Disability Inclusion Assistant

Details

Mission and objectives

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, advocacy and operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favouritism to the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life.

Context

This UNV assignment is part of UNICEF Iran’s programme initiative on disability inclusion and implementation of global UNICEF Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy (DIPAS). UNICEF Iran has been working with other UN agencies and government partners, including Ministry of Education, State Welfare Organization and Iranian Red Crescent Society to promote access of children with disabilities to inclusive education and rehabilitation services and also to improve disability inclusion across the UN.
The disability inclusion UNV reports to the Education officer/Disability Focal Point. The UNV provides technical, operational and administrative assistance to Education and ADAP section’s work on disability inclusion. The UNV prepares, manages and implements a variety of technical and administrative tasks, related to the implementation on disability inclusion activities and promotion of disability inclusion both externally and internally in UNICEF ICO and across the UN system. Specifically, the UNV’s office-wide responsibility would be to support ICO disability focal point in implementing UNICEF DIPAS (Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy) across Programme and Operations teams.

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Chief of Education or his/her designated representative(s), the UN Volunteer will:
• Support the Iran Country Office (CO) Education section in implementation of activities under the workplans with the Ministry of Education, State Welfare Organization, Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare, Iranian Red Crescent Society, and Vice Presidency for Science and Technology
• Support Iran CO disability focal point in the implementation of UNICEF DIPAS (Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy) across Programme and Operations teams, including in:
• Drafting a country-specific action plan for implementation of DIPAS, under the regional action plan;
• Providing support to programme and operations sections in ICO in improving Disability Inclusion across their work (including in Comms, and Emergency sections), adopting a two track approach (both mainstream and targeted interventions);
• Following up on the implementation of the disability-inclusive activities mapped in ICO’s cross-sectoral monitoring matrix;
• Reviewing of all proposals and project plans to ensure adequate measures, and budget allocation, for inclusion of children with disabilities;
• Reviewing of internal processes and structures to improve accessibility of UNICEF office
• Providing input to UN disability taskforce for improvement of disability inclusion across UN system in Iran, including UNDIS Action Plan and UNSDCF Disability Flagship Initiative;
• Supporting Iran CO’s Innovation Flagship programme on Assistive Technology
• Support resource mobilization and reporting related to disability inclusion interventions.
• Support development of communication materials on disability inclusion and other programmatic works of UNICEF Iran Office, for internal and external promotion and visibility
• Support the Education and ADAP sections in other general tasks (programmatic and administrative) related to the implementation of workplans beyond disability work.
Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:
• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
• Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers;
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.