International Consultant: Develop sound, feasible and CRPD and CRC compliant recommendations for the disability assessment reform in Slovakia (37.5 days from 1 November 2023- 20 February 20

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Within the “Programme Declaration of the Government of the Slovak Republic for 2020-2024”, the Government of the Slovak Republic took upon to create optimal conditions to implement the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CPRD), including to strengthen institutional mechanisms for its monitoring and implementation. While the Government of Slovakia collects indicators on disability through administrative sources (for specific purposes), and through national surveys, comprehensive information on disability is not possible due to not having an integrated national definition of disability. Public survey statistics on child disability in host community is less available, due to primary focus on age citizens above 15 years of age. For Ukrainian children, the situation is even more challenging - whereas certain proxy information is available, as beneficiaries of Carer’s Grant for children with specific needs (280 beneficiaries from 0 to 18 years old in May 2023) and per education records.

The CPRD Concluding Observations (2016) recommended to adopt a human rights-based model of disability assessment (moving away from predominantly medical model), strengthen investments in community-based services, and take efforts to alleviate poverty of persons with disabilities – including through monitoring of effects of the social protection support, as well as to develop a holistic concept of health and medical services for children with disabilities.

While the disability assessment for host community for the financial compensation is carried out through medical and social assessment activities combined, medical component is predominant in the overall model. Medical assessment is used ascertain the health state and determine agree of functional impairment, assess social consequences and dependency of a persons with disability, as well as the need for special care. Disability assessment currently implemented by MoLSAF for Ukrainian children, as basis for humanitarian financial compensation, presents a more simple and less time-consuming model, initially developed by UNICEF Slovakia as an assessment for humanitarian cash support (Carer’s grant for children) and transferred to MoLSAF. While the latter model proved useful in initial stage of humanitarian response, MoLSAF faces challenges to ensure its robustness. Additional challenge is presented by the fact that different assessment models are used for Slovak and Ukrainian children, which could have negative repercussions for social cohesion. Ultimately, both models are primarily focused on severe disability, presenting a risk to exclude children in situations not recognized as “severe” child disability or developmental delay.

The Government of Slovakia is undergoing a disability assessment system reform in the field of social and child protection, through Slovak Republic Recovery and Resilience Plan “Component 13 - Affordable and high-quality long-term social and health care”, Reform 2. The reform aims to address inconsistencies in the assessment of disability and long-term needs for care, introduce better coordination of assessment processes to reduce number of assessments a single person needs to undergo, and centralize the assessment process within auspices offices of labour, social affairs and family. The current system which defines a severity of disability (expressed in percentage scores) based on medical model is aimed to be replaced with a two-stage assessment which will initially identify functional difficulties (certifying disability), followed by a complex assessment to determine needs in a specific case and define suitable compensation regarding the individual and family situation.

Reforming disability assessment system represents a part of a broader planned reform to unify disability definition across government systems, and to revisit and reform the disability benefits and services framework.

As part of broader disability reform, the Government of Slovakia foresees to continue to reform legislation defining disability compensations in form of cash and services (as vouchers). The current system of disability-related financial and in-kind support is generous and includes carer’s benefit, financial support for medical aids, financial support to modify and repair medical aids, as well as financial support for car and car modification. Different concessions are also available. Although generous for those who qualify, the system is less focused on support across the life cycle and during childhood and is not put in connection with the additional participation costs of living with a disability. Reform of Slovak social protection benefit system is directly relevant for Ukrainian refugees, as financial support for Ukrainian children is replicating benefits for Slovak children and households (equal design – amount and distribution period); while not all benefits available to Slovaks are replicated for Ukrainian children.

Reforming disability assessment system to equally apply to refugee and host community, and to better capture variation in manifestation of child disability, will have direct impact to better access to support systems for Ukrainian children currently residing in Slovakia, as well as new arrivals, while also benefiting Slovak children and directly accounting for social cohesion by equalizing approach to children from both communities.

