EMERGENCY COORDINATOR, Port Moresby, PNG

EMERGENCY COORDINATOR is urgently required

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For every child, advocate

Terms of Reference:

Emergency Coordinator for Papua New Guinea Country Office  

5 May to 30 December 2018

Background

 On 26 February 2018, a 7.5 magnitude earthquake hit the Highlands Region of Papua New Guinea (PNG) affecting around 544,000 people in Enga, Gulf, Hela, Southern Highlands and Western provinces. Of the 544,000 people, more than 270,000 people were estimated to be  in immediate need of life-saving assistance. Over the next five weeks, around 200 earthquakes (of up to 6.5 magnitude) and aftershocks have occurred, causing yet more damage and keeping the population in a high state of anxiety. Many people have remained in rough communal shelters, fearful of returning to their land, which in some cases was split open, in other cases, covered by landslides.

While numbers fluctuate, around 18,200 displaced people are staying in these informal shelters, with thousands more dispersed among host families (which in turn often involves separation of children from nuclear families, and loss of many school days). Separation of children staying with host families. In some villages, families still stay overnight outsides their houses/huts because of fear due to the continuing aftershocks. The distress reactions persist mainly among young children and this is expected to last for many more months to come causing trauma and fear. 

Around 54,000 homes are estimated to be damaged to the point of not being usable. Landslides caused by the earthquake have negatively affected food security. Many root crops and family vegetable plots have been destroyed. Around 143,000 people are estimated to have been rendered food insecure. Roads have been damaged reducing access to markets and public services. Around 64% of health facilities have been damaged and 32% remain closed. Health workers and teachers have also lost homes and gardens and are traumatized and unable to work. Damages to health facilities and schools also impeded their return to work. Health Surveillance systems are not functional, (although WHO and NDOH are trying to establish and run an emergency system), however the very low level of immunisation coverage before the disaster has left the affected communities highly vulnerable to outbreak risks 

Access to clean water, food, shelter, medicine and health services remain immediate concerns. At least 24,100 people are reported to be displaced and living in informal camps without adequate water and sanitation. Although the number of displaced population information fluctuates and not reliable. Health facilities are reporting an increase of watery diarrhoea attributed to lack of access to clean drinking water in many affected areas. Low immunization coverage and malnutrition were existing conditions prior to the earthquake and several Provinces in the highlands were facing outbreaks including malaria and measles.  Thus far, no increase in severe acute malnutrition has been reported from health facilities, but some children are likely not brought to health facilities, and measurable impact on nutritional status is not expected to be an immediate effect.

A limited number of schools have opened 5 weeks after the first earthquake and as many as 2/3rds of students may still be out of school. Southern Highlands Department of Education has listed 42 schools (primary, elementary) that were affected by the earthquake (school rooms damaged/slipped; teachers houses damaged; toilet facilities damaged). Some schools only resumed after 3 -4 weeks of closure, due to fear of aftershocks or collapsed building.

UNICEF has six relief and early recovery projects, which require a total of USD 19 million dollars. To date funds received are USD 2.8 million in ORE and USD 1.5 million in EPF. Almost all of the ORE is short term CERF that must be spent in the next 3-4 months. The six UNICEF projects are:

1. Nutrition. Mass SAM screening, treatment and referral; IYCF communication and counseling; distribution of micronutrients and de-worming tablets.
2. MCH. Immunisation of children and women of child-bearing ages; hypothermia management in newborns and neonatal resuscitation; antenatal and postnatal care.
3. Child Protection and WASH. “Learning Empowerment and Protection” Joint project led by UN Women and with UNFPA on counselling for and recovery from trauma and fear from earthquake, losses and injuries and also from violence and conflict
4. Education, Child Protection and WASH. Transitioning back to school through temporary learning spaces, school supplies, clean water and toilets, and psycho social recovery activities.
5. Child Protection. Affected communities mobilized to prevent and address violence, conflict, exploitation and abuse of children, and children in need of health, legal and social services are identified and successfully referred.
6. WASH. Social mobilization and behavior change communication to prevent illness and mortality from poor hygiene and sanitation practices and unclean water. Gender sensitive support for repair or construction of improved latrines, water collection systems, handwashing facilities, distribution of hygiene kits, water purification tablets, water containers. Water quality testing and advice to communities..

