International Consultancy to Support a Situation Analysis and Development of a Project Proposal for UNJP "Transformation of Social Service Delivery: Implementing Human Rights-Based Approach for Children, Youth and Women with Disabilities in Uzbekistan".
Job no: 539249
Position type: Consultancy
Location: Uzbekistan Division/Equivalent: CEE/CIS
School/Unit: Republic of Uzbekistan
Department/Office: Tashkent, Rep. of Uzbekistan
Categories: Health, Consultancy
Background
One of key priorities of the new Uzbekistan United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2021-2025 years (UNSDCF) is to enhance access of the most vulnerable including persons with disabilities to gender-sensitive quality public services. A Thematic Group on Human Rights and Inclusion (UNHRIG) has been established to ensure coordinated and coherent UNCT approach to disability programming, implementation and quality assurance across the joint work of the UNCT in implementing UNSDCF.
The UNCT, including UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA and OHCHR joined efforts to attract more resources for transformation of social service delivery for children, youth and women with disabilities in line with human rights-based approach. Within the fourth call for proposals of the United Nations Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Multi-Partner Trust Fund (UNPRPD MPTF) Uzbekistan's expression of interest was selected for submission of a full-fledged proposal.
To support the proposal development, UNPRPD MPTF allocated budget to successful country teams to conduct a Situation Analysis of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (SitAn) and to develop a joint full-fledged proposal. A multi-sector, multi-stakeholder analysis is required to understand what is the most catalytic force? at the country level and identify bottlenecks for implementation of the Convention on the Right of Person with Disability (CRPD) and the assurance of equal rights for persons with disabilities. It also supports better understanding for the mainstreaming disability in the implementation of national development plans, UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework and other processes.
Findings from this SitAn will be used to generate recommendations with all stakeholders and to identify key priorities where PRPD program funding can provide the biggest impact in accelerating the CRPD implementation. These recommendations will shape the PRPD program design process.
UNPRPD MPTF provided a Guiding Document for Conducting a Situational Country Analysis of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD MPTF Guiding Document), which is designed to help shape the approach of the country analysis, without overly prescribing how the process should take place at country level. The analysis should pay particular attention to the preconditions for inclusion and cross cutting issues - as these aspects are of inter-sectoral importance and should cut across all agencies in the PRPD partnership. A more in-depth sectoral analysis can also be conducted as relevant to local priorities and entities involved, which should be further determined as part of the Country Analysis Planning process. Like the core analysis of pre-conditions, a set of additional questions for the sectoral (e.g. health, education etc) analysis provided as a sample guide.
A previous Situation Analysis of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was conducted by UNCT in 2018, capturing situation of children, women and men with disabilities and following the structure of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The analysis was informed by five research streams: a legal review, an institutional review, a statistical capacity assessment, a KAP Survey and a needs-assessment study (n=3,049 households with a person with a disability; n=1,782 households with persons without disabilities). A mixed-methods approach was undertaken to generate a comprehensive picture. First-person accounts from people with disabilities, their families and disability advocates were also included, gathered in the form of interviews and statements.
While 2018 Situation Analysis provided a comprehensive picture, since then there have been significant developments in the country, including an adoption of the new Law On the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2020 and The Presidential Decree No. UP-5270 "On comprehensive measures for further improvement of the system of support for persons with disabilities and strengthening guarantees for the protection of their rights and freedoms" in 2018. A role of national OPDs in policy decision making has been also enhanced significantly. All these recent developments should be also captured in this 2021 SitAn.
In view of the above, UNICEF Uzbekistan CO is seeking the services of an international individual consultant to develop the SitAn report based on UN PRPD guidance for conducting a situational country analysis of the rights of persons with disabilities and to develop Joint Programme and UNCT Disability Strategy for 2021 - 2025 , while paying due consideration to the nationalized Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda, national development plans, UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, other national and global priorities.
SitAn objectives
The objectives of the SitAn is to identify bottlenecks in progress of implementation of the CRPD and the realization of equal rights of persons with disabilities and to understand what is the most catalytic force at the country level. Findings from this analysis will be used to generate recommendations with all stakeholders and to identify key priorities where PRPD program funding can provide the biggest impact in accelerating CRPD implementation. As such, the SitAn will be utilized to:
Scope and focus:
The core part of the analysis should focus on the essential pre-conditions and building blocks for inclusion while ensuring cross-cutting approached are respected. The analysis also should include optional, sector-specific components, which can be included depending on the priorities identified by UNCTs in the PRPD Country Planning Expression of Interest and the entities involved.
