LRPS-2026-9205017 Child-Sensitivity Assessment of National Disaster Risk Reduction Policies and Early Warning

UNICEF Thailand is seeking a qualified institutional contractor to conduct a Child-Sensitivity Assessment of National Disaster Risk Reduction Policies and Early Warning System in Thailand

1.Background

Thailand faces increasing climate and disaster risks including floods, heatwaves, storms, and environmental problems that disproportionately impact children’s survival, health, learning, and protection. According to UNICEF’s 2023 report1, approximately 93.9% of children are exposed to three or more types of hazards, underscoring the need to systematically integrate child-sensitive approaches into disaster risk reduction (DRR) policies.

While Thailand is aligned with global frameworks such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, gaps remain in translating these commitments into practice particularly within Early Warning Systems (EWS) and disaster governance. UNICEF’s Impact Assessment on Climate Change and Environmental Degradation on Children in Thailand (2023) indicates that child-specific needs are not systematically embedded in DRR policies, institutional mandates, or communication systems, limiting the effectiveness of early warnings, disaster risk reduction and emergency responses in reaching children and vulnerable groups.

A Child-Sensitivity Assessment is therefore critical to identify policy, institutional, and operational gaps including early warning governance, coordination, and communication. It will generate evidence from both national systems and provincial level perspectives, ensuring children’s needs and voices are reflected.

The assessment aims to conduct a mid-term assessment of the current National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Plan (2021-2027) and its implementation, coordination mechanism and budget flow at national and provincial level including its relevant national frameworks. The assessment will be aligned with the upcoming development of the New National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Plan (2028-2032), and the revision of 10-Year Strategic Development Framework of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (2028-2037). To ensure findings feed into the administration responsible for services to children, child protection, welfare, including decision making processes to be more inclusive and child-sensitive, and able to identify practical entry points to mainstream child-focused approaches across key government agencies.

2.Objectives, Purpose & Expected Results

UNICEF Thailand is seeking for an institutional contractor to conduct A Child-Sensitivity Assessment of National Disaster Risk Reduction Policies and Early Warning Systems in Thailand. The contract is expected to start from September 2026 to April 2027.

3.Description of the Assignment

The assignment includes the following:

1 UNICEF EAPRO’s 2023 Over the Tipping Point Report: https://www.unicef.org/asia-pacific/reports/over-tipping-point

a)Child-sensitive assessment criteria, indicators or matrix

Develop a child-sensitivity assessment criteria, indicators or matrix framework to provide a standardized methodology for assessing the extent to which national disaster risk reduction (DRR) policies, plans, and guidelines address the rights, needs, and vulnerabilities of children. The assessment framework should be aligned with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and UNICEF's Guidance on Risk-Informed Programming (GRIP)2.

b)Policy, Plans and Regulations Review

Review Thailand’s national DRR policies e.g. National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Plan 2021-2027, and its relevant regulations, plans and guidelines on child-focused social services (i.e., early childhood development (ECD) and education, health, mental health and psychosocial support, social protection and child protection), Mapping of key decision-makers, institutional roles and accountability among relevant line ministries, coordination and operational mechanisms, financial and non-financial resource flows, data used for decision making, government and non-government capacities for disaster preparedness, response and recovery mechanism at national and provincial levels. The consultant should use the developed child-sensitive assessment framework to assess the extent to which policies are child-sensitive.

c)Early Warning Governance Analysis

Map and analyze the national early warning system (EWS) ’s governance architecture to understand the four pillars of people-centered early warning system of 1) Risk knowledge 2) Monitoring and Detection 3) Warning Dissemination and Communication and 4) Response Capacity , using child-sensitive assessment framework to assess for effectiveness, coverage and the extent to which it is comprehensive integrate children related risk data, risk communication to children and families, children living with non-biological parents, children in the context of migration, children from Ethnic minorities and children with disabilities, anticipatory action and response mechanisms across institutional mandates, operational protocols, and coordination structures from national to provincial and community levels, including the coordination with child-focused sectors e.g., education, ECD, health, mental health and psychosocial support and social protection.

d)Gap and Challenge Assessment

Assess gaps and challenges in the child-sensitive policy landscape and its implementation within Thailand’s DRR framework and National Early Warning System (EWS), including governance arrangements, mandates and responsibility across relevant government agencies, budgetary, data and evidence, staff capacity, constraints, and coordination bottlenecks. The assessment will identify systemic, institutional, policy and operational barriers that constrain the effectiveness of EPR/DRR policy, coordination structures, resources and mandates, as well as EWS and emergency communication for vulnerable populations, especially children.

e)Strategic Policy Recommendations

Develop a strategic policy framework for UNICEF Thailand, outlining priority areas and measurable outcomes, accountable government agencies/stakeholders. Identify strategic entry points and actionable recommendations to integrate child-sensitive approaches into the development of the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Plan (2028–2032) and the revision of the Department of Disaster Prevention and

2 UNICEF Guidance for Risk-informed Programming (GRIP). A child-centred framework for integrating risk-informed approaches into humanitarian and development programming, covering risks related to conflict, disasters, climate change, epidemics, and economic instability. UNICEF Guidance for Risk-Informed Programming | UNICEF

Mitigation's 10-Year Strategic Development Framework (2028–2037), where feasible, propose specific provisions, priorities, and implementation mechanisms where the assessment findings can be incorporated.

4.Methodology

Design methodology for data collection including conducting a stakeholder consultation workshop.

Design appropriate methodology for this assessment e.g., policy assessment, legal review, budget

and financial flow review, data collection e.g., key informant interview, FGDs with key stakeholders, decision makers at both national and provincial levels to gain qualitative insights on child-sensitive DRR governance, accessibility and inclusiveness of early warning systems (EWS), effectiveness of risk communication, and child-specific protection needs. Ensure adherence to ethical standards and apply a systematic analysis to identify key gaps and challenges, including leading and facilitating a stakeholder consultation workshop.

5.Deliverables and timeline

DELIVERABLES Estimated timeline of deliverable

Deliverable 1:

- Inception report, which includes methodology, report outlines, and timeli