UNICEF is working with national and provincial governments and with local faith based organizations which have long operational presence and community integration in the affected areas. Having started the response through supply distribution to health facilities and through two SSFAs, UNICEF is now working on PCAs. Private sector collaboration is also being sought since the affected area has a significant presence and powerful influence by two mining companies and two oil and gas companies. The latter partnership is especially important for reaching communities that are only accessible by air, rough trails or dirt roads.

Justification for contracting an Emergency Coordinator for five months.

UNICEF PNG is a small office, located in Port Moresby with no field offices. There were no ongoing projects or activities in the earthquake affected areas before the disaster.  The earthquake response represents a significant expansion and rapid scaling up for the Office, in terms of new locations, new partners, and an unplanned large infusion of funds with short durations.  The Office has sixteen vacant posts due to serious recruitment challenges (a well-known problem in PNG for many years) and additionally, is undergoing a complete turnover of three senior management positions between April-June: Representative, Deputy Representative and Operations Manager. The Office will also undergo  Delivery as One UN and UNICEF audits in April-May.

There is insufficient existing staff capacity to direct and manage the six emergency projects, do financial and programme assurance and reporting, and coordinate new partners and well as deployments of staff, surge staff and consultants. Government leadership and coordination has not been strong, particularly  by the Provincial Governments. The implementing partners in the area are not accustomed to being coordinated or to much oversight at all.

Therefore, UNICEF Papua New Guinea wants to hire an experienced emergency Coordinator for five months, taking the Office through the expected duration of the emergency funding and projects, including the closure and reporting period.

Key Tasks and Deliverables:

Contract duration:  End date 31 December 2018 (This will allow for an amendment with possible addition of work days should this be required and if work is required and funding is available; if not, the contract can be closed when the 105 work days are used and all deliverables are delivered and accepted as satisfactory).

Number of work days: 105

Location: Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea with frequent missions to Hela Province (based out of Tari) and Southern Highlands Province (based out of Mendi.) Some travel to Mt Hagen and to other earthquake affected provinces may be required.

All activities and tasks and deliverables are ongoing throughout the employment period. Therefore rather than being linked to specific deliverables, payments will be tied to ongoing submission of reports and certification that the activities are being successfully carried out. Three payments are proposed.

• 1^st payment, Upon signing of contract. Calculate to include enough money for round trip air ticket and DSA for first two months.
• 2^nd payment at the end of month two upon certification of delivery of regular reports
• 3^rd payment at the end of month five upon certification of delivery of regular reports and of final handover note.

Under the direct supervision of the Representative, in close collaboration with the Deputy Representative, Operations Manager and section chiefs:

How can you make a difference?

[Insert purpose of post and bullet points on main activities]

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Education Advanced University degree in one of the following fields: social sciences, public administration, law, public health, nutrition, international relations, business administration or other related disciplines. Preferably a combination of management, administration, and relevant technical fields.

  2. Work Experience Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional work experience at the national and international levels in programme/project development, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and administration. Developing country work experience. Specialized training/experience in emergency response management highly desirable.

  3. Language Proficiency • Fluency in English and a second UN language; Local working language of the duty station an asset • Fluency in English and a local working language of the duty station;

  4. Competency Profile

  i) Core Values (Required) • Commitment • Diversity and Inclusion • Integrity

   ii) Core Competencies (Required)

   • Communication [II]

  • Working with People [II]

   • Drive for Results [II]

   iii) Functional Competencies (Required)

  • Leading and Supervising [II]

  • Analyzing [II]

  • Deciding and Initiating Action [III]

   • Persuading and Influencing [III]

   • Applying Technical Expertise [III]

   • Planning and Organizing [II]

   • Adapting and Responding Change [III]

   Coping with Pressure and Setbacks [III]

   

   iv) Technical Knowledge2 a) Specific Technical Knowledge Required (for the job (Technical knowledge requirements specific to the job can be added here as required.) • UNICEF policies and strategy to address on national and international emergency issues, particularly relating to conflicts, natural disasters, and recovery.

  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.

  The technical competencies required for this post are….

  View our competency framework at

  http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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