Consultant for Disability-Inclusive Crisis Response

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women, established in July 2010, is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. It was created as part of the UN reform agenda to consolidate resources and mandates for greater impact in promoting gender equality. UN Women operates globally, with a mission to eliminate discrimination against women and girls, empower women, and achieve equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action, and peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security. The organization works in various countries, including Jordan, where it supports the government in implementing global norms and standards on gender equality and women's empowerment. UN Women Jordan Country Office focuses on promoting women's economic empowerment, gender-responsive governance, and women's political participation, aligning with the government's modernization agenda. The office also addresses the needs of Syrian refugee women and vulnerable Jordanian women, particularly in crisis situations, emphasizing inclusive participation and accountability in crisis management.

Job Overview:
The consultant will be responsible for generating an evidence-based assessment of institutional capacities, data systems, accessibility, communication channels, and participation mechanisms related to disability-inclusive crisis response, specifically focusing on women and girls with disabilities. This role is crucial in supporting UN Women’s strategic priorities and the Government of Jordan in mainstreaming gender and disability across national crisis governance structures. The consultant will review national crisis plans and coordination frameworks to evaluate the institutionalization of inclusive principles and practices, assess the representation of women and girls with disabilities in crisis governance, and identify training needs among crisis response actors. The consultant will also analyze the availability and quality of disability-disaggregated data in crisis risk assessments and early warning systems, ensuring that communication channels and services are accessible to persons with disabilities. The overall aim is to strengthen national systems for inclusive crisis prevention, preparedness, and response, ensuring that the differentiated impacts of crises on women and girls, including those with disabilities, are adequately addressed.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Review national crisis plans and coordination frameworks to assess the degree of institutionalization of inclusive principles and practices within crisis planning, decision-making, coordination, and monitoring mechanisms.
• Evaluate institutional capacities for disability-inclusive crisis planning and response, including the effectiveness of focal points or units responsible for disability inclusion within government and humanitarian agencies.
• Identify training and capacity-building needs among crisis response actors to enhance their ability to address disability inclusion.
• Review the availability, quality, and use of disability-disaggregated data in crisis risk assessments and early warning systems, ensuring that data collection tools adequately capture gender and disability dimensions.
• Assess the accessibility of communication channels, shelters, emergency transport, and relief services for persons with disabilities, including the review of inclusive risk communication and community outreach.
• Map existing mechanisms for engagement of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) in crisis planning and coordination structures, evaluating the representation of women and girls with disabilities in local committees and humanitarian clusters.
• Deliver a comprehensive assessment report with actionable recommendations to strengthen disability-inclusive crisis governance and response for women and girls with disabilities.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Public Health (with specialization in disability or inclusive health), International Development, Humanitarian Studies, or a related field is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A project/programme management certification would be an added advantage.
• Strong knowledge of international frameworks related to disability inclusion and humanitarian action is essential.
• Familiarity with emergency preparedness, response, and recovery systems is required.
• Ability to produce reports and presentations in accessible formats is necessary.

Educational Background:
The position requires a Master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field such as Public Health, International Development, or Humanitarian Studies. A first-level university degree combined with additional qualifying experience may also be accepted. A project/programme management certification is considered an asset.

Experience:
At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience working on disability rights, inclusion, and accessibility in humanitarian or development settings is required. Experience conducting disability-inclusive institutional capacity assessments and advising governments or agencies on mainstreaming disability in crisis planning is essential. Familiarity with humanitarian coordination mechanisms and experience with disability-disaggregated data collection and analysis are also required. Experience in the United Nations systems is desirable, and candidates must demonstrate excellent analytical skills and the ability to work independently.

Languages:
Fluency in Arabic and English is required for this position. Working knowledge of another official UN language, such as French, is considered an asset.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is home-based, with no travel required except for potential field visits to related stakeholders within Jordan. The consultant will report to the Programme Specialist and will be supported by the Programme Analyst for contract and payment issues. The payment schedule includes specific percentages tied to deliverables, with payments distributed across various stages of the consultancy, culminating in a final assessment report. The position emphasizes core values such as integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity, and candidates are expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and standards of conduct.