National Consultancy: UNCT Disability Inclusion Strategy Consultant, Islamabad, 32 Days

UNICEF is seeking a highly skilled National Consultant to support in the development of the strategy which will be developed by a senior consultant. The consultant will work in close coordination with the UN agencies and other relevant stakeholders to develop the strategy in the most efficient and practical terms.

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! 

Pakistan was the sixth country in the world to sign and ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child less than one year after it was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989. However, children and adolescents living in Pakistan still face acute challenges.

UNICEF supports the Government of Pakistan to accelerate progress for children, work to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and help children realize their rights under the Convention on the Rights of Children. This will be made through, among others things, strong partnerships with provincial authorities, teachers and health professionals, frontline workers and social mobilizers, communities, and families, and of course, the children and adolescents themselves. 

In particular, UNICEF will work so that:

• Every child survives and thrives — being in good health, immunized, protected from polio, and accessing nutritious food.
• Every child learns.
• Every child is protected from violence and exploitation and registered at birth.
• Every child lives in a safe and clean environment, with access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation.

To learn more about UNICEF’s work in Pakistan, please visit the country website www.unicef.org/pakistan and videos on YouTube and Vimeo

How can you make a difference? 

• Inception Phase;
• Formation of Disability Advisory Group;
• Conduct a comprehensive review of existing policies and system capacities;
• Review of existing UN system disability programmes, initiatives, and system capacities;
• Data Collection Mechanisms;
• Developing framework;
• Programs for empowerment and advocacy;
• Final Draft of the strategy;
• Final Comprehensive UNCT DI Strategy and Operational Plan.

Deliverables:

• Project initiation report outlining the approach, key components, stakeholders list and methodology for developing the strategy;
• Preliminary plan for internal and external stakeholder engagement and consultations;
• Preparation of Terms of Reference (ToRs) and identification of potential five-member high-level advisory group;
• Facilitate meetings of the Disability Advisory Group regarding the development of the DI strategy;
• Evaluation of the UN system programmatic framework;
• Assessment of institutional capacities UN Agencies;
• Analysis of the policy and legislative environment;
• Review the Situation analysis report identifying key findings and gaps;
• Review of SDGs and national progress and UNDIS, UNDCO Disability Strategy, UNCT Accountability Score Card for Disability for alignment with the strategy document;
• Framework for inclusive service design and delivery;
• Mechanisms for ongoing evaluation and learning;
• Mechanism for continuous improvement based on evaluations;
• Develop a strategy/plan for capacity-building programs for internal and external stakeholders;
• Develop strategy/plan for advocacy campaigns and materials for policy influence; 
• Facilitate 4-5 Provincial consultations for social policy section in SiTAN on Disability;
• Stakeholder consultation for review of the draft;
• Validation Meetings;
• The strategy document is complete and endorsed by PMT and the UNCT.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

• University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience in Economics, MBA, Public Policy, Social Sciences or relevant technical field (Development Studies, Economics, Public Policy, Social policy, Anthropology, Political science, International Relations)
• Demonstrate extensive experience of min 02 years in strategic foresight visioning, disability inclusion, strategy development, and program implementation.
• Possess a deep understanding of strategic foresight visioning, SDGs and a proven track record of influencing policy at various levels.
• Exhibit strong analytical and communication skills.
• Showcase an ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Display a steadfast commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion.
• Experience of working with UN agencies is an asset.
• Fluency in English and Urdu is required. Knowledge of local language is an asset.
• Women are encouraged to apply.

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/individual contractors 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. 

Remarks:  

• Estimated Duration: 32 working days spread over period of 6 months
• Applicants must submit a financial quotation indicating a monthly fee as part of the application against the assignment (not inclusive of travel amount)
• Islamabad/ with in-country brief travel.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract 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 and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors 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. 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.