National Consultant to Develop a Comprehensive Digital Toolkit for Humanitarian Organizations to Ensure Accessibility for Women and Girls with Disabilities

Consultant

Contract

This is a National Consultant contract. More about National Consultant contracts.

Background

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls, the empowerment of women, and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action, and peace and security.

Humanitarian crises, including conflicts, natural disasters, and pandemics, disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, particularly women and girls with disabilities. Ensuring accessibility in humanitarian responses is crucial to providing equitable aid and support. A digital toolkit serve as a valuable resource for humanitarian organizations to effectively address the specific needs of women and girls with disabilities, promoting inclusivity and accessibility. Developing a comprehensive digital toolkit for humanitarian organizations is a critical step towards ensuring that women and girls with disabilities are not left behind in humanitarian responses. By addressing the unique barriers, they face and providing practical resources for inclusion, the toolkit can significantly enhance the effectiveness and equity of humanitarian aid efforts. This initiative aligns with global commitments to disability rights and inclusive development, promoting a more just and equitable response to crises.

Current Challenges

1. Physical Accessibility: Many humanitarian relief efforts take place in environments that are not physically accessible to women and girls with disabilities. This includes inaccessible shelters, distribution points, and health services, which can prevent them from receiving aid .

2. Communication Barriers: Information dissemination during crises often fails to consider the needs of those with hearing, visual, or cognitive disabilities. This can lead to critical information about safety, services, and rights not reaching those who need it most .

3. Socio-Cultural Barriers: Cultural attitudes towards disability can lead to stigma and discrimination, further isolating women and girls with disabilities and preventing them from accessing humanitarian services. In many cases, these individuals are not adequately consulted or included in the planning and implementation of humanitarian programs .

4. Lack of Training and Resources: Humanitarian workers often lack training in disability inclusion and do not have access to resources or tools that could help them better serve women and girls with disabilities. This includes understanding legal frameworks, best practices for inclusion, and how to adapt services to be more accessible .

Objectives of the Digital Toolkit

The primary goal of the digital toolkit is to provide humanitarian organizations with comprehensive resources that enable them to create more inclusive and accessible environments for women and girls with disabilities. Specific objectives include:

• Raising Awareness and Understanding: Educate humanitarian workers on the specific needs and rights of women and girls with disabilities.
• Guidance on Physical Accessibility: Offer practical advice on making shelters, distribution points, and services physically accessible.
• Inclusive Communication Strategies: Provide tools and strategies for accessible communication, including the use of sign language, braille, and easy-to-read materials.
• Capacity Building: Develop training modules to improve the skills and knowledge of humanitarian workers regarding disability inclusion.
• Policy and Advocacy: Support organizations in advocating for and implementing policies that promote accessibility and inclusivity.

Key Components of the Toolkit

1. Training Modules: Interactive training sessions that cover topics such as disability rights, inclusive planning, and accessibility standards.

2. Checklists and Guidelines: Comprehensive checklists for assessing and improving the accessibility of facilities and services. This includes guidelines for physical spaces, communication methods, and program design.

3. Case Studies and Best Practices: Examples of successful inclusive humanitarian responses that organizations can learn from and adapt to their contexts.

4. Advocacy Resources: Materials to help organizations advocate for the rights and needs of women and girls with disabilities, including policy briefs and advocacy strategies.

5. Digital Accessibility Tools: Tools and resources for creating accessible digital content, ensuring that information and services provided online are accessible to all users.

Under the guidance of the UN Women Deputy Representative, with day-to-day reporting to the Programme Coordinator the consultant will support UN Women Nigeria Country Office to Developing a Comprehensive Digital Toolkit for Humanitarian Organizations to Ensure Accessibility for Women and Girls with Disabilities.

Duties and Responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will be expected to:

1.1. Needs Assessment

• Conduct a comprehensive needs assessment to understand the specific challenges and requirements of women and girls with disabilities in humanitarian contexts.
• Engage with key stakeholders, including women and girls with disabilities, humanitarian organizations, disability advocacy groups, and accessibility experts.
• Identify existing resources, gaps, and opportunities for improving accessibility in humanitarian programs.

1.2. Content Development

• Develop content for the toolkit, including guidelines, checklists, templates, case studies, and training materials.
• Ensure the content covers various aspects of accessibility, such as communication, physical access, program design, and monitoring and evaluation.
• Include practical examples and case studies that highlight successful implementation of accessible humanitarian programs.

1.3. Design and Usability

• Design the digital toolkit to be user-friendly and accessible, adhering to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
• Ensure the toolkit is available in multiple formats (e.g., PDF, HTML) and languages to cater to a diverse audience.
• Incorporate feedback from end-users, including women and girls with disabilities, to ensure the toolkit meets their needs and preferences.

1.4. Technical Development

• Develop the digital toolkit using appropriate technology platforms that ensure ease of access and usability.
• Ensure compatibility with various devices and assistive technologies.
• Implement features such as search functionality, interactive elements, and downloadable resources.

1.5. Pilot Testing

• Conduct pilot testing of the toolkit with selected humanitarian organizations and end-users.
• Gather feedback on the usability, relevance, and effectiveness of the toolkit.
• Make necessary adjustments based on the feedback received to enhance the toolkit's quality and accessibility.

1.6. Training and Capacity Building

• Develop a training program to accompany the toolkit, including webinars, workshops, and online courses.
• Provide training materials and resources to support humanitarian organizations in using the toolkit effectively.
• Conduct training sessions for key personnel in humanitarian organizations to ensure they are equipped to implement the toolkit's recommendations.

