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Background :
Rwanda has ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in 2008. Since the ratification the Government of Rwanda has increased its efforts to ensure that the rights of all Persons with Disabilities are promoted and protected with a particular emphasis on children. In line with Rwanda’s Integrated Child Rights Policy (2011), children with disabilities have the right to grow in a safe and protective environment. Furthermore, the Law n° 054/2011 of 14/12/2011 relating to the Rights and the Protection of the child under Chapter IV clearly stipulates families and Government’s obligations to ensure that all children are raised in a caring environment.
Many parents with children with disabilities tend to rely on institutions for provision of care for their child . This stems from a common misunderstanding that an institution is the best place for a child with a disability. It may also come from the fact that families are struggling to care for children with disabilities.
Although there is a strong childcare reform programme focused on getting children into family care from institutional care by building a care, protection, and support system with a dedicated social workforce, an assessment conducted in 2016 showed that over 4,000 children with disabilities are currently residing in institutions. A qualitative study conducted in 2016 also showed that children with disabilities are largely excluded from family life and from different services including education and special health care.
The Government of Rwanda is committed to developmental actions that leave no one behind; it is in this spirit that the Ministry of Local Government is putting in place the national policy on disability inclusion, and at the same time elaborating minimum standards for care of children with disabilities in care settings namely daycare, residential and home-like centres. The family care setting is also promoted through the development of the national guide on inclusion of children with disabilities in the national childcare reform that gives some points to be considered to promote family-based care for children with disabilities.
This sets the foundation for the TMM Programme Phase II- managed by the National Child Development Agency (NCD) to embark on the reintegration of Children with disabilities with technical and collaborative support from the National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPD).
In order to effectively coordinate actions supporting de-institutionalization and family-based care for children with disabilities, both NCPD and NCD are key, and there is need for effective collaboration to implement designed package of interventions for individual child, family, community, institution, local and central level governance. It is therefore imperative that both institutions’ capacities be strengthened, particularly in the area of staffing with dedicated, skilled personnel focusing on de-institutionalisation.
Justification :
The development of a joint action plan on de-institutionalization between the two institutions showed a critical need to have staff to be deployed in NCPD, fully dedicated to implement and monitor planned activities, ensuring on-going collaboration with the TMM staff in NCD to avoid duplication and harmonize actions in an effective way. The person will also be dedicated to facilitate coordination of the activities between NCPD, NCD, UNICEF and other actors working on inclusion of children with disabilities at national and sub-national levels.
Objectives :
The overall objective of the consultancy is to support the inclusion of children with disabilities in the de-institutionalization and family-based care and community support and lead the internal and external coordination efforts. Specific objectives are as follows :
- Ensure effective coordination between NCPD and NCD for inclusive programming to support children with disabilities and their families, including planning, monitoring and reporting ;
- Support and facilitate the de-institutionalization process of children with disabilities at individual child, family, centre, community, local and national level governance ;
- Facilitate access to services at community and local levels by children with disabilities and their families in identified areas of intervention ;
- Promote visibility of children with disabilities through various consultative fora, including the national partnership on children with disabilities, PCT, DCF …);
Work Assignment :
The consultant will be based in the head office of the NCPD and work closely with and under the Socio Economic Empowerment Unit to lead the implementation of the inclusive de-institutionalisation of children in close collaboration with the NCD. Specifically, the consultant will :
- Provide ongoing technical advice, and internal lateral capacity development in NCPD to strengthen the de-institutionalization and family-based care for children with disabilities ;
- Facilitate the close collaboration and coordination of all implementing partners working for children with disabilities at the national and de-centralized levels ;
- Organize, facilitate and participate in different coordination fora involving NCPD, NCD and as well as other social service providers to strengthen the inclusion of children with disabilities and community-based support to families ;
- Monitor, collect and analyse the monthly results of the de-institutionalization of children with disabilities, and produce the monthly report showing the progress with highlight of success, challenges and lessons learnt for timely adjustment ;
- Facilitate the work of other consultants and staff working on the de-institutionalization of children with disabilities and documentation to smoothly achieve intended results, and keep necessary documents/documentation as part of skills transfer ;
- Facilitate the implementation of the NCPD action plan with funding from UNICEF and ensure efficient administrative management for timely financial and programmatic reporting;
Deliverables :
- Submit to UNICEF and NCPD a detailed annual and quarterly work plan with activities clearly linked to each agreed task and result; at the beginning of the consultancy ;
- Submit monthly work plans detailing concrete planned activities and outputs to be achieved ;
- Submit monthly progress reports based on previous months’ planned activities and outputs ;
- Submit a final report, no later than 20 days before the end of the consultancy, summarizing the activities, outputs and results, challenges and lessons learned, as well as recommendations for further implementation of family-based care and community support to children with disabilities and their families.
