Individual Consultant (Maldivian National) To revise the Maldives Education Sector Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (EPRP) and School Emergency Operations Plan

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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.

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

Advert: ToR/2021/07

Individual Consultant (Maldivian National): To revise the Maldives Education Sector Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (EPRP) and School Emergency Operations Plan.

Purpose of assignment:

This consultancy will provide dedicated technical assistance to the Ministry of Education on the updating of the Emergency Preparedness and Response plans that would be implemented across all schools in the Maldives. The ultimate aim is to strengthen capacities amongst educators and school management to strengthen its culture of safety and preparedness to natural hazards and pandemics and risks, and thereby strengthen resilience to emergencies/disasters at all levels including amongst children.

Within the Education sector, preparedness and response planning is critical to saving the lives of children in case of a natural disaster, local emergencies, pandemics, as well as ensuring quick resumption of learning and continuity to a quality education in a safe environment post-disaster, thereby contributing towards the recovery and return to normality and stability for affected communities.

The overall objective of this assignment is threefold:

1. Review the existing contingency planning and preparedness measures/ policies in place for the education sector in the Maldives;
2. In consultation with the key stakeholders from across Maldives, update the emergency preparedness and response plan (Contingency Plan) for the Education Sector including clear guidelines (standard operating procedures) for establishing optimal levels of preparedness at systems-, institutional-, and individual levels (Departments, Communities, Schools - teachers and students, and Homes).
3. Identify the capacity gaps that need to be addressed for effective implementation of the ERP and School SEOPs.
4. Revise the School Emergency Operations Plan (SEOP) document to include school-level preparedness for health emergencies/pandemics.

Duty station: Based in the Maldives Ministry of Education.

Supervisor: Program Specialist, Education and WASH will supervise the consultant. In addition, the consultancy will be managed by a team of MOE planning and Emergency Response staff, the Emergency Focal point at UNICEF and the Program Specialist for Health and Nutrition at UNICEF.

Details of deliverables

Timeframe

Tasks

Deliverables

15 days

15 working days

5 working days

20 working days.

15 working days.

1. Review of current EPRP, relevant national policies and strategies.

The assignment will start with the reviewing of the relevant national documents including national policies and strategies on emergency/disaster risk management to understand the current situation, gaps and challenges. Some of the relevant documents to review include but not limited to:

• Current Education Sector Development Plan (EPRP)
• Maldives national Disaster Risk Management Policies and Strategies
• United National Inter-Agency Contingency Plan (2016)
• Education Sector Analysis ( 2019)
• Education Sector Plan 2019-2014
• Education Response Plan for COVID-19
• School Emergency Operation Plans.
• Other documents and processes relevant to the assignment

2. Hold virtual consultations with key stakeholders including students and PTAs to seek their inputs and views on the current and potential risks schools and the education system face and identify the possible responses that can be taken.
3. Identify capacity gaps at the different levels of the preparedness and response and develop a capacity development plan for emergency preparedness and response for the different scenarios that should be included in the EPRP.
4. Hold virtual meetings to validate the findings from the stakeholder consultations and produce a report on the findings from the consultations.

The consultant will be required to consult closely with the team at MOE, the senior management of MOE and the schools. Additionally, relevant agencies involved in disaster risk preparedness/management including such as the National Disaster Management Centre, Maldives Red Crescent, UN agencies and , NGOS must be consulted. The process will also help the consultant to develop a stakeholders map for the education sector. UNICEF as an organization which promotes the participation of children/young people in all development processes, expects the consultant to meaningfully engage students, school managements and parents in all the processes for emergency preparedness and response.

5. Form an Emergency planning committee under the guidance of the MOE. Orient the committee on the Emergency Preparedness and Contingency Planning process including international best practices, with the purpose on increasing their skills in developing their crisis-sensitive planning.

   6. In collaboration with the Emergency planning committee, revise EPRP document and update the existing emergency scenarios and include scenarios for pandemics and possible terror attacks in collaboration with the above committee. Present the draft to the MOE SMT and seek their inputs. Produce the final draft.

   7. In collaboration with the Emergency planning committee, revise the School Emergency Operation Plan (SEOP) document and include school-level preparedness for health emergencies/pandemics and possible terror attacks and provide step-by-step guidance to help the school authority’s to performance during those two emergencies. Present the draft to the MOE SMT and schools and seek their input. Provide the final draft.

6. Develop a video presentation containing subtitles in English to provide an overview of the EPRP and the school SEOPs. The purpose of the video is to serve as a tool to orient/guide the school managements and PTAs on how to implement the required actions as per the new EPRP.

Inception report on the current situation of emergency preparedness of the education sector with recommendations on how to gaps in policies and their implementation.

Stakeholder consultation final report including a stakeholder mapping and a capacity gap analysis

Emergency Preparedness and Contingency Planning report

Final draft of the revised EPRP document

Final draft of the revised school SEOP

Final video.

Estimated duration of contract and deadline for submission of end-product: Duration: 65 working days (between April- June 2021)

Official travel involved: No travels will be required. Consultations will be done online.

Qualifications or specialized knowledge and/or experience required:

• Have at least 5 years of experience in disaster risk reduction/emergency preparedness planning or expertise in developing risk/vulnerability assessments;
• Hold at least an advanced University Degree in a related field;
• Experience with proven analytical, conceptualizing and negotiating skills relevant to human and social development;
• Ability to analyse information, evaluate options and to think and plan strategically;
• GIS and Geospatial skills experience would be desirable;
• Strong presentational skills;
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills;
• Fluency in English, both verbal and written, required; and
• Commitment to UNICEF’s core values. Experience working with UN agencies and International Organizations would be desirable.

Deadline for applications: extended until 25th April 2021, 06:00pm (Maldives Time)

Application link:

https://secure.dc7.pageuppeople.com/apply/671/gateway/Default.aspx?c=apply&sJobIDs=539364&SourceTypeID=796&sLanguage=en-us

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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.

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:

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.

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.