Design, Facilitation, and Reporting of a Two-Part Pandemic Simulation Exercise (SIMEX) Consultant, Risk Analysis Preparedness Section (RAPS) – EMOPS Division, NYHQ. remote. Req#588809

UNICEF has produced a Pandemic Influenza Planning Guide, which provides a structured approach to enhancing readiness at all organizational levels including Operating Procedures (OPs). Though based on pandemic influenza as an example of a respiratory pathogen, the Guide supports actions beyond respiratory emergencies and draws on UNICEF’s Operational Response Framework (ORF). Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPS) in collaboration with Program Group (PG) and Supply Division (SD) seeks a qualified consultant to design, deliver, and facilitate a 2-part H5N1 simulation exercise (SIMEX) engaging UNICEF across all levels to improve readiness.

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: Design, Facilitation, and Reporting of a Two-Part Pandemic Simulation Exercise (SIMEX) Consultant

Duty Station: Risk Analysis Preparedness Section (RAPS) – EMOPS Division

Duration: 15 Jan 2026 – 30 Apr 2026

Home/ Office Based: Remote

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

UNICEF has produced a Pandemic Influenza Planning Guide, which provides a structured approach to enhancing readiness at all organizational levels including Operating Procedures (OPs). Though based on pandemic influenza as an example of a respiratory pathogen, the Guide supports actions beyond respiratory emergencies and draws on UNICEF’s Operational Response Framework (ORF).

Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPS) in collaboration with Program Group (PG) and Supply Division (SD) seeks a qualified consultant to design, deliver, and facilitate a 2-part H5N1 simulation exercise (SIMEX) engaging UNICEF across all levels to improve readiness.

Part 1: will test UNICEF’s internal OPs using a risk assessment, triggers for scaling up readiness and activating the Corporate Emergency Procedures for a Level 3 emergency, setting up Incident Management System (IMS), funding needs, human resources and surge, mobilization of supplies, business continuity planning, etc.

Part 2: will test a wider response activating the full UNICEF Pandemic Influenza Planning Guide across sectors including risk communications and community engagement (RCCE), health, WASH, immunizations, mental health and psychosocial support, protection, education, nutrition, supply and involving partnerships as well as continuing critical services during a large-scale response. This Part will also test UNICEF’s roles and responsibilities within key partnerships such as WHO, and access to vaccinee doses and allocation, etc.

This exercise will ultimately enhance the capacity of UNICEF staff and partners to respond effectively to an influenza pandemic and to public health emergencies.  The SIMEX will also support the updating and refinement of pandemic preparedness and contingency plans at all levels in the organisation.

The SIMEX will provide a platform to:

• Test UNICEF pandemic preparedness plans including OPs.
• Reinforce knowledge and skills of UNICEF staff in line with the UNICEF ORF and the “5 Cs” of WHO HEPR: coordination, collaborative surveillance, community protection, scalable care, and countermeasures.
• Identify operational and programmatic gaps.
• Strengthen multisectoral planning, with children at the centre of all emergency responses.
• Strengthen partnerships and clarify UNICEF roles and responsibilities across sectors, including leaderships roles.

• Scope of Work:

  Under the supervision of EMOPS and in collaboration with Country, Regional and HQ staff across sectors and divisions, the consultant will:

1. Design and Develop Injects in two parts of a SIMEX:

• Part 1 –to test UNICEF’s internal OPs and response procedures
• Part 2 - wider response including partnerships. The wider response will include UNICEF’s programming across sectors and will bring in key partnerships such as WHO, GAVI, regional bodies as appropriate.
• Develop realistic and context-specific simulation scenarios aligned with UNICEF’s Pandemic Influenza Planning Guide and ORF.
• Ensure alignment with global frameworks such as WHO’s Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats (PRET) and Pandemic Influenza Framework (PIP).

2. Prepare and Adapt Supporting Materials:

• Create comprehensive simulation materials, including:
  1. Facilitator guides
  2. Simulation injects and timelines
  3. Evaluation and feedback tools
  4. Lead on organisation and logistics for the SIMEX, with support from the steering committee
• Adapt materials based on lessons learned during implementation.

3. Facilitate the online SIMEX in 2 parts:

• Conduct the two parts of the SIMEX with HQ, RO and several selected country offices.
• Facilitate pre-briefings and debrief sessions with clear instructions and objectives.

4. Produce SIMEX Report with Recommendations:

• Prepare a detailed report summarizing:
  1. Key observations from the simulation
  2. Lessons learned
  3. Recommendations for strengthening pandemic readiness including mainstreaming preparedness’ planning into the new EPP3.0 platform

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Work Assignment Overview/Deliverables and Outputs/Delivery deadline

1.  Design and develop material for the two parts of the SIMEX, lead support of organisation of the two SIMEX with support from the Steering Committee (25 Working Days)

-  Development of SIMEX Part 1 Material

Mar 27, 2026

2.  Development of SIMEX Part 1 Material

-  Roll out SIMEX Part 1

Mar 30, 2026

3.  Adjustment of Design and develop material for part 2 of the SIMEX accommodating Lessons Learned from Part One exercise. (4 WD)

-  Development of SIMEX Part 2 Material

April 3, 2026

4. Facilitate online SIMEX part 2 (1 WD)

-  Roll out SIMEX Part 2

April 6, 2026

5.  Write Reports for both SIMEX parts and propose/present recommendations (14 WD)

-  Simulations Part 1 and 2 Reports

April 24, 2026

Qualifications

Education:   

Advanced degree in public health, humanitarian studies, disaster risk management, or a related field.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:

• At least 8 years of experience in emergency preparedness, response planning, or humanitarian simulation exercises.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and facilitating simulation exercises, particularly in the public health and/or UN context.
• Strong knowledge of UNICEF’s emergency procedures and the global health preparedness landscape (ORF, WHO PRET, IHR, etc.).
• Excellent facilitation, communication, and analytical writing skills.
• Ability to work independently and deliver high-quality outputs under tight deadlines.

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.