KakaKiiza
JF-Expert Member
- Feb 16, 2010
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UNICEF TANZANIA
TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR A CONSULTANT FOR
Development of an Emergency Communication Strategy
Type of Contract: Special Service Agreement
Organization Section: Field Coordination
Duty Station: Dar es Salaam
Date of Issue: 25 November 2011
Closing date of Application: 16 December 2011
Background The increasing frequency of natural disasters coupled with a number of emerging and re-emerging threats and trends, is leaving more people vulnerable to the effects of disasters; and inflicting greater damage, loss, and dislocation on vulnerable people worldwide. The scale and severity of some of the recent disasters affecting Tanzania, such as flooding in Kilosa district in Morogoro, Mpwapwa and Kongwa districts in Dodoma, and continuous re -occurring of cholera cases in both mainland and Zanzibar, have put a lot of strain on humanitarian response capacity. Insufficient communication on emergencies contributes to communities late response for early action that might have spared many lives and livelihoods. Communication about emergency risks and vulnerabilities at community level (the point closest to the emergency impact), is a critical component of helping individuals prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies. Risk communication is defined as an interactive process of exchange of information and opinion among individuals, groups and institutions describing the nature or consequences of a risk and vulnerabilities, by providing information on how to prepare for, protect against, respond to, or recover from the risk. In addition, risk communication specifically includes actionable information. Not much information is known about emergency communication flow; from where does the information come from and how do communities in disaster prone areas receive emergency communication to enable communities early action. In addition, what type of information communities receive to enable them respond promptly and effectively remains questionable. The majority of emergency incidents occur at local level. Therefore improving emergency communications-specifically, operability, interoperability and continuity of communications cannot be accomplished by the government alone. For this reason working through the National and Sub National Platforms in the Disaster Management Departments of the Prime Ministers Office (mainland) and 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] Vice Presidents Office (Zanzibar), using a stakeholder driven approach to develop the emergency communication strategy, one that includes representatives from the government ministries and departments, local governments, NGOs, UN agencies, Private sector and the community is a prerequisite. UNICEF through UNDAP 2011-2015 is supporting the Disaster Management Departments in the PMO (mainland) and 2nd VPO (Zanzibar) to develop an Integrated Emergency Communication Strategy to ensure a coherent communication during emergencies for communities early action. The main purpose of the assignment is to lead the development of an emergency communication strategy and materials to allow for early warning and early action for disaster prone communities in Tanzania. The development of an emergency communication strategy will involve various interrelated activities which include:
1. Conducting a baseline research to identify and map the emergency communication information flow. 2. Working with the National and Sub National Platform (communication task force committees) in the Disaster Management Departments of the Prime Ministers office (mainland) and 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] Vice Presidents Office (Zanzibar) to monitor and report on communication access and flow of information during emergencies. 3. Development and implementation of an action plan to improve and monitor emergency communication and response. 4. Design an emergency communication kit to address three top priority emergencies (floods, drought and epidemics) that will be ready for printing and use. Scope of the Assignment The assignment will cover both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar. The target audience of the assignment will include communities in emergency prone areas earmarked for above normal rains that may lead to floods as aired by Tanzania Meteorological Agency issued in September 2011, drought prone regions as per the Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability and Nutrition Assessment (CFSVA September 2011) and regions frequently affected by epidemics (cholera); Disaster Management Committees at regional/district/Shehia and Communities at risk; stakeholders from government key ministries and departments and NGOs. Objectives of the Assignment The broad objective of the assignment is to increase the effectiveness of internal and external emergency communication through the development and operationalization of an emergency communication strategy for disaster prone regions of Tanzania. The specific objectives of the assignment are to: 1. Assess community understanding /perception of emergency and what type of information communities at risk (floods, drought and epidemics) receive to enable communities to take early action before, during and after an emergency;
2. Examine current emergency communication flow including type and sources of key information/messages, channels of communication, response and or feedback and provide recommendations for improvements 3. Investigate the credibility and effectiveness of emergency response and preparedness information existing within and or typically received by communities in disaster prone areas. 4. Explore the role and importance of communication as an integral tool in emergency response from the community and other key stakeholders perspective. 5. Develop a flexible, robust and community specific emergency communication plan for communities early warning and early action. 6. Develop a pretested and print ready communication kit with key messages in poster, flyer formats a focusing on three common emergencies for pre-positioning to guide community preparedness, timely response and early recovery. 7. Identify lessons learned and draw conclusions which may inform development of key messages Approach and Methodology The consultant is expected to suggest an approach and methodology to complete the assignment but it is expected that this should include the following interrelated methods: 1. Documents and Literature Review: the consultant will be guided and directed by UNICEF and the key partners to key relevant documents which include: Seasonal weather outlook released by the Tanzania Meteorological Agency in September 2011, Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability and Nutrition Assessment (CFSVA September 2011); Disaster Risks and Capacity Needs Assessment (2008), Disaster Mapping (2002) and other relevant documents.
