National Individual Consultants (five consultants): Technical assistance to conduct a situational country analysis of the rights of persons with disabilities in North Macedonia

This opening expired 2 years ago. Do not try to apply for this job.

UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund

Open positions at UNICEF
Logo of UNICEF

Application deadline 2 years ago: Monday 10 May 2021 at 21:55 UTC

Open application form

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.

For every child, equality

The United Nations Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Multi-Partner Trust Fund (UNPRPD MPTF) is a unique collaboration that brings together UN entities, governments, organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), and broader civil society to advance the rights of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and disability inclusive Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The UN Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (PRPD) is dedicated to the implementation of the CRPD. The PRPD recognizes a rights-based approach to disability, as detailed in the CRPD and its associated guidance. The CRPD continues to drive discourse on disability inclusive development, and despite progress in countries that are monitoring and reporting on their progress in implementing the CRPD, countries struggle to transform the CRPD into concrete policies, systems, programs and services that uphold the rights of persons with disabilities. Furthermore, with the implementation of the SDGs underway, it is urgent that governments and their implementation partners deliver on their SDG commitments through CRPD-compliant interventions.

Disability inclusion in North Macedonia has gained traction with the CRPD ratification and its Optional Protocol in 2011. The progress with deinstitutionalization, made possible with the UNPRPD support, revealed the complexity, gaps and opportunities for scaling up CRPD implementation and disability inclusive development. The Government remains committed to equality and inclusion, including persons with disabilities. Capitalizing on the progress made, it aims to accelerate and deepen systemic reforms and give effect to the preconditions necessary for disability inclusion into policies, programs and services that are aligned with international norms and standards.

The UN Country Team in the country successfully applied for the fourth call for proposals of the UNPRPD Multi-Partner Trust Fund, to jointly develop a country-level programme with the objectives to:

i. advance CRPD implementation at the country level by focusing on the essential preconditions for disability inclusion across sectors, translating these into concrete policies, programs, and / or services which lead to systemic changes through a cohesive, inter-sectoral approach.

ii. improve and increase the implementation of disability inclusive SDGs at the country level by providing fundamental support to the UN’s collective response to the SDGs to address national priorities and gaps concerning persons with disabilities in national planning.

Within the inception phase activities, conducting a multi-sector and multi-stakeholder situational analysis is planned, to improve understanding of what is most catalytic at country level and to identify bottlenecks in progressing implementation of the CRPD and the realization of persons with disabilities equal rights.

How can you make a difference?

The purpose of the consultancy is to provide an objective and verifiable analysis of the situation of the rights of persons with disabilities in North Macedonia, which will be used to generate recommendations with all stakeholders and to identify key priorities where future programming can provide the biggest impact in accelerating CRPD implementation. These recommendations will shape the PRPD program design process.

Key aspects of the situation analysis of the rights of persons with disabilities in North Macedonia should include the following:

  1. Stakeholder and coordination analysis - to understand the roles taken by a variety of stakeholders and the coordination mechanisms in place;

  2. Equality and non-discrimination legal and policy analysis - whether legal and policy environment is enabling protection, promotion and fulfilling the rights of persons with disabilities, with specific focus on the rights of women and children, and implementing the CRPD;

  3. Service delivery – availability of disability assessment and referral systems, availability of disability support services, as well as to what extend the mainstream services are inclusive and linked with disability support services;

  4. Accessibility – extend to which legal and policy framework, standards and intentional efforts facilitate participation as a critical pre-condition for persons with disabilities to live independently and participate fully and equally in society;

  5. CRPD-compliant budgeting and financial management – to understand the extent to which a country’s domestic and international resources foster inclusion of persons with disabilities;

  6. Accountability and governance – availability of inclusive evidence and data gathering systems to understand the situation of persons with disabilities, the inequalities they experience and the barriers they face in participating on an equal basis, and adequacy of the national accountability mechanisms.

Particular attention should be given to the preconditions for inclusion and cross cutting issues – as these are aspects that are of inter-sectoral importance and should cut across all areas. In addition, the analysis should also tackle issues emerging from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Examples of some key questions to be considered during the analysis:

▪ Are there any critical ‘bottlenecks’ or system issues hindering progress towards inclusive SDGs, CRPD implementation and equality between persons with and without disabilities?

▪ What are critical priorities as assessed by persons with disabilities and their representative organisations, including priorities formulated or strengthened by being part of this analysis? What are critical issues to be incorporated into COVID-19 recovery planning? Are there specific capacity gaps or needs for technical assistance and training that PRPD could support?

▪ What further analysis is required or recommended in order to progress disability inclusive programming in future?

▪ What are critical gaps and opportunities that PRPD programming could add value to?

Approach and Scope

This analysis is designed to provide enough information to get a sense of priorities, issues and which areas require further analysis, investment and effort. This information should inform future analysis and programming.

It is expected that information and data available at the country level will be incomplete or insufficient to answer the full range of analytical questions and topics covered in this framework. Gaps in information are themselves a useful finding to help inform programming decisions or recommendations for future analyses.

Methodology and Process

Desk review/literature review – including formal and non-formal data and sources of information. UNCTs should use connections and networks to access formal data sets and where feasible/relevant analyse data from these. Data and information collected during the UN Common Country Analysis or other sectoral plans can be good resources. CRPD state reports and SDG reporting by countries and non-governmental actors, and CRPD committee concluding observations should be considered, noting age of reporting and using other methods to follow up on issues, consider progress etc. Other country reports for CEDAW, Child Rights Convention, etc. could also provide useful information. Non-formal data should also be considered, with clear reference to sources. This should include program evidence and analysis, grey literature and studies.

