International Consultant to facilitate BCP simulation exercise, Cox's Bazar; Bangladesh (Not for Bangladeshi)

Contract

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Background:

Cox’s Bazar field office as established in 2017 to respond to the forcibly Myanmar national’s humanitarian emergency. Currently Cox’s Bazar field office has a total number of around 140 staff members. Cox’s Bazar field now has expanded its scope of work to implementation of development programmes in the host communities. In addition to this from the beginning of 2022, the government of Bangladesh has moved about 35,000 forcibly Myanmar nationals to Bashan Char and UNICEF has a strong footprint in WASH, Child protection and Education.

Cox’s Bazar district is located along the southern part of the Bay of Bengal which is prone to Cyclones and flooding which trigger landslides. In addition, in recent times the refugee camps which spread from Teknaf in the south to Ukhiya in the north have experienced a series of fatal fire incidents which UNICEF and other partners have responded to in a timely fashion. But there is need to find sustainable interventions to prevent the fires form occurring in the camps.

As part of its preparedness, the UNICEF Cox’s Bazar office has an approved BCP, EPRP and a communication tree in place which are used as tools to guide the office’s response in the event of any emergency. To prepare its staff members to effectively respond to any emergency, the office conducts tabletop simulation exercises on a yearly basis. However, since the effectiveness of tabletop simulation exercises does not provide staff with the necessary skills for real life emergency situations, this year it is proposed to have a hands-on training for key staff in the office.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The purpose of this project is to engage a well-qualified professional with a proven track record in emergency preparedness and response planning training and provision of high-end technical support to CXB staff with conducting a successful live BCP simulation exercise which will enviably prepare the staff to effectively respond when the office BCP is activated, including the use of the approved office EPRP and communication tree. The training should include hands on, practical training on emergency preparedness and response including BCP simulation and live testing of the communication tree. In addition, the training will enhance the capacities of enable key staff members on how to conduct an analysis of the emergency risks and triggers, emergency preparedness and response as well as impart practical use of the EPRP, BCP and communication tree tools.

Key areas to focus on are flooding and flood response and fire response inclusive of mitigation measures to be adopted and cyclones preparedness and response, Including DRR (Disaster Risk Reduction) and EWEA (Early Warning and Early Action) and their impact on emergency preparedness and response. The live BCP, EPRP and communication tree simulations shall also involve UNICEF staff members in Bashan Char.

The overarching objectives of the assignment are to:

1. Test the depth and breadth of knowledge and understanding of UNICEF CXB staff members on BCP, EPRP and communication tree principles and their practical application during emergency.
2. Validate the preparedness of all key stakeholders in CXB and Bhasan Char to be involved in the emergency response including IPs/CSOs, Government counterparts and other UN agencies etc.
3. Test UNICEF CXB implementing partners preparedness and response planning approaches during emergencies.
4. Review and update the BCP/EPRP and communication tree to align it with the changing global practices and revised UNICEF policies and procedures.
5. Impart practical knowledge and skills on BCP, EPRP and communication tree critical for timely response during the onset of any emergency

Major Assignment:

1. Review the CXB EPRP and BCP to understand the context of CXB and recommend areas that can be improved and prepare a timetable of activities for this project.
2. Conduct a practical training for CXB staff on emergency preparedness and response and BCP implementation after activation.
3. In consultation with CXB key stake holders (CFO, team leads, emergency manager, Emergency specialist, Operations manager, logistics Officer, CXB focal point in Bhasan Char etc Implementing partners.). Prepare a BCP live simulation scenario to be used during the live simulation exercise.
4. Support and coordinate live BCP simulation for CXB staff members.
5. Prepare lessons learn report highlighting things which went well, and which didn’t go well during the simulation with related recommendations of actions to be taken to improve the office’s BCP response.
6. Make a presentation to all CXB staff on the outcome of the live BCP presentation and the lessons learnt and practical suggestions of actions to be taken with a clear timeline and staff accountabilities.
7. Prepare and submit an overall final report covering all areas which need improvement.

Deliverables and time:

1. Report on areas of improvement for CXB EPRP and BCP-3 days
2. Training on emergency preparedness and BCP activation response conducted- 2 days
3. BCP simulation submitted to CXB CFO, Emergency manager and Operations Manager for approval- 2days.
4. Live simulation of BCP simulation – 1 day
5. A lessons leanrt report submitted to CXB management- 2 days.
6. Presentation to staff and management – 1day
7. Final report submitted to CXB management- 4 days

Education/Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• Master’s in social sciences, public administration, international law, public health, nutrition, international relations, business administration or other related disciplines. Preferably a combination of management, administration, and relevant technical fields.
• 5 years of relevant professional experience in emergency response is required.
• Knowledge in operationalisation of the BCP, communication tree, EPRP, EWEA, DRR in real emergency context is required
• Military background in high threats complex contexts will be an added advantage.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

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:

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.

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.