UNICEF recrute un consultant national pour la coordination de la réponse multisectorielle d’urgence de l’UNICEF à l’épidémie de COVID-19, Bamako, Mali

 

Context :

On 31 December 2019, WHO was alerted to several cases of pneumonia in Wuhan City, Hubei Province of China. One week later, on 7 January 2020, Chinese authorities confirmed that they had identified a novel (new) coronavirus as the cause of the pneumonia. The proposed interim name of the virus is 2019 nCoV.

Since the first cases were reported, WHO and its partners have been working with Chinese authorities and global experts to learn more about the virus, including how it is transmitted, the populations most at risk, the spectrum of clinical disease, and the most effective ways to detect, interrupt, and contain transmission.

On 30 January 2020, the Director-General of WHO declared the 2019 nCoV outbreak a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations (2005), following advice from the Emergency Committee.  On 4 February 2020,the Director-General of WHO briefed the Secretary-General of the United Nations and requested the activation of the United Nations crisis management policy to establish a Crisis Management Team (CMT) to coordinate the UN system-wide scale up to assist countries prepare for and respond to COVID‑19. On February 27th, WHO has increased the assessment of the risk of spread and risk of impact of COVID-19 to very high at the global level.

In February 2020, the Ministry of Public Health developed an Action Plan on the prevention and control of the disease that focused towards four main areas: i) Prevention, ii) Communication, iii) Capacity building and iv) Prevention and case management. UNICEF is positioned on several activities across all the axes proposed included and not limited to awareness and communication activities, hygiene reinforcement in health facilities and communities, support to health care activities. Since then, the plan is being updated to properly address the evolving situation. As of 15 April, Mali has 148 confirmed cases and 6 deaths.

The COVID-19 outbreak is creating significant additional pressure on the already overburdened social service delivery systems, exacerbating the vulnerabilities of affected populations. In addition, Mali is facing an extremely fragile and complex  humanitarian situation in the country, characterized by the presence of non-state armed groups with an extension of insecurity along the borders in the Liptako Gourma countries (Burkina Faso and Niger), recurrent inter-communal conflicts, increased crimes, the presence of improvised explosive devices, violence, particularly in the northern and central regions, attacks against national and international armed forces as well as against humanitarian organizations

 

Objectifs :

The purpose of the technical Assistance is to support the coordination, implementation and monitoring of the UNICEF Covid-19 response plan that contributes to the national plan for prevention and response to COVID Outbreak.

Under the guidance of the Deputy Representative and in close coordination with all programme sectors.  at the central and decentralized level through Unicef zonal offices

 

Scope :

UNICEF’s response to the COVID19 Pandemic is aligned with the national Covid-19 response plan and the Unicef Covid-19 Global response strategy. It is also in line with procedures and guidelines issued by the organization validated by WHO.

 

Main responsibilities and Tasks

Provide technical support, coordination and supervision :

• Provide technical guidance and support for UNICEF’s response in the national COVID response in the field as per agreed standards and benchmarks ;
• Under the framework of National COVID response coordination committee, and in conjunction with other partners and on behalf of UNICEF, provide direction to the national and sub-national COVID taskforces and working committees ;
• Contribute to UNICEF’s engagement in cross-sectorial needs assessments, prioritization, analyses and evaluations of the emergency response such as Damage Loss Assessment (DLA), Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA), etc. Specifically contribute to the development of national/ inter-agency crisis prevention, response and recovery plans ;
• Support sections coordination and integration of interventions (C4D, Health, WASH, Protection).

Support the development and scale-up implementation of evidence based and inclusive strategies :

• Initiate the development and/or refining and strengthening of the country’s National COVID Response Plan or strategy in line with the overall national COVID Response plan and international standards and benchmarks ;
• Make viable recommendations and guide the development and implementation of operational strategies in line with the country’s National COVID Response Plan and UNICEFs mandate ;
• Incorporate Early Recovery and Disaster Risk informed approaches as integrated component of UNICEF’s response in the COVID response activities related to behavior change and communication ;
• Participates in the formulation and development/review of Covid-19 plans of action in preparation and response to emergencies, monitors compliance of all sectors including financial resources.

Strengthen partnerships :

• Work with UNICEF sections (e.g. WASH, Education, Child Protection, education and Health) to incorporate and integrate their normative guidance and activities into prevention and response efforts ;
• Contribute to UNICEF engagement in IASC activities including providing inputs and elaborating notes for the HCT, ICC and clusters meetings ;
• Contribute to capacity building and coordination of clusters to integrate COVID-19 interventions at central and district level.

Build Capacity :

• Initiate and guide the evaluation of capacity gaps and needs for UNICEF and partners staff in a way to provide a quality response in the frame of the COVID response.
• Plans, organizes and conducts training for the office’s staff capacity building in emergencies preparedness and response especially related to the Covid-19 outbreak.
• Assists in developing and conducting emergency/COVID training courses ;
• Participates in other emergency training workshops in the region and builds up the emergency preparedness and response capability of UNICEF staff as well as implementing partners.

Research, Monitor and Evaluate :

• Support targeted responses, real time monitoring and adequate and timely readjustments of nation-wide activities ;
• Analyze and evaluate data to ensure compliance and achievement of objectives and recommend corrective action, when necessary, to meet programme/project objectives ;
• Guide the preparation of monitoring and evaluation reports in accordance with the established guidelines, methods and procedures.

Plan and manage allocated programme funds and budgets :

• Participate in and contribute to the budget and programme review and planning. Review work plans and allocation of resources ;
• Develop system for assessing programme efficiency, quality and delivery.

Document experiences and lessons learned : Review and establish a system for documentation of UNICEF role in COVID emergency response and dissemination of reports, ensuring exchange of information, experience and good practices used, to government officials, programme staff, and other UNICEF partners and the UNICEF country and regional office.

 

Delivrables :

• UNICEF’s COVID response plan is regularly updated taking into account developments in the context ;
• UNICEF’s response is multisectoral, integrated and child and gender sensitive ;
• Regular reports and notes are produced i.e. COVID sitrep, Advocacy Notes, etc. ;
• A Lessons Learned Note on UNICEF response to the epidemic is produced at the end of the consultancy ;
• A final report containing recommendations for UNICEF to strengthen its preparedness and response to health emergencies is produced.

 

Qualifications and experience :

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in one of the following fields : social sciences, public administration, international law, public health, nutrition, international relations, business administration or other related disciplines. Preferably an experience in managing emergencies A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience at the national/international levels in programme/project development, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and administration ;
• Proven experience in coordinating and/or facilitating preparedness and response in emergencies ;
• Knowledge of and experience in the social, political and economic environment of West and Central Africa will be an asset ;
• Fluency in English and French is required.

 

General conditions :

The Consultant will be engaged as an Individual contractor and will be remunerated in accordance with UNICEF rules and procedures. The Consultant will receive a monthly fee. Which will be subject to the production of monthly activity based on agreed monthly workplans with the Supervisor of the Consultant.

NB : This is a re-advertisement applicants who already applied should not re-apply. This consultancy is for Malian National only.