Consultant – Disability Inclusive Early Childhood Development - Child Protection in Emergencies Specialist, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO), Bangkok, Thailand

Contract

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfilling their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, a better future

UNICEF works to ensure the rights of all children in the East Asia and Pacific Region. This means the rights of every child living in this country, irrespective of their nationality, gender, religion or ethnicity, to:

• survival – to basic healthcare, peace and security;
• development – to a good education, a loving home and adequate nutrition;
• protection – from abuse, neglect, trafficking, child labour and other forms of exploitation; and
• participation – to express opinions, be listened to and take part in making any decisions that affect them

How can you make a difference?

The Child Protection Section, UNICEF East Asia Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO) is seeking an individual consultant to provide technical support and coordinate the adaptation of the ECD kits used in the region for children with disabilities, taken into consideration the ECD kit evaluation and global recommendations. Specifically, the consultant will:

• Coordinate the piloting of a set of products, including toys, working in a participatory way to test the products with children with different types of disabilities and their caregivers in 2 emergency contexts in the region.
• Provide a set of recommendations for inclusive products in the kits that are contextualized and suitable for the region, using local and traditional materials.
• Develop guidance on the use of the products in the kit and how their use can be adapted for play with children with different types of disabilities.
• Develop guidance on disability inclusion and accessibility of Child-Friendly Spaces, where the kits are frequently used.

Work Assignments:

This consultancy will provide technical assistance and coordination of the customization of the ECD kits for children with disabilities, using local and traditional materials, story books and toys, and develop accompanying guidance, including for parents and/or caregivers. The work will be achieved through four key tasks: 1) Coordinate the piloting of a set of products in 2 emergency contexts in the region; 2) Develop a set of recommendations for products to be included in ECD/CP kits that are adapted for children with disabilities and suitable for the region; 3) Develop guidance on the use of the recommended products; 4) Develop guidance on disability inclusion and accessibility of Child-Friendly Spaces.

Task 1. Coordinate the piloting of a set of products in 2 emergency contexts in the region

• Identify countries for piloting
• Consult and work with UNICEF staff and partners in two country offices to:
  • Develop a set of criteria to assess the products and a participatory process to test products. The criteria should consider suitability for children with disabilities as well as children of different genders and ethnicities. It should also consider the quality of the toys, weight, price, and materials used.
  • Select a range of play products to test with children with different types of disabilities and their caregivers, taken into consideration the global recommendations, locally available products, and the use of local and traditional materials.
  • Work with country offices to test the products and document their use against key criteria.

Task 2. Develop a set of recommendations for products to be included in ECD/CP kits that are adapted for children with disabilities and suitable for the region

• Based on the results of the testing in two emergency contexts, a set of product recommendations should be developed for ECD/CP kits in the region.
• The recommendations should take into consideration the local markets and supply chains, and cultural appropriate materials.
• The recommendations should include the suitability for play with children with different types of disabilities. The recommendations should include specific information for parents and caregivers to support children´s development and stages of play.
• Results of product testing and recommendations presented in a learning session for country offices and regional office.

Task 3. Develop guidance on the use of the recommended products

• Following consultation and consensus on the recommended products for a localized ECD kit for children with disabilities, draft guidance on how each product can be used for play amongst children with and without disabilities in emergency contexts.

Task 4. Develop guidance on disability inclusion and accessibility of Child-Friendly Spaces.

As the ECD kits are frequently used in Child-Friendly Spaces, these spaces must also be inclusive and accessible for children with disabilities, their caregivers as well as caregivers and facilitators with disabilities.

• Draft guidance on how child-friendly spaces in emergency contexts can be disability inclusive and accessible. The guidance should draw on existing guidance available on disability inclusive humanitarian action and aim to be practical, including checklists and practical tools.

Work Schedule and Deliverables:

Tentative timeline

Outputs

31 December 2022

• Progress report
• Workplan for consultancy developed, finalized and approved
• Countries identified for piloting of products
• Criteria established and process developed for piloting, monitoring and documenting

31 January 2023

• Progress report
• Training of relevant staff and partners involved in the piloting
• Products selected and sourced for testing in 2 contexts
• Testing of products initiated in country offices

28 February 2023

• Progress report
• Testing of products continues and is monitored and documented

31 March 2023

• Progress report
• Test of products concludes, and results of testing documented
• Based on testing a short list of products is produced for inclusion in ECD/CP kits
• Results of testing and recommendations presented in a learning session for country and regional office

30 April 2023

• Progress report
• Guidance drafted on the use of the products with children with and without disabilities

31 May 2023

• Progress report
• Review and finalization of product guidance

30 June 2023

• Progress report
• Guidance drafted on disability inclusive and accessible CFS

31 July 2023

• Progress report

• Guidance on disability inclusive and accessible CFS finalized

  Duration of Contract: The work described herein should take place on a part-time basis within 8 months during the time period - December 2022 - 31 July 2023, with an average of 11 days per month.

Official Travel: Travel is required: Consultant will travel to undertake two country level mission travels (countries TBC).

Work Location: Consultancy can be performed remotely, ideally based in the region of East Asia and the Pacific.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Advanced degree in Early Childhood, Occupational Therapy, International Development and/or Social Sciences with relevant work experience.

• Minimum 8 years relevant professional experience, including experience working on issues relating to ECD, child protection, disability, social inclusion and/or related fields in emergency contexts.

• Strong experience in research, program management, monitoring and reporting.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and previous experience communicating with partners at different levels.

• Demonstrated ability in work planning and report preparation.

• Demonstrated skills in professional high-quality writing in English.

• Experience working in the East Asia Pacific region highly desirable.

• Excellent communication skills in English.

• Experience working with UNICEF an asset.

Interested candidates are requested to submit CV, full contact information of minimum 3 references, availability, and proposed daily professional fee in USD by 4 November 2022****.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People, and Drive for Results.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.