Regional Disability Inclusion Consultant, UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia

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, a future

How can you make a difference?

Background:

UNICEF adopted a Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy (DIPAS) in late 2022 outlining the organization’s continued commitment to promoting disability inclusion in programmes and operations. DIPAS calls specifically for regional offices to develop regional action plans to implement DIPAS and promote disability inclusion and to recruit at least one dedicated, full-time disability inclusion specialist by 2025, apart from other overarching organizational commitments.

In line with DIPAS and global and regional momentum to strengthen advocacy, data and evidence, capacity-building and programming for children with disabilities, the Regional Office for South Asia has in place two Disability Inclusion co-Focal Points. The focal points have been assisted by a disability-inclusion consultant, to undertake strategic activities to help drive the agenda around disability inclusion across all programmatic sectors in South Asia, including in relation to humanitarian action, and strengthening cross-sectoral approaches to advance the disability-inclusion agenda in the region. This has led to the provision of timely support for capacity development of disability-inclusion focal points and other staff around the region, improved linkages with the disability communities in countries and organizations of persons with disabilities, materials and resources on disability inclusion and incorporation of disability inclusion in CPDs.

This will be built upon with the development and implementation of a regional action place as called for by DIPAS, and related support for capacity development, monitoring and documentation of progress and support for resource mobilization opportunities to move this important agenda forward.

Purpose:

Under the supervision of UNICEF ROSA’s Co-Disability Inclusion Focal Points, the objective of this consultancy will be to support to UNICEF’s work on implementing DIPAS and improving disability inclusive programming and operations within the region. This will be done in close collaboration and coordination with the HQ Disability Section, 8 UNICEF Country Offices in South Asia, UNICEF ROSA programme and other sections and cross-regional and global technical teams and working groups on disability inclusion.

Key Tasks and Assignments:

Tasks

Timeframe

Develop draft regional action plan based on DIPAS and support for DIPAS dissemination

June 2023

Capacity development on disability inclusion in emergency preparedness and response and disability inclusion in CPDs

Webinar for cross-country exchange and documentation on good practices on disability inclusion in countries/regional level

Consultations and revision of draft regional action plan

July 2023

Capacity development on gender/ADAP and disability inclusion, testing of Frontline Workers Training Package, and on engagement of OPDs

Development of CO case studies on disability inclusion and proposals for resource mobilization

August 2023

Finalisation/validation of regional action plan and dissemination/monitoring plan and tools

Support for regional disability inclusion focal points meeting and documentation

Capacity development on disability inclusion and DIPAS implementation

September 2023

Support for regional action plan implementation and monitoring

Capacity development on disability inclusion and documentation of progress

November 2023

Support for regional action plan implementation and monitoring

Support RO sections/COs to strengthen disability inclusion monitoring and reporting in relation to UNDIS and at UNCT level and plan for International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD)

Support for regional action plan implementation and monitoring

December 2023

Support IDPD event, orientation on end-year reporting on disability inclusion

Review achievements and prepare work plan for 2024

Support with review of COARs/CSIs and in disability inclusion in planning of sections/COs

February 2024

Technical support in piloting of SBC toolkit

Support regional action plan implementation and monitoring

Capacity development of disability inclusion focal points and proposal development for resource mobilization

March 2024

Organize and co-facilitate disability focal points meeting and collect/document case studies

April 2024

Support regional action plan implementation and monitoring

Note: please submit your applications with the financial proposals. This is a remote based consultancy.

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

Education:

Advanced university degree (minimum masters) in studies related to disability issues. Candidates with qualifications in social policy, international development, education or other related fields will also be considered if they also have extensive experience working on disability issues and expertise in this field.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of eight years of professional experience working on issues related to persons or children with disabilities in the context of low- and middle-income countries.
• Strong technical experience and knowledge in relation to disability inclusion at national, regional and/or global levels
• Experience with and understanding of UNICEF policies, programmes, planning processes and monitoring and evaluation.
• Experience supporting disability inclusion in emergency contexts is an asset.
• Experience working in the South Asia region is an asset.
• Experience working with UNICEF, UN Agencies and/or other international development organizations and knowledge of UN programming and planning processes is an asset.

Language proficiency:

Fluency in English, written and spoken. Proficiency in any South Asian languages a plus.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

Competencies:

• Strong and positive interpersonal communication skills and ability to work effectively with others
• Strong and effective coordination skills across multiple partners at different levels
• Competence in using Microsoft programmes (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) as well as SharePoint
• Competence using other key online tools such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom and in organizing activities on these platforms
• Ability to work independency and responsibly

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.