2. A Mixed Methods Baseline Survey/ Stakeholders Consultation: It is expected that the consultant will conduct a baseline survey to inform the development of the emergency communication strategy and materials. It is expected a combination of key informant interviews, focus group discussions, household questionnaires will be used to collect baseline data on information flow and how communities were informed of the key messages on emergencies at the community level. Undertake face to face interviews and focus group meetings with stakeholders (Regional/District Disaster Management Committees and communities in disaster prone (floods, drought, cholera) areas in order to develop the emergency communication strategy in line with the findings of the baseline survey and to further provide insight building baseline, moving to the strategy.
The consultants will ensure that the sampling plan is representative of the key emergencies (floods, droughts and epidemics) and the geographic spread (covering both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar). Cross-cutting consideration such as gender and age and how these might influence communication in emergencies also need to be taken into consideration.
Development of Emergency Communication Strategy and design emergency communication kit: Submit Emergency Communication Strategy to improve internal and external communication information flow, awareness and advocacy needs at household, community, district, regional and national levels that must be integrated in the strategy and in emergency communication kit Expected Outputs 1. An inception report which outlines the consultants proposed approach including a work plan and schedule of activities agreed with the UN Emergency Working Group and Government Counterparts.
2. A draft interim emergency communication strategy on internal and external communication information flow, educational awareness and advocacy, tailored for the different types of disasters, that includes, objectives, audiences, messages, tools, materials, implementation plan (outputs, activities, resources, responsible parties) and strategy monitoring and evaluation matrix (including indicators).
3. A final Emergency Communication Strategy and report subject to approval setting out: detailed information flow and communication strategy, proposals, in outline, of the types of informational materials suggested for use as part of the emergency communication strategy, an implementation and activation plan in case of an emergency detailing roles and responsibilities of different actors, a strategy for monitoring and evaluation for measuring the effectiveness of the strategy on a periodic basis.
4. Emergency Communication Kit outlining the key messages in suitable media formats (print, and electronic media.
Timeline and Deliverables The total consultancy input is for 65 days. The consultancy is expected to be undertaken from January 2012.
| Phase | Activities | Timeframe |
| Inception Phase | Documents Review, preliminary stakeholders meeting Work plan to agree on baseline methodologies Draft the questionnaires for key district officials, CSOs, community leaders and community members, Draft discussion guide for focus group discussions with community members. Identify communities to be the focus for research. Develop community profiles and justification for inclusion in the study. Pre testing tools to disaster prone districts (drought, floods and epidemics-Cholera) Finalize questionnaires | 15 days |
| Mixed Methods Baseline Survey / Stakeholders consultations | Conduct Face to face interviews and Focus Group Discussions with members of the National/Sub National Platforms, Regional/District Disaster Management Committees, Disaster Focal Persons from disaster prone areas Conduct community level research including focus group discussion as well as individual interviews. Conduct interviews with district officials, CSO members, community leaders Data collection, analysis, report writing | 20 days |
| Development of the Emergency Communication Strategy /action plan | Collaborate with the National and Sub national platform members in the Disaster Management Departments of the Prime Ministers Office (mainland) and 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] Vice Presidents Office (Zanzibar) on development of an action plan and Strategy to improve communication in emergencies, Include systematic monitoring plan for the National and Sub National Platform members to employ to monitor and strengthen communication flow and utilization in emergencies. Present the strategy, action and monitoring plan to the wider members of the National and Sub national platform. Make adjustments and finalize in accordance with recommendations. | 15 days |
| Design an emergency communication kit ready for printing | Compile an interim analysis of access to and utilization of information in emergencies. Design an emergency communication kit ready for printing Orient the media and members of the National/Sub national platform on the communication strategy, plan and emergency communication kit | 15 days |
Required qualifications and competences
· Masters degree in community development, sociology and mass communication.
· Experience in Emergency field will be an added advantage.
· A minimum of 5 years of professional experience specifically in the area of study evaluation.
· Excellent communication and interview skills.
· Excellent report writing skills.
· Demonstrated ability to deliver quality results within strict deadlines.
Key documents to be reviewed by the consultants · Seasonal weather outlook released by the Tanzania Meteorological Agency in September 2011
· Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability and Nutrition Assessment (CFSVA September 2011)
· Disaster Risks and Capacity Needs Assessment (2008)
· Disaster mapping (2002) and other relevant documents.
Applications
Interested and qualified candidates should send their applications with updated United Nations Personal History Form (P11), updated CV and Proposal including daily or lump sum fee for accomplishing this consultancy satisfactorily to: Field Coordination section, UNICEF, P.O.Box 4076, Dar es Salaam, or electronically by email to jbihondwa@unicef.org . Closing date for application 16[SUP]th[/SUP] December 2011
Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.
UNICEF is committed to gender equality in its mandate and its staff
QUALIFIED FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE ESPECIALLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY
UNICEF IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT
