Research Consultant (Sign Language Use and Development)

*CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST OPEN TO INDIVIDUAL/TEAM OF CONSULTANTS AND RESEARCHERS, PUBLIC INSTITUTION AND ORGANIZATIONS, UNIVERSITY AND RESEARCH CENTERS, NATIONAL AND/OR INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND/OR NGOS Background Persons with disabilities in Iraq have been disproportionately impacted by the decades of war, armed conflict, terrorism, violence and the economic hardship.[1] The Federal Government of Iraq, Kurdistan Regional Government, United Nations agencies, international non-governmental organizations and civil societies are making efforts toward addressing the multiple, intersecting barriers faced by persons with disabilities.[2] Unfortunately, these efforts have been hampered by a lack of resources, competing institutional priorities, insufficient institutional will and the prevalent use of the charity approach, where persons with disabilities are pitied, rather than empowered, through a rights- based approach to disability inclusive mainstreaming.[3] In 2019, IOM Iraq launched the IOM Iraq Disability Inclusion Strategy 2019—2021. Drawn from the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy Entity Accountability Framework, the IOM Iraq strategy seeks to ensure that persons with disabilities are equitably included and consulted so their requirements are identified and met in IOM Iraq activities, using a rights-based approach. In 2020, IOM Iraq’s Community Stabilization Unit (CSU) developed the Framework: CSU’s approach to mainstreaming disability inclusion into programming in 2020 to ensure the inclusion of persons with diverse disabilities in all CSU projects and initiatives. In 2021 IOM Iraq released a report Persons with disabilities and their representative organizations in Iraq: Barriers, challenges and priorities. The report is based on key informant interviews conducted with 81 representatives of 53 Organiza­tions of persons with disabilities (OPDs) across 18 governorates in Iraq. Findings specific to the Deaf community include: · Deaf persons who know sign language continue to face challenges as there is a general shortage of sign interpreters throughout the country; ** · Deaf persons who did not have the opportunity to learn sign language are forced to rely on gestures and lip reading, which are non-reliable methods of communication and accessing information. ** · Deaf persons and persons with vision impairments have difficulty communicating with each other. Consequently, disability-specific OPDs have difficulty collaborating on advocacy messages. · Deaf persons have experienced considerable difficulty accessing information related to COVID-19 prevention and care. Opportunity IOM Iraq is launching a call for Expressions of Interest for situational analysis on sign language use and development in Iraq. Currently, information on sign language development and use in Iraq is very limited. At the same time, the need for IOM and other agencies to be informed on how to ensure information and projects are accessible to the Deaf community is imperative, and more information is required before actors such as IOM can start to address the barriers identified by D/deaf people. This analysis will help to bridge some of these knowledge gaps, supporting the disability movement to enage with D/deaf people and enabling IOM to reduce the barriers experienced by the Deaf community to its programming. The work of the successful applicant shall be reviewed and validated by the Reference Group (RG), which shall consist of: IOM Disability Inclusion Consultant, IOM Disability Inclusion Officer, members of the national Deaf committee in Iraq and Representative from World Federation of the Deaf - TBC. The RG shall review relevant documentation during the implementation of the analysis including the final report. The successful applicant is expected to conduct an analysis on sign language development and use in Iraq. Questions to answer include:

1. What are the barriers to learning and using sign language in Iraq for D/deaf and hearing people?
2. What are the enablers to learning and using sign language in Iraq for D/deaf and hearing people?
3. What are the current sign languages and dialects used in Iraq?
4. In what ways do D/deaf people interact in Iraq?
5. Who is involved in and/or leading progress in sign language development in Iraq?
6. What is the situation of sign interpreters in Iraq?
7. What are good regional and global commitments, frameworks and practices which could inform efforts in the Iraq context?
8. What are the barriers experienced by D/deaf people to accessing humanitarian and development programs?

The following output are expected to be delivered by the applicant: · Inception report including question guide · Key informant interviews with: o Minimum 30 D/deaf people in Iraq from a minimum of 4 governorates in Iraq o Other stakeholders in Iraq: § 1 -2 interviews with Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs § 4 interviews with Sign Language interpreters at least 3 governorates in Iraq § Minimum 1 interview with Deaf schools and institutions § Any organisations supporting D/deaf people § Others - TBC o Other stakeholders internationally - TBC · Draft report to be reviewed by RG · Final report in English between 20-30 pages excluding Annexes submitted by 31 December IOM will consider an individual consultant or research team (as part of an organization or a group of individuals). Applicants will receive individual attention to their Expressions of Interest and, in some instances, feedback on the feasibility of their proposal. Successful applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal. All applicants should provide the information requested in the Expression of Interest and meet the minimum Eligibility Criteria, below, or their application will not be considered. Eligibility Criteria - can be be met by one person or by a team · At least one consultant who is cuturally Deaf[4] · At least one consultant has experience in Iraq (preferable) or MENA Region · At least one consultant has full proficiency in English · At least one consultant has full proficiency in Arabic (preferable) or Kurdish · Must have existing presence (for an individual) or registration (for an organization) in Iraq · Must have the capacity to conduct face-to-face key informant interviews at least four locations in Iraq. · Must have the ability to manage access, transport, and other operational or logistical components of data collection including engagement of sign interpreters for consultant and/or respondents directly, and other reasonable accomodations. IOM will help with permission from authorities (if required) where possible. Preference will be given to applicants that demonstrate one or more of the following: · At least one consultant from Iraq who is culturally Deaf · At least one team member is a Deaf interpreter · Experience conducting interviews with D/deaf people · At least one consultant has experience working alongside Deaf community · Experience conducting analysis or research in MENA Region. [1]United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI)/Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), 2016a, Report on the Rights of Person with Disabilities in Iraq. [2] United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI)/Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), 2016a, Report on the Rights of Person with Disabilities in Iraq. [3] IOM Iraq, 2019a, Disability Inclusion Strategy 2019 – 2021. [4] A culturally Deaf peron is at a minimum part of a Deaf community and uses a sign language fluently.