By continuing to browse this site, you agree to our use of cookies. Read our privacy policy

Consultancy - Development of Standard Operating Procedures for UNICEF National Committees, PFP & EMOPS, Geneva, Switzerland (3 months)

Geneva

  • Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
  • Location: Geneva
  • Grade: Consultancy - International Consultant - Internationally recruited Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • External Relations, Partnerships and Resource mobilization
    • Children's rights (health and protection)
    • Emergency Aid and Response
    • Private Fundraising and Partnerships
    • Project and Programme Management
    • Public, Private Partnership
  • Closing Date: Closed

The Consultant will develop Standard Operating Procedures for National Committees to enable them to respond to Emergencies in their territories.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, Hope...

Background

The Country Relations Team in UNICEF’s Private Fundraising and Partnerships Division and EMOPS are seeking a consultant to develop Standard Operating Procedures for UNICEF National Committees that propose to intervene in their own territories in the event of emergency.

During the past decade and increasingly in recent months, UNICEF has experienced an unprecedented number of emergencies in countries where UNICEF does not have a programme presence, including Hurricane Katrina in the United States (2005), the earthquake and tsunami in Japan (2011), the Refugee and Migrant crisis in Europe (2015), with the latest being the hurricanes in the Eastern Caribbean and the US at the end of 2017. Following the onset of these emergencies, multiple requests were received by UNICEF from National Committees, such as US Fund, the Dutch and French National Committees, to support emergency response in territories considered part of the US, France or the Netherlands.

Traditionally, National Committees work to raise funds from the private sector, promote children’s rights and secure worldwide visibility for children threatened by poverty, disasters, armed conflict, abuse and exploitation. The relationship between the National Committees and UNICEF is governed by a Cooperation Agreement which provides the framework for a strong collaboration in support of the wellbeing and rights of children worldwide. UNICEF provides overall global leadership, strategies and standards, develops and implements programmes and supports National Committees to ensure that fundraising and child rights advocacy, in National Committee territories, are in line with UNICEF’s policy.

At the beginning of the Refugee and Migrant crisis in Europe in 2015, the UNICEF Executive Director issued a communique, dated 16 September 2015, clarifying roles and responsibilities and informing UNICEF staff and National Committees of the setting up of the response plan to the Refugee and Migrant Crisis in Europe: “In countries with no country programme, UNICEF will draw on a Technical Response Capacity (TRC) to support national authorities at their request, in consultation with National Committees and working with UN and NGO partners. The TRC will be made up of staff, retirees, National Committee colleagues and stand-by partners and will provide specialized expertise in such areas as protection, WASH and nutrition. The valuable work of National Committees will be a central component of the UNICEF response in policy advocacy, public awareness, fundraising and child rights education. The scope of the National Committees’ work will remain within the parameters of the Cooperation Agreement and will not include direct technical assistance or service delivery”.

Since this instruction was issued, the question of how far a National Committee can go in responding to emergencies, including as a first responder, keeps arising. Given the nature of a unique relationship with National Committees and number of global emergencies (including L3 and L2 emergencies), it is not always possible for  UNICEF to respond immediately to emergencies in countries where UNICEF does not have a programme presence, due to competing priorities and the accountability and higher capacity of national authorities to respond. Recent requests for assistance from national authorities for assistance in setting up education facilities or child protection programmes have shown that national authorities in high income countries do not always have the tools available to support children and their families in the early days of an emergency.

Until now, requests to respond to an emergency from the National Committees are authorized on an individual basis, with no standard way of determining what can be done in the early days of a crisis by National Committee and what support UNICEF itself is able to provide.  It is therefore important to review UNICEF’s experience in responding to emergencies in countries where UNICEF does not have a programme presence and develop SOPs to support immediate response effectively and efficiently by outlining steps to determine the type of assistance and to draw a clear line between a National Committee intervention and that one of UNICEF.

