Field Missions/Travel: The individual consultant may potentially visit country or regional offices as part of the role of liaison between Supply Division and Regional offices.

Anticipated Start Date: As soon as possible

Assignment

The mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, thrive and develop to reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. Therefore, the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Strategic office context:

UNICEF is constantly striving to improve our programmatic efforts within disability, with a focus on improving the availability and access to Assistive Technology products (AT) and disability inclusive products. Recent years has seen an increase in prioritization for this area in both the commitment of member states and donors. Programme Division (NY Headquarters) and Supply Division are working together to build on this momentum and make sure that UNICEF is well equipped to ensure a better future for children with disabilities through the introduction and adoption of quality and appropriate assistive technologies in UNICEF country programmes.

In addition to ongoing efforts the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy was launched in 2019 to accelerate progress and increase accountability within the UN, it has four main pillars, Leadership, Inclusiveness, Programming and Organizational Culture. This consultant will assist in the implementation within the “Inclusiveness” pillar and its product-related elements as the primary focus: 1. Ensuring accessible procurement policies are implemented. 2. Ensuring accessible products and services are being procured. 3. Ensuring disability inclusive suppliers are considered.

To help reach UNICEF strategic plan goals and successfully implement UNDIS, UNICEF SD aims to improve technical capacity by adding a Disability Products Specialist who will advise, consult, recommend, and drive adoption of AT products as part of UNICEF and partner government programmes. This consultancy will work in Supply Division providing direct support UNICEF regional offices on which disability products and services to select and incorporate into country programmes to achieve results for children in education, social protection, early child development and health.

The consultancy will be supervised by the Innovation Specialist on Assistive Technology in the Product Innovation Center (PIC). PIC is spearheading an increased global prioritization of AT for children and persons with disability and the selected Disability Products Specialist will contribute to that effort with a strong knowledge on disability products and services.

Key Tasks This will be a newly established individual consultancy which will also act as a bridge between UNICEF regional offices and the Product Innovation Center in UNICEF Supply Division Copenhagen.

The Disability Products Specialist will work to make sure the increased disability efforts across the 7 regions also has a product focus. This will involve:

• Working with UNICEF programmatic specialists at regional and country office level, to promote and include assistive technologies and disability inclusive products in their programmes • Increase awareness at regional and country office level across on the importance of procuring and implementing accessible products and services • Supporting the regional and country implementation of the United Nations Disability and Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS), with a strong emphasis on inclusive procurement • Work closely with program officers at regional and country level and provide technical guidance on product selection for assistive technology and disability inclusive products, as well as assistance in procurement process of said products • Will work to build awareness of the significant transformational potential assistive technology can have for children and persons living with disabilities. In conjunction with this, the role will also to identify the main barriers and challenges for the programmatic inclusion of assistive technology products as part of an ongoing effort to increase the demand • Identify and help drive innovation processes as needed. This could be identifying product gaps and running projects or reviewing and updating existing kits and products

The consultancy centers around a strong product focus and as such requires strong understanding of assistive technologies and disability inclusive products and services. Working in the Product Innovation Center, an understanding and interest in product innovation as well as good project management skills is desired. Finally, a basic understanding of product procurement will be advantageous.

The consultancy as Disability Product Specialist requires strong communication and interpersonal skills. The role serves both as a liaison between Supply Division HQ and regional and country offices.

Deliverables: • Advocate the need for products and services to be accessible across programmatic areas • Provide technical assistance on accessibility to regional and country office staff • Support in the regional and country level implementation of the United Nations Disability and Inclusion Strategy for products • Supporting the Regional Supply Advisors/Disability focal points in developing strategic approaches to product innovation and product adoption, with a special focus on assistive technology, and subsequently supporting country offices in implementation • Identifying opportunities for digitization of analogue products • Assist programme staff in correct product selection based on need and resources available • Multi-stakeholder (internal and external) coordination, including with senior staff and senior academic subject matter experts • Provide technical expertise on product selection within assistive technology • Advise on best available procurement strategy, tender approach etc. • Technical drafting, review and evaluation of relevant tender documents • Working across UNICEF regional and country offices to provide frequent technical support when needed and help drive demand for scale up of products. • Demand mapping to understand pathways to demand for all assistive technologies and disability inclusive products managed whether global or local. • Creating scaling strategies for the introduction of new products with an emphasis on assistive technology and disability inclusive products • Engage in innovation exercises, for instance updating or reviewing existing kits and products. • Identify and help drive innovation projects where product gaps exist • Support fundraising efforts to support product adoption and innovation

Requirements

Academic: • Master’s Degree, in engineering, social science, health, physiotherapy or similar

Professional Experience: • 5 years working with assistive technologies and disability inclusive products – and or – within disability in general • Experience with budget and project management • Experience working in low resource settings is an advantage but not a requirement • Considering this is a temporary individual consultancy, prior experience of working for a UN organization will be considered an advantage • Experience in procurement processes a plus

Functional Competencies: • Able to work independently and problem solving oriented • Able to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships • Demonstrated communication and relationship building skills • Proven capacity to work with and lead collaborative teams across different locations and with different technical skills

Language Requirements: • Fluency in written and spoken English is essential and in another UN language is an advantage

Evaluation Criteria

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION (max. 70 points)

Overall Response (20 points)

Understanding of tasks, objectives and completeness and coherence of response

Overall match between the TOR requirements and proposal

Technical Capacity (50 points)

Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience/

Education (as outlined in ToR)

Product expertise

Experience working with low resource countries

Knowledge of UNICEF/UN organizations

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION - Total Points

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL (max. 30 points)

Monthly/Daily rate

Other costs

Total Financial proposal

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL - Weight Combined Score

TOTAL SCORE (max. 100 points)

Qualified candidates are requested to submit: 1. Cover letter/application outlining relevant experience of the role 2. Financial quote at a monthly rate in US Dollars including all taxes. UNICEF considers best value for money in its evaluation 3. P11 form if not applying through UNICEF Employment site 4. At least 3 Reference contacts who may be contacted

All applications to be sent via the Employment website by 22nd April 2021 at 23:59 CET. Applications submitted without a financial proposal will not be considered.

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Added 3 years ago - Updated 3 years ago - Source: unicef.org