Disability Inclusion National Consultant

Purpose of consultancy

Under the WHO Ukraine led project, named: Developing a UN coordinated approach to disability inclusion in Ukraine, the Disability Inclusion consultant, will be recruited and functionally support by WHO Ukraine. The consultant will be tasked in supportsing the UN Resident Coordinator (RC) and the UNCT to integrate Disability Inclusion into their programmes and activities, in particular the United Nations in Ukraine Transitional Framework (TF). The consultant will, also acts as a resource person in implementation of UNCT UNDIS accountability scorecards Disability Inclusion Action plan and other key strategic planning tools, including by building UNCT capacities to apply a human rights-based approach to disability into their programmes and activities.

Background

According to the State Statistical Service of Ukraine, 2.7 million persons with disabilities (including 160’000 children) were registered in Ukraine as of 1 January 2020, which amounts to approximately 6% of the population.1 Out of 136,300 persons who registered their disability for the first time in 2019, 44% were women.2 Actual numbers are likely to be much closer to the international disability prevalence rate of 16% and are estimated to include more than one million women of working age and 20% of the 11.3 million Ukrainian pensioners. However, there remains scarce relevant disaggregated data and the Government of Ukraine (GoU) only counts persons who register their disability, a process often hindered by physical, financial, and administrative barriers.5 Ukraine has passed a range of legal acts for basic social protection and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities and in 2010 ratified the CRPD and its Optional Protocols. However meaningful implementation for all persons with disabilities in Ukraine is still pending.

In 2021, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed the Decree "On Ensuring the Creation of a Barrier-Free Environment in Ukraine", the National Barrier-Free Strategy, the Plan of Measures to Overcome Barriers were adopted, and the Barrier-Free Environment Council under the Cabinet of Ministers was established.6 Recently the GoU developed an Action Plan for 2023-2024 to implement the National Strategy for Creating a Barrier-Free Environment in Ukraine. The Strategy reiterates that Ukraine is committed to promote the participation of persons with disabilities in leisure activities, employment, education, health, social services and to achieve the transition from institutional to community-based care. However, concerns remain, particularly among Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), regarding the meaningful impact this action will have for children and adults with disabilities in Ukraine, particularly minority groups, such as those with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities.

Ukraine continues to apply medical and charitable approaches to persons with disabilities, rather than the human rights-based approach of creating favorable conditions to the enjoyment of all human rights on an equal basis.7 Persons with disabilities in all their diversity face severe challenges to equal participation and opportunities. Physical, legal, informational, communicational, attitudinal barriers and financial hardship limit access to social services and healthcare as well as an effective legal remedy for the human rights violations they experience.

Since the ongoing war in Ukraine escalated on the 24th of February 2022, challenges to claiming basic rights have become significantly more pronounced across all oblasts of Ukraine, but particularly so, in southern, eastern, and central Ukraine. For children and adults (including older people) with disabilities in institutional settings, women and girls, military aged men, internally displaced people (IDPs), and those living alone or with only one other family member, the ability to survive and meet basic needs has been grossly hindered. Further, there remains a significant gap in reliable disability disaggregated data in Ukraine and OPDs continue to advocate toward international and national stakeholders for better visibility of children and adults with disabilities in mainstream statistics as a fundamental action towards equitable humanitarian and other services. Access to health services for persons with disabilities, particularly in conflict affected areas, has been negatively impacted. The 2023 Multi Sector Needs Analysis (MSNA) demonstrates that HHs with disabilities in eastern and southern oblasts are 10% and 20% less likely to access health services than HHs without persons with disabilities respectively. Which is unsurprising, given the WHO HeRAMs 2023 report demonstrates that in southern and eastern oblasts, 26 % of people cite physical barriers and 4% cite lack of disability inclusive/universal design of health facilities as reasons for not accessing healthcare. Further, in the MSNA, HHs with disabilities cited inability to afford healthcare at a 6 % higher rate than those without. For the IDP population, poor healthcare access for persons with disabilities was the main factor driving the ‘Health Vulnerability Score ‘. Therefore, under this new project WHO aims to drive a coordinated approach to disability inclusion within the UN system, aligning our work in Ukraine with the WHO European Framework for action to achieve the highest attainable standard of health for persons with disabilities 2022–2030. By addressing disabling inequities across social and health systems in Ukraine, WHO aims to promote disability inclusive health for all.

Deliverables

• Advise the RC and the UNCT in developing policies, strategies and joint programmes to build and strengthen national capacities and institutions for the promotion and protection of Disability inclusion and rights of persons with disabilities;
• In particular, lead a participatory situational analysis, develop and support the roll out of UN coordinated approach framework and accountability mechanism, support the development of a joint UN programme on disability inclusion, in coordination with United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD), to address policy changes identified as priorities;
• Supports the RC and the UNCT in promoting Disability inclusion and rights of persons with disabilities as a common UN value and upholding international norms and standards through advocacy and awareness-raising;
• Supports the Head of UN RCO with coordination of relevant UNCT structures working on disability inclusion, strengthen their capacity and raising their awareness on Rights based approach to disability and disability Inclusion;
• Ensure efficient coordination and synergies between the UNCT and Humanitarian Country team (HTC) members, Disability Task Team, Programme Management Team on issues related to persons with disabilities;
• Contribute to information sharing and the promotion of disability best practices among UNCT members;
• Contribute to the review of the Common Country Analysis (CCA) from disability inclusion perspective, support the review of the UNTF, Humanitarian Needs Overview and Humanitarian Response Plan for 2023/2024, as well as the design of the upcoming United Nations Sustainable Development Framework for Ukraine (UNSDCF 2025-2030), support the Programme Management Team to mainstream disability inclusion into Joint Work Programmes;
• Enhance representation capacity and promote a meaningful participation of OPDs in recovery planning and implementation; including coordinating a joint OPD-UN response to emerging operational needs of actors e.g., updating operational guidance and consulting with actors on ad hoc basis;
• Support the design of the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy including UNCT accountability scorecards, UN in Ukraine Disability Inclusion action plan and act as a resource person in implementation of UNCT UNDIS accountability scorecards action plan and other key strategic planning tools.

Qualifications

Educational Qualifications

Essential: A bachelor’s degree in social sciences, development studies, disability studies or related field. Desirable: An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in social sciences, development studies, disability studies or related field.

Experience

Essential: A minimum of 2 years of professional experience on promoting a rights-based approach to disability inclusion and providing technical support on mainstreaming disability into policies and services for persons with disabilities in all their diversity. Desirable: Previous work experience with national, regional and/or local organizations of persons with disabilities in Ukraine.

Skills/Knowledge

• Proven communication and presentation skills with the ability to write in a clear and concise manner;
• Proven ability to promote consensus, communicate progress and results, and resolve issues in a proactive manner, while ensuring effective work practices and ethics.
• Good computer skills in Microsoft Office applications.

Languages

Excellent knowledge of English and Ukrainian.

Location

On site: Kyiv, Ukraine

Remuneration

a. Remuneration: locally recruited, USD 140 per day, equivalent at NO-B level

b. Expected duration of contract: 6 months

Additional Information

• his vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits workforce regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics. The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply for WHO jobs. Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to [email protected]
• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter (https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values) into practice.
• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of short-listed candidates.
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• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority.
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