Individual National Consultant: Provincial Coordinator, Support for SUPER-II Project, Lumbini Province

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. 

For every child, safety.

Disaster, climate change and environmental degradation pose significant threats to children’s well-being globally, potentially reversing advancements in child survival and development. Over one billion children are at severe risk from environmental hazards such as earthquakes, landslides, floods, and inundation. UNICEF, alongside its partners, spearheads efforts to advocate for and implement child-centered disaster risk reduction (CCDRR) actions in climate change, environment, energy, and disaster risk reduction (CEED). These initiatives support the targeted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and leverage UNICEF’s unique position to mitigate impacts on children, youth and women while empowering them as change agents.

A consortium of three UN agencies (UNDP, UNICEF, and UN Women) led by UNDP has been implementing, Strengthening Urban Preparedness, Earthquake Preparedness, and Response in the Western Region of Nepal (SUPER) since August 2022 and extended for institutionalization of SUPER (I-SUPER) since August 2023, programme aims to enhance disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) in Lumbini Province. UNICEF is leading the implementation in Lumbini province. This initiative focuses on strengthening the institutional and legislative capacities of the provincial ministries of Lumbini Province, and Nepalgunj Sub-metropolitan city. By creating strategic linkages between disaster risk management (DRM) and development sectors, SUPER promotes improved cluster coordination mechanism in province, community-based DRM, earthquake preparedness, and emergency response. These interventions collectively aim to reinforce Nepal’s disaster risk management system.

European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) has prioritized its support to the newly formed Local and Provincial Governments of Nepal to build their capacities for disaster risk reduction and emergency response to urban and earthquake risks. ECHO has identified the need for improved coordination among state and non-state stakeholders, humanitarian actors including humanitarian cluster leads and co-leads and private sectors critically important for enhancing municipal and provincial preparedness for urban and earthquake risks. Under HIP 2024 ECHO has agreed to fund Strengthening Urban Preparedness, Earthquake Preparedness and Response in Western Region of Nepal (SUPER-II) project for implementation by UNDP led consortium (other consortium partners are UNICEF, UN Women and Handicap International). The project will be implemented for a period of 24 months (1 August 2024-31 July 2026) in 3 provinces of Western Nepal, i.e., Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim encompassing the core urban municipalities of Nepalgunj (Banke), Dhangadi (Kailali), and Birendranagar (Surkhet). The project aims to institutionalize operational urban and earthquake preparedness and response in targeted provinces and municipalities and link it with federal mechanism. With inclusion at the heart of the action, addressing specific needs of vulnerable groups especially women, children, and persons with disabilities, it also intends to upscale interventions in project area and beyond.

How can you make a difference? 

Goal / Objective – Programme Group Result/Intermediate Result (PCR/IR) relevance

The project interventions, focuses on i) Institutionalization of Government-led operational system for urban and earthquake preparedness at provincial and local level for effective response ii) Strengthening coordination and information management at provincial and municipal levels, aligned with national framework, for disaster risk governance; iii) Enhanced policy engagement for scalability of disaster preparedness and response mechanism at federal, provincial, and local levels.

Project implementation envisions strong engagement with multiple stakeholders at provincial and local levels such as the community, private sector, international institutions, UN agencies, non-government organizations, experts, policy makers, and humanitarian cluster leads and co-leads. The project will be implemented in 3 municipalities and 3 provinces under a consortium led by UNDP through a dedicated project team based in Kathmandu, led by the National Project Coordinator, under whom the project field teams, located in 3 provinces and 3 municipalities, will operate.

The Provincial Coordinator will coordinate the overall implementation of project activities in Lumbini province as well as coordinate with Karnali and Sudurpaschim provincial team (project team, HCT provincial focal point agency and UNICEF field offices) for inter-cluster coordination. S/he will report to and work under direct supervision of the Planning and DRR Officer, UNICEF Bhairahawa field office and the National Project Coordinator of SUPER II. S/he will be directly responsible for overall implementation of the project activities in respective province and municipality, including management of the team that is comprised of Technical Officers, as well as supervision of staffs deployed from partner NGOs including information management officers based in Emergency Operation Centers (EOCs) (Provincial and Local levels). S/he will work in close coordination with the UNICEF FO Bhairahawa, Planning and DRR Officer, and Climate Resilience, DRR and Environment Sustainability section at UNICEF NCO and key cluster co-lead agencies and focal points.

