ECHO Yanomami project technical adviser Individual Contract, Boa Vista, Brazil

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Background & Rationale

UNICEF is starting the implementation of a project that aims to support the development of disaster preparedness and response plans for the Yanomami Indigenous Territory (TIY) contributing to Yanomami communities overcoming climate change and socio-environmental impacts, considering also its consequences to the health, nutrition, sanitation and social protection from a community perspective. The TIY has 9.6 million hectares of forest and is located in the states of Roraima and Amazonas in Brazil, where about 30,000 Yanomami and Ye'kwana people live distributed in more than 300 communities, in addition to the presence of groups living in voluntary isolation. Recently the TIY has been facing an important increment of illegal mining and logging activities that consequently have been causing an increase of violence, disease outbreaks and infant mortality. The situation has worsened by the lack of appropriate services and infrastructure as well logistical difficulties and absence of coordination mechanisms to respond to emergencies. The context also implies higher vulnerability to extreme weather events. The project will support Yanomami communities and organizations by: (I) strengthening existing local mechanisms for multiple risk assessment; (ii) strengthening communication, protection and surveillance systems to reinforce existing early warning; (iii) supporting the establishment and update of Preparedness and Contingency Plans to ensure anticipatory action that responds to identified risks and events; and (iv) supporting advocacy activities for the right to access legal services.

The project's strategies will be developed with broad participation from the community, especially from Yanomami and Yek’wana youth. UNICEF partners are the Socioambiental Institute, Hutukara – Yanomami Association with a wide presence in the region – and the CIR (Conselho Indigena de Roraima). In addition, dialogue with governmental and non-governmental organizations is of fundamental importance for the project to allows an effective response to the problems and issues addressed by Yanomami and Yak’wana communities.

UNICEF is the UN agency with the greatest capillarity in Brazil with a total of 9 field offices with longstanding partnerships with over 1,924 municipalities in the Amazon region. UNICEF Office in Roraima has been positioned for humanitarian action and has been leading the migration response in the field. UNICEF is thus well positioned to provide timely and context-specific program and humanitarian support in vulnerable geographical areas, including remote locations. In Roraima, Brazil´s most indigenous state, UNICEF has been leading the process of involving and strengthening local indigenous organizations to cope and integrate indigenous migrants and refugees, as well as working on the humanitarian development nexus. UNICEF has supported the participatory process led by the indigenous organizations to develop of a Governance Plan of the Indigenous territories of São Marcos and Surumú, directly affected by the migration flow. Working closely with host communities, local organizations and key stakeholders has been a priority for UNICEF to strengthen public policies and prepare for emergencies.

Purpose

The Project Technical Adviser (PTA) reports to the Chief of Boa Vista Field Office and has a direct technical link with the Emergency Manager in Brasília for technical oversight and guidance. The PTA provides overall technical and operational leadership in delivering the project services. He/she works closely with other team members (national and local), national authorities, and partners to deliver strategic results for the Yanomami communities participating to the project. In particular, the PTA is responsible for: (i) providing technical assistance to the project team and partners, (ii) ensuring effective collaboration between UNICEF, implementing partners, local authorities, Yanomami organizations and communities leaders, (iii) ensuring the project is technically sound and implemented as per the results agreed with the donor (ECHO), (iv) supporting programme progress reporting. Travels will be required to Yanomami territory to monitor and evaluate the project activities.

The specialist will also participate in strategic program discussion on the planning of disaster and response programs, and support formulate, design and prepare related programs proposals , ensuring alignment with the overall UNICEF’s Strategic Plans and Country Programs.

Expected results:

Result 1: Technical assistance to the project team and partners is provided in a timely and effective manner

Activities:

• Support initial situation assessment, coordinate an analysis existing early warning system and disaster response mechanisms
• Support partners in the technical preparation of project documents with partners and the implementation of activities
• Ensure communities are adequately involved and consulted at every step and that feedback mechanism are in place and used to correct the project when needed
• Provide technical support throughout all stages of the programme review and annual work planning processes strengthening linkages between UNICEF’s humanitarian and regular programming.
• Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of programming processes and to ensure integration, coherence, and harmonization of disaster preparedness and response components with other UNICEF areas.
• Work closely and collaboratively with internal and external colleagues and partners to discuss strategies and methodologies and to determine priorities/competencies to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable results.

