Consultant for Disability Inclusion and Child Rights

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, operates in over 190 countries and territories with a mission to save children's lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. The organization is committed to promoting the rights of every child, ensuring that they have access to essential services and opportunities for growth. UNICEF employs a diverse workforce and offers various professional and personal development opportunities, fostering a culture of belonging and growth. The organization is known for its attractive compensation and benefits package, reflecting its commitment to its staff and the communities it serves.

Job Overview:
The consultancy role focuses on generating a comprehensive, human rights-based and equity-focused analysis of the situation of children and adults with disabilities in Syria. The aim is to strengthen national systems, inform disability-inclusive policies, and improve access to services across various sectors. The consultant will assess how disability inclusion is integrated into legislation, policies, and service delivery systems, while also evaluating barriers to accessing justice, education, health, and social protection. The role requires a thorough examination of protection risks, gender disparities, and gaps in institutional care, mental health and psychosocial-support" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">psychosocial support (MHPSS), and early intervention services. Additionally, the consultant will evaluate community attitudes, accessibility of justice mechanisms, and the roles of key stakeholders in the context of disability inclusion.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct a comprehensive analysis of the current situation of children and adults with disabilities in Syria, focusing on human rights and equity.
• Assess the integration of disability inclusion within existing legislation, policies, and service delivery systems.
• Identify barriers to accessing justice, civil documentation, education, health, social protection, livelihoods, and humanitarian assistance for individuals with disabilities.
• Evaluate protection risks, gender disparities, and gaps in institutional care and early intervention services.
• Analyze community attitudes towards disability inclusion and the accessibility of justice mechanisms.
• Identify existing referral pathways and the roles of key stakeholders in promoting disability inclusion.
• Prepare technical documents and reports summarizing findings and recommendations for policy improvements.
• Collaborate with UNICEF and other stakeholders to ensure the findings are effectively communicated and utilized for advocacy and policy development.

Required Qualifications:

• A strong background in human rights, social sciences, public health, policy/development studies, or related fields.
• At least 5 years of professional experience in disability inclusion and child rights, including research, teaching, and direct program implementation in the public sector.
• Demonstrated knowledge and expertise in primary data collection and qualitative analysis.
• Excellent writing and communication skills for developing technical documents.
• Familiarity with qualitative analysis software is essential.

Educational Background:
Candidates should possess a degree in human rights, social sciences, public health, policy/development studies, or other relevant fields. Advanced degrees may be preferred, depending on the specific requirements of the consultancy.

Experience:
A minimum of 5 years of professional experience is required, specifically in areas related to disability inclusion, child rights, and policy development. Experience should include direct program implementation and a strong understanding of the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in accessing services and support.

Languages:
Fluent verbal and written skills in both Arabic and English are mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset but is not required.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is office-based with a contract duration of 6.8 months. This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes, requiring additional vetting and assessment. UNICEF promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including those with disabilities. The organization does not charge any processing fees during the recruitment process and maintains a zero-tolerance policy for misconduct.