How can you make a difference?

The overall goal of the consultancy is to develop sound and feasible policy proposals to the upcoming disability assessment reform in Slovakia making sure that the new disability assessment is in line with CRPD and CRC and considers all age groups (beyond WHODAS methodology) and different types of disability – notably children, and to align assessment system for Slovak and Ukrainian refugee children.). Policy options will be validated with national stakeholders and discussed with the government. Disability community’s participation will be ensured in all stages of the consultancy.

The policy proposals will incorporate recommendations to strengthen and revise approach to child disability assessment, certification and needs assessment that will be child-sensitive and CPRD-compliant, with focus on:

• Robust assessment tools and instruments, including to propose a solution for continuous testing and improvement of assessment tools (internal validity checks to confirm test is psychometrically sound)
• Adequate institutional set-up, distribution of roles and responsibilities (functions of members and institutions partaking in the assessment process), and capacities (building on the existing Slovak system and institutional and functional framework) for disability assessment and certification.
• Capacity building needs of the professionals/specialists conducting the disability assessment and sustainability of capacity building efforts.
• Ensuring participation of children and their parents in the new/proposed disability assessment process
• Monitoring and quality assurance process of the new/proposed disability assessment process

In order to avoid incentives to create parallel assessment systems which would not be sustainable in long term; and to ensure consultancy proposals and final deliverables are well aligned and can be absorbed by the overarching national system (implementing assessments for both Slovak and Ukrainian children), all recommendations should account for existing Slovak system and reform processes so to:

• Contribute to the expected reform of the Slovak system of disability assessment and compensation system (cash, services and support systems) across the life cycle, with focus on support in childhood, teenage and youth period, and for parents of children with disabilities, and more broadly to adequate support policy planning.
• Contribute to more effective support to Slovak and Ukrainian children with disabilities transitioning from institutions to families and communities.
• Contribute to achieve the national Reform 2: Unification of Assessment Activities under Component 13 of Recovery and Resilience plan and for a smooth and sustainable transfer to the new assessment model, with the ultimate view towards transformation to social model of disability and a unified disability definition and integrated assessment system across all social protection systems (non-contributory and contributory cash support, education, health and employment)

The assessment and recommendations should bring together and account to the extent possible to:

• Person’s perspective - including child’s situation, needs, interests and talents, and system perspective - including the community, professionals and institutions part of the process, alignment between different assessments, capacity and available profiles of professionals, funding, accessibility, management, monitoring and evaluation.
• Social cohesion between Ukrainian and Slovak community.

Methodology:

In order to develop the policy options the consultant, guided by UNICEF team will have to go through a step-by-step methodology.

• The consultant will observe and examine the approach, methodology and instruments used and proposed under the ongoing reform from a human-rights, child-sensitive and CPRD-compliant perspective.
• The consultant will have to provide an in-depth analytics of the currently proposed disability assessment and certification approach – including overall approach and methodology, disability assessment instruments, and frameworks of systems in place, processes and relevant capacities, focusing on: (i) child disability identification; (ii) child disability assessment, determination and certification; and (iii) child disability needs assessment and recommendations for support including social protection benefits and care systems.

The consultant is expected to:

• Perform desk review and analysis.
• Conduct interviews and group discussions (focus groups, workshops) with key stakeholders, including MoLSAF, staff involved in the assessment process, service providers, and parents of and children with disabilities and relevant members of the disability community in Slovakia.
• Directly observe the assessment and certification process

The consultant is expected to develop an assessment methodology to define scope, conceptual framework, research questions, and the data collection methods.

The consultant shall comply with UNICEF’s Procedures for Ethical Standards in Research, Evaluation and Data Collection and Analysis (to be shared with selected consultant). The consultant should identify relevant potential ethical issues and mitigation strategies relating to potential harms and benefits, informed consent, privacy and confidentiality. Before commencement of the field work ethical review of the full research protocol (including all data gathering tools/instruments) will be performed by UNICEF Ethical Review Board (ERB). ERB approval will be necessary to proceed with remaining activities.