Result 2: Collaboration between UNICEF, implementing partners, local authorities, Yanomami organizations and communities leaders is in place

Activities:

• Support the organization of technical and strategic discussion with local authorities and communities
• Set-up a project coordination mechanism with partners
• Set-up an internal project coordination with the support of supervisors, engaging all areas involved in the project (Child protection, Health, Communication, WASH)

Result 3: The project is technically sound and implemented as per the results agreed with the donor

Activities:

• Plan and/or collaborate with internal and external partners to establish monitoring benchmarks, performance indicators and other UNICEF/UN system indicators and measurement to assess/strengthen performance accountability, coherence and delivery of concrete and sustainable results disaster preparedness and response plans.
• Develop a monitoring framework for all project activities, involving all areas and partners
• Provide technical guidance for the development of workplans, reporting tools, protocols and advocacy messages

Result 4: Project progress report are prepared on time

Activities:

• Ensure timely data collection and analysis for the preparation of monthly internal progress reports
• Lead the preparation of the donor reports.

Deliverables:

The services included in the contract will be delivered continuously, with the same intensity throughout the months. The results will be evaluated by the following deliverables per result:

• Result 1: Participate to the preparation of implementing partners Programme Documents
• Result 2: At least one monthly meeting organized with implementing partners
• Result 3: Creation of a project monitoring framework.
• Result 4: At least one monthly progress report submitted, and all donor report submitted on time.
• Result 5: Support the development of a Disaster and Preparedness Project with CIR

Deadline:

1st deadline: 1st month

Amount: R$ 14.425

2nd deadline: 2nd month

Amount: R$ 14.425

3rd deadline: 3rd month

Amount: R$ 14.425

4th deadline: 4th month

Amount: R$ 14.425

5th deadline: 5th month

Amount: R$ 14.425

6th deadline: 6th month

Amount: R$ 14.425

Performance indicators

• Punctuality in meeting deadlines
• Quality of the contents

• Timely provision of the deliverables,

• Full adherence to the monthly workplans and diligences as agreed with Supervisor;

• Satisfactory quality level of reports and actions (quality of inputs, analysis, register of activities, recommendations, etc.)

Immediately upon signature of the agreement, the UNICEF supervisor and the selected consultant will meet for detailed discussion of the Work Plan and the quality criteria for product delivery. Regular meetings will also be scheduled at a distance or in person to follow up the activities defined in the Work Plan.

The monthly project progress reports shall be subject to review and approval by UNICEF after delivery by the Consultant. If needed, revisions and alterations may be requested by UNICEF related to quality and technical depth parameters. Only after final clearance from the UNICEF Brazil, will the payment be processed.

Technical background, and experience required

• A university degree in one of the following fields is required: Child protection, Public health, Human rights, Psychology, Anthropology, Geography or another relevant social science field;
• A minimum of two years of professional experience in social development planning and management in human rights, humanitarian action or disaster preparedness. Additional years of experience is an asset;
• Experience with Indigenous organizations and work in Indigenous communities a strong asset;
• Relevant experience in programme development in human rights in Emergency related areas in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.;
• Excellent communication, team work and coordination skills, including the capacity to deliver results with tight deadlines;
• Experience in both development and humanitarian contexts is an added advantage;
• Fluency in Portuguese required. Advance knowledge of Spanish and English language will be considered as an asset.

Key competences

Builds and maintains partnerships; Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness; Drive to achieve results for impact; Innovates and embraces change; Manages ambiguity and complexity; Thinks and acts strategically; Works collaboratively with others.

Core Values

1. Care
2. Respect
3. Integrity
4. Trust
5. Accountability

General Conditions: Procedures and Logistics

• UNICEF will provide the Individual Contractor all required core equipment and material for fulfilling his duty, including computer
• Expenses related to these travels will be covered by UNICEF and paid to the Consultant as per UNICEF travel rules and regulations.
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant or Contractor
• Consultants/ICs will not have supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNICEF budget.
• The Individual Contractor will work on-site under a full-time basis and prior authorization and/or clearance from UNICEF to engage in external activities is required.

Insurance and health coverage

• The contractor is fully responsible for arranging, at his or her own expenses, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the term of the contract as he or she considers appropriate.
• The contractor is not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to UNICEF and United Nations staff members.

Payment of fee

• The payment will be based on submission of agreed deliverables.
• The indicated fee is based on the established IC Fee table currently applicable.
• 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.

Restrictions

• Consultants and individual contractors may not receive training at the expense of UNICEF. Notwithstanding, consultants and individual contracts must complete the applicable mandatory trainings.
• In case of government officials, the contract cannot be issued without prior written clearance by the Government​, or unless on leave without pay.

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.

UNICEF is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.