Disability Inclusion and Engagement Officer

Volunteering Finance & Economy

Overview

Support implementation of UNICEF's Disability Inclusion Policy

You have:

• A strong background in youth development and disability inclusion programming.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Experience in capacity development and support for youth programming.
• Strong knowledge in community development, education, and governance.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

South Asia has the largest population of young people in the world; 48 per cent of its population is below the age of 24. At the same time, the regional estimates also suggest that 64.4 million children (aged 0 to 17 years) in South Asia have one or more functional difficulties. In other words, 1 in 11 children in this region have a disability.

Across ROSA, our programs for adolescents and youth have been known for two things: 1) supporting the learning to earning transition for vulnerable youth; and 2) systematizing young people’s engagement to become more active in their communities through meaningful civic engagement and participation, with a focus on the most vulnerable.

Our evidence indicates that there is a growing importance of an enabling environment for the participation and rights fulfilment of those with disabilities rather than a focus on the disabilities themselves. It requires a focused (participation) approach on children/adolescents with disabilities and more efforts to improve their capacity to promote their agency and participation.

As part of a team, this National UN Volunteer will support the Regional Office for South Asia in mainstreaming adolescent and youth engagement from perspectives of global mandates on disability inclusion agenda in the programmes across sections at the regional and country offices. The position is a cross-sectoral role, which requires working closely with the Adolescent Participation, Skills and Employability section and Education section, and is accountable for supporting the implementation of UNICEF’s Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy (DIPAS) 2022-2030 and the regional action plan, focusing on promoting the inclusion and participation agenda of young people with disabilities and inclusive education as one of the priorities identified in the action plan.

The National UN Volunteer will support to strengthening meaningful youth and adolescent engagement, participation, skills, inclusive education, and employability related priorities of persons with disabilities in the South Asia Region.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities: 1. Technical and capacity building support • Participate in cross-sectoral collaboration and coordination on key programmatic results on disability inclusion, young people’s participation, skills, and inclusive education. • Provide technical support and guidance on aspects of young people’s participation, skills, disability inclusion and inclusive education related programming and to ensure incorporation of relevant indicators and measures in programmes/projects, policy initiatives, proposals, and M&E systems. • Provide technical support and assistance in implementing UNICEF’s Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy (DIPAS) 2022-2030 and the South Asia Regional Action Plan, providing support to COs with capacity development and monitoring.

2. Support to programme development and planning • Participate and support in evidence-based programme/project planning, including development of project proposals on disability inclusion, young people’s participation, skills, and inclusive education. • Provide technical support on integration of inclusion into programme component strategy notes and institutional strengthening components related to disability and young people’s participation, skills, and inclusive education. • In collaboration with sectors at the regional and country offices, identify the areas of focus for disability inclusion, skills, and inclusive education related programming/projects with the greatest potential for impact and scale.

3. Advocacy and partnership building • Liaise and consult with sections to support convergence and develop and reinforce partnerships in disability inclusion and engagement programming. • Support building and maintenance of strategic alliances for gender equality and disability inclusion with various partners, including institutional links with UN agencies and other relevant entities. • Support mapping of potential new partnerships and leverage existing partnerships to accelerate relevant results at the country level in determined priority areas. • Build the internal capacity of the Adolescent team (ROSA and COs) and partners in promoting the participation of young people with disabilities in their collectives, clubs, and organisations and in promoting their voices and issues.

4. Innovation and knowledge management • Improved digital accessibility to ensure improved participation and conscious efforts to improve representation of young people with disabilities in the Young People’s Action Team (YPAT), country consultative groups etc. • Support documentation and sharing of the country-level experience in disability inclusion and engagement programming and lessons learned, which will be shared with internal network and external partners. • Bring best practices in disability programming and measurement to the attention of senior management and sectoral colleagues. • Improved data and evidence e.g., investment cases for disability rights and increased opportunities to document and share the model cases on inclusive skills building programme. • Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day). • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country. • Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results, and opportunities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc. • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers. • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management

having undertaken and led programming and/or research on youth development and disability inclusion. • Academic credentials in youth development and disability inclusion are a strong asset. • Experience in designing, implementing, managing, and delivering results-based programmes/projects on disability and youth engagement programming. • Fluency in English is required; Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills. • Sound knowledge in community development, education, elections and governance and social work

Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, is designated under Phase 1 of the UN Security classification but is subject to change depending on the evolving context of the security situation. Living conditions in Kathmandu are good. Comfortable, inexpensive flats (furnished and unfurnished) are available in Kathmandu. Both imported and local foods and clothing are abundantly available. There is a short supply of water, and it is also not safe to drink water that has not undergone treatment. Public transport, such as taxis, is easily available and generally reliable though traffic congestion is extremely high. Kathmandu has a temperate climate with the coldest temperatures reaching just above zero at the night during the winter and mild but humid conditions during the monsoon period, mid-June to end September. Volunteer initiative in Nepal is a unique operation that mobilizes the power of community in tackling pressing issues in Nepal and helps expand UNICEF’s mission reaching the most vulnerable people. The role will provide for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness and compassion to work closely with community members as well as flexibility. Therefore, the ability and willingness to understand and accommodate different stakeholders with varying needs are essential.

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Potential interview questions

Added 2 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unv.org