Consultancy:

This consultancy co-led by UNICEF and UN Women aims to develop a comprehensive background paper and a policy brief that explores these dimensions and provides actionable insights to accelerate disability inclusion and gender equality in LMICs by 2030.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children.

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, hope 

Consultancy: Gender, equality, intersectionality and  disability inclusion Consultant / Co-led by UNICEF and UN Women. 

Section/Division/Duty Station: Child Poverty and Social Protection Section, Programme Division, NYHQ

Duration: 5 August 2024 to 31 March 2025

Home/ Office Based: Remote 

About UNICEF 

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world’s leading children’s rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children’s survival, protection and development. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. 

BACKGROUND

The objective of the assignment is to produce a background paper and a policy brief to support the drafting the global disability inclusion report, which will:

1. Review the specific issues related to gender equality and intersectionality dimensions in disability inclusion across sectors and contexts that have been documented and evidenced as well as key evidence gap.

2. Review the evolution of the consideration for disability inclusion in gender equality related discourse, agendas and movements as well for gender equality and intersectionality in the disability inclusion related discourse, agendas and movements

3. Examine the gender equality and intersectionality dimensions of the possible impact of megatrends (climate change, technology, migration, care economy, urbanization, and conflicts) on disability inclusion.

4. Take stock of relevant good practices and lessons learned about 12 Critical Areas of Concern emanating from the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and how they facilitate the development of an intersectional agenda (i.e. gender-disability etc.)

5. Provide recommendations for policies, programs, and practices that could simultaneously enhance disability inclusion, gender equality and intersectionality.

Background:

In the frame of the elaboration of the global report on disability inclusion for the Global Disability Summit 2025 and in preparation of the Beijing +30 (the thirtieth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BDPFA 1995)  Global Review, UNICEF and UN Women seek a consultant to develop a background paper and a policy brief on the gender equality and intersectional dimension of the efforts required to accelerate disability inclusion by 2030.

The twelve critical areas of concern of the Beijing Platform of Action, 17 SDGs, and articles of Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities are closely interrelated and essential to achieve all other internationally agreed goals and commitments. As we join forces to strengthen Organizations of Persons with Disabilities, including organizations of or led by women with disabilities, and to bridge the gap between disability inclusion, gender, and development cooperation to support disability inclusive sustainable development and humanitarian action, we can also build synergies with other processes to maximize impact.

It is, therefore, essential to address the intersecting challenges and opportunities related to gender equality, intersectionality, and disability inclusion across sectors in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Megatrends such as climate change, technological advancements, migration, the care economy, urbanization, and conflicts have significant implications for these intersecting areas.

This consultancy co-led by UNICEF and UN Women aims to develop a comprehensive background paper and a policy brief that explores these dimensions and provides actionable insights to accelerate disability inclusion and gender equality in LMICs by 2030.

Scope of Work:

1. Initial scoping

a Inception report with the methodology, work plan, and timeline and initial outline of the paper

2. Literature Review:

a Conduct a comprehensive desk review of existing literature on gender equality, and intersectionality in relation to disability inclusion across sectors in LMICs.

b Review literature on the impact of megatrends on these dimensions.

3. Data Collection and Analysis:

a 10-15 Key informants’ interviews

b Engage with key stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, OPDs, community groups, and individuals with disabilities

c Gather insights and perspectives on the challenges and opportunities related to disability inclusion, gender equality and intersectionality.

4 Paper Development:

a Develop a detailed outline for validation based on the literature review, data analysis, and stakeholder consultations.

b Develop a draft paper including:

i. Synthesis of available literature review, data analysis, and stakeholder consultations

ii. Include at least 5 case studies case studies and examples from various LMICs

iii. Include lessons learned and good practices from BDPFA as it applies to gender and   intersectionality

iv. Provide actionable recommendations for accelerating disability inclusion with a focus on gender and intersectionality.

5 Review and Finalization:

a Present the draft paper to key stakeholders (including women with disabilities, among others) for feedback.

b Revise the paper based on feedback received.

c Finalize the paper and submit it to the commissioning organization accompanied by a summary ppt deck.

6. Policy brief

a on the basis of the background paper, develop a 4 /5 -pager policy brief to inform discussion leading to the GDS 2025 and Beijing+30

7. Review the global disability inclusion report’s chapters 1-5 with gender and intersectionality lens once they are drafted

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

1. Draft background paper for the Global disability inclusion report

1.1 Startup Phase

Inception report with the methodology, work plan, and timeline and initial outline of the paper – 10 August 2024

1.1 Literature Review

7 pages synthesis of the comprehensive review of existing literature on gender equality, and intersectionality in relation to disability inclusion across sectors in LMICs, including literature on the impact of megatrends on these dimensions.

Excel file with all references and links of literature reviewed   – 25 August 2024

1.2 Data Collection and Analysis: 10 pages synthesis of all the Key informants’ interview with key stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, OPDs, community groups, and individuals with disabilities.

1 excel file with the list of K.I with name function organization email  – 15 September 2024

1.3 Detailed outline of the final paper  – 15 September 2024

1.4 draft of the paper – 5 October 2024

1.5 Consultation on the draft paper  – 30 October 2024

1.6 Finalisation of the paper – 2 December 2024

2 Policy brief

2.1 Detailed outline of the policy brief  – 15 November 2024

2.2 Draft policy brief  – 31 December 2024

2.3 Final policy brief – 31 January 2025

3. Review draft of global disability inclusion report with gender and intersectionality lens

3.1 review draft of the different sections of the report and provide comments from gender and intersectionality lens  – 15 December 2024

Qualifications

Education

– An advanced university degree (Master) in Social policy or social sciences, gender studies, disability studies, or related fields

Work experience

1. Master’s degree in social sciences, gender studies, disability studies, or related fields.

2. Proven experience in conducting research and developing policy papers on disability inclusion, gender equality, and intersectionality.

3. Proven knowledge of the impact of some megatrends on genders social inclusion and development.

4. At least 5 years of experience working in or with LMICs on gender and social inclusion

5. Strong analytical, writing, and communication skills.

6. Ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders.

Requirements

Completed profile in UNICEF’s e-Recruitment system and

– Upload copy of academic credentials

– Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :

the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.

travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.

any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.

Indicate your availability

– Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.

– At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.

– Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants 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. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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.