Focus group discussions - including with: organisations of persons with disabilities representing age and gender and diverse groups of persons with disabilities (or self-help groups or individuals if formal groups are not representing all diverse groups), government stakeholders at central and local level, public service providers, other relevant civil society representatives, representatives from UN agencies, relevant donors or development banks in the country etc.

Key informant interviews - with the above-mentioned stakeholders as relevant.

Stakeholder mapping and coordination mechanisms

Considerations:

  1. Accessibility for participation should be ensured.

  2. During potential COVID-19 restrictions usual participatory methods might need to be performed online or over the phone.

Note: UN agencies will provide a detailed guidance, prepared by the UN PRPD Secretariat, to be used by the consultants in all phases of the development of the situation analysis. It is highly recommended that, at least the team leader, participates the UNPRPD Induction Training on Cross-cutting Approaches and Preconditions for Disability Inclusive Development, which will be delivered remotely during May 2021.

Tasks/Milestone

Deliverables/Outputs

Responsible

Level of effort

Internal only!

Methodology to conduct the analysis

Develop methodology for the analysis including methods and approaches to data collection for the desk-review, consultations, interviews and focus groups

Team leader with input from the research team

5

Develop a stakeholder map for the stakeholders that will be included in the consultations; interviews and focus groups

Team leader with input from the research team

5

Initial desk-review of existing data, documents and strategic analysis documents related to the assignment and development of draft inception report

Develop detailed table for distribution of tasks for all experts in their area of responsibility

Team leader

/Researchers

1

Initial desk review conducted

Team Leader

2

Provide input to the initial desk review

Researchers

4

Online discussions with UN team

Team leader /Researchers

5

Develop inception report

Team leader

2

Provide input to the inception report

Researchers

4

Organise online consultations with government, OPDs, other institutions and organisations on scope and structure of the analysis

Plan and organise online consultations

Team leader and researchers in their area of expertise

3

Define the scope and structure of the analysis based on the feedback

Team leader and researchers in their area of expertise

5

Present and discuss the proposed scope and structure with UN team

Team leader and researchers in their area of expertise

3

Finalise the plan

Team leader and researchers in their area of expertise

3

Conduct in-depth interviews with key UN informants, partners and stakeholders

Develop interview guides and questionnaires

Team leader and researchers in their area of expertise

5

Interviews conducted

Team leader and researchers in their area of expertise

12

Conduct focus group discussions with organisations of persons with disabilities, groups of persons with disabilities, government stakeholders at central and local level, public service providers, other relevant civil society representatives and NGOs, representatives from UN agencies, relevant donors or development banks in the country etc

Develop focus group guides and questionnaires

Team leader and researchers in their area of expertise

3

Conduct focus groups

Team leader and researchers in their area of expertise

5

Develop report and recommendations –consolidated situational analysis of the relevant data, outlining key areas of challenge for persons with disabilities in the country, and possible areas of priority action for the country and UN in the coming years

Data analysis and draft of the situational analysis report

Team leader

5

Data analysis and providing inputs to the situational analysis report

Researchers

24

Develop recommendations

Team leader/Researchers

5

Presentation and final validation of findings in meetings/a workshop with OPDs, UN and partners

Organise online validation workshop

Team leader/Researchers

5

Finalize the report based on the feedback received at the validation workshop, and by UN agencies

Revise the report based on the feedback

Team leader/Researchers

3

Submit final edited report

Team leader

1

To qualify for this consultancy for:

Team Leader - Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required

▪Advanced university degree in the social sciences, health, education and economy, or related field ▪ At least 8 years of relevant professional experience on human rights related issues, particularly writing reports and conducting program evaluations ▪ Experience with conducting rights-based and equity-focused analyses of the situation of persons with disabilities ▪ An understanding of pre-conditions for inclusion: equality and non-discrimination, gender, accessibility, participation of persons with disabilities, CRPD-compliant budgeting & financial management, and accountability and governance ▪ Strong analytical skills with experience in quantitative and qualitative data analysis ▪ Effective communication, interpersonal skills and sensitivity to diverse cultural contexts and situations ▪ Planning, organizational and monitoring skills ▪ Previous experience with the UN will be considered an asset ▪ Excellent verbal and writing skills in English

Researchers - Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

▪ Advanced university degree in the social sciences, health, education and economy, or related field

▪ At least 5 years of relevant professional experience on human rights related issues, particularly writing reports and conducting program evaluations

▪ Experience with conducting rights-based and equity-focused analyses of the situation of persons with disabilities

▪ An understanding of pre-conditions for inclusion: equality and non-discrimination, gender, accessibility, participation of persons with disabilities, CRPD-compliant budgeting & financial management, and accountability and governance

▪ Effective communication, interpersonal skills and sensitivity to diverse cultural contexts and situations

▪ Strong analytical skills with experience in quantitative and qualitative data analysis

▪ Experience in conducting focus groups/discussion groups

▪ Excellent verbal and writing skills in English

When applying please submit:

▪ Your most recent CV ▪ Motivation letter which will indicate the position you are applying for ▪ Fnancial proposal, Gross daily fee in Macedonian Denars

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.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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.

Added 2 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: unicef.org