPS) Unit, within the Programme Effectiveness Team (PET) in UNICEF’s Division of Data, Analytics, Planning and Monitoring (DAPM), was established at the end of 2024 to drive an integrated approach to risk management and safeguarding across UNICEF’s programming and operations. This integrated approach encompasses Safeguarding, Environmental and Social Standards (ESS), Complaints and Feedback Management (CFM), Partnership Risk Management (PRM/HACT), and data protection. It is institutionalized through the relevant regulatory framework documents.

In particular, UNICEF has recently issued the Policy on Safeguarding, the Policy on Environmental and Social Standards in Programming, and the Procedure on Environmental and Social Standards in Programming, and is about to release the Procedure on Complaints and Feedback Management. To support the operationalization of these Policies and Procedure, UNICEF has developed a SharePoint-based platform to assess and manage Social and Environmental Safeguarding (SES) risks in its programming. This platform, known as the Social and Environmental Safeguarding Risk Management Plan (ESRMP), integrates SES risk screening, categorization, and management across the eight Environmental and Social standards. It is designed to be used during the annual workplan development, and to be cascaded across the whole Result Management Cycle.

The ESRMP has been piloted in six countries and has received positive feedback, particularly for its effectiveness in translating the theory of SES into practical application. Moreover, the ESRMP was presented during several trainings on SES. Users have appreciated its comprehensiveness, accessibility, and ease of use.

However, the tool could benefit from further improvements to enhance user-friendliness. This includes aligning it more closely with UNICEF's programme cycle processes—specifically clarifying when and how detailed assessments should be conducted. Additionally, it would be beneficial to incorporate management measures that ensure SES risk management occurs within a single platform. Furthermore, to improve user experience and assist with rollout and capacity building, a step-by-step user guide is necessary. Also, a comprehensive assessment of the system is essential for UNICEF to determine whether the ESRMP could be integrated with existing tools and systems. It is also important to explore whether the tool’s use can be expanded to include third parties such as implementing partners and vendors, potentially using a platform or IT environment other than SharePoint.

UNICEF is therefore seeking the services of an experienced consultant to support in assessing, enhancing, and integrating the ESRMP. The consultancy will focus on improving user-friendliness, aligning the tool with UNICEF's programme cycle, incorporating comprehensive risk management measures, developing user guides, assessing system integration possibilities, and exploring options for third-party access beyond the SharePoint environment. The details of the required services are defined in the scope of work below

Scope of Work:

The Consultant shall perform the following tasks:

1. System Upgrade and Version Control

• Maintain the existing version of the current system active and accessible to users while implementing enhancements in a secure development/staging environment.
• Ensure seamless transition and minimal disruption during the update process.
• Ensure seamless transition during the Office structure change (Divisions, Regions, Country Offices).

• Design with future integration feasibility into UNICEF’s corporate system (e.g., eTools) in mind.

1. Risk Category Calculation Enhancement

• Include a tab for standardized management measures for each of the four risk categories.
• Include a window to be able to justify the level of risk selected in order to make the risk analysis more comprehensive.
• Develop and incorporate functionality to calculate risk categories at the standard and sub-standard levels.
• Enable risk categorization without requiring users to drill down into detailed questions.
• Add a section under ESS 3 to screen risks related to Safeguarding in situations where children and young people collaborate with UNICEF or contribute to UNICEF’s actions

1. Integration of Risk Assessment Stages

• Integrate risk assessment stages aligned with the various AWP levels.
• Enable categorization of risks with limited or minimal information at different assessment stages.
• Pre-filling based on six cluster activities.
• Offer possibility to get information using help buttons.
• Organize in a table format.

1. Management Measures Implementation

• Incorporate management measures for all assessment stages.
• Allow easy addition, modification, and tracking of management measures associated with each risk assessment.
• Include a functionality for including post SES risk categorization (including needs for subsequent impact assessments, etc.) for the specific overall risk categorization.

1. Replication of Assessments

• Enable duplication of completed risk assessments at any stage.
• Allow for editing and updating duplicated assessments, facilitating iterative risk management.

1.  Enhancement of Power BI functionality

• Review the current Power BI module and address current functionality issues related to capturing user defined mitigations measures (proposed measures). The current module does not capture this context specific user input dates.
• Simplified and cured presentation.
• Include a functionality for displaying data in a dashboard to provide analytics on overview of the assessments conducted, risk levels, standards triggered, etc.

1. Other simplifications

• Make the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), Grants, and other modules optional rather than mandatory, providing flexibility based on project requirements.
• Improve the management of user groups across UNICEF. Ensure access and user rights are assigned automatically based on staff role or some other form of grouping, to avoid having the assign access and user rights individually.

1. Capacity Building

• Provide basic training to a specific group of users (tool owners/ main users) in diagnosing and addressing basic functionality issues.
• Develop a user manual or guidance on the use of the tool.
• Support UNICEF in rolling out the tool which includes training of staff on its use, collecting and incorporating feedback from users for further enhancements of the tool.

Expected results:

• A detailed work plan following a review of the existing tool, the methodology and timelines for the proposed enhancements as defined in the scope of work above.
• Draft (beta version) enhanced ESRMP with the specified functionalities.
• Final enhanced ESRMP with the specified functionalities.
• Documentation including user guides.
• A clear roadmap with practical recommendations and business requirements are available to guide in managing and potential for integration and sustainability with other UNICEF tools and systems

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Work Assignment Overview/Deliverables and Outputs/Delivery deadline

1. Inception report 

-  A detailed work plan following a review of the existing tool, the methodology and timelines for the proposed enhancements as defined in the scope of work above 

15 Dec 2025

2.  Draft (beta version) Enhanced ESRAMP with the specified functionalities.

-  A fully functioning version in testing environment that is available to the tool owners/super users for testing and piloting.

15 Mar 2026

3.  Final Enhanced ESRAMP with the specified functionalities

-  A fully functioning final version of the tool that fully incorporates all the required enhancements, and feedback from the pilot testing of the beta version

30 Apr 2026

4. User Manual for the ESRMP

-  Develop a user manual that provide step-by-step guidance on the use and maintenance of the tool

30 May 2026

5. Basic training

-  Provide basic training to a specific group of users (tool owners/main users)

30 May 2026

6.  Guidance note on future enhancement and integration with other UNICEF tools and systems

-  A clear roadmap with practical recommendations is available to guide in managing and potential for integration with other UNICEF tools and systems

30 May 2026

Qualifications

Education: 

Master’s degree in a relevant field such as Information Systems, Software Development, Business Administration, International Development, Social Sciences, or related discipline

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:

• At least 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in business process analysis, system documentation, readiness assessments, or similar roles, preferably in international development or humanitarian contexts.
• A strong understanding of SharePoint architecture, development, and administration is crucial, as the current platform is based on it.
• Demonstrated skills and experience with PowerBi
• Experience in integrating systems and tools, User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) Design, IT Systems Architecture and Data Management & Security.
• Knowledge of UNICEF programme processes, or accountability frameworks is an asset.
• Fluency in English; knowledge of another UN language is an advantage

Requirements:

Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and

- Upload copy of academic credentials

- Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :

• • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability

- Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.

- At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.

- Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

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:  

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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.