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, Passion

How can you make a difference? 

Under the direct supervision of Emergency Specialist (Preparedness), the MENARO Humanitarian Section seeks to recruit a consultant to lead the design and support the delivery and facilitation of emergency preparedness and response simulation exercises (in particular tabletop simulations) for selected UNICEF Country Offices (CO) and for the Regional Office (RO) in MENA. The consultant will be responsible for designing, developing and facilitating simulation exercises that will test and improve staff emergency response skills and knowledge, as well as country preparedness and response capacities. The consultant will identify, and document critical actions needed and recommendations to strengthen the CO’s and RO’s emergency preparedness based on the outcomes of the simulations.

Working with UNICEF staff at country, regional and headquarter offices, the consultant will enhance staff skills and knowledge related to emergency preparedness and response through simulations and offer practical experience in responding to emergency situations.

Scope of Work:

Planning phase:

a) Develop a work plan for the design, development and facilitation of simulation exercises for selected COs (to be confirmed and based on risk levels and training needs across the MENA-region) and the MENA RO, with emphasis on most likely or worst-case crisis scenarios. The plan is to be able to deliver up to 4 CO simulations and 1 simulation for the MENA RO during 2026.

Design and development phase:

a) Collect emergency preparedness challenges, gaps and learning needs in MENA region, with RO and relevant COs, to guide and influence the planning and design of the simulations.

b) Develop simulation exercises, including simulation concept development, scenarios development that align with the needs and contexts of the selected countries, and learning objectives and deliverables. The design should be in line with country office specific preparedness, contingency or response plans, UNICEF’s Emergency Preparedness Platform (EPP), Emergency Preparedness and Response training package, and other relevant plans.

c)Develop simulation materials, including scenario, facilitator guides, simulation injects, participant manuals, pre-/post learning evaluation and other necessary materials.

d)Consult, review and incorporate feedback from key stakeholders.

Delivery and facilitation phase:

a) Lead and support facilitation of simulation exercises in UNICEF COs and RO. An important outcome is building capacity of UNICEF staff to facilitate future simulations across the MENA region.

b) Ensure that simulation exercises are conducted in an open and safe environment that allows for practical learning.

c) Collect data during the simulation exercises to evaluate their effectiveness.

 

4. Support simulation debriefs with participants that allows for the collection of robust lessons learned, as well as recommendations and actions for further learning and improvement of emergency preparedness.

Post-Simulation phase:

1. Provide a verbal debrief to UNICEF CO and RO staff and other key stakeholders, as relevant, regarding key achievements as well as reflection for further improvements of learning and emergency preparedness.
2. Prepare a report summarizing the simulation exercise, with a strong focus on key findings, lessons learned and recommendations. Relevant lessons learned and recommendations should then be incorporated into simulation documents and materials and in future simulations (referenced above).

3. At the end of the consultancy prepare key recommendations on how to improve UNICEF’s work with emergency preparedness simulations.

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Deliverables:

 

 

Work Assignments Overview	Deliverables/Outputs	Delivery deadline
Work planning	Draft overall work plan for the design, development and delivery of up to five simulations during 2026 (COs to be confirmed)	5 days
Simulation 1	1) Draft a plan and relevant simulation documents (concept note, agenda, injects and other relevant materials). 2)Deliver and facilitate simulation. 3)Conclude simulation findings and produce simulation report.	15 days
Simulation 2	1) Draft a plan and relevant simulation documents (concept note, agenda, injects and other relevant materials). 2) Deliver and facilitate simulation. 3) Conclude simulation findings and produce simulation report.	20 days
Simulation 3	1) Draft a plan and relevant simulation documents (concept note, agenda, injects and other relevant materials). 2) Deliver and facilitate simulation. 3) Conclude simulation findings and produce simulation report.	20 days
Simulation 4	1) Draft a plan and relevant simulation documents (concept note, agenda, injects and other relevant materials). 2) Deliver and facilitate simulation. 3) Conclude simulation findings and produce simulation report.	20 days
Simulation 5	1) Draft a plan and relevant simulation documents (concept note, agenda, injects and other relevant materials). 2) Deliver and facilitate simulation. 3)Conclude simulation findings and produce simulation report.	20 days
Final report	Final report delivered, including recommendation for improving UNICEF simulations. Provide training session/s for MENA CO and RO staff on simulations planning, design and facilitation and lessons learned.	5 days
Travel International (if applicable) [Final list of countries will be determined after consultation with RO/CO]	Up to five (5) travels

 

 

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

Education: Advanced university degree in social sciences, public administration, law, public health, nutrition, international relations, business administration or other related disciplines.

Work Experience:

At least 8 years of progressively responsible professional work experience at the national and international levels in program/project development, emergency preparedness, research, and analysis, and/or monitoring and evaluation is required.

•Experience in designing and facilitating simulations that test emergency preparedness and response is required.

•Experience in, and knowledge of the region is an asset.

•Strong writing skills and demonstrated ability to collect and analyse data in an efficient and effective manner is required.

•Direct experience in, and/or familiarity with, UNICEF preparedness and emergency operations is an asset.

•Fluency in English is required; knowledge of Arabic or French 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.