Evaluation Criteria :
The best candidate will be evaluated and selected based on the best fit on most of the qualifications outlines above. The most suitable candidates may be invited for an oral or written interview or both.
The Technical proposal is weighted at 70% and 30% for the Financial proposal.
Please note that the final remuneration will be negotiated by Human Resources from UNICEF.
Payment Schedule :
Payment will be made monthly upon receipt of a monthly progress report highlighting the achievements of the agreed deliverables. The payment will be the agreed monthly rate at a junior level consultancy.
General Conditions: Procedures & Logistics :
- Under the consultancy agreements, a month is defined as 22 working days ;
- The contractors are not entitled to payment of overtime. All remuneration must be within the contract agreement ;
- The Individual Contractor will receive Paid Time Off (PTO) credit at the rate of one- and one-half days (1.5 days) for each full month (22 Working days) of service, to be credited on the last calendar day of the month, and up to 17 days for a maximum of 11.5 months contract ;
- No work may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant or Contractor ;
- The contractor shall not make use of any unpublished or confidential information, made known in the course of performing duties under the terms of this agreement, without written authorization from NCPD and UNICEF. The products of this assignment are not the property of the contractor and cannot be shared without the permission of NCPD and UNICEF.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Academic qualifications : University degree in disability studies, Social Sciences (Sociology, Psychology and Social Work), Development Studies, Community Development or Project Management. An advanced degree in the above fields is an added advantage.
Employment experience :
- At least 3 years of relevant professional work experience on disability inclusion, preferably at community level. Experience in coordination and management of social work interventions, as well as planning and reporting is desired ;
- At least 2 years of experience in a multi-sectoral management and partnership management as well as practical experience of community development ;
- Child protection experience in alternative care, especially working with children with disabilities and or children without parental care ;
- Sound understanding and past working experience of participatory community principles and practices ;
- Experience in working with Local Government, (I)NGOs or Development Partners especially in the disability inclusion is required.
Language skills : Fluency in English and Kinyarwanda. Knowledge of French would be an asset.
Skills and abilities :
- In depth knowledge of disability inclusion in Rwanda; having exposure to child protection is an added value ;
- Excellent writing skills, strong planning, organizational and analytical skills, computer skills and interpersonal communication skills ;
- Ability to work with Government Officials at national and decentralized levels as well as with international and national development partners ;
- Exposure to community-based work.
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
How to Apply :
UNICEF is committed to gender equality and disability inclusion in its mandate and its staff. Well qualified candidates, particularly females and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Interested candidates should send their complete Personal History (P11) form, which can be downloaded form (http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc). or a CV/resume, as well as a cover letter explaining what makes them suitable for this consultancy. The application package should be submitted to UNICEF’s online recruitment system.
Qualified and experienced candidates are requested to submit a letter of interest including a Technical Proposal outlining a road map for review and implementation timeline. In their letter of interest, candidates should highlight their previous work experience relevant to the assignment, the attributes that make them suitable, their proposed approach to the assignment.
Only successful candidates from the technical evaluation exercise will be contacted and requested to submit their most competitive Financial Proposal.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.
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 :
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.