Exercising the rights of girls and boys, women and men with disabilities is expected to be analyzed by geographical, gender, age and type of disability breakdown. Special focus should be done on the most underrepresented groups of persons with disabilities, such as children and youth with disabilities, especially living in residential care institutions, and with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities; and women with disabilities especially those who are survivors of GBV and living in residential care institutions.
The key thematic areas of SitAn will be structured in line with UNPRPD MPTF Guiding Document and should include among others (to be further refined in consultation with UNCT, OPDs and other stakeholders):
Methodology
Overall, the consultancy and its approach will be informed by UNPRPD MPTF Guiding Document which will be shared by UNICEF.
The study will consist of four key phases:
Following the completion of the fact-finding stage, the analysis should be developed in constant interaction between the researchers and the commissioning team to allow full alignment of the research exercise with the desired scope and focus of the analysis. During potential COVID-19 restrictions usual participatory methods might need to be performed online or over the phone; ensuring accessibility for participation should be considered.
Engagement with Organisations of Persons with Disabilities
Persons with disabilities and their representative organisations (OPDs) are pivotal to gaining a nuanced understanding of the rights of persons with disabilities and can provide unique insights and expertise. As the leading organisations advocating to progress the rights of persons with disabilities, PRPD programs should complement, amplify and support the work of OPDs. Collaborative analysis between OPDs and UNCTs allows the UN to develop an understanding of the local disability context, develop and/or strengthen working relationships, and understand the operational realities, strategies and priorities of persons with disabilities. This is important for informing the focus and design of PRPD programs, which are built on partnership with persons with disabilities and their representative organisations.
What this means for the process:
For more detail on OPDs, minimum requirements for engagement, potential roles to explore with OPDs and tips for engagement throughout the country analysis process, more detailed guidance will be provided by the commissioning team.
Management
It is expected that SitAn will be conducted by an international consultant paired with a national consultant, who will work in compliance with the present Terms of Reference and UNPRPD MPTF Guiding Document. Both consultants will work under overall supervision of the Chief of Child Health and Development, in close cooperation with Gender and Social Inclusion Officer and under the guidance of UNHRIG. Roles and accountabilities should be as follows: The
international consultant will lead the process in all stages; coordinate with the national consultant when required and provide agreed deliverables and inputs for discussion to UNICEF. The international consultant will lead the analysis as well as will be in charge of the development of recommendations, UN and UNICEF ToC and Joint Programme Document.
The
national consultant will be hired by UNICEF and work under the guidance of the International consultant and overall supervision of the Education Officer. The national consultant will support the adaptation of the design, the implementation of the data collection phase, and quantitative and qualitative analysis of secondary information, especially when in national language, by bringing in specific expertise and knowledge of the local context and facilitate interviews/FGDs/workshops as required.
Coordination of activities of this ToR with other UN entities, Government and OPDs will be ensured through UNHRIG.
Timeline: The assignment timeframe is 50 working days in the period of April - June 2021
Resource requirements
The assignment may require one in-country visits (Tashkent, Uzbekistan). According to UNICEF policy, the final fee will be set up based on the "best value for money" principle.
50 working days are allocated for accomplishment of all tasks and deliverables within the period of April - June 2021. The Consultant fee will be paid upon successful completion of each deliverable and certification by supervisor.
The consultancy will be paid by bank transfer and upon acceptance of deliverables in accordance with the following payment schedule:
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have...
The candidates are requested to submit CV/Resume that should include details of specific experience with similar assignments in the past, experience in facilitating trainings/workshops, experiences in leading/coordinating data collection/analyses and disability programming and any other relevant evidence in the form of contracts and/or references. The candidates are also requested to provide a sample of similar assignment/project report implemented in the past or its web link.
Procedures and Working Conditions
Overall, one in-country mission might be required, depending on epidemiological situation. Travel expenses (terminal, DSA, air fare) will be funded by UNICEF and according to its rules and procedures. Obtaining entry visa to Uzbekistan and visa related costs (if any) will be the responsibility of the individual consultant, however UNICEF, within its means, shall facilitate the process. During in-country visit, individual consultant will be provided with office space and logistic support for meetings. Laptops or computers will not be provided.
Reservations
UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if deliverable(s) incomplete, not finalized or for failure to meet deadlines. UNICEF will reserve copyright of all developed materials and own primary data collected through this assignment. The materials cannot be published or disseminated without prior written permission of UNICEF. UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future. The contractor must respect the confidentiality of the information handled during the assignment. Documents and information provided must be used only for the tasks related to these terms of reference. UNICEF undertakes no liability for taxes, duty or other contribution payable by the consultant on payments made under this contract.
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.
Advertised: Mar 30 2021 West Asia Standard Time Application close: Apr 13 2021 West Asia Standard Time
cdKU2WT-owT1v
This vacancy is archived.