Scope of Work:

Effectively coordinate at Provincial and local level as well as within the project components:

• Ensure close coordination and linkages with provincial governments, line agencies, provincial EOCs, cluster leads and co-leads and local governments.
• Maintain regular communication and coordination with the Planning and DRR Officer UNICEF FO Bhairahawa and National Project Coordinator and other project staff including provincial technical officers, and admin and finance officers of the project.
• Coordinate with and provide guidance in planning and oversee the management of activities conducted by partner NGOs in the province and municipalities.
• Synchronize project’s field level actions (provincial, district and local) under different components of the project with the actions of different actors working on urban and earthquake risk management issues.
• Ensure close coordination and linkages with the SUPER partner agencies and their assigned representatives and partner/implementing agencies at province level.
• Coordinate with Karnali and Sudurpaschim provincial team – SUPER project team, HCT provincial focal point agencies and UNICEF field offices) for inter-cluster coordination and cluster activities.

Effectively manage the project within the province for timely delivery of quality outputs:

• Under the overall guidance of the National Project Coordinator and Planning and DRR Officer UNICEF FO Bhairahawa, undertake responsibility of project planning, implementation, management, and coordination at provincial, district, and municipal levels.
• Under the overall guidance of National Project Coordinator and Planning and DRR Officer UNICEF FO Bhairahawa, supervise the technical officers, and other project staffs from partner NGOs including IMOs based at EOCs.
• Carry out regular field supervision, joint monitoring, and management of project to ensure delivery of quality results in a timely and efficient manner as per agreed project work plan.
• Coordinate with local partners to ensure timely mobilization of human resources and logistics to support project implementation, and regularly monitor their services against quality, timeliness, and effectiveness.
• Ensure cross learning among consortium members and other community of practices at province and municipality levels.

Provide coordination and technical support to the project team to achieve project outputs:

• Establish necessary linkages with the provincial/ municipal governments, Provincial Disaster Management Committee, Municipal Disaster Management Committee, key ministries/ departments, provincial/ municipal EOCs, Provincial Focal Point Agency (PFPA), Cluster Co-leads and partners, other government entities at local level including ward offices, line agencies, Tole Lane Organizations, women groups, and the local people to ensure ownership of project approach, processes, and outputs.
• Facilitate Provincial and municipal disaster management committee led updating of Emergency Preparedness and Response plans, Disaster management plans, Business Continuity Plans at the provincial and municipal levels.
• Support the usage of EOCs and its institutionalization and linkage and communication among EOCs at municipalities, districts, sectoral, and provinces.
• Facilitate urban and issue-based simulation exercises to test the coordination, and agility of the response system.
• Support the creation of mechanisms for resource sharing to conduct training of community emergency response team (CERT) volunteer with municipalities.
• Support to strengthen provincial cluster (sector) and inter-cluster mechanisms for increased ownership by sectoral ministries, the cluster leads, and its linkage at the federal level.
• Support to create mechanism for the Inter-Provincial resource-sharing to facilitate preparedness and response.
• Facilitate advocacy for allocating resources by provincial and local governments for risk reduction and disaster preparedness to ensure sustainability of approach supported by the project and formulate necessary policies by provincial government to enhance preparedness for effective response.
• Provide support for strengthening disaster preparedness and response through policy and budgetary interventions by engaging parliamentarians and elected representatives.
• Provide inputs to demonstrate mechanisms for linkage between metropolitan/sub-metropolitan city and urban and rural municipalities for coordinated preparedness and response and create a platform for knowledge sharing.

Monitoring, Preparation of reports and documents, Communication/ Knowledge Management and Gender Equality Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI):

• Timely preparation of technical and progress reports, briefs, and other required documents.
• Ensure project data/information are maintained in line with project M&E framework in a disaggregated fashion.
• Ensure integration of GEDSI in overall project approach, monitoring system and reporting mechanism through tailored support for disaggregated data collection and analysis.
• Document learning and disseminate information to wider DRR community at provincial level in coordination with project staff.
• Work closely with Information and Database officer and Communication officer at UNDP to collect and compile reports, data, news, events, human stories, challenges, and lessons learnt to publish in periodic reports.
• Support in integration of GEDSI in all stages of the project in coordination with GEDSI Focal Person of UNDP/ SUPER-II project and UNWOMEN.
• Perform any other related task as per the request of the National Project Coordinator, Planning and DRR Officer UNICEF FO Bhairahawa, and Climate Resilience, DRR and Environment Sustainability section at UNICEF NCO.
• Create a safe working environment by developing respectful and safe organizational culture and supporting practices.
• Collaborates with team members, programme partners, and sub-grantees to ensure safe implementation of programmes at the community level applying Do No Harm approach

