Individual Contractor: Disability, Putrajaya, Malaysia (for Malaysian Only)

Consultant Programme & Policy

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 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?

Background: UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to promote the equal rights of children with and without disabilities and to support their full participation in the political, social and economic development of their communities. It strives to integrate disability equality in all its work for children with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) as a principal reference, and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) as an important underpinning of the organisation’s mandate and mission. In March 2022, the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Committee on the Rights of Children with Disabilities issued a Joint Statement on the rights of children with disabilities which provides further clarity and guidance on the intersection between the CRC and the CPRD as they relate to the rights of children with disabilities. In addition, UNICEF annually reports on the 14 common performance indicators outlined in the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS). Programmatically and institutionally, UNICEF’s soon to be released (est. September 2022) Disability Inclusion Policy and Action Plan 2022-2030 (DIPAS) will provide the main vehicle for integrating disability exclusion concerns into its programming and organisational priorities and aspirations, guiding the organisation’s contributions towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outlined in Agenda 2030.

The DIPAS 2022-2030 framework will outline a twin-track approach for both mainstreaming and targeted approaches to disability inclusion in programme strategies and results. Mainstreaming refers to the integration of disability inclusive outcomes across the life course in all five Goal Areas of the Strategic Plan 2022-2025, such as (a) quality maternal health care and nutrition, and HIV testing, counselling and care; (b) education systems and equitable access to education for all; (c) addressing violence against girls, boys and women, as well as harmful practices; (d) equitable WASH systems; and (e) social protection systems and care work.

Targeted refers to targeted priority actions designed to enable children with disabilities to catch up and advance boys and girls with disabilities in order to support their full participation and equal in the political, social and economic development of their communities on an equal level to their peers without disabilities.

In addition to disability inclusion, gender equality is also central to UNICEF’s mandate and its focus on equity. UNICEF recognizes that it must take an intersectional approach to addressing disability and gender inequalities and barriers for people/children with and without disabilities to pursue its mandate and realize the rights of every child, especially the most marginalised. A broad range of evidence shows that disability, gender, poverty, geographic residence, and migration status are some of the strongest factors determining disparities in child well-being and rights. As the only United Nations agency with the rights of children at the heart of its mandate, UNICEF is in a position to foster equitable child outcomes as a catalyst to a more equitable and inclusive world by addressing barriers to participation and redefining gender roles and power relations for the men and women (both with and without disabilities) of tomorrow. UNICEF recognizes that many individuals experience multifaceted and multilayered barriers and exclusion and commonly these occur at the intersection between disability and gender. Accordingly, in the Malaysia Country Office context intersectionality between disability and gender is given high consideration.

This is further evidenced in the new UNICEF Strategic Plan 2022-2025 and the new UNICEF Malaysia Country Office Country Programme Document 2022-2025. In both documents the areas of disability and gender have been strengthened as a focus for cross-cutting programming and as critical change strategies. This reflects UNICEF’s shift towards a transformative, intersectional approach to inequality and discrimination, by address the underlying drivers of disability and gender inequality.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

UNICEF Malaysia Country Office (MCO) is seeking to recruit a Disability Specialist to provide technical assistance to the Programme Specialist (Gender and Disability) to support the dual-track integration of disability inclusive approaches across MCO’s new Country Programme Document and selected country programme outputs, sectoral or cross-sectoral programme components and results. The technical assistance required by MCO includes - but is not limited to - disability analysis, stakeholder mapping, capacity building, programme support and partnership building in support of disability inclusive results for children in Malaysia.

Scope of Work:

The specific objectives of this role are:

1. Disability stakeholder mapping: Develop a robust methodology and conduct a national stakeholder mapping analysis of organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) in Malaysia.1 The mapping should – but not be limited to – highlight potential partnerships that could support selected country programme outputs, sectoral or cross-sectoral programme results, as well as identify levels of readiness, capacity building needs and gaps within the mapped OPDs operating within Malaysia.

2. Partnership building: support the development of partnerships with relevant OPDs in Malaysia that can support selected country programme outputs, sectoral or cross-sectoral programme component and results.

3. Disability capacity building/training: support disability development building efforts in a variety of models, methods and materials delivered in multiple accessible formats and languages relevant to the Malaysia country context and enhance capacity for high quality disability inclusive programming, research, advocacy and communications, through coordination of training for UNICEF staff/implementing partners/contractors.

4. Disability analysis: support section leads with in-depth disability analysis linked to selected country programme outputs, sectoral or cross-sectoral programme components. The analysis should outline the disability norms present in Malaysia, identify barriers/bottlenecks to disability equality and as well as support section leads to develop actionable interventions that accelerate disability inclusion with programming.

