UNFPA International Consultant – Consolidating National Capacity for SRH Emergency Preparedness

International Consultant  –  Consolidating National Capacity for SRH Emergency Preparedness

Hiring Office:

UNFPA Moldova Country Office

Purpose of consultancy:

Background:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is planned, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s new Strategic Plan 2026-2029 emphasizes emergency preparedness as critical to achieving progress on the transformative results and enhancing systems resilience. 

The Republic of Moldova is exposed to an array of natural disasters and climate-related risks. Since 2022, the country has also been a frontline responder to the regional refugee crisis. To consolidate national resilience, the Government of Moldova established the National Crisis Management Center (NCMC) as the central administrative authority coordinating crisis management under Law No. 248/2025 and Government Decision No 579/2025.

UNFPA, jointly with other partners, has supported the national Government in strengthening preparedness and response capacities for the population's Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) needs in crisis contexts. These efforts increased national resilience by modernizing healthcare facilities, developing normative acts on SRH and capacitating healthcare providers in family planning, clinical management of obstetrical emergencies, clinical management of rape etc. 

The MISP Readiness Assessment, conducted in 2025 in the Republic of Moldova, highlighted significant progress in clinical capacities and identified strategic opportunities to permanently integrate MISP implementation into the national crisis management architecture.  During the Thematic Policy Dialogue held in autumn 2025 under the leadership of the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the National Crisis Management Center and all relevant stakeholders - it was agreed to prioritize the design and implementation of multi-sectoral simulation exercises to cement this integration. This momentum paves the way for formally embedding specialized SRH response capabilities within the newly established inter-institutional structures. 

With MISP being the international standard for SRH in crises, its success depends on multi-sectoral collaboration and referrals. If non-health-related key stakeholders (border guards, police, social workers, and NCMC Integrated Intelligence staff) fail to identify and refer survivors of sexual violence or women with obstetric emergencies within the critical timeframe, the life-saving window is lost. Therefore, multi-sectoral simulation exercises are of the utmost importance for strengthening multi-sectoral engagement and operational readiness. This collaborative approach is in alignment with the provisions of Article 9, points c) and f) of Law No. 248 of 10-07-2025 of the Republic of Moldova regarding crisis management. 

As part of the cross-border collaboration, the Ministry of Health and the National Crisis Management Center of the Republic of Moldova could also share the simulation-related expertise with Ukrainian counterparts as one of the best practices in consolidating national and creating cross-border capacity for SRH emergency preparedness.

Scope of work:

(Description of services, activities, or outputs)

An Individual International Consultant will be contracted by the UNFPA Moldova Country Office to provide technical assistance and specialized expertise to the Ministry of Health and National Crisis Management Center of the Republic of Moldova in designing and executing a multisectoral simulation exercise (SIMEX) and the development of a related After-Action Report and Improvement Plan (AAR/IP).

Specifically, the Individual International Consultant will ensure:

PHASE 1: Design and Development of the SIMEX Package 

• SIMEX Concept Note to define the scope, strategic goals, methodology, timeline. The core methodology must incorporate a complex hazard-such as a mass displacement and refugee influx scenario reflecting the Ukraine regional crisis - to explicitly test cross-border SRH response capabilities and border-management coordination.
• SIMEX Capacity Building Package, including:
• A comprehensive Guide detailing the execution flow, participant roles, and specific scenarios. These scenarios must be scripted to stress-test the integration of MISP into the Ministry of Health and National Crisis Management Center's integrated crisis management picture.
• Resource Annexes to Guide containing: 

- Standardized templates for post-exercise debriefing, participant reflection, and necessary reference materials.

This package must explicitly include a dedicated section capturing simulation-design best practices, formatted for the Ministry of Health and National Crisis Management Center to share with Ukrainian counterparts as part of cross-border collaboration.

PHASE 2: Conducting Simulation Exercise (SIMEX) aiming to consolidate National Capacity for SRH Emergency Preparedness

• Ensuring the execution of the multisectoral Simulation Exercise throughout the entire duration of the SIMEX (presenting and explaining all necessary information to participants, maintaining an overview of the exercise, moderating multi-stakeholder discussions and activities within the framework of the SIMEX, and facilitating post-exercise debriefing and feedback/evaluation sessions).

PHASE 3: Post-Simulation Exercise Analytical Case Study Report aiming to consolidate National Capacity for SRH Emergency Preparedness /After-Action Report and Improvement Plan (AAR/IP).

• Based on the results of the Simulation Exercise (SIMEX), including observations made during the exercise, post-exercise debriefings, and feedback/evaluations - develop a Post-Simulation Exercise Analytical Case Study Report that will analyse and summarize the key challenges and gaps identified during the SIMEX.
• Propose for formalizing the integration of the MISP into the national crisis architecture. This includes addressing policy, legal, and administrative alignment with EU standards. The final report must also feature a distinct sub-section synthesizing the SRH emergency preparedness lessons learned, explicitly packaged for cross-border knowledge sharing with Ukraine.

Duration and working schedule:

The work is expected to commence on 11 June 2026 and end on 31 August 2026.

The volume of consultancy has been estimated at 30 full working days overall. 

Note: The mentioned number of working days has been estimated as being sufficient/ feasible for the envisaged volume of work to be completed successfully and cannot be used as criteria for completion of work/assignment. The provision of envisaged deliverables approved by UNFPA would be the only criteria for the Contractor’s work being considered completed and eligible for payment/s.