TASK

• Stakeholder Coordination and Plan
• Tabletop simulation at provincial and municipal level
• Provincial and municipality plan update
• Workshop with Parliamentarians and Municipal Assembly Members on DRRM
• Coordination and update of cluster contingency plans
• Standardization and Integration of EOC Communication and Information Management
• Capacity building on inventory management
• Cluster/inter-cluster review meeting
• Enhancement Humanitarian Cluster System for Provincial and municipal Stakeholders
• Institutionalization of Inter-Provincial Resource Sharing Mechanism

First Deliverable

• Organized one workshop on SUPER II project inception/induction at provincial level.
• Developed province level annual work plan (AWP) and multi-year work plan (MYWP) for the implementation of SUPER II in consultation with provincial cluster leads as well as consortium members.

Second Deliverable

• Five clusters’ (Education, Protection, WASH, Health and Nutrition, and shelter) cluster coordination and meetings (1 meeting of each cluster) conducted at province level (as an after-action review of monsoon preparedness and response).

Third Deliverable

• Coordinated and conducted issue-based 2 tabletop exercises considering GEDSI, relief distribution, damage data/ information management (one each in Lumbini province and Nepalgunj municipality).

Fourth Deliverable

• Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan (DPRP) /Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (EPRP), and Business Continuity Plan (BCP) at provincial and municipal level revised and updated.

Fifth Deliverable

• Organized 2 workshops (1 each with provincial parliamentarians at provincial level, and municipal assembly members at municipality level) to educate on the importance of disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM), including policy and budgetary support needs, with a focus on gender equality, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI).

Sixth Deliverable

• Organized five clusters’ (Education, Protection, WASH, Health and Nutrition, and shelter) cluster coordination meetings (1 meeting of each cluster) to update the cluster specific preparedness and responses plan amid the up-coming monsoon.

Seventh Deliverable

• Organized DIMS training to Emergency Operations Center (EOC) personnel on disaster data and incident reporting, gender and inclusive data management, risk information sharing with municipalities and provinces, and volunteer database management (including the Volunteer Management System (VMS).

Eight Deliverable

• Organized training of provincial and local level stakeholders on inventory management system GODAM application at provincial and municipality level (1 each at province and municipality levels).

Ninth Deliverable

• Five clusters’ (Education, Protection, WASH, Health and Nutrition, and shelter) cluster coordination and meetings (1 meeting of each cluster) conducted at province and municipality levels (as an after-action review of monsoon preparedness and response).

Tenth Deliverable

• Coordinated to organize 3 meetings/year of provincial disaster management committee (PDMC) in coordination with National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) and led by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law (MoIAL).

Eleventh Deliverable

• Organized an orientation programme for provincial stakeholders, particularly sectoral ministries, on the humanitarian cluster system and approach.

Twelfth Deliverable

• A workshop organized at province level to equip provincial officials with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively navigate and implement inter-provincial resource-sharing mechanisms (IPRS).
• A framework for inter-provincial resource sharing (using the ECHO-HIP 2021 SUPER project framework) is developed.

Final Deliverable

• Conducted a cross-learning visit for the DRRM knowledge exchange among municipalities including District Disaster Management Committees (DDMC) and District Coordination Committees (DCC) within the SUPER II project area.
• SUPER II project wrapped-up and submitted final report

Duration: The duration of the consultancy is for 12 months expected to start from September 2024

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

Minimum Qualifications required:

Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Disaster Management, Urban planning, Environmental Sciences, Development studies, Sociology, and any related Social Science fields is required Knowledge/Expertise/Skill required.

• Seven years progressive professional experience in local level Project planning, management, coordination, monitoring, reporting in areas of skill listed below.
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with 4 additional years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of an Advanced University degree.
• Experience of working with or exposure to provincial and local level planning and budget formulation process.
• Demonstrated technical skills in disaster risk management/ preparedness and response.
• Demonstrated social skills of engaging and coordinating with different stakeholders including other UN Agencies and facilitating discussions,
• Excellent skills on preparing quality reports and other knowledge products.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, GIS, etc.).
• Work experience in the focus provinces and urban cities as mentioned in the background above, will be an asset.

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:  

Candidates are requested to submit their financial quotation as per the deliverable indicated in the vacancy.

Female candidates and candidates from the under-represented ethnic groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

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 health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract.