Mission and objectives
UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, to defend their rights, and to help them fulfil their potential: UNICEF for every child. UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child; in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. In all its work, UNICEF takes a life cycle-based approach, recognizing the particular importance of early childhood development and adolescence. UNICEF programmes focus on the most disadvantaged children, including those living in fragile contexts, those with disabilities, those who are affected by rapid urbanization and those affected by environmental degradation. The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in 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 — in its social, political, economic, civic, and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education, and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations. Gender equality is at the core of UNICEF’s accountability to children. UNICEF’s Strategic Plan 2022-2025 reaffirms that gender equality is an organisational priority, a fundamental value and a cross-cutting principle for all five Goal Areas, as well as across UNICEF’s programmes and workplaces. Aligned to the Strategic Plan, UNICEF’s Gender Action Plan, 2022-2025 tendersglobal.net UNICEF (GAP) outlines a programmatic and ‘whole-of institution’ agenda for gender equality and women and girls’ empowerment. Similar to Gender Equality, the vision of the UNICEF Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy (DIPAS) 2022-2030 tendersglobal.net UNICEF aspires for a more inclusive world, where all children, including those with disabilities, live in barrier-free and inclusive communities.The DIPAS sets out six strategic priorities: prevention of stigma and discrimination; improvement of disability-inclusive services, programmes and workplaces; access to comprehensive community care and support services; access to assistive technology; disability-inclusive action in humanitarian, emergency and fragile contexts; full and meaningful participation of persons with disabilities.
Context
The Jordan Country Programme (2023-27) prioritizes Disability & Inclusion issues through a mainstreaming and targeted approach to essentially “achieve results for children, especially girls and children with disabilities”, including in humanitarian context. Traditionally led by the Education sector, the Jordan Country Office’s (JCO) disability portfolio covers wide spectrum of interventions, aligned to seven core strategies:
1.Prevention of stigma, discrimination, neglect, and violence against children with disabilities and promotion of diversity and inclusion
2.Disability inclusive infrastructure, services, programmed, and coordination platforms
3.Access to comprehensive community care and support services
4.Access to assistive technology and relevant services
5.Disability inclusive action in humanitarian, emergencies, and fragile contexts 6.Full and meaningful participation of persons with disabilities
7.Disability Inclusive Data. The office has a comprehensive internal and external disability inclusive communication and advocacy strategy and accessibility measures. Current disability work is coordinated under the Deputy Representative’s Office, through an Equity and Inclusion lens. The office is looking to hire a Disability expert for technical leadership to implement disability inclusive programme and operations work.
Additional Information: National UN Specialist Volunteers in Jordan are entitled to:
• Monthly Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) at the amount of JOD 1,068.5;
• Annual and learning leaves;
• Free Medical and life insurance;
• Free access to different learning platforms. For more information on UN Volunteer benefits, entitlements and support, please visit: https://www.unv.org/volunteer-your-country-conditions-service
Task description
Under the direct supervision of the Gender Programme Specialist and with guidance of the Deputy Representative (Programmes), the UN Volunteer will support JCO programme and operations staff in implementing the UNICEF Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy (DIPAS) 2022-2030 tendersglobal.net UNICEF across Programme and Operations work. The UN Volunteer plans, implements, and monitors a variety of technical and administrative tasks. S/he will provide sound and coherent technical leadership on disability issues. The overarching scope of work cover the following areas: a) providing technical support to programme and operations sections in improving disability Inclusion across their work b) ensuring planning, implementation of monitoring of sectoral results and funds c) ensuring office and internal accessibility of JCO premises and UNICEF managed services in humanitarian camps and d) active engagement and technical support of JCO gender and disability focal point structure.
1. Technical and operational support to JCO programme
• Advance the internal mapping of JCO Disability programme work by developing a JCO Roadmap, aligned to the JCO Country Programme Document (2023-27) and Rolling Work Plans (RWPs).
• Provide technical inputs on disability inclusion into key strategic documents e.g., annual work plans, midterm reviews, evaluations.
• Participate in monitoring and evaluation work, including programme reviews and annual sectoral reviews with government and other counterparts to assess programme results and technical support.
• Provide technical and operational support (where required) to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners.
• Support the Gender Programme Specialist in disability inclusive results monitoring and resources tracking through the Disability Tracker.
• Provide expertise advice on evidence-based Equity and Inclusion approaches, including intersection between disability and gender, among key areas of work.
• Strengthen the JCO’s knowledge management strategy building on the existing Gender and Disability repository.
2. Support to Advocacy, networking and partnership building on inclusive programming.
• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with government counterparts, CSOs and development partners through active sharing of information toward disability inclusive and gender-responsive results.
• Participate in relevant UN inter-agency meetings and events on programming and advocacy to strengthen joint disability inclusive programmes.
• Support the Jordanian governments preparations for the forthcoming Global Disability Summit – Global Disability Summit 2025 – Germany, Berlin and the pre-Summit in November.
• Provide technical leadership on communication and information materials for purposes of internal and external outreach and advocacy.
• Advance JCO mapping of Disability CSOs through technical exchange and coordination.
• Design capacity building strategies to Organisations led by Persons with Disabilities (OPDs).
• Research information on potential donors and prepare resource mobilization materials and briefs for fund raising and partnership development purposes, in collaboration with the Partnership Chief.
3. Collaborative work with JCO Operations
• Strengthen JCO Operations disability inclusive work including Human Resources internal and external outreach strategy.
• Provide expertise advice on internal accommodation, use and implementation of green funds.
• Closely work with JCO Operations to advance the Disability Equity and Inclusive agenda with seamless link to office programme work on Gender and Disability and Learning & Development strategy.
Eligibility criteria
Nationality
Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.
Requirements
Required experience
10 years of experience in one or more of the following areas is required: Inclusive education, disability inclusion, sociology, anthropology, psychology. A lived experience of disability is an asset. • Excellent understanding of CRPD principles and local context, knowledge or with Organisations with Persons with Disability (OPDs) desirable. • Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset. • Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing. • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development. • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel. • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment. • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines. • Have affinity with or interest in children, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.
Area(s) of expertise
Communication, Education, Social work
Languages
English, Level: Fluent, Required Arabic, Level: Fluent, Required
Required education level
Bachelor degree or equivalent in Inclusive education, disability studies, occupational therapy, social and behavioural science, sociology, anthropology, psychology.
Competencies and values
• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management
How to apply
Apply through this link:
Programme Officer – Disability Inclusion tendersglobal.net UVP (unv.org)
Closing date: 7 Jul 2024