Result of Service
The consultant will be responsible for supporting DCOs work in collaboration with the Disability Team of the Executive Office of the Secretary General on the implementation of the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy, including:
1) Proactive and timely monitoring and support to implementation of relevant actions under the DCO Disability Inclusion Strategy 2022-2025
2) Data systems maintained for UNCT accountability and reporting to member states on the implementation of the UNDIS.
3) Well-coordinated and high-quality technical support to inter-agency actions in implementation of the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy within the UNSDG at regional and country levels
Duties and Responsibilities
Background
The UN Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS) was launched by the Secretary-General in June 2019 to bring transformative change in the UN’s work on inclusion of persons with disabilities. The Strategy consists of a policy and an accountability framework and covers all the pillars of the UN’s work. The Strategy is being implemented under the leadership of the Executive Office of the Secretary General. It covers both UN entities and UN Country Teams (UNCTs) and is applicable across programmes and operations.
The Strategy’s accountability framework consists of two aligned components: a) an Entity Accountability Framework, with fifteen common-system indicators, focused on four areas: leadership, strategic planning and management; inclusiveness; programming; and organizational culture; and, b) a UN Country Team (UNCT) Accountability Scorecard on Disability Inclusion. The entity accountability framework and the UNCT Accountability Scorecard will form the basis for implementation and reporting on the Strategy at the entity and UNCT levels respectively.
The UNDIS specifically provides that DCO will, “in collaboration with regional offices, support effective disability inclusion at the regional and United Nations country team levels through, inter alia, Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework guidance and accompanying documents and the Management and Accountability Framework.”
The UN Development Coordination Office (DCO) is responsible for implementing the UNDIS and reporting annually as a UN entity. DCO recently approved its own Disability Inclusion Strategy 2022-2025 to ensure that DCO and the Resident Coordination System (RCS) takes the necessary steps to implement the system-wide policy and strategy. As the manager of the RC System, DCO plays a key role in supporting UN country teams to implement the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy, including through building leadership and communities of practice to enhance coordinated UNCT actions and reporting on disability inclusion.
Responsibilities
The specific tasks that the consultant will undertake are as follows:
1) Contributing to the implementation, monitoring and reporting on progress of the DCO Disability Inclusion Strategy 2022-2025 :
• Conduct one training session for DCO HQ staff and one for DCO Regional Offices and RCO Inclusion Focal Points on disability inclusion;
• Initiate and oversee the collection and analysis of data for monitoring the progress in implementation of the DCO Disability Inclusion Strategy in 2022-2023;
• Review and provide feedback on disability inclusion in guidance and resources being developed by DCO and the UNSDG;
• Provide technical advice to the DCO Disability Inclusion Focal Point and to DCO teams and branches to support their implementation of the DCO Disability Inclusion Strategy (eg. communications, operations, leadership);
• Support DCO processes and discussions towards the further alignment of the existing UNCT scorecards on disability inclusion, gender, youth and with other UN systemwide strategies or action plans.
2) Supporting the further institutionalization and implementation of the UNCT Disability Inclusion Accountability Scorecard :
• In collaboration with Disability Inclusion Team in the Executive Office of the Secretary General, provide remote technical support to UNCTs regarding the implementation and annual reporting under the UNDIS, and support discussions at HQ level to ensure smooth implementation of the annual reporting phrase via the UNSDG Information Management System;
• In collaboration with the Disability Team in the Executive Office of the Secretary General, support the validation of the UNCT Accountability Scorecard reporting for 2022.
3) Supporting the implementation of the UNDIS at regional and country levels :
• Strengthen the network of UNCT disability focal points through regular dissemination of information, tools and guidance;
• Maintain the UNSDG Portal with up-to-date resources on disability inclusion for UNCTs, including new Portal features and supporting the conceptualisation and development of additional resources with DCO and the Disability Team in the Executive Office of the Secretary General;
• Facilitate coordination with other UNSDG entities with expertise on disability inclusion to foster coherent system-wide support and approaches, particularly at the country level;
• Provide technical advice and support to the Country Business Support (CBS) branch on CBS-led initiatives on the support to disability inclusive common services under the Business Operations Strategy 2.0;
• Facilitate coordination between ESOG Disability Team, DCO (CBS and PPB) and RCOs on the implementation of seed funds for UNCTs, and provide technical advice on initiatives at the country level when requested;
• Support the identification, documentation and sharing of good practices by UNCTs in the implementation of the UNDIS.
Qualifications/special skills
Advanced university degree in Social Sciences, Economics, Development, or any other related field.
A minimum of seven progressive years of experience working on disability inclusion in a development setting.
Minimum 2 years’ experience working on disability inclusion with one or more united nations entities
Good knowledge of the CRPD and human rights-based approach.
Experience in providing technical assistance on mainstreaming disability in programming and operations.
Experience in facilitating diverse groups and building consensus.
Experience working with inter-agency processes and engaging with Organizations of Persons with Disabilities.
Familiarity with UNSDG reporting systems and accountability mechanisms, and reporting on results at UNCT level desirable.
Solid written and oral communication skills.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.