1.7. Monitoring and Evaluation

• Develop a monitoring and evaluation framework to assess the impact and effectiveness of the toolkit.
• Collect data on the usage and outcomes of the toolkit through surveys, interviews, and case studies.
• Provide regular reports and updates on the toolkit's performance and areas for improvement.

1.8. Documentation and Reporting

• Document the entire development process, including needs assessment findings, stakeholder consultations, content development, and pilot testing outcomes.
• Prepare comprehensive reports detailing the methodology, results, and recommendations for future improvements.
• Ensure all documentation is accessible and available in multiple formats and languages.

The selected Consultant will be expected to complete the following key-deliverables within the indicative timeframe:

Indicative Timeline

• A comprehensive digital toolkit, including all developed content and resources.

30

• Reports on needs assessment, pilot testing, and monitoring and evaluation.

1. • Documentation of the development process and stakeholder consultations.

Total Consultancy period

40 working days

Reporting

Under the supervision of the Deputy Country Representative, and in close collaboration with the programme Manager on Humanitarian and DRR, and other relevant UN Women Nigeria CO staff, the selected consultant will develop and deliver the above listed outputs in accordance with the above outlined timeframes and specifications.

Competencies

Core Values

• Integrity: Demonstrates consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UNDP and UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.
• Professionalism: Demonstrates professional competence and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work.
• Respect for Diversity: Demonstrates an appreciation of the multi-cultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff. Demonstrates an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity.

Competencies:

• Ethics and Values: Demonstrate and safeguard ethics and integrity.
• Organizational Awareness: Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment.
• Development and Innovation: Take charge of self-development and take initiative.
• Teamwork: Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Communication and Information Sharing: Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for effective communication.
• Self-management and Emotional Intelligence: Stay composed and positive even in difficult moments, handle tense situations with diplomacy and tact, and have a consistent behavior towards others.
• Conflict Management: Surface conflicts and address them proactively acknowledging different feelings and views and directing energy towards a mutually acceptable solution.
• Continuous Learning and Knowledge Sharing: Encourage learning and sharing of knowledge.
• Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making: Demonstrate informed and transparent decision making.

Functional Competencies

• Good programme formulation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation skills
• Good budget and finance skills
• Good knowledge of Results Based Management
• Ability to gather and interpret data, reach logical conclusions, and present findings and recommendations
• Good analytical skills
• Knowledge of UN programme management systems

Required Skills and Experience

1. Educational Background

• Master’s degree in a relevant field such as Disability Studies, International Development, Humanitarian Assistance, Social Work, or a related discipline.
• Additional certifications in accessibility, inclusive design, or related areas are highly desirable.

2. Professional Experience

• At least 7-10 years of experience working in the humanitarian sector, with a strong focus on disability inclusion and gender.
• Proven track record of developing resources, toolkits, or guidelines for humanitarian organizations.
• Experience in conducting needs assessments, stakeholder consultations, and pilot testing in diverse settings.

3. Technical Skills

• Strong understanding of accessibility standards (e.g., Web Content Accessibility Guidelines - WCAG).
• Proficiency in digital content development and familiarity with various content management systems and digital platforms.
• Experience in training and capacity building, including the development of training materials and delivery of training sessions.
• Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation methodologies and frameworks.

4. Interpersonal and Communication Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and effectively.
• Proven ability to engage with a diverse range of stakeholders, including women and girls with disabilities, humanitarian practitioners, and technical experts.
• Strong facilitation and presentation skills for conducting workshops, webinars, and other training activities.

5. Project Management

• Demonstrated experience in project management, including planning, execution, monitoring, and reporting.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and deliverables within tight deadlines.

6. Analytical and Research Skills

• Strong analytical skills to conduct thorough needs assessments and identify gaps and opportunities for improvement.
• Ability to synthesize information from various sources and translate it into practical, user-friendly tools and resources.

7. Personal Attributes

• Commitment to inclusion and accessibility, with a deep understanding of the challenges faced by women and girls with disabilities in humanitarian contexts.
• Creativity and innovation in developing solutions that address complex problems.
• Flexibility and adaptability to work in dynamic and often challenging environments.

8. Specific Knowledge and Expertise

• In-depth knowledge of disability rights and inclusive humanitarian practices.
• Familiarity with gender issues and the intersectionality of gender and disability.
• Understanding of the humanitarian operational context, including fieldwork experience in crisis-affected areas.

Desirable Attributes

• Experience working with international organizations, NGOs, or UN agencies.
• Fluency in multiple languages, particularly those spoken in regions with significant humanitarian needs.
• Experience in advocacy and policy development related to disability and gender inclusion.

Note: Applicants are required to send the following documents in one application by email.

1. Application letter explaining interest in the consultancy and suitability of the candidate for the consultancy position
2. Updated CV
3. A short proposal (max 1,500 A4 pages) that details a proposed methodology and conceptualization of the consultancy.
4. Personal History Form (P11). The P11 Form can be downloaded from the following website:
5. Financial proposal specifying a daily consultancy rate and a breakdown per deliverable.

Duration of the Assignment

The assignment is expected to take 40 working days from the date of signing the contract.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in written and spoken English is required.

Application

All applications must include (as an attachment) the completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from:

https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/About%20Us/Employment/UN-Women-P11-Personal-History-Form.doc. Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment. Applications without the completed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality, and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW, and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.

Diversity and inclusion:

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided based on qualifications, competence, integrity, and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel 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.)

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Added 4 days ago - Updated 1 hour ago - Source: jobs.undp.org