National individual consultancy to support UN Joint Program on right of people with disabilities with UNICEF in Uzbekistan

Consultant Programme & Policy

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

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.

Background

The government of Uzbekistan has embarked on human rights-based approach to disability inclusion through ratification of the CRPD and adoption of the National Action Plan on the CRPD in 2021. UNICEF has been leading support to the Government and OPDs in development of the National Action Plan through provision of technical expertise and organization of multi-stakeholder consultations. In addition, one of key priorities of the UNSDCF for 2021-2025 is enhancing access of the most vulnerable to gender-sensitive quality public services. The UN Country Team, including UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA and OHCHR joined efforts and implementation of the UN Joint Programme (JP) funded by the UNPRPD fund on “Transformation of Social Service Delivery: Implementing Human Rights-Based Approach for children, Youth and Women with Disabilities in Uzbekistan”. UNICEF is leading the implementation of the UN JP among UN, Government and OPDs.

One of the outputs of the UN JP focuses on capacity building of representative OPDs and families of children with disabilities to effectively advocate for inclusive services in the community for all children with disabilities at all levels and UN support for establishment of a representative advocacy organization. In addition, UNICEF jointly with IT Park has launched Skills4Girls programme to enhance digital skills and literacy of girls with disabilities. One of the lessons learned was the need for expanding the availability of assistive technology especially in the regional IT Park centers. Finally, UNICEF continues implementation of the Disability Inclusion Campaign to fight against stigma and discrimination against persons with disabilities and is planning engagement around harmful gender norms and stereotypes including against girls with disabilities.

Purpose and key functions

Under the direct supervision of Deputy Representative, the consultant will be supporting the Deputy Representative, Gender and Inclusion Specialist and Programmes in setting up institutional and programmatic mechanisms for effective integration of disability inclusion throughout the programme interventions to support quality programming and monitoring of the disability priorities. The following is summary of key functions/accountabilities and may not only be limited to identified areas but might also include emerging priorities:

1. Advisory services and technical support

• Leading CO reasonable accommodation efforts to ensure accessibility of PWDs to the office and advising on accommodation efforts for UNICEF organized events implemented offsite.
• Contributing to CO fundraising efforts on disability inclusion and providing technical support and advocacy to reporting and follow-up on international and regional disability commitments made by the country, including on the monitoring of the CO Disability Inclusion Strategy and CO Action Plan on Disability Inclusion.

2. Support to programme development and planning

• Co-leading the UNPRPD UN JP and separate output on OPD capacity building, through support in leading the overall implementation and supporting coordination among PUNOs and OPDs facilitating meetings, conducting training sessions to OPDs and organizing consultations.
• Participating in implementation of interventions directed at people with disabilities such as Skills4Girls, inclusion campaign, sectorial areas related to education, health and protection, including development of project proposals.

3. Program management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Support indicator identification, measurement and performance tracking on Disability Priorities, including on programmes related disability inclusion, humanitarian response, emergencies and gender targeted programmes with focus on women and girls with disabilities
• Supporting monitoring of the UNICEF programmes, including UNJP, by facilitating the documentation and results monitoring.

4. Advocacy and partnership building

• Liaise and consult with sections to support convergence and develop and reinforce partnerships in disability programming, including in areas related to assistive technology in health, education and social protection sectors. Development of the concept note on the assistive technology in line with UNICEF’s Global and Regional priorities and objectives.
• Supporting communication and advocacy events on disability inclusion and partnership building with national stakeholders including on emerging priorities such as disability assessment and determination.

5. Innovation and knowledge management

• Support documentation of annual progress results reporting from the UN Joint Programme, through coordination with UN partners and national stakeholders. Facilitating organization of Advisory group and Steering Committee meetings and documentation of the findings and the next steps.
• Bring best practices in disability programming and measurement though conducting learning sessions for UNICEF and its partners.

Timeline & Deliverables

The assignment will start from November 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023 and will last for the duration of 11 months. It will be based on the successful completion of key functions.

Activity

Timeline

Deliverables

1. Advisory services and technical support

Monitoring progress of CO Disability Inclusion Action Plan implementation and documentation of priorities of CO interventions for 2023-2024

December 31, 2022

Report with comments on progress

Submission of the report with findings and recommendations for ensuring accessibility of events and UNICEF’s premises by March 1, 2023. (form of checklist or any other form endorsed by UNICEF)

March 1, 2023

Report or Checklist with guidance notes

Provision of advisory services and technical support in all CO disability inclusion programming and reporting.