Work Assignments Overview Deliverables/outputs****Delivery deadlineThe consultant proposes an assessment methodology for the assignment (to be reviewed if necessarily adapted based on Ethical Review Board comments)

As part of the process, a consultant is expected to facilitate and present in a meeting to discuss and validate the methodology and key research questions

Assessment Methodology

Inception meeting conceptualization and presentation delivered.

2.5 WD

Deadline: 3 November 2023

The consultant produces an analytical report with main findings (following guidance in the ToR under scope of the research), based on the:

- desk review and analysis of institutional and assessment systems and data collection on the capacities and expert profiles of assessor team members.

- bi-lateral and focus group discussions with relevant representatives of state institutions, civil society and parents and children

- observation of the pilot disability assessment and certification process - getting acquainted with broader disability reform plans

As part of the process, the consultant is expected to conceptualize, facilitate, and present in a workshop to validate the findings.

Desk Review

Draft and final report with analysis of the piloted disability assessment and certification model

Workshop conceptualization and presentation delivered.

25 WD

Deadline: 4 December 2023

Based on analytical report results, developing recommendations for improvement of the model in line with child-rights and CPRD requirements, towards a model which can be sustainable and aligned with institutional framework (Slovak systems)Recommendations paper - for modification, roll-out, and continued testing and improvement of the disability assessment and certification system & disability needs assessment system.7 WD

Deadline: 18 December 2023

Based on analytical report and recommendations, as well as information on broader disability reform plans, proposing suggestions on how disability assessment and certification, would link to the process of deciding on disability support in individual cases (compensation to beneficiaries)

As part of the process, facilitate and present in a meeting to present and agree on recommendations.

Policy Paper (short) - Broad recommendations for linking disability assessment (assessment, certification, needs assessment) with decision on support – cash, services and other relevant support

Validation meeting conceptualization and presentation delivered.

3 WD

Deadline: 22 December 2023

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

• An advanced university degree (master’s or higher) in public policy, social policy, medicine, social sciences or other relevant fields.
• At least 10 years of experience in social policy programmes related to inclusion of children and persons with disabilities; *
• Expertise and experience in public reforms introducing the social model of disabilities at national and international level; *
• Expertise and experience in disability status determination system and some experience with social entitlements for persons and children with disabilities; *
• Extensive understanding of the rights of persons and children with disabilities, child rights and international standards; *
• Fluency in English; * Knowledge of Slovak is considered advantage.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, partnership building.
• Excellent planning and organizational skills; and
• Excellent writing skills

Application requirement

The consultancy is open to individual international applicants. Applicants are required to provide:

• A short cover letter, highlighting relevant experience with similar type of assignments (max 300 words).
• CV of the individual applicants
• Financial proposal including number of days for undertaking the assignment, daily fee, travel costs. Travel costs will be pre-approved by UNICEF as per the UNICEF rules and regulations for travel for consultants i.e., irrespective of the distance and duration of the flight, most direct and economy flight ticket shall apply.
• Samples or links to at least 2 related pieces of work previously conducted by the consultant, must be provided in English.
• A technical proposal with a clear methodology, tentative workplan and timeframe
• The financial proposal should include all possible costs related to the implementation of the tasks under the present TOR including international, inter-city and in-city travel expenses and DSA. UNICEF does not provide or arrange health insurance coverage. The financial proposal must be submitted in a separate file of non-editable format (e.g. PDF). Consultancy fees should be broken down to show the details for the below-mentioned deliverables. In case the bidder is a resident of Kazakhstan, please indicate VAT amount separately in your Financial Offer or clearly state if you are non-VAT payer.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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:

• Completion of the UN/UNICEF mandatory trainings is obligatory upon commencement of the contract.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
• All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.
• The Consultant will perform his/her duties in line with UNICEF standards and procedures.
• Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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.
• Consultants 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.

• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

  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.

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' 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.