New International Consultancy : Disability Consultant, Product Innovations Centre, UNICEF Supply Division, Copenhagen. 11.5 Months deliverable based

Contract

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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, Equal opportunities...

The Product Innovation Centre (PIC) within Supply Division (SD) works closely with internal and external partners to drive R&D and scale of new innovative products to improve the lives of children. This is done by identifying needs not appropriately met by products currently available and then scanning the market to see if there are products that can meet this need. If yes, we procure and scale the products, if no, we drive R&D utilizing develops product profiles to specify the performance a product has to deliver and incentivize R&D, using our procurement and implementation power. In addition, PIC is mandated to push the envelope of the organization in terms of coming up with new innovative concepts to influence R&D of products beyond UNICEF’s procurement, evolve the global thinking around product innovation for development/humanitarian contexts as well as to develop new ways of driving scale of products. Key to these ambitions is an aim to ensure most impact for disadvantages children for the resources available, always pushing for value for money of products. The Product Innovation Centre operates within public procurement practices to drive research and development (R&D), validation and implementation of new products to address programmatic and/or emergency needs. In instances where there are no products in a procurable form on the market, a Product Innovation Project (PIP) is initiated with the ultimate goal of enabling procurement of fit-for-purpose and value-for-money supplies across all UNICEF program areas.

How can you make a difference?

Key Tasks The purpose of this deliverable based consultancy is to help ensure all deliverables are met within UNICEF Supply Division’s Assistive technology and disability portfolio. The consultant will be part of the Assistive technology and Disability unit supervised by the Innovation Manager on Assistive Technology in the Product Innovation Center (PIC), where the consultant will contribute to the portfolio to ensure children with disabilities have access to appropriate assistive technology.

Timeline This is a 250 days deliverable based consultancy spanning over 11.5 months.

Deliverables: 1. Digital Assistive Technology Tender Process (15%)

• Oversee the process of selecting and procuring digital assistive technologies through a tendering system.
• Collaborate with relevant stakeholders to compiling a comprehensive list of digital assistive technologies and defining the criteria for selecting suitable technologies that meet the needs of individuals with disabilities.
• Develop a grading template for evaluation and assisting awareness campaign/Guidance document subsequently developed.

2. Elimu Tender Process (20%)

• Oversee the process of selecting and procuring analog education assistive technologies through a tendering system.
• Collaborate with relevant stakeholders to compiling a comprehensive list of analog Education AT and defining the criteria for selecting suitable technologies that meet the needs of individuals with disabilities.
• Develop a grading template for evaluation and assisting awareness campaign/Guidance document subsequently developed.

3. Management and building the AT advocates’ network (10%)

• Facilitate webinars to promote knowledge sharing and collaboration. (Approx. 4)
• Create a centralized repository of resources e.g., research papers, case example, and best practices related to assistive technology and disabilities.
• Share real-world case studies and success stories that showcase the positive impact of assistive technologies on individuals with disabilities.
• Regularly update and maintain the membership list for the network of assistive technology and disability experts and professionals.

4. Assist in ATscale and AT2030 program deliverables (20%)

• Coordinate & Support in execution of all ATscale and AT2030 deliverables.
• Assist in organizing and coordinating the outcomes of the workshop in EAPRO/ROSA.
• Assist in organizing and coordinating the outcomes of the workshop in LACRO/PAHO.

5. Establish, Maintain, and Expand the UNICEF App Catalogue (10%)

• Build, manage and grow the App Catalogue inventory.
• Coordinate the establishment of the App Catalogue process with Supply Division ICTD, OOI and other stake holders.

6. Facilitate the coordination and implementation of collaborative initiatives between WHO and UNICEF Projects on Assistive technology (5%)

• Establish mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating the progress and impact of collaborative initiatives.
• Track deliverables and manage common action plan.

7. Research emerging technologies and solutions for potential new product innovation projects (5%)

• Conduct research and analysis on existing potential projects or upcoming solutions for new PIPs.
• Stay updated on emerging technologies by attending conferences, workshops, and online courses to enhance your expertise.

8. Provide Support for UNDIS Indicator 8 and DIPAS Supply Division Implementation (5%)

• Collaborate with teams to ensure the effective implementation of UNDIS Indicator 8 and DIPAS in SD.
• Monitor progress and assess the alignment of initiatives with the goals of UNDIS Indicator 8 and the DIPAS for SD, adjusting as necessary.

9. Data monitoring and demand generation (5%)

• Establish data monitoring systems to track AT procurement to report to the SP indicators and project outcomes.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure data accuracy, consistency across projects.
• Monitor the effectiveness of demand generation efforts, adjusting strategies as needed to optimize outcomes.

10. Provide technical support to country requests within inclusion and Assisyive technology 5%

This position will work remotely with visit to Supply Division.

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

Academic University degree in fields such as Special Education, Rehabilitation Science, Psychology, or a related discipline. Advanced degree (Masters) preferred.

Professional Experience and Knowledge. Minimum 3 to 5 years of relevant, progressively responsible, professional experience is require. Experience working with children and persons with disability is required. Experience working with assistive technology is required. Understanding of or experience from LMIC context is a valued asset. Professional experience with the United Nations (UN) is asset.

Technical Knowledge Experience and understanding of children with disabilities and special needs.

Experience and understanding of assistive technology. Knowledge of how to assess and evaluate the accessibility of websites, applications, documents, and other digital content. Aptitude in accessibility standards such as WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines). Knowledge of the context in which UNICEF operates.

Core Competencies Excellent communicator of verbal and written concepts to an international audience. Ability to quickly understand instructions, to proactively seek clarification when needed. Able to work well in a team environment.

Functional Competencies Able to work independently and problem solving oriented. Able to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships. Demonstrated communication and relationship building skills. Proven capacity to work with and lead collaborative teams across different locations and with different technical skills.

How to apply.

Qualified candidates are requested to submit: 1. Cover letter/application 2. Financial quote for the consultancy which must include: the total consultancy fee (broken down into cost per deliverable in US Dollars and possibly number of days to complete consultancy), travel costs (if applicable, with details of the economy class ticket price) The fees should be inclusive of all taxes. 3. CV or P 11 form (which can be downloaded from our website) 4. At least 3 reference contacts from previous supervisors 5. Additionally provided samples of previous work in past roles will be considered an asset.

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.