Consultant to develop minimum standards for adequate preparedness, response and recovery to natural and man-made disasters that ensure the protection and well-being of children, and other vulnerable groups, Kigali Rwanda, 2 months ( Work from home) at United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF): (Deadline 31 August 2024)

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To learn more about UNICEF career and the work in Rwanda, please visit the country website https://unicef.sharepoint.com/sites/RWA/ or watch this video about UNICEF work in Rwanda: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7B91m5Yzoc and UNICEF Careers | UNICEF Careers.

How can you make a difference?

A. Background:

Rwanda is a landlocked country situated in the Great Lakes region of East Africa with an area of 26,338 square kilometers and a population of about 13,246,394 (RPHC5, 2022). Rwanda’s population density is considered amongst the highest in Africa. Rwanda is at high elevation, with a geography dominated by mountains and hills and surrounded by volcanoes in the Northern/Eastern part of the country. The country’s topography and its natural environment pose a great risk to natural hazards; in the past, the most known hazards include droughts, floods, earthquakes, landslides, various storms (i.e. windstorms, rainstorms and thunderstorms), diseases and epidemics that disrupt people’s lives and livelihoods, destroy infrastructure, interrupt economic activities and retard development (MIDIMAR, 2013). Over the last decade, the frequency and severity of natural disasters, particularly caused by floods and droughts, have significantly increased, with increasing toll of human casualties as well as economic and environmental losses.

In the event of disasters, children are the most affected; this is due to many factors, but the most known include the displacement process itself that sometimes push children to walk very distances disproportionate to their age, with the risk of separation from family and community, losing a parent or a loved one, being exposed to all forms of violence and exploitation as well as psychological and emotional distress, just to name a few. Assisting children in the context of an emergency should be done through careful interventions, which address both their immediate needs and protects them from long-term harm.

Also, persons with disabilities face unique challenges during every stage of emergency and disaster management due to inaccessible warnings, evacuation, response (including shelters, camps, and food distribution), and long-term recovery efforts. They often get more affected by the disruption of the physical, social, economic, and environmental networks and support systems in greater proportions compared to the population without disabilities. Common experiences reveal that persons with disabilities are more likely to be left behind or abandoned during evacuation in disasters and conflicts. They may be separated from their family members and caregivers, as well as their assistive devices (e.g., wheelchairs, prosthetics) or may be unable to operate them in a disaster, hence limiting their capacity to participate and to resist shocks . In addition, natural and manmade catastrophes are often causing injuries and posing further risks for new disabilities or worsening the situation of those already presenting with functional limitations.

The elderly, pregnant mothers, women, persons with disabilities and those affected by chronic diseases may also be at heightened risk of being severely hit by disasters due to limited capabilities to get information on time and take necessary action to secure their lives and properties. Moreover, in times of response, they may be left behind, unable to coop with the hassles of displacements and all the exigencies to access services massively.

Based on the recent flooding experience in the Western/Northen parts of the country that claims several human and material losses in May 2023, the Ministry in Charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA) has put in place sub-clusters with an aim to reflect on previous lessons and propose ways to overcome any identified shortfalls in the response that was provided. The primary objective of this sub-cluster is to ensure that specific needs of the most vulnerable including children, PWDs, elders, and people with chronic diseases are given due consideration both in the preparedness, response and post-recovery planning. During different consultations, there was recommendation to have the standards operating procedures (SoPs) to curb the problem of insufficient interventions and coordination that were observed in the past.

B. Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The primary objective of the consultancy is to develop minimum standards for adequate preparedness, response and recovery to natural and man-made disasters that ensure the protection and well-being of children, persons with disabilities, and the elderly and other vulnerable groups. The SoPs should guide on key interventions for each category and to promote effective coordination among stakeholders and efficient resource allocation for immediate and long-term response as per special needs and vulnerabilities.

