Disability Consultant

Result of Service Deliverable 1: Submission of research papers and policy briefs per the disability team’s workplan.

Deliverable 2: Technical assistance is provided to ESCWA member states on disability issues based on requests.

Deliverable 3: Mainstreaming disability inclusion within ESCWA’s programs and operations.

Deliverable 4: Coordination within ESCWA’s projects on disability and overlapping thematic areas.

Deliverable 5: Submission of proposals to donors for resource mobilization initiatives.

Work Location UN House - ESCWA

Expected duration 12 months

Duties and Responsibilities Persons with disabilities in the Arab region are one of the most marginalized and excluded population groups. They are often not visible and excluded from the public life due to several multifaceted barriers. Particularly, social and physical environments remain inaccessible, and their levels of educational attainment and employment are generally much lower than those of persons without disabilities. This situation is perpetuated and aggravated by environmental and social barriers, discriminatory attitudes and inaccessible facilities. In humanitarian crises and situations of armed conflict, the number of persons with disabilities increases while their access to assistance, services and livelihoods becomes more limited. They also often face heightened protection concerns due to the breakdown of community structures and social cohesion. Although the situation of persons with disabilities in the region remains difficult, many ESCWA member States have made progressive steps towards higher inclusivity. All countries have signed or ratified the CRPD, possess enabling legal and policy frameworks, best practices and success stories of empowering persons with disabilities.

ESCWA is mandated to support member States in adopting a rights-based approach to equitable, inclusive and participatory social development towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. ESCWA has an extensive body of knowledge on disability issues in the Arab region; regularly carries out studies on disability-related issues, polices and best practices in the region; monitors implementation of certain aspects of the CRPD and SDGs by Arab States; delivers thematic expert group meetings and workshops for member States on subjects important for the region; and has access to an extensive network of experts on disability-related matters.

Due to the increased demand on ESCWA’s support to members states, a disability consultant is required to support and work in close collaboration with the disability team.

The consultant will work in close cooperation with ESCWA’s Regional Adviser on Disability and will report to the Disability Project Coordinator, under the overall supervision of the Cluster Leader.

Due to the rapidly changing needs of ESCWA member states, the assignment of this consultancy is subject to change. The regular set of tasks of every month will include:

- Providing the necessary support to the disability project at ESCWA through assisting in the provision of technical assistance requests received from ESCWA member states, this includes the support in developing national situational analysis, national strategies, national action plans, and training material on disability-related topics. - Carrying out substantive research to assist in the production of national policies, strategies, action plans, and resource materials on different disability-related topics. - Contributing to the development of technical papers, policy briefs, and studies on disability topics, in specific, and social inclusion topics, in general. - Providing substantial support to adhoc events, meetings, conferences, webinars, this includes the development of the relevant background papers, relevant content for presentations, documentation and meeting reports, and an analysis of the main outcomes of the meeting. - Supporting in the provision of capacity-building workshops to policy-makers and relevant stakeholders on various disability-related topics, including the Community-Based Inclusive Development Approach, disability in disaster-management strategies, Disability Assessment and Determination, and Inclusive Education. - Documenting lessons learned and best practices of different disability-inclusive projects to disseminate it in the region and maximize the benefits. - Supporting the implementation of the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy, including leading on some of its activities (provision of training to staff, development of internal related policies and procedures to ensure the inclusion of persons with disabilities) - Performing other duties as requested.

Qualifications/special skills A Master’s degree in psychology, economics, or any other related field in social science or disability is required.

All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. A Minimum of fifteen years in supports to governments in the Arab Region to develop national policies, strategies, and Plan of Actions is required. Conducts policy-oriented research or studies on disability is desirable.

Languages Posting Text as the ‘Duties and Responsibilities’

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA.

For this position, fluency in English and Arabic is required.

Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas.

No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.