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The objective of this consultancy is to provide technical expertise to the Ministry of Finance, Labor, and Transfers (MFLT) in finalizing the draft Law on Evaluation, Status Recognition, Benefits, and Services for Persons with Disabilities. Additionally, it aims to support UNICEF Kosovo in advancing the implementation of the disability inclusion agenda, in alignment with the 2025 Annual Work Plan. Through this collaboration, the consultancy will contribute to the development of comprehensive and inclusive legislation that promote the rights and well-being of children and persons with disabilities.
UNICEF Kosovo continues to implement its Kosovo Programme 2021–2025, contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework. A key component of this programme focuses on strengthening the social inclusion of vulnerable children in Kosovo through cross-sectoral, coordinated interventions. These efforts are designed to enhance the responsiveness of social and child protection, health, and education systems, ultimately improving the overall well-being of vulnerable children. The UNICEF Kosovo office remains committed to advancing the rights and welfare of every child, with particular attention to the most disadvantaged and marginalized groups, including children with disabilities. While progress has been made in aligning Kosovo's legal and policy frameworks with international standards, significant gaps remain, requiring further efforts to ensure comprehensive protection and inclusion for all children.
The 2020 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) found that 8% of children aged 2–17 experience functional difficulties, with this percentage nearly doubling among marginalized communities. Moreover, children with disabilities continue to encounter significant barriers to early intervention, rehabilitation, education, and essential support services. Effectively addressing these challenges requires a
comprehensive legislative framework, increased financial investment, and sustainable financing mechanisms for service providers. UNICEF remains committed to promoting the rights and well-being of children with disabilities by advocating for the alignment of legal and policy frameworks with international standards, thereby contributing to the equitable development of Kosovo’s social services.
The draft Law on Evaluation, Status Recognition, Benefits, and Services for Persons with Disabilities, which aimed to address these issues, has faced delays in approval, despite continuous advocacy efforts. More recently this draft has been included for approval in the 2025 Legislative Programme of the government. Led by UNICEF, in collaboration with other UN agencies, the recent Situation Analysis on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has revealed significant gaps in Kosovo's legal framework for the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities. The analysis highlights that the framework remains fragmented, with certain disability groups—particularly individuals with intellectual disabilities—lacking formal recognition and thus facing heightened marginalization. Additionally, procedures for assessing
disabilities and determining disability status are not clearly regulated. Furthermore, the predominant reliance on the medical model, rather than the bio-psycho-social model, limits a more comprehensive and inclusive approach to disability assessment and support.
Work Assignments: Conduct analysis and selection of relevant sections from the proposed models that fit the roles of the existing medical committee Facilitate 1-day meeting for the presentation of the examples of the best practice Medical Assessment Models to the committee members and selection of the most appropriate model Facilitate 1-day workshop for the adoption and adaptation of the selected model
Overview Deliverables/Outputs: Medical assessment model developed
Delivery deadline: 1 April 2025 - 10 days
Work Assignments: Identify professionals who will be engaged in the adoption of the instrument and standards based on consultations with the Ministry of Health and UCCK. Conduct individual consultations with 15 small groups of professionals for the adoption of the standards and instrument. Facilitate one workshop with Medical Professionals and DPOs for the Validation of the instrument for medical assessment model. (30-45 participants)
Overview Deliverables/Outputs: Medical assessment model adopted
Delivery deadline: 15 April 2025 - 20 days
Work Assignments: Consultations with the chairperson of the working group for development of the law to agree on the structure, and content of the model & instrument. Develop the draft functional assessment model and instrument covering 15 major domains of ICF. Present the proposed model to the Chairman of the working group and address her comments Facilitate 1 day Workshop to present the proposed model to Members of the Commission and other relevant stakeholders" Shuttle model consultations with DPOs to present proposed indicators for each of major ICF Domains for Activities and Participation (four 1-day meetings with groups of 5 to 10 people per meeting) Facilitate two-day joint workshop to present the agreed Domains for Activities and Participation and Environmental Factors and to agree on the modality to be used for weighting each indicator (25 participants) Facilitate 1 day workshop to determine the weight for the selected indicators
