Strategic Information and Data for Development for Persons with Disabilities

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

The Namibia 2011 Population and Housing Census (and the specific Disability Census Report) estimated that there were between 85,000 and 100,000 people with disabilities, representing 5% of the total population. However, according to WHO and World Bank estimates the actual number may be higher and closer to 15%. This discrepancy is attributed to the continued stigma, discrimination and cultural prejudices against persons with disabilities experience in society. The majority of persons with disabilities are in the age groups of 10-24 years, with males (12,075) outnumbering females (10,997).

The International Conference on Population and Development (Cairo, 1994) produced a pioneering document that includes several references to the population with disabilities , the exercise of their rights and their participation in all spheres of life. The UN system in Namibia through the United Nations Partnership Framework (UNPAF) 2014-2018 and UNPAF II (2019-2023) advocates for equity and equal opportunities for all and aims to advocate for the mainstreaming of disability across the different government ministries and agencies. This project provides a unique opportunity to strengthen data collection systems, and create synergies and information sharing between these systems ensuring that data collected is representative of the whole population and is tailored to include persons with disabilities, benefiting the upstream objectives of this project. In line with SDGs the project will focus on additional six SDGs targets which refer to persons in vulnerable situations - which include persons with disabilities and two other SDGs targets address discrimination which is a key cause of unequal access to opportunities and services for persons with disabilities. This is in addition to several other targets that are universal targets, and thus must also be achieved for persons with disabilities.

Under the direct supervision of Representative Assistant the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

Provide technical lead and support for the generation and analysis of data to improve service delivery for persons with disabilities at national, regional and local authority level.

Provide analytical, technical and implementation support for the UNFPA work plans and broader UNPAF work plans to ensure prominence in addressing issues of disabilities in various sectors

Contribute in the formulation and conceptualization of data and research studies supporting the generation of development data pertaining to persons with disabilities,

Contribute evidence for the policy formulation and or reviews pertaining to persons with disability

Leads the documentation of all interventions that the office support that pertains to persons with disability including how the country is faring on the domestication and implementation of the treaty bodies and conventions that relate to persons with disability

Innovate and act as a think data tank for advocating for the inclusion of persons with disability.

Apply modern technologies that innovatively includes persons with disability in development programming

Build partnerships between data generation agents/organizations and the people with disability network as well as other development partners and Civil Society Organizations.

Provide and use evidence to advocate for the rights of persons with disability.

Adaptability and Flexibility, Commitment to Continuous Learning, Integrity, Knowledge Sharing, Planning and Organizing, Respect for Diversity, Working in Teams

Knowledge of development challenges, including challenges faced by persons with disabilities, including women and children with disabilities.

Strong analytical ability and capacity to analyse and interpret data.

Ability to drive the disability agenda with government, development partners, service providers, media houses and communities.

Excellent writing skills.

Competent with digital technology.

Proven track record of partnership building and stakeholder engagement with sensitivity to disability issues.

Dynamic interpersonal and communication skills.

The UNFPA office is located in the UN house and the UN is implementing the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS) with accessibility points installed and ongoing work to ensure full accessibility by improving narrow doorways, stairs and restrooms facilities to improve access to persons with disabilities. UNFPA is situated on the ground floor of the UN Building, making it easily accessible and disability friendly. Information and communications technologies and systems are also being improved to facilitate access to persons with disabilities.