Consultant - Hybrid Disability Inclusion Training for Inter-Agency Disability Inclusion Coordination at United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the United Nations' global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life for themselves. It provides expert advice, training and grants support to developing countries, with increasing emphasis on assistance to the least developed countries. It promotes technical and investment cooperation among nations.

Headquartered in New York City, the status of UNDP is that of an executive board within the United Nations General Assembly. The UNDP is funded entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states. The organization operates in 177 countries, where it works with local governments to meet development challenges and develop local capacity.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Consultant - Hybrid Disability Inclusion Training for Inter-Agency Disability Inclusion Coordination

Location: Abuja
Additional Category: Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction
Type of Contract: Individual Contract
Post Level: National Consultant
Languages Required: English  
Starting Date: (date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 31-Oct-2022
Duration of Initial Contract: 60 days
Expected Duration of Assignment: 60 days

Purpose

• The United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy provides the foundation for sustainable and transformative progress on disability inclusion through all pillars of the work of the United Nations.
• The Strategy includes a system-wide policy, an accountability framework, and other implementation modalities.
• The policy establishes the highest levels of commitment and a vision for the United Nations system on disability inclusion for the next decade and is aimed at creating an institutional framework for the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, among other international human rights instruments, as well as for development and humanitarian commitments.
• The policy embodies the United Nations vision for disability inclusion and is a reaffirmation of a common commitment at the highest levels of the Organization. It sets out the areas and functions on which the United Nations will focus to achieve disability inclusion.
• Through the Strategy, the organizations of the United Nations system reaffirm that the full and complete realization of the human rights of all persons with disabilities is an inalienable, integral, and indivisible part of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Rationale

• Each country is expected to implement the UNDIS through a combination of mainstreaming and targeted measures as the key approach for achieving the inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities and their human rights. The UNCT Accountability Scorecard on Disability Inclusion indicator four on Set-up and Coordination calls for the establishment of an inter-agency disability inclusion coordination mechanism which UNCT Nigeria established in 2021 with UNESCO leading the group.
• The coordination mechanism served as the key mechanism for joint UN action, advocacy, and coordination on disability inclusion. One of the key objectives of the coordination mechanism is to facilitate the sharing of information and learnings and coordinate awareness-raising events and training on disability inclusion.
• However, findings from a quick survey conducted among UN staff showed that 45% have no knowledge of the UNDIS strategy and how to mainstream it into both programmes, operations and through all pillars of UN work. Also, 100% are desirous to learn more about the strategy and how to implement it.
• The Disability TWG seek and received seed funding from the DCO TWG to implement activities which include capacity development for UN staff to improve UN Nigeria rating on the indicator on capacity building on UNCT Accountability Scorecard on Disability Inclusion.

Duties and Responsibilities
Objectives:

• The consultant will work closely with the UNCT Disability Inclusion Technical Working Group (TWG); to conduct a training for members of the inter-agency disability inclusion coordination mechanism, as well as other UN colleagues on the provisions of the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy and how to mainstream Disability inclusion in all programme and operational activities of UN.

Other Objectives include:

• To equip members with practical skills to support their promotion of inclusion of persons with disabilities both at UN, government levels and other fora.
• To improve the knowledge of members on disability inclusion, mainstreaming, accessibility, and reasonable accommodations.
• To provide a forum for systematic sharing of information, experiences, and tools on implementing disability inclusion.

In order to aid the Consultant’s work, it is advised that they consult the following documents attached herewith:

• UN Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS)
• Technical notes on UNDIS Accountability Framework
• UNDIS-UNCT Accountability Scorecard 
• UNDIS- Summary
• UNDIS Scorecard Guidelines
• Policy responsiveness for inclusion of persons with disabilities in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

Tasks of the Consultant
Tasks of the Consultant will be undertaken in close collaboration with the UNCT Disability inclusion work team:

• Implementation strategy/ work plan and draft literature review
• Report on recommendations for facilitating a Disability Inclusion Training
• Training Modules on Disability Inclusion
• Final Report with Recommendations

Management Arrangements:

• The consultant will be based in Abuja under the supervision of the Disability Inclusion Technical Working Group of the UNCT and the RCO.

Competencies:

• Communication and Interpersonal Skills
• Organization and Planning
• Facilitation and Engagement
• Collaboration and Teamwork
• Inclusiveness, Respect for Diversity and Persons with Disabilities
• Integrity and Professionalism
• Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Minimum of Master’s Degree or equivalent in Social Sciences, Development, Communications, or any other relevant disciplines.

Professional Experience:

• A minimum of five progressive years of experience working on disability inclusion in a communications or development setting. (Submission of samples of previous work is mandatory)
• Good Knowledge of the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy, the UN Convention of Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Nigeria’s Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act as well as other national and international frameworks/documents on disability inclusion, including in humanitarian settings.
• Experience in developing tools and resources for the inclusion of persons with disabilities.
• Experience in developing disability-inclusive reporting and analysis of Scorecards.
• Experience working with UN inter-agency processes and engaging with Organizations of Persons with Disabilities.
• Experience in organizing and facilitating workshops/trainings and coordinating the work of multiple contributors and stakeholders.
• Solid written and oral communication skills in English; knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.

Evaluation Criteria:

• Relevant academic qualifications (relevant degree, refer to list in TOR): 15 marks
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of disability inclusion programming and main streaming, including developing tools and resources for the inclusion of persons with disabilities: 20 marks
• Relevant experience with working with persons with disability and providing support to persons with disability including working with UN inter-agency processes and engaging with Organizations of Persons with Disabilities:  20 marks
• Experience in organizing and facilitating workshops/trainings and coordinating the work of multiple contributors and stakeholders: 20 marks
• Demonstrated written and oral communication skills with demonstrable outputs in English; knowledge of another UN official language is desirable: 15 marks
• Other considerations: Gender, Disability (persons with disability) have added advantage): 10 marks

Application Closing Date
12th October, 2022; (Midnight New York, USA)