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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, answers. 

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does. The leave-no-one-behind principle of the SDGs and UNICEF’s equity agenda translates this commitment into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination.
There are an estimated 240 million children with disabilities worldwide. Like all children, they have ambitions and dreams for their futures and need quality education to develop their skills and realize their full potential. Yet, children with disabilities are often overlooked, limiting their access to education and their ability to participate in social, economic and political life. Worldwide, these children are among the most likely to be out of school. They face persistent barriers to education stemming from discrimination, stigma and the routine failure of decision makers to incorporate disability in school services.
UNICEF’s mission is to include all children with disabilities in education, health, emergency response, social protection, and in family and community life. It is for this reason that UNICEF launched its first ever Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy in 2022 to serve as a roadmap for disability inclusion across all levels of the organization, and setting key commitments for inclusion at programmatic and operational levels. One of DIPAS’s key commitments is to generate data and evidence on what works for the inclusion of children with disabilities.
UNICEF Innocenti is UNICEF’s dedicated Global Office of Research and Foresight that has the primary role in the organization to generate, communicate and use evidence for the advancement of the rights and well-being of children with disabilities worldwide. Acknowledging this responsibility, UNICEF Innocenti took on the establishment and development of a Global Research Agenda and Platform for Children with Disabilities to be a catalyst for a community of practice, a hub to focus and coordinate a global network of academic institutions, researchers, policymakers, donors and practitioners, to include lived experience, and to amplify the voice of children and youth with disabilities.
The work is at a critical phase of closing the work in mapping and understanding the supply and demand of research for children with disabilities and is looking for a consultant that can support several remaining activities before the year-end and towards the Global Disability Summit 2025 in Berlin.

UNICEF Innocenti | Innocenti Global Office of Research and Foresight

How can you make a difference? 

The main objective of this consultancy is to coordinate the delivery of a symposium (series of webinars) as part of the above initiative, and to ensure the finalization of a key document related to the research prioritization exercise.

Major areas of work and responsibility
Lead the delivery of a symposium, planned as a series of 6 webinars, on the topic of inclusion for children with disabilities, including on research topics defined in a recent research prioritisation exercise, and on conducting ethical research.
Supervision
The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Chief, People, Planet and Prosperity and will work closely on a day-to-day basis with the research manager Disability Inclusion Research
Methodologies and Tools
Software to be used: Microsoft Excel, Power Bi, and Microsoft Teams and SharePoint; EPPI reviewer.

If you would like to know more about this opportunity, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:  ToR_PPP_Disability_Inclusion_Symposium EXT.pdf

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

• A university degree (Bachelor’s or higher) in international development, inclusion, child and adolescent policy (with a focus on disabilities preferable) or in other field relevant to the position.
• Knowledge and demonstrable experience of preparing, organizing inclusive, accessible research seminars including recruitment of speakers and coordinate logistics.
• Creative thinking and technical experience to ensure inclusive participation both in-person and online.
• Fluency and excellent communication skills in English (including written and oral communication).
• Cross-cultural sensitivity and the ability to work with people from varied backgrounds.

Desirable experience and skills:
     • Prior experience in disability research or disability-inclusion programmes relating to children and youth and a good working       knowledge of inclusion policies and treaties.
     • Prior experience of working with UNICEF or another comparable agency or academic institute working on child rights research and development.

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset. 

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.