Design, Facilitation, and Reporting of a Two-Part Pandemic Simulation Exercise (SIMEX) Consultant, Risk Analysis Preparedness Section (RAPS) – EMOPS Division, NYHQ. remote. Req#588809

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If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines fordeveloping countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

Consultancy: Design, Facilitation, and Reporting of a Two-Part Pandemic Simulation Exercise (SIMEX) Consultant

Duty Station: Risk Analysis Preparedness Section (RAPS) – EMOPS Division

Duration: 15 Jan 2026 – 30 Apr 2026

Home/ Office Based: Remote

 

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

UNICEF has produced a Pandemic Influenza Planning Guide, which provides a structured approach to enhancing readiness at all organizational levels including Operating Procedures (OPs). Though based on pandemic influenza as an example of a respiratory pathogen, the Guide supports actions beyond respiratory emergencies and draws on UNICEF’s Operational Response Framework (ORF).

Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPS) in collaboration with Program Group (PG) and Supply Division (SD) seeks a qualified consultant to design, deliver, and facilitate a 2-part H5N1 simulation exercise (SIMEX) engaging UNICEF across all levels to improve readiness.

Part 1: will test UNICEF’s internal OPs using a risk assessment, triggers for scaling up readiness and activating the Corporate Emergency Procedures for a Level 3 emergency, setting up Incident Management System (IMS), funding needs, human resources and surge, mobilization of supplies, business continuity planning, etc.

Part 2: will test a wider response activating the full UNICEF Pandemic Influenza Planning Guide across sectors including risk communications and community engagement (RCCE), health, WASH, immunizations, mental health and psychosocial support, protection, education, nutrition, supply and involving partnerships as well as continuing critical services during a large-scale response. This Part will also test UNICEF’s roles and responsibilities within key partnerships such as WHO, and access to vaccinee doses and allocation, etc.

This exercise will ultimately enhance the capacity of UNICEF staff and partners to respond effectively to an influenza pandemic and to public health emergencies.  The SIMEX will also support the updating and refinement of pandemic preparedness and contingency plans at all levels in the organisation.

The SIMEX will provide a platform to:

• Test UNICEF pandemic preparedness plans including OPs.
• Reinforce knowledge and skills of UNICEF staff in line with the UNICEF ORF and the “5 Cs” of WHO HEPR: coordination, collaborative surveillance, community protection, scalable care, and countermeasures.
• Identify operational and programmatic gaps.
• Strengthen multisectoral planning, with children at the centre of all emergency responses.
• Strengthen partnerships and clarify UNICEF roles and responsibilities across sectors, including leaderships roles.

• Scope of Work:

  Under the supervision of EMOPS and in collaboration with Country, Regional and HQ staff across sectors and divisions, the consultant will:

1. Design and Develop Injects in two parts of a SIMEX:

• Part 1 –to test UNICEF’s internal OPs and response procedures
• Part 2 - wider response including partnerships. The wider response will include UNICEF’s programming across sectors and will bring in key partnerships such as WHO, GAVI, regional bodies as appropriate.
• Develop realistic and context-specific simulation scenarios aligned with UNICEF’s Pandemic Influenza Planning Guide and ORF.
• Ensure alignment with global frameworks such as WHO’s Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats (PRET) and Pandemic Influenza Framework (PIP).

2. Prepare and Adapt Supporting Materials:

• Create comprehensive simulation materials, including:
  1. Facilitator