On-going

Presentations during the meetings, inputs to reports

2. Support to programme development and planning

Submission of the Roster of OPDs and self-initiative groups of parents with children with disabilities with key findings and recommendations, endorsed by UNICEF.

November 30, 2023

Roster with findings and recommendations

Conduct presentations for OPDs at national and regional levels jointly with Association of OPDs as part of the UNJP. As needed make presentations on disability inclusion within UNICEF’s other programmes to ensure inclusiveness.

On-going

Presentations and speeches.

Support the development and planning of interventions on disability inclusion, including UNICEF’s sectorial programs

On-going

Reports, proposals

3. Program management, monitoring and delivery of results

Coordination with partners and UN agencies and support documenting the progress results reports, including for UNJP and other initiative on disability inclusion.

On-going

Progress reports submitted

Coordination in development and planning of UNJP and UNICEF programmes on disability inclusion and gender mainstreaming and consolidation of the progress reports, including by UN agencies.

On-going

UN Partner’s progress reports documented.

4. Advocacy and partnership building

Concept note on assistive technology based on Global and RO guidance notes approved by UNICEF

June 1, 2023

Concept note with recommendation based on the approved format

Participation in advocacy events through speeches and presentations

On-going

Draft Presentation, feedback to social media posts

5. Innovation and knowledge management

UN JP progress reports and meeting minutes from consultations with OPD and other thematic meetings

On-going

Reports, Meeting minutes with Action points

Provision of technical expertise and support of advocacy campaigns

On-going

Social Media posts

Engagement with Organizations of Persons with Disabilities

Persons with disabilities and their representative organizations (OPDs) are pivotal to gaining a nuanced understanding of the rights of persons with disabilities and can provide unique insights and expertise. As the leading organizations advocating to progress the rights of persons with disabilities, PRPD programs should complement, amplify and support the work of OPDs. Collaborative analysis between OPDs and UNCTs allows the UN to develop an understanding of the local disability context, develop and/or strengthen working relationships, and understand the operational realities, strategies and priorities of persons with disabilities. This is important for informing the focus and design of PRPD programs, which are built on partnership with persons with disabilities and their representative organizations.

Resource Requirements and duration.

The duration of the assignments is during the period of 11 months with a monthly set payment, starting from November 1, 2022. Total fee for the assignment will be based on the best value principle. The payment will be made based on the monthly progress report submitted by the consultant upon successful completion of the deliverables of the assignment and evaluation by the Supervisor. Travel cost will be covered by UNICEF based on rules and regulations. The contract can be extended subject to successful deliverable of all the terms to support the second year of UN Joint Programme implementation. Personal assistance and assistive technology will be provided the successful candidate living with disability based on the reasonable accommodation request.

The consultant will be working in a full-time capacity in office-based mode, working five weekdays per week and with Paid Time Off (PTO) credit at the rate of one- and one-half days (1.5 days) for each full month of service. Consultants are selected and awarded a contract based on their qualifications, competency, expertise, experience and references among other criteria therefore they cannot sub-contract their work to other parties.

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

• University degree preferably in social sciences.
• Excellent understanding of CRPD principles and local context, and experience in programmes targeting persons with disabilities demonstrated by work experience.
• Experience working with OPDs
• Experience working in the UN system is an advantage.
• Proven successful experience in conducting trainings especially for OPDs.
• Good analytical and report writing skills.
• Fluency in Uzbek and Russian. Knowledge of English is an asset.

Management

The consultant will be working under the supervision of the Deputy Representative and Gender & Inclusion Specialist. It is required that the consultant will work closely with persons with disabilities and/or OPD groups to facilitate the training, coordinating their respective efforts and ensuring accessible and inclusive approaches.

Reservations

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if deliverable(s) incomplete, not finalized or for failure to meet deadlines. UNICEF will reserve copy right of all developed materials and own primary data collected through this assignment. The materials cannot be published or disseminated without prior written permission of UNICEF. UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future. The contractor must respect the confidentiality of the information handled during the assignment. Documents and information provided must be used only for the tasks related to these terms of reference.

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.

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Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unicef.org