Local Individual Consultancy - Support the transformation of child disability assessment system to be in line with the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF

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, Inclusion

The overarching goal of the 2015-2020 UNICEF Country Programme of Cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina is to support the efforts of BiH to accelerate the universal realization of child rights by fostering greater social inclusion, especially of the most vulnerable and excluded children and families: children with disabilities, children of minorities, especially Roma, and children in impoverished communities. The Country Programme is organised along four programme areas: (1) Child rights monitoring and social protection and

inclusion, and (2) Child Protection and Justice for Children, (3) Inclusive Quality Education and (4) Young Child Wellbeing.

UNICEF has been implementing the Social Protection and Inclusion (SPI) local model in 34% of Municipalities in BiH and an essential element of it is the development of referral mechanisms for children with disabilities. Based on the vast experience from local levels through SPI implementation, in 2017 UNICEF supported the revision of the by-law regulating the assessment and referral of children and youth with disabilities and capacity building of social workers in Republika Srpska (RS). The by-law was adopted in January 2018 and it includes significant improvements with regards to the process of assessment of the functions, social care and support services for children and youth. Actioning one of the main recommendations from the 2017 Situation Analysis of Children with Disabilities,

in 2018 UNICEF BiH further promoted the ‘International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health for Children and Youth’ (ICF-CY). The country’s current disability categories still mostly reflect the medical model rather than the social model of disability, and therefore need to be aligned to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Through two workshops led by an international expert in ICF and organised by UNICEF together with WHO, professionals from the education, health and social protection sectors who work with or for children with disabilities gained first-hand experience in using the ICF concept and categories. One of the recommendations included a review of the existing assessment tools for classification and their complementarity to the ICF in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), as well as training for the Assessment Commissions at municipal levels. The above-mentioned assessment was conducted, and its findings presented at the federal workshop in December 2019, which also served as a milestone event for discussion and agreement about the Road Map for implementation of actions and recommendations.

How can you make a difference?

The purpose of the assignment is to support relevant federal and cantonal partners in the implementation of specific actions and recommendations as outlined in the Road Map for transforming of the current system of disability assessment based on medical approach to a social model of assessment which is focused on abilities and functions. More specifically, the consultant will facilitate the work of the multisectoral working groups to develop the standards, rulebooks, manuals, referrals and other tools in order to bring the child disability assessment procedures in the Federation of BiH more in line with the requirements of the ICF. The intended users and stakeholders are relevant sector Ministries at entity and cantonal levels (Social Protection, Education and Health), Municipal authorities, Centers for Social Welfare, Schools, Health Centers and non-governmental service providers as well as parents of children with disabilities who will be

involved in all steps of the process.

Under the overall supervision of the UNICEF Social Protection Specialist, and in a close cooperation with the Education Specialist and Health/ECD Specialist, the consultant will provide technical guidance and support in the implementation of the specific actions and recommendations outlined in the Road Map. The consultant will closely work with the multisectoral working groups and/or other multisectoral forums at federal and cantonal level and will collaborate with other relevant government and non-government institutions and organisations as well as parents of children with disabilities. The assignment includes provision of a technical support and expertise in the implementation of the below tasks grouped by the relevant administrative levels.

At Federal level:

 Conduct ICF trainings for the working groups and other stakeholders as well as those who pass legislation on application of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF);

 Develop standards for assessment and referral of children with disabilities at the level of the Federation, which will include, at the minimum: the list of assessment tests, the testing protocol with clearly defined criteria for the duration of the assessment, and guidelines for drafting recommendations based on the assessment of the child;

 Develop a manual on how to develop, monitor and evaluate the individual plans for every child.

At Cantonal level:

 Conduct ICF trainings for the working groups and professionals from the areas of education, social protection, health and the NGO sector as well as those who pass legislation on application of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF);

 Support the working groups in the process of the development of Action plans for transforming the system of assessment and referral of children with disabilities at the level of the canton, in cooperation with experts and parents;

 Develop criteria for the establishment and operation of the Commissions for Assessment of Children, including eligibility criteria and training requirements for the members, and define the cooperation with the parents in the assessment process;

 Develop a Rulebook that defines cooperation between institutions and organizations (kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, early childhood development centers, centers for development of inclusive practices, NGO sector, etc.) aimed at provision of coordinated

response and social services for a child and the family.

At local level:

 Develop an example of local referral mechanism that will ensure formal cooperation of institutions which should participate in the assessment process in cooperation with the Assessment Commission.

Methodology

Desk review of ICF best practices in the developed countries, as well as review of current legislation framework, available resources and practices used in the FBiH, will serve as a baseline for the development of a different tools foreseen by this assignment. The consultant will facilitate the work of working groups in this process and will draft the tools, which need to be presented to and validated by the working groups. All deliverables will be submitted to UNICEF in the form of final drafts, ready for adoption by relevant authorities. The assignment will require face to face trainings, workshops and working meetings. In case that this will not be possible due to a COVID-19 pandemic restriction measures, the consultant will, in consultation with UNICEF, organize alternative ways of communication, via zoom, skype etc.

Estimated duration of contract and Tentative Dates

August 2020 – December 2021 (134 working days over the period of 17 months). The contract will envisage mandatory break of 15 days after 11.5 months (15 – 31 July 2021).

The consultant will work from home. The assignment will require travel to selected Cantons (Sarajevo, Zenica, Mostar) and face to face trainings, workshops and working meetings. Depending on the pandemic situation and restriction measures, these events may be organized through alternative channels of communication.

The consultant will travel to selected Cantons. Travel costs will be included into the overall contract fee. UNICEF will not be responsible for organisation of the travel.

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

• Advanced university degree in Social Sciences;
• In-depth knowledge of international standards and global policies related to disability (UN Convention on the Rights of a Child, UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, WHO International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, etc.);
• 5 years of relevant work experience related to disability and/or social protection and inclusion, education and health sectors;
• Excellent knowledge of the Federation of BiH systems of social and child protection, education and health sectors;
• Proficiency in English and local language is required;
• Excellent analytical and writing skills;
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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 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:

Please indicate your ability, availability and lump sum amount (in BAM) to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a lump sum fee will not be considered. Only the short-listed candidates will be contacted.

For further details please contact Human Resources at UNICEF Office in Sarajevo, Ms. Marina Kadic at 387 33 293 606, mkadic@unicef.org

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.