Country: Lesotho
Closing date: 31 Aug 2018
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Lesotho is a small landlock country with population of about 2 million. It is one of the poorest countries in sub-Saharan Africa. An estimated 57.1 percent of population live below the national poverty line of US$1.50 a day (almost 6 out of every 10 persons), and 34 percent (more than 1 in 3 persons) below the food poverty-line (extreme poverty) of Maloti 138 ($10.30) per adult per month with disparities between rural and urban population. Lesotho is ranked one of the most 10 unequal countries in the world with a Gini coefficient value of 0.54.
The poverty and inequality is further exacerbated by climatic shocks. The country experienced successive natural climatic shocks such as recurrent droughts and floods in the last 10 years. These have negatively affected the livelihoods of people, particularly the most vulnerable including children and girls, exposing them to a wide range of economic, health, environmental, and income related risks and shocks. The last El Nino induced drought (2016), affected an estimated 679,437 people, including 310,015 children, in about 135,887 households. Of the affected people, 476,842, including children, in 95,368 households required emergency social protection support. But the country is yet to be adequately ready to address the climate induced shocks by strengthening the Early Warning, Early Action, and Shock Responsive Social protection System.
Within this context, the Government of Lesotho; and United Nations (FAO, UNICEF and WFP) have embarked on a project with the support of ECHO to strengthen disaster preparedness and response systems in Lesotho. The proposed project aims to achieve four results over a period of two years (24 months) that include (1) An integrated and functional Early Warning Systems is in place to address shocks; (2) Relevant stakeholders have access to updated National Information System for Social Assistance (NISSA) in normal and emergency situations; (3) Disaster Management and Social protection leadership of relevant institutions have capacity to manage shocks efficiently and effectively; and (4) Disaster management and social protection leadership of relevant institutions have capacity to manage shocks.
The first result will focus on strengthening the integrated and functional EW system through the development of a scalability framework and trigger mechanism; and building the capacity of relevant institutions to prepare for and respond to disasters such as drought, snow and floods. The second result will ensure access to NISSA data during emergencies through a portal and NISSA data will be updated and validated using community structures. The third output will develop a strategy framework for shock responsive social protection; strengthen advocacy towards Early Warning /Early action and shock responsive social protection, and utilization of NISSA; and reinforce harmonization of coordination mechanism at National and subnational levels for the effective management of shock responsive social protection systems. The fourth result will be achieved by updating the existing Lesotho multi-hazard contingency plan; and activating the crisis modifier if thresholds are surpassed and conduct a process evaluation of the activation.
In terms of division of labour among the three agencies, WFP will support the Disaster Management Authority (DMA) to strengthen national and district early warning systems and capacity to translate early warning into anticipatory response and early action. The action will enable timely and targeted response to possible future shocks that can be more cost-efficient. FAO will work with the DMA, Lesotho Meteorological Services(LMS), Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MoAFS), Ministry of Social Development (MoSD), Ministry of Forestry, Range and Soil Conservation (MoFRSC) in repackaging and updating available pieces of spatial information into a single user friendly information portal to facilitate risk mapping. UNICEF will support the Ministry of Social Development and DMA in the development of a scalability framework to make the current social protection system shock responsive. All three agencies will work together to enhance the capacity of government leadership to manage shocks efficiently and effectively and harmonize social protection and disaster management interventions. UNICEF will be responsible for the overall management of the project. The successful implementation of the project will depend on effective planning, monitoring and coordination of the project interventions. UNICEF, thus, wants to recruit an international consultant (ECHO Coordinator) for the said purpose.
The overall objective of the consultancy is to provide overall coordination for the project.
Specific functions
Under the guidance and supervision of the Chief of Social Policy and working closely with the UN and government partners, the consultant will be responsible for the following key actions;
Based on the above functions, the consultant upon discussion with the Supervisor will prepare and agree on monthly plans in the last week of each previous month, specifying key activities and deliverables.
Work relationships:
Lesotho Country Analysis 2017
Lesotho Vulnerability Assessment Committee 2016,
Development of an Integrated Information Portal for Disaster Risk Mapping (IPFDRM); Designing of a scalability framework to make the social protection system shock responsive; development of a costing model and harmonization of transfer value to respond to shocks; development of a threshold for Early Warning and response; organization of trainings on early warning, early action and scalability framework; development of NISSA portal to ensure stakeholders access to and use of NISSA data for targeting vulnerable population during emergency and normal situation; development of a method or an approach for using community structures to update NISSA data; develoment of an integrated framework for shock responsive social protection in Lesotho; and updating of the existing Lesotho Multi-Hazard contingency plan, activation of crisis modifier, and a process evaluation of the activation of the crisis modifier;
How to apply:
Qualified candidates are requested to complete an application including profile to the respective advertisement on https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/. Please indicate your ability, availability and financial proposal/quote to complete the terms of reference above. Rates must include all expenses related to the assignment (including administration and logistics).
Applications submitted without a fee/ rate will not be considered.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.
Remarks:
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
How to apply:
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=515527
