Programme Specialist (Disability and Inclusion)

Title: Programme Specialist (Disability and Inclusion)
Job no: 578025
Contract type: Fixed Term Appointment
Duty Station: Kyiv
Categories: Research, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, hope

UNICEF Ukraine

Запрошуємо до команди ЮНІСЕФ Україна - YouTube

How can you make a difference? 

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 favoritism. 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 fulfill 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.

Approximately one child in ten is born with or acquires a disability. Children with disabilities are likely to live in poverty, be excluded from school and from health and nutrition services. Exclusion is often aggravated by lack of disability-related data to inform policy and services and by stigma and discrimination in the community. The work concerning inclusion and children with disabilities is vital for UNICEF to ensure that the most vulnerable children are given adequate care and support both from national actors as well as from families and communities. In line with the Convention on the Right of Persons with Disabilities, children with disabilities are meaningfully contributing to the design, implementation and monitoring of all key policies affecting their lives.

Strategic office context:

The prolonged war in Ukraine has heightened children’s risk of poverty, disease, family separation, learning loss, mental health trafficking and violence, including gender-based violence (GBV). More than 3.7 million people (629,000 children) are internally displaced, while 2.9 million people (493,000 children) are living along the frontline and in non-government-controlled areas (NGCA), facing intense shelling, damaged housing infrastructure and severe constraints to their basic needs including water, electricity and health services.

Ukraine’s children with disabilities face significant barriers to accessing services and care and are greater risk of family separation and other vulnerabilities. The escalation of the war has greatly exacerbated these existing challenges. UNICEF is committed to ensuring the mainstreaming of disability throughout all programming, and promotion of policy reform and inclusive services in Ukraine’s response and recovery interventions. There are an estimated 160,000 children with disabilities in Ukraine, who face compounded challenges in accessing support and services, and are at greater risk for mental health challenges, discrimination, and family separation. They have also been at risk of further exclusion due to the war due to displacement and reduced service provision. In recognition of this, the upcoming Country Programme Document highlights several key intervention areas targeting children with disabilities to ensure that the most vulnerable children are prioritized in health, protection, education and WASH services and that systems are built which ensure their continued inclusion, dignity and autonomy in later recovery stages.

The purpose of the job:

Under the general guidance of the supervisor (Chief CRM and Evaluation), the incumbent is responsible for leading UNICEF's work to mainstream disability in all aspects of its humanitarian and recovery programming, in the context of the Country Programme Document and HAC. The role is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the UNICEF Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy as key reference frameworks.

The incumbent will work across all programme sections and field offices as well as key stakeholders to ensure disability inclusion and disability-sensitive programming across humanitarian and recovery spheres. A critical aspect of this role will be providing technical guidance and coordination of inclusive programming to ensure cohesive and comprehensive approaches to inclusion of all children with disabilities in UNICEF-supported services. The incumbent will also work with partners to ensure that policy and legislative frameworks in line with international standards are in place, so no child is left behind.

Key functions, accountabilities, and related duties/tasks

The specific tasks of the job are as follows:

1. Lead disability mainstreaming across all UNICEF programming as part of the broader child rights agenda:

1. Revise and finalize disability strategy and develop operational plan including indicators for its implementation
2. Develop capacity and provide technical guidance to UNICEF staff and relevant national and implementing partners in aspects related to disability inclusion and disability-sensitive programming.
3. Conduct mapping of existing disability programming to ensure coherence and coordination and that strategic gaps are addressed.
4. Provide quality assurance, technical review and inputs related to disability inclusion of programmes and key documents across the Country Office and Field Offices.
5. Develop the capacity of relevant staff across the Country Office and Field Offices on approaches to disability inclusion and disability sensitive programming, in accordance with international standards.
6. Assess accessibility of all community-based interventions, to ensure that they accessible for all children and guide staff and partners on increasing accessibility
7. Provide guidance on responding to the particular needs of affected children and families, including through child-friendly communication, sensitization on disability -inclusion, appropriate space and facilities, and support for child and caregiver participation, including for partner staff such as professional and paraprofessional frontline worker
8. Training and sensitization of community-based groups and mechanisms and age and gender-appropriate support as well as referral pathways to promote positive attitudes to PWD, based on dignity and human rights
9.  

2. Provide technical support to government and implementing partners:

1. Lead advocacy and awareness raising with government and implementing partners on child rights regarding children with disabilities
2. Lead capacity development for partners in disability inclusion and international standards
3. Provide technical guidance on policy reform and legislative frameworks to strengthen disability inclusion in line with EU standards
4. Map available inclusive services and identifying the gaps in the overall system of service provision at national and local levels
5. Support the design of inclusive social services with focus on children with disabilities; early intervention; positive parenting; respite day care; support children with disabilities in care, education and health systems;
6. Strengthen advocacy potential of parents of children with disabilities in promotion of children's rights;
7. Promote inclusive services for children with disabilities through information messages and work with communities leaders and local authorities;

3. Lead disability advocacy initiatives:

1. Identify and implement advocacy opportunities and initiatives to ensure the rights of children and people with disabilities
2. Act as focal point for government-led disability initiaitives (Barrier Free strategy etc) and represent UNICEF in related for a
3. Work closely with organizations of people with disabilities to strengthen civil society advocacy capacity and programming in line with disability strategy

4. Strengthen knowledge management and reporting:

• Ensure disability mainstraining throughout all monitoring, evaluation, reporting and knowledge management systems, including measurement of disability-related indicators and disaggregation of disability,
• Support analysis of disability-related indicators to ensure use and evidence informed programming that responds to the particular needs of children with disabilities and children from vulnerable groups.
• Maintain a knowledge management database related to disability inclusion and disability-sensitive programming for UNICEF Ukraine Office.
• Contribute to reporting and data collection, analysis and visualization related to above workstreams.
• Provide technical assistance for case studies and human-interest stories, as well as ‘lessons learned’ on disability related programming.
• Provide support with other disability inclusion strengthening activities, in consultation with the Supervisor and staff engaged in the implementation from different sectors.

Impact of Results

Disability inclusion is a country programme priority to ensure that children with disabilities in Ukraine realize their full rights with dignity, and to promote equity and ensure that no child is left behind. The fulfillment of this role is critical to ensuring that all children and their families are able to access the services and support they need, and that Ukraine in its recovery builds a more inclusive society in which all can benefit and thrive.

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: social sciences, social work or related field

Work Experience:

• A minimum of five years of professional experience in social development and disability issues.
• Knowledge of accessibility standards and international legislation and frameworks on inclusion, including EU standards.
• Strong project management skills and experience with partnerships with government and civil society.
• Familiarity with child rights and normative frameworks regarding child rights.
• Experience in social work, especially with vulnerable populations.

Language Requirements: 

• Fluency in English and Ukrainian is required.

Desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency. 
• Relevant experience in programme development in disability within a UN agency or international aid organization is an asset.
• Background and/or familiarity with emergencies is considered an asset.
• Experience in monitoring and evaluation is highly desirable
• Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Eligible staff members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent contracts applying to IP TA positions in a duty station designated as L2/L3, may be able to retain a lien and their fixed-term entitlements, subject to approval by their Head of Office. The conditions of the temporary assignment will vary depending on the status of their post and relocation entitlements may be limited as per the relevant policies.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

This position is based in Kyiv and the incumbent will be expected to work on-site. However, depending on the security conditions and advisory, s/he will be required to relocate within Ukraine.

Deadline: 22 January 2025 FLE Standard Time