Consultant – Technical guidance on health equity for persons with disabilities

Purpose of consultancy

To provide technical guidance to WHO and Member States in advancing health equity for persons with disabilities, including providing guidance on advocacy activities.

Background

In December 2022, the WHO Global Report on Health Equity for Persons with Disabilities was published. This report came at the direct request of Member States through WHA resolution 74.8 on the highest attainable standard of health for persons with disabilities. This resolution requested WHO to produce a report on the highest attainable standard of health for persons with disabilities, which included updated WHO Global estimates on disability prevalence, as well as recommendations for strengthening health systems to better include persons with disabilities. The Global Report outlines a range of actions that Member States can take to address health inequities, building on the existing health system strengthening approach of primary health care. To contribute to the recommendations of the Global Report, WHO is currently developing a range of technical guidance and advocacy materials.

Deliverables

• Activity 1: Develop and build capacity on communication related impairments for WHO programmes guidance and to contribute to country capacity building.
  • Deliverable 1.1: Develop background research paper on speech and communication related impairments and associated disability.
  • Deliverable 1.2: Research existing tools and develop training toolkit for internal and external audiences on interventions needed to address speech and communication related impairments.
  • Deliverable 1.3: Develop and deliver training for WHO and partners on interventions to address speech and language related impairments and associated disabilities.
    Expected by April 2025
• Activity 2: Technical guidance to WHO and Member States, particularly Francophone countries, in advancing health equity for persons with disabilities. Specifically:
  • Deliverable 2.1: Produce a background research paper and technical guidance on disability inclusion for communicable and noncommunicable disease technical programmatic areas of work for WHO.
  • Deliverable 2.2: Produce a background research paper and technical guidance on disability inclusion for health systems technical programme areas of work for WHO.
  • Deliverable 2.3: Produce a background research paper and technical guidance on disability inclusion for health emergencies programme areas of work for WHO.
  • Deliverable 2.4: Produce a background research paper and technical guidance on disability inclusion Francophone countries.
    Expected by April 2025
• Activity 3: Develop and disseminate advocacy materials for WHO and partners to advance health equity for persons with disabilities. Specifically:
  • Deliverable 3.1: Contribute to the development of information and updating of the WHO disability internal SharePoint platform.
  • Deliverable 3.2: Develop and contribute to the preparation and dissemination of advocacy materials on health equity for persons with disabilities.
  • Deliverable 3.3: Prepare materials and advise other WHO technical programmes in the development of advocacy activities so that they are disability inclusive.
    Expected by April 2025

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• First university degree in speech and language sciences, linguistics or disability studies.

Desirable:

• Advanced university degree in speech and language sciences, linguistics or disability studies.

Experience:

Essential:

• At least 2 years of relevant experience working with persons with speech and language impairments.
• At least 2 years of experience with carrying out research in the field of disability.
• Demonstrated experience developing technical guidance on disability inclusion and advocacy materials.
• Proven record of publications in scientific journals on health equity for persons with disabilities and the provision of health services for persons with disabilities during health emergencies.

Desirable:

• Experience in health system assessments and working with the UN system.
• Experience working with WHO.

Skills:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Technical expertise in gender equality, intersectional approaches, and humanitarian response.

Languages required:

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.
• Expert knowledge of French.

Location

Off site: Home-based.

Travel

The consultant is expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band level A – USD 3,955 – 6,980 per month.

Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited):

N/A

Expected duration of contract:

11 months.

Additional Information

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
• Consultants working in Switzerland must register with the applicable Swiss cantonal tax authorities and social security authorities, within the prescribed timeframes (Guidelines issued by the Swiss Mission are available at: https://www.eda.admin.ch/missions/mission-onu-geneve/en/home/manual-regime-privileges-and-immunities/introduction/Manuel-personnes-sans-privileges-et-immunites-carte-H/Non fonctionnaires et stagiaires.html