Media Release English s8

Terms of Reference Individual Consultant (International) to Conduct Rapid Logistics Assessment for dzud-emergency response in Mongolia

1. Background:

UNICEF Mongolia Country Office is seeking a short-term individual consultant to provide assistance in supporting the Logistics Cluster of the Humanitarian Country Team in Mongolia in conducting a rapid logistics capacity and warehouse assessment.

The Humanitarian Country Team in Mongolia (HCT) is a strategic and operational body established to support and coordinate humanitarian action and response in Mongolia among its member Agencies. The HCT comprises representatives from government line ministries/agencies, UN agencies in Mongolia and I/NGOs supporting humanitarian assistance.

UNICEF Mongolia and the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) of Mongolia are co-leading the Logistics Cluster within the HCT. The Logistics Cluster is responsible for supporting the other clusters of the HCT by providing necessary information regarding in-country logistics, shipping and customs arrangements.

Mongolia is currently facing an emergency situation related to the dzud. A dzud is a slow, onset emergency that progressively worsens due to severe winter weather. This situation is caused by drought during the summer months, followed by extremely cold temperatures and heavy snowfall over the winter months. Due to such harsh conditions, livestock are unable to find suitable land for grazing, which leads to a substantial loss of livestock. Herders and their families, whose livelihoods are primarily dependent on livestock, are the most vulnerable and affected population during a dzud, and are currently at risk of malnutrition and lack of food.

In response to the dzud situation, the HCT has received support from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to support the emergency. Specifically, UNICEF is supporting the food and nutrition emergency interventions in response to the emergency.

The technical support of the individual consultant will include two main tasks: (a) Support the completion of a comprehensive logistics assessment, which was last conducted in 2011, with regards to the capacity of the government authorities, NEMA and HCT members, and storage/warehousing capabilities and options to access warehousing facilities. During a dzud, storage of goods can become a major issue due to impassable roads and limited access to rural areas. (b) Support the quality control and assurance of CERF monitoring report for the UNICEF-related interventions, which is focused on food and nutrition emergency response.

2. Purpose:

The purpose of this short-term contracting assignment is to provide support for the dzud-related emergency response. The support will be two-fold: conducting a rapid logistics capacity assessment and supporting on CERF reporting.

1 The rapid logistics assessment will include analyzing the current capacity of the government authorities, NEMA and HCT members to address the emergency response. The assessment will also include identifying the warehousing options in the 6 selected provinces (Sukhbaatar, Uvs, Zavhan, Arkhangai, Bayankhongor and Dundgovi aimags) that are currently worst-affected by the dzud, as well as in the cities along the railroad from the southern to northern borders of Mongolia. The consultant is expected to support the Logistics Cluster in coordinating and undertaking the logistics assessment jointly with NEMA and agreeing on recommendations in a final report.

3. Expected deliverables and end products:

The short-term consultant is expected to produce the following key deliverables: 1. Final Logistics Assessment Report – this report will include a logistics capacity assessment of key members of the Logistics Cluster. One component should include descriptions of storage facilities and storage infrastructure and access to such facilities. The report should also evaluate whether there is sufficient capacity to address current needs, and identify any key bottlenecks or constraints with regards to storage and access to reliable facilities. The report should include concrete and reasonable recommendations for strengthening the logistics capacity of the government authorities, NEMA and HCT members.

2. Basic logistics training – this training should be tailored to include some lessons learned from the rapid logistics assessment and strengthen the capacity of the Logistics Cluster members of the HCT, specifically in terms of emergency response and coordination.

3. Final CERF report – the consultant is expected to review and finalize UNICEF’s CERF report to ensure quality assurance and accurate reporting, in line with the CERF requirements.

4. Duration:

The assignment is for a period of three (3) months, with expected dates from 15 April to 15 July 2016. It is anticipated that the selected consultant will be based in Mongolia for 50 days out of this period to conduct field visits for the logistics assessment and meetings with NEMA, partners and UNICEF staff.

5. Travel:

The consultant will be based in Mongolia for approximately 50 days during the 3-month contract period. During this time, it is expected that 28 days will be spent on conducting field visits to the dzud affected provinces: Sukhbaatar, Uvs, Zavhan, Arkhangai, Bayankhongor and Dundgovi aimags. The other days in- country will be based in UNICEF’s offices in Ulaanbaatar and NEMA’s offices.

In-country domestic travel during the field visits will either be by road or by air travel, and will be coordinated with NEMA.

The Consultant is expected to include a proposed travel budget (round-trip, economy-class airfare and per diem allowances) as part of the proposal response from the consultant’s location to Ulaanbaatar, and domestic air travel from Ulaanbaatar to Zavhan and Uvs provinces. Travel, visa and insurance arrangements are the responsibility of the individual consultant and no Travel Authorization will be issued by UNICEF.

2 6. Work assignments

The short-term consultant is expected to perform the following work assignments:

1. Conduct a Rapid Logistics Assessment, using the standard WFP assessment tools, in the dzud affected provinces as references above. The assessment will include: - Capacity of government authorities, NEMA and HCT members - Road Network Assessment of the dzud affected areas - Railway Systems Assessment - Airport Assessment and simplified customs clearance procedures. - Warehousing Needs and Facilities Assessment - Procurement needs and sourcing/suppliers - Source of diesel fuel and gasoline

2. Conduct a logistics training for Logistics Cluster members of the HCT

3. Finalize, review and edit CERF report to ensure quality assurance and accurate reporting, in line with the CERF requirements.

7. Key skills, technical background, and experience required for the contractor:

The contractor is expected to possess the following minimum qualifications:

 At least six years’ experience in the area of supply and logistics, or related field.  Previous experience in humanitarian response or emergency location preferred.  Previous knowledge of or work experience in Mongolia is an asset.  Proven ability to exercise analytical and conceptual thinking.  Proven analytical skills and ability to read and understand data.  Proven capacity for team work and understanding of local context.  Sound knowledge of UNICEF programming.  Strong communication skills, and excellent command of written and spoken English.

8. UNICEF penalty clause

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold up to 25% of the total contract fee in the case that the deliverables are not submitted on schedule or do not meet the required standard.

9. Definition of supervision arrangements

Contract supervisor: Operations Manager

10. Terms of payment / link of payments to deliverables: Payment will be made upon submission of expected deliverables certified and accepted by the Contract Supervisor. 50% on 20 May 2016 – upon submission of the rapid logistics assessment report.

3 50% on 1 July 2016 – upon satisfactory completion of the agency logistics assessment and training of logistics cluster members.

11. Type of support to be provided by UNICEF

The Deputy Representative (Emergency Focal Point) and Operations Manager (Contract Supervisor) will provide guidance to the individual consultant, as needed. UNICEF will also help coordinate with NEMA for arranging the meetings with the partners, translation and planning the field assessment travel.