5. Disability support to sectoral programming: based upon the disability analysis support the provision of technical assistance to conceptualize and operationalize disability inclusive mainstreaming and targeting in MCO’s programming: Nutrition, Child Protection, Education, Adolescent Development and Participation (ADAP), Social Policy, Climate Action, Emergency, Social and Behaviour Change (SBC), Innovation, Private Sector Engagement (PSE), Gender and Disability.

6. Adopt and promote an intersectional approach: work closely with the Programme Specialist (Gender and Disability) and other employees within the team to adopt, model, promote and support an intersectional approach (which includes but is not limited to disability, gender, diversity, equity and inclusion) within all objectives and work assignments outlined in the terms of reference.

1 Note the following definition of organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs): OPDs are any organizations or associations led, directed, and governed by persons with disabilities, that are committed to and fully respect the principles and rights outlined in the Convention of Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). OPDs employ, are represented by, entrust or specifically nominate/appoint persons with disabilities themselves. Some OPDs represent people with all impairment types, while others may focus on a particular impairment type, gender, sectoral issue etc. UNICEF also, broadly considers organizations of parents of children with disabilities as OPDs as well, when these parents are pivotal in facilitating, promoting and securing the interests and supporting the autonomy and active participation of their children with disabilities. Local, national and international disability-related NGOs/CSOs such as Special Olympics, CBM and HI are not considered OPDs within this definition.

WORK ASSIGNMENT OVERVIEW

Tasks

- Workplan

- AGORA Training

- OPD Mapping Exercise

- OPD Strategic Partnership

- Disability Training

- Disability analysis

- Documentation

- Disability programming support

OUTPUT

- Workplan agreed with supervisor for 11.5 months

- Complete all mandatory UNICEF online training

- Inception report, Mapping report in spreadsheet format and word document summary analysis and Summary presentation and slide deck

- OPD Strategic Partnership concept note and 3-5 consultation / engagement workshops/meetings

- 6-8 disability capacity building/training sessions

- 3-4 disability analysis papers i.e. programme/section reviews, issue briefs, policy briefs etc.

- 2-3 case studies on UNICEF Malaysia disability inclusive programming and Update MCO Disability Inclusive Programming SharePoint page

- 3-4 disability inclusive mainstreamed or targeted programmes/initiatives supported

Mode of Consultancy:

- The contractor will be expected to make his/her own arrangement for transport to and from the office

- The contractor will develop, in collaboration with the Programme Specialist (Gender and Disability), a monthly workplan outlining expected activities, deliverables and deadlines over the consultancy period

- Payments in ringgits will be made on a monthly basis upon the submission of: Monthly invoice and Monthly progress report including an overview of workplan activities undertaken and completed deliverables as certified by the supervisor.

- UNICEF will pay for travel costs relevant to the assignment as per the organizational guideline

WORKING MODALITY

- 3 days/week work in office PJH/E&C as agreed with supervisor

- 2 days/week work from home as agreed with supervisor

- Duration of contract: 11.5 months

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

Education

University Bachelors degree (or above) in any relevant field including but not limited to disability studies, social sciences, international development is essential.

Work Experience:

At least 3-5 years of strong technical skills in disability inclusion or relevant related research, capacity building and partnership development is essential with additional experience in adopting an intersectional approach to the above tasks as an asset, as well as proven ability to design, implement and document activities related to the above tasks.

Language: Fluence in English and Bahasa Malaysia are required

Competencies:

- Programmatic work experience in disability and intersectional issues, with an understanding of social norms and behaviour change, is essential

- Expertise in developing training materials and conducting training and related capacity building activities on disability inclusion is essential.

- Experience of working in the Malaysian OPD or Disability Service Provider community is essential.

- Excellent written communication skills in English, with strong presentation skills is essential.

- Excellent networking and interpersonal communication skills are essential.

- A proven record of undertaking disability analysis, stakeholder mapping and providing guidance on disability inclusive programme design and implementation is desirable.

- Strong analytical skills in disability programme design and assessment are an asset

- Some prior experience working with UNICEF or other UN agencies as an asset

- Current knowledge of disability inequality and discrimination issues, national strategies, as well as policies and procedures at a regional and global development level are an asset.

- Demonstrated ability to formulate innovative, creative, and interactive solutions is an asset

- Knowledge and understanding of international human rights standards and conventions with regards to children, women and persons with disabilities is an asset.

- Ability to engage with a wide range of partners, such as civil society organizations, government, private and academia is an asset.

- Understanding of UNICEF’s work in Malaysia is an asset

- Ability to conceptualize and articulate ideas in a clear and concise form is an asset

- Ability to take initiative and to work with minimum supervision is an asset

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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 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.

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Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unicef.org