National Consultant (Children with Disability Coordinator); Dhaka; Only for Bangladeshi
Contract
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Background:
Children with disabilities face unique sets of barriers to the realization of their rights to survival, development and participation. UNICEF is committed to building a world where every child – including those with disabilities – can grow up healthy, protected from harm and educated, so they can reach their full potential. According to the Bangladesh MICS 2019, 7.3 per cent of children age 2-17 years reported with functional difficulty in at least one domain. Children with disabilities often lack access to the specialized care they require, including the necessary assistive devices, and are at a higher risk of exploitation and abuse. Disability also acts as a key barrier to enrollment in education, with too few teachers trained to support these children and too few schools (and school WASH facilities) designed to be accessible. UNICEF Bangladesh aims to include children with disabilities in all its programmes and ensured that they are recognized in all of its agreements with implementing partners as well as in work with government counterparts.
Purpose of Activity/Assignment:
To improve UNICEF Bangladesh’s understanding of, and response to, the barriers to access faced by children with disabilities in order to ensure their inclusion in UNICEF programming, contributing to these children developing to their fullest potential.
Description of Assignment
The consultant will provide technical expertise on inclusion and accessibility across UNICEF’s programmes and support sections to further clarify identified CPD disability inclusion priorities (prioritization, indicators for measurement etc) and support implementation of disability sensitive sectoral and integrated policy and programmatic interventions.
The consultant will be guided on a daily basis by the Chairperson of the Disability Thematic Group and the Disability Thematic group.
- Technical Expertise in Inclusion:
- This will include mapping and analyzing existing programming in Bangladesh and within UNICEF and proposing evidence informed solutions to improve access to and quality of services for children with disabilities. The evidence informed solutions will build on global, regional and national good practices for/with children living with disabilities. The analyses should influence/guide the disability sensitive sectoral and integrated policy and programmatic interventions.
- Information from an analysis on which partners UNICEF should collaborate with to implement more integrated disability work at national and sub-national level to fill in the gap of interventions around disabilities will be built upon and used to improve UNICEF’s work with partners to achieve results for children with disabilities. The consultant will support the implementation of the practical and evidence informed sustained/scaled recommendations from the analysis to improve access to and quality of programming for/with children with disabilities in programmes. Wherever possible, the consultant will identify available local or global good practices to support the implementation of the recommendations.
- Support the Disability Thematic Group and Sections to further clarify identified CPD disability inclusion priorities (prioritization, indicators for measurement etc) and support implementation of disability sensitive sectoral and integrated policy and programmatic interventions.
Sector Specific Disability Inclusion Interventions. The consultant will work with Section focal points to:
- Define and document the overall approach sections are taking in ensuring disability inclusion across the programmes,
- Prioritize the interventions, support clarification of milestones, indicators over the CPD for the prioritized interventions,
- Integrate these within the routine monitoring indicators to measure and track progress,
- Support Chairperson of Disability Thematic Group and the Disability Thematic group to document and track the progress and report at the Programme Management Team meeting on a bi-monthly basis.
Name of the PSNs
Highlights
WASH
- Innovative sanitation and hygiene solutions for people with disabilities
- Disability-friendly water, and sanitation facilities in Schools
- An integral part of all awareness initiatives related to WASH
- Data disaggregated by disability
Social Protection
- Strengthening disability data
- Enhance the coordination in line with the RPPD Act 2013
- Data disaggregated by disability
Nutrition
- Inclusion of provisions for children, adolescents and adults with disabilities in key Government guidelines
- Early detection of disabilities
Education
- Inclusive education with focus on CWDs and other marginalized groups
- Innovations to improve access and learning for CWDs
- Disability responsive caregiving practices
CP
- Targeting
- Empowerment of Adolescent with disabilities
- Equitable access to a strengthened and responsive social service system
- Work with the Health sector for early detection of disabilities
- Strengthening disability data
ECCD
- Targeting
- disability-responsive environment
- Strengthening disability data
Health
- Inclusive and equitable access to health care
- Disability Friendly Health Services
- Early detection of disabilities
Adolescent
- Strengthening disability data
- Early detection of disabilities
- Disability Friendly Health Services
- Data disaggregated by disability
Integrated Disability Inclusion Interventions
- Define and document the overall approach for the integrated disability inclusion interventions identified by the Disability Thematic Group,
- Support the team to prioritize the interventions, clarify milestones, indicators over the CPD for the integrated prioritized interventions,
- Integrate these within the routine monitoring indicators to measure and track progress,
- Support Chairperson of Disability Thematic Group and the Disability Thematic group to document and track the progress and report on the prioritized integrated disability inclusion interventions at the Programme Management Team meeting on a bi- monthly basis.
Sl
Priority Area
Reflected in PSNs
PSN
1
Early identification
Addressed as Cross-sectoral programme.
Health, Nutrition, CP & ECCD
2
Policy Influence and System strengthening
Following issues are identified for policy influence-
- Close disability data gap
- Coordination in line with RPPD Act 2013
- Disability Friendly Health Services
- Disability inclusion in key Government guidelines on Nutrition
SPEAR
CP
Nutrition
Health
3
Innovation
- Improve access and learning for CWDs
- Sanitation and hygiene solutions for people with disabilities.
