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For every child, inclusion! 

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

UNICEF Uzbekistan is supporting the Government of Uzbekistan, in particular the National Agency for Social Protection (NASP), in strengthening inclusive child protection services with a focus on children with disabilities and special needs.
Children with disabilities remain significantly overrepresented among those placed in different types of institutional care. They are, especially those with severe disabilities, also the least likely to be adopted or placed in foster care, often due to stigma, a lack of adequate family support services, and limited specialized alternative care options. This highlights the urgent need for robust preventive services that support families to care for their children at home, as well as family-based alternative care options for those children without parental care.

In line with the Government’s broader child protection reform agenda, UNICEF is actively supporting NASP in the development of specialized foster care for children with disabilities and complex needs. However, for the child protection system to be truly inclusive and effective, a more holistic and community-based approach is required—one that ensures early identification, intervention, and comprehensive family support and day care services.

This consultancy aims to further strengthen a comprehensive package of services for families of children with disabilities, building on current efforts and contributing to the design and piloting of integrated, inclusive models of care and support. The consultant will work to conceptualize and pilot a system of early identification, development, and care services in two target regions, ensuring that families receive the help they need to keep their children at home and that quality, inclusive family-based care options are available for children who cannot remain with their biological families.

By focusing on a minimum package of community-level services, this consultancy will contribute to preventing unnecessary institutionalization, promoting the right of every child to grow up in a family environment and supporting inclusive and sustainable alternatives to institutional care for children with special needs and disabilities.

Scope of Work and Key Deliverables:

The consultant will conceptualize and support modeling of a comprehensive, community-based model aimed at prevention of family separation through referral and services to support families with children with special needs and disabilities, and family-based alternative care in Andijan and Tashkent regions. The consultancy will also build the capacity of professionals and caregivers to enhance family- and community-based care, disability-inclusive child protection and development services at the community level.

Detailed tasks include the following:

1. Conceptualize Community-Based Services to Support Families with Children with Disabilities and Prevent Family Separation and Institutional Care

• Consultant will conduct a desk review of existing policy and service frameworks related to community-based services for children with disabilities and their families.
• Based on a series of consultations with stakeholders and caregivers, the consultant will develop a conceptual framework and operational model for an integrated system of identification and referral with the healthcare system - maternity hospitals, primary healthcare institutions community-based services aimed at supporting families, preventing separation, and ensuring family environment, development and wellbeing of children with disabilities.

2. Support NASP in Piloting the Services in Two Target Regions (Andijan and Tashkent)

• In collaboration with NASP the consultant will provide technical assistance in preparing pilot implementation plans, tools, and indicators.
• He/she will support the rollout and testing of the service model in the two selected regions, monitor the implementation process and document learning, successes, and challenges.

3. Build Capacity of Professionals and Caregivers in Early Identification, Development, Disability-Inclusive Child Protection and Care Services

• Develop a training module and materials for multisectoral professionals (child protection, social protection, education, health) and caregivers.
• Support the local NGOs to design and conduct three rounds of training for 90 professionals on early identification of developmental delays and disabilities, psychosocial support, prevention of family separation and inclusive specialized foster care, and
• a series of skills-building training for 100 caregivers on how to ensure early development and care of children with special needs and disabilities
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship during the initial rollout of services.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Social Sciences, Social Work, Public Health or related field;
• At least 8 years of practical international experience in the field of community-based services for children with disabilities and their families.
• Knowledge of international standards concerning community-based services for children with disabilities, and family-based alternative care for children with disabilities.
• Proven experience in supporting governments in designing/strengthening their community-based services with a focus on the areas highlighted in the ToR.
• Familarity with the legal and institutional frameworks in Uzbekistan, and previous work experience in Uzbekistan required.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Fluency in English and Russian.

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.