Recent examples of National Committees’ support to emergencies in their countries:

  • With OED approval and jointly with EMOPS, the US Fund provided support to Texas and Puerto Rico in response to hurricanes in the Eastern Caribbean throughout September-October 2017.  
  • In 2017 the Dutch NatCom, in consultation with PFP and OED, provided support to Saint Maarten, with focus on child protection, psychosocial support and education.
  • A subsequent request was also made by the French National Committee following receipt of funds from L’Oréal to support Saint Martin (French part of that island). The joint approach was planned to be undertaken with LACRO in support of these emergency response activities.
  • National Committees have been a central component of the UNICEF response to the Refugee and Migrant Crisis in Europe since 2015, particularly on policy advocacy, public awareness, fundraising and child rights education. In Europe, in order to clarify the relationship between UNICEF and National Committees based in Europe, 4 key documents were developed: (i) Framework for collaboration between different teams in countries with a NatCom presence; (ii) Guidance for activities with NatCom volunteers; (iii) Guidance note for NatCom costs reimbursement; and (iv) Accountability Framework. These documents enabled the implementation of the UNICEF response in countries with National Committee presence. 6 countries were involved in the response: Germany, Slovenia, Greece, Hungary, Italy and Austria. Greece and Italy continue to keep UNICEF response teams. UNICEF is currently undertaking a comprehensive review of the emergency response during the Refugee and Migrant Crisis led by ECARO in collaboration with PFP and National Committees that will determine how the response and draw lessons for future crises.

Purpose & Responsibilities

The purpose of the consultancy is two-fold: (i) to examine the lessons learned from previous emergencies by analyzing what was done by National Committees and by UNICEF and at what speed, and (ii) to develop SOPs outlining the procedure for National Committees to follow in the event of an extraordinary emergency in their territory.

The responsibilities of the consultant include a desk-based review of previous responses of National Committees, consultation with PFP, HQ Divisions such as EMOPS, PPD, Legal Office, Supply Division, 1 or 2 Regional Offices, Refugee and Migrants Response Team and selected National Committees.

How can you make a difference?

Based upon the review, develop SOPs that will:

  1. Guide and explain the decision making process for National Committees and UNICEF to determine what National Committees can and cannot do to respond to emergencies in their territories following an official request for support. 
  2. Clarify which aspects of emergency response, if needed, should be left to UNICEF.
  3. Establish the protocols for service delivery, including supplies and cash, advocacy and external communications, and will outline clear division of roles and responsibilities in the event of an emergency onset.

Deliverables

  • Phase 1: development of timeline for the project and desk-based analysis of lessons learned from previous emergencies (1-2 weeks)
  • Phase 2: consultation with few National Committees, UNICEF HQ and ROs, including on existing UNICEF Executive Board resolutions and the Cooperation Agreement (1-2 weeks)
  • Phase 3: development of SOPs for National Committees outlining clear protocols to follow in seeking approval from UNICEF to provide assistance to an extraordinary emergency in their territory (4 weeks)
  • Phase 4: incorporating inputs from UNICEF HQ, ROs, National Committees and other stakeholders in the SOPs and finalising the package (2-3 weeks)

Duration and expected travel:

The consultancy will be for 3 months, with the envisaged total number of 55 working days. Travel is envisaged to Geneva at the beginning and end of the consultancy.

Work Place:

Desk/home-based

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have:

Qualifications:

  • Prior experience in emergencies including development of emergency related policy and guidance.
  • Working experience in EMOPS at senior level.
  • Understanding of how UNICEF works around the world, knowledge of how UNICEF works with the private sector and how UNICEF operates in emergencies.
  • Proven record of excellent English writing and communication.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF Core Values

  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • Integrity
  • Commitment

UNICEF Core Competencies

  • Drive for Results (Level III)
  • Communication (verbal and written) (Level III)
  • Working with People (Level III)

UNICEF Functional Competencies

  • Formulating Strategies and Concepts (Level III)
  • Analyzing (Level III)
  • Deciding and Initiating Action (Level III)
  • Adapting and Responding to Change (Level III)

View our competency framework at: http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

Remarks:

Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above (including travel and daily subsistence allowance, if applicable).  Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered. Also, please mention the earliest date you can start. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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 our organization.

 

This vacancy is now closed.
However, we have found similar vacancies for you: