National Disability Consultant to support optimization of social protection measures for children with disabilities in Tbilisi, Georgia

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Deadline is - 8 May, 6 PM Georgian time

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, protection

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

To develop detailed design of the optimized packages of social protection measures for children with disabilities and methodology for targeted support.

Scope of Work:

Background

In 2013, the Government of Georgia ratified the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and committed to harmonize its national policies and institutional framework with the convention. To implement these obligations, the Government initiated the process to transform the existing Medical Model of disability assessment system into the new one that applies a Social Model and to provide needs-based support to persons with disabilities (PWD).

In 2020, the Parliament of Georgia adopted a new Law on Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, based on which the Government reconfirmed its commitment to develop a new system of biopsychosocial assessment and support. In March 2023, the Government of Georgia approved the “Action Plan 2023-2025 to establish biopsychosocial model of disability status determination”, which defines all necessary actions for establishing a quality and sustainable new system of status determination as well as linking the results of the assessment to optimized, more tailored support to PWD.

The new system of disability assessment, which has been piloted in several locations, provides specific information about the health condition, functional difficulties, and social needs of children, thus allowing construction of more targeted packages of support based on the actual needs of the child.

To have a clear understanding of the needs of children with disabilities, UNICEF commissioned a study, which provided detailed information about the goods and services necessary for equal participation of children with disabilities. The study clearly showed that needs of CWD considerably vary depending on the domains of functional limitations that children experience as well as severity of difficulties and need for human assistance hence the existing package of support does not reflect the actual needs of children.

There is a need to optimize social protection support measures to target specific needs of children with disabilities.

Purpose of the assignment

To develop an algorithm for linking the results of the biopsychosocial assessment of the child to the targeted measures of social protection, and to design tailored packages for children with different types and severity of disability.

Work Methodology

Under the supervision of the Social Policy and Economic Specialist, the selected candidate will complete the agreed tasks and provide professional expertise in social protection and disability areas through the deliverables listed in this TOR. The work can be done remotely. The consultancy will require participation online or through face-to-face meetings with different stakeholders. In-country travel may be required.

Duration: From May 15 to October 15. (30 consultancy days).

Location: Home -based.

Travel: Possibility to travel within the country

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks/Milestone:

Deliverables/Outputs:

Timeline:

In consultation with stakeholders develop detailed packages of social protection measures for children with disabilities based on the data from the study on disability extra cost (UNICEF), from the pilots of biopsychosocial assessment and from the work of the international disability consultant on the design of the optimized package

• Detailed design of packages for children with different types and levels of disability

  15 working days, May- June 2023

Develop an algorithm for assigning a child with disability to the package of social protection measures based on the results of his/her biopsychosocial assessment for the purposed of status determination; provide recommendations (if any) for changes in the needs assessment instrument to provide information needed for designing a targeted package.

• Detailed algorithm that links results of the medical, functional and social assessment of an applicant with the tailored package of social protection measures.
• Recommendations on amendment of the needs assessment instrument to reflect

10 consultancy days in June-July- August 2023

Develop a guideline for the case managers (social workers) on how to design a targeted package of social protection measures for CWD based on the results of the assessment

• Guideline for case managers / social workers involved in disability status determination on how to design a targeted package of social protection measures based on the assessment results

5 consultancy days in September 2023

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

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• Advanced university degree in the field of social policy, social science or equivalent.

Advanced University degree in psychology or occupational therapy; academic degree in social science is a strong asset.

• Experience in developing social protection programmes and/or packages;
• Sound knowledge and understanding of the social protection system for children with disabilities in Georgia; understanding of the additional needs and associated goods and services required for equal participation of PWD;
• Good understanding of the social and rights-based models of disabilities. Knowledge and experience of applying the rights-based approach to persons and children with disabilities, child rights and international standards;
• Relevant working experience in the area of disability, specifically experience working directly with children with different types of disabilities (clinical interaction);
• Proven track record of experience in expert advice on Social Protection;
• Previous work with UNICEF will be an asset;
• Demonstrated analytical, negotiation, advocacy, reporting and writing skills;
• Fluency in oral and written communication in English and Georgian.

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:

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.