Consultancy: Developing Country Case Studies on Disability-inclusive Education in Emergencies – Ref.#569714

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, HOPE.

Vacancy Announcement: Consultant

Consultancy Title: Developing Country Case Studies on Disability-inclusive Education in Emergencies

Section/Division/Duty Station: Education Section, Programme Group NYHQ

Duration: March 12, 2024 – June 3^rd, 2024

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 in 190 countries and territories to promote children’s survival, protection, and development. 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. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations, and governments.

BACKGROUND

Education is a critical component of emergency response. During emergencies, all children need continuous access to quality education opportunities, provided through safe and protective learning environments, for them to stay safe and learn effectively as well as to access child protection and humanitarian interventions/services delivered through schools. However, for children with disabilities access is often inequitable due to compounded barriers such as stigma and discrimination, inaccessible services, and invisibility in data. Exclusion from education can also result in exclusion from other services and opportunities for socialization with peers, resulting in isolation and increased risk of abuse and violence. For girls with disabilities, these barriers and their impacts can be compounded.

To support optimal development for children with disabilities and fulfil their right to education in emergencies, it is essential that those on the frontline responding to various humanitarian crises have the required knowledge and technical expertise to appropriately plan for and implement quality inclusive education in emergencies interventions, considering the various stages including preparedness, response, and recovery/reconstruction. 

To contribute to building this capacity, UNICEF and the Global Education Cluster are seeking a consultant to identify and document five country case studies that demonstrate promising practices in disability-inclusive education in emergencies programming. Case studies will cover a range of sub-areas including but not limited to, data collection, inclusive pedagogy, capacity development, participation of families and persons with disabilities, multisectoral service delivery and other topics.

Scope of Work:

Under the supervision of the Education Specialist (Inclusive Education) and with guidance from the core working group, the consultant will identify and select country examples for consideration, in consultation and collaboration with relevant UNICEF country and regional offices. Examples must be geographically diverse and reflect different types and stages of humanitarian emergencies. The consultant will develop five case studies of up to six pages each in line with UNICEF expectations and standards for education case studies, including editing, fact-checking, and finalizing in preparation for design.

Terms of Reference / Deliverables

Development of 5 final case studies, ready for design

• Finalized case study #1 validated by country office, finalized, copy edited, proofread, with photo selection.

June 1^st, 2024

• Finalized case study #2 validated by country office, finalized, copy edited, proofread, with photo selection.

June 1^st, 2024

• Finalized case study #3 validated by country office, finalized, copy edited, proofread, with photo selection.

June 1^st, 2024

• Finalized case study #4 validated by country office, finalized, copy edited, proofread, with photo selection.

June 1^st, 2024

• Finalized case study #5 validated by country office, finalized, copy edited, proofread, with photo selection.

June 1^st, 2024

Qualifications

 1) Education

• Advanced degree in relevant field, preferably education, international development, human development or social sciences, economics

2) Work experience

• 5-8 years professional experience in the field of disability-inclusive education and/or education in emergencies.
• Experience working with different stakeholders including humanitarian actors, organizations or persons with disabilities, and UN agencies.
• Knowledge of global developments and strategies in the area of education in emergencies.

3) Competencies

• Excellent written English language skills and ability to synthesize complex information and issues.
• Strong analytical and conceptual thinking.
• Ability to survey literature in other UN languages (ex. French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese and/or Russian) will be regarded as an asset.
• Ability to organize and plan complex work following the established timeframes.
• Ability to coordinate and work effectively with others and facilitate partner engagement.

Requirements: 

• Completed profile in UNICEF’s e-Recruitment system and provide copy of academic credentials
• Technical proposal with methodology for deliverables and timelines
• Writing sample demonstrating technical knowledge of disability-inclusive education and/or education in emergencies. Must be written independently by applicant.
• Financial proposal that will include:
• Cost per deliverable or lumpsum for the whole deliverables as indicated in 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.

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

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

 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 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 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.