Overview Deliverables/Outputs: Functional assessment model developed
Delivery deadline: 1 May 2025 - 25 days
Work Assignments: Facilitate a joint workshop with key stakeholders to define the algorithm for determining clusters (15 participants) (Engagement by the MFLT of a Statistician from MLFT for the Development and Testing of the Algorithm)
Overview Deliverables/Outputs: Algorithm for Determining Disability Groups developed
Delivery deadline: 1 June 2025 - 10 days
Work Assignments: Support the working group to reviews the Law and submit a Draft with Proposals for Amendments. Meeting with the Chairperson of the Commission to Present the Amendments and Include MFLT Comments Facilitate 1 day workshop with the Working Group to Finalize Amendments to the Draft Law
Overview Deliverables/Outputs: Draft Law on Disability amended, reviewed and finalized
Delivery deadline: 15 June 2025 - 10 days
Work Assignments: Facilitate consultation meetings with municipal representatives, OPDs, and service providers to review and update implementation priorities of Municipal Action Plans for Disability Inclusion. Support municipalities in developing monitoring frameworks and indicators to track progress on disability inclusion. Organize advocacy meetings with municipal leadership, MLGA, and the Association of Municipalities to promote sustainable funding and integration of communitybased rehabilitation (CBR) services.
Overview Deliverables/Outputs: Costed proposals by OPD are developed and submitted to municipal authorities in five municipalities with already approved Municipal Action Plans for Disability Inclusion.
Delivery deadline: 20 September 2025 - 12 days
Work Assignments: Participate in and provide technical inputs during Disability Inclusion Thematic Group meetings. Support UNICEF Kosovo in ensuring disability inclusion is integrated across education, ECD, and health interventions. Assist in the coordination and alignment of activities with DIPAS and UNDIS frameworks.
Overview Deliverables/Outputs: UNICEF Kosovo meets DIPAS and UNDIS framework benchmarks.
Delivery deadline: 20 September 2025 - 10 days
Work Assignments: Convene coordination meetings with UNFPA, UN Women, and UNDCO to define priority areas for the UNPRPD proposal. Lead the drafting of the proposal, ensuring alignment with global disability inclusion priorities and national needs. Facilitate a validation workshop with key stakeholders to refine the proposal. Support submission and follow-up on the approval process with relevant UN agencies.
Overview Deliverables/Outputs: A comprehensive and well-coordinated UNPRPD MPTF proposal is developed and submitted, strengthening funding opportunities for disability inclusion initiatives.
Delivery deadline: 15 September 2025 - 10 days
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
- Proven Expertise in Disability Inclusion: At least 10 years of experience in disability inclusion, including policy development, advocacy, and strategic planning in line with CRPD and SDGs.
- Multi-Sectoral Coordination and Advocacy: Skilled in coordinating multi-sectoral initiatives, including with government, OPDs, UN agencies, and Multilateral Organizations, organizing stakeholder consultations, and advocating for disability-inclusive policies.
- Technical Expertise in Legal and Policy Analysis: Extensive experience in analyzing and developing disability-related legal frameworks, policy development, and disability assessment instruments in Kosovo.
- In-depth understanding of bio-psycho-social approaches to disability assessment.
- Expertise in developing and enhancing biopsychosocial rehabilitation services for children with disabilities.
- Familiar with DIPAS, UNDIS, and UNICEF Kosovo’s Program.
- Capacity Building and Training: Proven ability to enhance the capacities of organizations of persons with disabilities and their umbrella organizations through training and strategic planning support.
- Communication and Facilitation Skills: Strong communication, facilitation, and report-writing skills, with a track record of delivering results within deadlines.
- Commitment to Inclusive Development: Knowledge of gender perspectives and the "Leave No One Behind" approach. Note: Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
• Competencies:
- Works Collaboratively with others.
- Builds and Maintains Partnerships
- Manages ambiguity and complexity.
- Applying technical expertise
- Follows instructions and procedures.
- Administrative details:
- IT and Communication equipment required
- Fluent in Albanian and other local languages
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).
To view our competency framework, please visit here.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.
According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.
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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.
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.
The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.