WASH
Education
C) Disability Thematic Specific Deliverables
- Build capacity of staff and partners on disability inclusion,
- Support operations team in conduct of accessibility audit of the UNICEF premises and services,
- Support Operations team in developing/clarifying indicators and supporting monitoring of operational disability inclusion interventions,
- Support in recruitment processes of human resources on disability inclusion,
- The consultant will also develop an advocacy paper around disability to ensure an effective inclusive “Leave No Child Behind” agenda in Bangladesh. The paper will look into not only UNICEF’s interventions but also the activities of other key partners and will serve as the reference advocacy document to promote the integration of disability work in development programming.
- Support Chairperson Disability Thematic Group and the Disability Thematic group to document, track and report against these in the bi-monthly Programme Team meetings.
D) Other disability related work
- Within UNICEF, the consultant will closely work with relevant programme staff to review strategy papers, donor proposals, programme documents, programme agreements and partner reports with a disability lens.
Given the current situation of COVID-19, the consultant is expected to work from home remotely, until work in the office becomes feasible.
Monthly deliverables will be defined at the beginning of every month in consultation with the Chairperson Disability Thematic Group and the Disability Thematic group. This group is co-chaired with a representative of the Operations Team, and the consultant will support the chairperson in coordinating and working closely with the Operations team.
Work Assignment Overview
Tasks/Milestone:
Deliverables/Outputs:
Timeline
Support the Disability Thematic Group and Sections to further clarify identified CPD disability inclusion priorities (prioritization, indicators for measurement etc.) and support implementation of disability sensitive sectoral and integrated policy and programmatic interventions.
Deliverable 1: Milestones to monitor and track the progress of disability inclusion priorities (both sectoral and cross sectoral integrated) over the CPD developed.
1 month
Coordination, definition and documentation of the overall approach sections are taking in ensuring disability inclusion across the programmes
Deliverable 2: Framework for sector specific disability inclusion interventions developed and available for implementation.
0.5 months
Coordination, definition and documentation of the overall approach for the integrated disability inclusion interventions identified by the Disability Thematic Group
Deliverable 3: Framework for integrated disability inclusion interventions developed and available for implementation.
0.5 months
Support Chairperson of Disability Thematic Group and the Disability Thematic group to document and track the progress and report at the Programme Management Team meeting on a bi-monthly basis.
Deliverable 4: Bi-monthly reports and one annual report on progress of implementation of the disability inclusion programme and operations priorities
1 months
Analysis on partners for collaboration with UNICEF for integrated disability work implementation at national and sub-national, and support for implementation of practical and evidence informed sustained/scaled recommendations from the analysis to improve access to and quality of programming for/with children with disabilities in programmes. Wherever possible, identify available local or global good practices to support the implementation of the recommendations.
Deliverable 5: Analysis on partners for UNICEF collaboration document finalized and available.
1.5 months
Provision of technical expertise in Inclusion: mapping and analysis of existing programmes in Bangladesh and within UNICEF and proposed evidence informed solutions to improve access to and quality of services for children with disabilities. The evidence informed solutions will build on global, regional and national good practices for/with children living with disabilities.
Deliverable 6: Report on mapping and analysis of existing disability inclusion programmes in UNICEF and Bangladesh as a whole available.
1.5 months
Develop evidence informed advocacy paper on “access to services for children and adolescent with disabilities” to ensure an effective inclusive “Leave No Child Behind” agenda in Bangladesh.
Deliverable 7: Evidence informed advocacy paper on access to services for children and adolescents with disabilities developed.
1 months
Build capacity of staff and partners on disability inclusion.
Deliverable 8: Availability of training materials on basic orientation of disability
Deliverable 9: Disability training for staff and partners conducted
1 month
Facilitate inclusiveness of internal operations including inclusive communication, accessibility and reasonable accommodation.
Deliverable 10: Availability of context specific procedure on disability inclusive communication and advocacy
1 month
Support operations team in conduct of accessibility audit of the UNICEF premises and services
Deliverable 11: Accessibility audit report available
0.5 months
Coordinate and share disability inclusion related knowledge
Deliverable 12: Knowledge products and information on disability inclusion regularly shared with all staff
0.5 months
Provide technical advice on any issue related to children and young people with disabilities and coordinate UNICEF’s work on disabilities including reporting on disabilities, and representing UNICEF in UN task team on disabilities for rolling out the project of UNPRPD.
Deliverable 13: Draft Annual Report on UNDIS produced
Deliverable 14: Regular provision of the technical advice
1 month
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Education/Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:
Education: An advanced University Degree in social sciences, psychology or inclusive education or other relevant area of study is required.
Work Experience: At least 10 years of professional experience in the area of inclusion, accessibility and/or the promotion of the rights of people with disabilities.
- Technical knowledge in the area of inclusion of people with disabilities, including accessibility is required. Work directly related for/with children with disabilities is preferred.
- At least 2-4 years of experience in analytical report writing, documented in published documents.
Language: Fluency in English and Bangla is required.
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.
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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:
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.