Individual Consultancy: LTA for the Provision of sign language interpretation services to Promote inclusive Communication

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

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 fulfill 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 fair chance

How can you make a difference?

Purpose of Activity/Assignment: The main goal of this consultancy is to bridge the communication gaps between people who are deaf or hard of hearing and those who do not use sign language, ensuring equal access to information, clear and accurate communication, and inclusivity in various aspects of life.

Scope of Work: The consultant will offer the following services:

1. In-Person Interpretation services: The interpreter will be physically present at the location where the communication is taking place to facilitates communication between deaf and hearing individuals by conveying the message in sign language and spoken language, or through written communication.

2. Remote/Virtual Interpretation Services: Provide sign language interpretation services through video conferencing or other remote communication platforms with deaf individuals and hearing individuals communicate with each other using video and audio connections, while the interpreter translates between sign language and spoken language in real-time.

3. On-Call Interpretation Services: Provide on-call interpretation services for immediate or short-notice requests for sign language interpretation, such as during medical emergencies, legal proceedings, or unexpected communication situations.

4. Video sign language captioning: Add sign language captions to videos, making the content accessible to individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing individuals and use sign language as their primary mode of communication.

5. Conference Interpretation Services: Provide sign language interpretation services during conferences, seminars, online meetings/webinars, workshops, or large-scale events in real-time to ensure effective communication between presenters, attendees, and participants who are deaf.

6. Educational Interpretation Services: Assist in classrooms, lectures, discussions, and other educational activities to ensure that students who are deaf have full access to educational content and communication.

7. Legal Interpretation services: Provide sign language interpretation services in legal settings, such as courts, law enforcement interviews, and legal consultations to facilitate communication between individuals who are deaf, legal professionals, and other parties involved in legal proceedings.

8. Medical Interpretation Services: Assist patients who are deaf, healthcare providers, and medical staff to help convey medical information, interpret during doctor-patient consultations, and facilitate understanding and access to healthcare services.

9. Vocational Interpretation Services: provide sign language interpretation services during job interviews, training sessions, workplace meetings, and other vocational activities, to facilitate integration in the workplace for deaf individuals.

10. Performance and Entertainment Interpretation Services: Provide sign language interpretation during theatrical performances, concerts, speeches, and other forms of entertainment to convey the artistic and expressive aspects of the performance for audience members who are deaf.

11. Community Interpreting services: provide sign language interpretation services in various community settings, such as social events, public gatherings, religious ceremonies, and community meetings to promote inclusivity within the community.

12. DeafBlind Interpreting: Provide interpreting services for individuals who are both deaf and blind using tactile signing, hand-over-hand manual communication, or other specialized techniques.

*Applicants are required to provide a financial quotation (hourly and daily rates) for each of the services mentioned above.

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

• A bachelor's degree (or higher)
• Fluency in English and Portuguese is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.