Place where services are to be delivered:

The work will include:

• a home-based development of Concept Note and Capacity Building Package of the multisectoral Simulation Exercise (SIMEX)
• an in-country mission of the International Consultant with aim to conduct the multisectoral Simulation Exercise (SIMEX) 
• a home-based development of the Post-Simulation Exercise Analytical Case Study Report aiming to consolidate National capacity for SRH Emergency Preparedness/ After-Action Report and Improvement Plan (AAR/IP).

Delivery dates and how work will be delivered (e.g. electronic, hard copy etc.):

The International Consultant is expected to complete and submit the following deliverables in electronic format, in English version, on the specified dates, to the Ministry of Health,  National Crisis Management Center of the Republic of Moldova and UNFPA Moldova Country Office:

Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:

Monitoring will be ensured through regular progress updates via:

• Phase 1 (Home-based): Submission and joint approval (by UNFPA, Ministry of health and NCMC) of Deliverable 1 (SIMEX Concept Note and Capacity Building Package) strictly prior to the commencement of the in-country mission.
• Phase 2 (In-country): Debriefing and wrap-up meetings with UNFPA, Ministry of Health and NCMC at the beginning and end of the International Consultant’s in-country mission.
• Phase 3 (Home-based): Submission of the draft After-Action Report and Improvement Plan (AAR/IP) for a consolidated round of feedback from UNFPA, Ministry of Health and NCMC, followed by the final submission of Deliverable 3.

Supervisory arrangements: 

The International Individual Consultant will report to and be under the direct supervision of the UNFPA Moldova Programme Analyst on SRH (Humanitarian) as the primary contract manager. 

The International Individual Consultant will work in strong coordination with the designated focal points of the Ministry of Health and National Crisis Management Center of the Republic of Moldova.

The International Individual Consultant will receive technical advisory from:

•  The EECA Regional SRH in Emergencies Specialist

Expected travel:

One in-country mission is foreseen to be undertaken by the International Individual Consultant for 10 days (including travel dates). UNFPA Moldova CO will cover costs such as:

• Travel (Economy class travel costs based on the most economical and direct route).
• Terminals and DSA (Daily Subsistence Allowance /DSA- will be paid per night spent at the place of the mission, following UNFPA DSA standard rates).

In-country mission dates will be agreed in coordination with the Ministry of Health and National Crisis Management Center and the International Consultant, aligned with the deliverable deadlines set out in these Terms of Reference above.

Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:

The UNFPA Moldova Country Office is looking for an Individual International Consultant who have the following educational background, qualifications and expertise: 

1. Advanced university degree (Master or Higher) in Public Health, Crisis/Emergency Management, Humanitarian Affairs, International Development, or other related fields;
2. At least 7 (seven) years of demonstrated senior level professional experience in SRH emergency preparedness and response. Experience with EECA countries, is preferred;
3. Demonstrated portfolio of designing multisectoral, inter-institutional SIMEX  Packages. Proven ability to draft formal exercise doctrine and deliver actional After Action Report and Improvement Plans for governments including strengthening national SRH emergency preparedness.
4. Prior experience advising or coordinating with Ministries of Health and National Crisis Management Centers, Civil Protection Authorities or Ministries of Internal Affairs, preferably in EECA countries, would be an asset;

5. Fluency in English. Working knowledge of one or more additional languages- Romanian, Russian, Bulgarian, Gagauzian, Romani, Ukrainian or sign language, is a strong asset. 

Inputs / services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner 

UNFPA will facilitate strategic introductions and secure necessary operational access to the Ministry of Health and NCMC facility and key national stakeholders. 

UNFPA will also provide all necessary background documentation (including the 2025 MISP Readiness Assessment in the Republic of Moldova, relevant SRH normative acts, and translations of Law No. 248/2025 and Government Decision No 579/2025). 

For the International Individual Consultant’s in-country mission, UNFPA Moldova will facilitate travel arrangements in accordance with UNFPA policies and procedures. 

Additionally, UNFPA will be responsible for the on-the-ground execution logistics, including securing the venue for the SIMEX, printing the Master Scenario Events List (MSEL) and Capacity Building materials, and providing simultaneous/consecutive interpretation services (English/Romanian/Russian) during the exercise and high-level briefings, if required.

Other relevant information or special conditions, if any:

Selection process: The UNFPA Moldova Country Office will select and contract the candidate through a competitive process, aligned with UNFPA policies for contracting Individual Consultants.

Basis of payment: The consultancy fee is an output-based lump sum, to be paid in two instalments upon the successful submission and joint approval (by UNFPA, Ministry of Health and  NCMC) of the specific deliverables:

Tranche 1 (50%): Upon satisfactory completion of Deliverables 1 and 2 (Clearance of the SIMEX Concept Note/Package and the successful on-site facilitation of the SIMEX).

Tranche 2 (50%): Upon satisfactory submission and final joint approval of Deliverable 3 (The After-Action Report and Improvement Plan).

Requirements for concluding the Contract with Individual Consultants:

Before signing the Contract with UNFPA, each Individual Consultant is required to pass the following mandatory courses and submit the completion Certificates to UNFPA:

• Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse https://agora.unicef.org/course/view.php?id=41507
• Fraud Awareness  https://agora.unicef.org/course/view.php?id=28443
• BSAFEhttps://agora.unicef.org/course/view.php?id=21067