Location:                               Home based

Full/Part time:                       Full-Time

Duration:                                June – December 2021

The Position:

In 2011, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) endorsed the second-generation humanitarian response strategy focusing on mainstreaming humanitarian preparedness and response within its organizational corporate processes from country level programmes, regional offices to headquarters global support systems.

In line with the strategy, UNFPA rolled out the Guidance Note on Minimum Preparedness (May 2014 version) in July 2014. Developed to enable a coordinated and focused Fund-wide strengthening of UNFPA’s preparedness capacity, the guidance note was produced by the Programme Division of the Humanitarian and Fragile Contexts Branch (HFCB) and the Asia Pacific Regional Office (APRO). 

Between September 2015 and February 2016, the HFCB led a participatory  process to review the guidance note with aims of: a) building on the experiences and lessons learned from countries and regions that have implemented the Guidance Note on Minimum Preparedness and the Minimum Preparedness Actions (MPAs); b) elaborating on and clarifying existing MPAs; and (c) harmonizing UNFPA approach with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Emergency Response Preparedness (ERP) Guidance Module. A revised Guidance Note on Minimum Preparedness Action was launched in August 2016.

In view of the new IASC Interim guidance on COVID 19 Emergency Response Preparedness Approach, system-wide work on risk analysis and early action, and in order to strengthen the capacities of UNFPA country offices on preparedness actions and contingency planning, UNFPA is seeking consultancy services to support the revision of UNFPA’s guidance on Early Warning, Emergency Preparedness and Early Action and train staff on this new emergency preparedness tools and guidelines.

How You Can Make a Difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young’s person potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s new strategic plan 2018-2021, focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal death; to end unmet need for family planning; end gender-based violence and harmful practices.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction. UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results. We need staff who are transparent and exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

The overall purpose of the Humanitarian Office is to facilitate the delivery of the UNFPA mandate by supporting humanitarian preparedness, response, and recovery actions in increasingly complex humanitarian situations, within globally agreed frameworks (2030 Agenda, Grand Bargain Commitments, Sendai Framework, etc.). The Humanitarian Office leads in leveraging and increasing effectiveness, efficiency and capacity of UNFPA staff and partners to scale up UNFPA’s role as a key global humanitarian actor. Through the Inter-Agency Standing Committee for Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (IASC) and other associated entities, the Humanitarian Office acts as a point of convergence on humanitarian activities, including policy, coordination, programming, advocacy, field capacity development, resource mobilization, innovation, partnerships, technical guidance and, crucially, thematic integration, ensuring complementarity between humanitarian and development action within the organization.

HO advocates among humanitarian agencies to include sexual and reproductive health and rights needs and sexual and gender-based violence prevention needs and humanitarian concerns of population into the overall humanitarian preparedness and response frameworks. The HO facilitates the development of UNFPA capacities to prepare and respond to the emergencies and to ensure the fund is well equipped to deal with the context of fragility and disaster risk reduction.

You Would Be Responsible for:

1. Document MPA implementation

1. Undertake a desk review looking at Regional Offices progress reports on the status of the MPAs; MPAs reports prepared by COs; and other relevant reports related to preparedness activities undertaken at the regional or country level.
2. Conduct a global survey on the status of UNFPA preparedness among key stakeholders (Representatives, Humanitarian Advisors, Humanitarian focal points, Operation Managers at RO and COs level on progress made emergency preparedness, areas of improvement, challenges and enablers
3. Result 1: Produce a report highlighting the baseline MPAs status by date of last revision per country, the reported bottlenecks and recommendations, the countries lessons learnt and best practices on emergency preparedness.

II.         Update MPA guidance

1. Complete the previous desk review with a desk review of / consult with UN partners (e.g.: UNICEF, IOM, OCHA, WFP…) to collate and review existing guidance on ERP and MPAs, including review on electronic version (e.g.: IOM)
2. Result 2: Revise the MPAs Guidance (taking into consideration new IASG guidance on ERP (Interim Guidance on COVID-19), new SRH and GBV guidance on Emergency Preparedness,  post-2015 Disaster Risk Reduction Framework…) , including a strong monitoring framework to measure quarterly progress made at CO, RO, HO level

III.       Support Capacity Building

1. Result 3: Facilitation of four webinars to present the review results and the guidance, in collaboration with regional offices to accommodate for language and time differences (2 English, 1 French, 1 Spanish)
2. Result 4: Development training curriculum and contents including interactive activities, case studies and simulation exercise based on UNFPA’s Guidance Note on Minimum Preparedness Actions (MPAs) and revised Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
3. Result 5: Organisation and possible facilitation of a global ToT in collaboration and coordination with the ROs and the HO knowledge management team

Envisaged delivery dates and how work will be delivered (e.g. electronic, hard copy etc.):

Electronic and hard copies, depending on the needs and as requested by the RTSU head of unit.

A questionnaire for the survey (electronic) by 30 June 2021

Result 1: Report on findings (electronic) by 31 August 2021

Result 2: Revised MPAs Guidance validated by key stakeholders (electronic) for HSC approval by 30 September 2021

Result 3: Facilitation of four webinars by 31 October 2021

Result 4: Training curriculum by 15 November 2021

Result 5: Organisation and facilitation of a global ToT by 15 December 2021

Supervisory arrangements:

The consultant will be under the overall supervision of the Head of Unit, RTSU, Humanitarian Office, and will work closely with the Head of Unit, IECU.

Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:       

• Weekly calls with supervisor and/or alternate (Head RTSU)
• Final draft documents 10 days prior to the expected result date
• Webinars and training invitations send at least 30 days prior to the events
• Capacity building events agenda and material available 15 days prior to the events

Expected travel:       

Eight days mission in a location to be defined

Knowledge and Experience:

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) public health, social work, social science or other related degree. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Knowledge and Experience

• Advanced university in a field directly related to humanitarian operations, policy and strategy development
• At least 7 years of humanitarian field experience
• Experienced in designing policies, guidelines, training tools  in relation to humanitarian preparedness and response.
• Training and facilitation experience
• Desirable experience in policy and technical writing at UN level
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills

Fluent in English. French or Spanish an advantage

Required Competencies

Values:

Exemplifying integrity,

Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,

Embracing cultural diversity,

Embracing change

Core Competencies:

Achieving results,

Being accountable,

Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,

Thinking analytically and strategically,

Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,

Communicating for impact

How to apply:
Interest applicants should send a letter of motivation and a detailed Curriculum Vitae/resume along with financial proposal with “Minimum Preparedness Actions consultancy” in the subject, to: HO-Recruitment@unfpa.org

Disclaimer:

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Fraudulent notices, letters or offers may be submitted to the UNFPA fraud hotline http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, teamwork, Embracing diversity in all its forms, integrity and a healthy balance of work and life. We are committed to maintaining our balanced gender distribution and therefore encourage women to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities for all including persons with disabilities.