C. Key Tasks:

1. Conduct a comprehensive review of existing national and international frameworks, guidelines, and best practices related to disaster response for vulnerable groups.
2. Review international best practices and standards in disaster preparedness and response, particularly those focusing on vulnerable populations & benchmark Rwanda’s existing policies against these standards.
3. Assess the specific needs and vulnerabilities of children, persons with disabilities, and elders in the context of Rwandan disasters.
4. Identify gaps and challenges in current disaster response practices concerning these vulnerable groups.
5. Define the scope of the SOPs, specifying the types of disasters covered (e.g., floods, earthquakes, pandemics)
6. Specify the geographic scope (national, regional, local) and the responsible agencies or stakeholders involved.
7. Produce the first draft of the key findings and SoPs and organize a workshop for TOT Piloting and validation.

Methodology

1. Describe the approach to be used in developing the minimum standards.
2. Stakeholder consultations with government agencies, NGOs, and relevant community representatives.
3. Literature review and analysis of existing international and national policies, reports, studies and guidelines on disaster preparedness and response to protect vulnerable groups.
4. Field visits or case studies to gather first-hand insights into local challenges and best practices.
5. Facilitate a workshop and discussions to validate and refine the standards.

Key Components of the Minimum Standards

1. Preparedness Phase

1. 1. Identification and mapping of vulnerable groups.
   2. Procedures for inclusive evacuation, sheltering, and access to essential services.
   3. Coordination mechanisms among responders and stakeholders to address specific needs.
   4. Budgeted preparedness and resource mobilization plan

2. Response Phase

1. Immediate actions to ensure the safety and well-being of children, persons with disabilities and elders.
2. Protocols & procedures for evacuation, sheltering, and provision of protection, mental health wellbeing and psychosocial support with consideration of each category’s special needs.
3. Coordination mechanisms among different agencies and stakeholders.

3. Recovery Phase

1. Procedures for assessing and addressing the long-term specific needs of vulnerable groups in post-disaster recovery.
2. Long-term planning for rehabilitation and reconstruction that considers the needs of vulnerable groups.
3. Measures to promote resilience and reduce future vulnerabilities.

4. Roll-out Plan of the SoPs

1. Outline steps for piloting and implementing the minimum standards.
2. Specify roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders in the implementation process.
3. Establish monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to assess the effectiveness of the SOPs and make necessary adjustments.

5. Compliance and Sustainability

1. Ensure alignment of the minimum standards with national policies, laws, and international conventions (e.g., UNCRC, UNCRPD).
2. Develop strategies for sustainability, including capacity building, institutionalization of standards, and regular reviews and updates based on lessons learned.

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks/Milestone:

• Produce the Inception Report highlighting the methodology with key actions to be undertaken for each step, the KIIs and key milestones and coordinate with MINEMA & UNICEF to organize a meeting for technical validation
• Conduct a quick assessment of situation of each category of vulnerable groups (children, PWDs, the elders and the chronically sick) and what are their specific needs in emergencies and produce a summary report of not more than 15 pages together with the outline of the SoPs that tackles on all the phases (preparedness, response, and recovery)
• Organize & facilitate the technical validation meeting
• Develop the SoPs and organize/facilitate the endorsement (to be conducted in a form of ToT piloting)
• Finalize the SoPs with inputs after validation and share the final report

Deliverables/Outputs:

Payment 1: 20%

1. Inception Report

Payment 2: 30%

2. Summarized Assessment Report
3. Outline of the SoPs

Payment 3: 50%

4. Workshop for SoPs validation is organized.
5. Final SoPs shared

Duration and Duty Location

This consultancy will be completed within 2 months. The consultant will be working from home.

Selection Criteria

Applications shall be assessed based on their technical and financial proposals. Maximum scores for technical and financial applications will be 75% and 25%, respectively.

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

• An advanced university degree (master’s or higher) in Social Sciences, Development Studies, International Relations, Human Rights
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in conducting assessments of national systems.
• Experience in child protection, child rights, disability Inclusion and/or social protection. A combination with Child protection in Emergencies would be an asset.
• Understanding of Rwandan legislations and policies and the system approach to child protection, disability inclusion and social protection.
• Understanding of international instruments, protocols, and guidelines on humanitarian action (Core commitments for children, IASC guidelines, CPMS in Humanitarian action,
• Experience on Developing SoPs & guidelines

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit  here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

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: 

All candidates will receive feedback of their application.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract 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 and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors 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.