Drafting of the Progress Report of the National Action Plan for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2023, Prishtina, Kosovo, Pillar III, 4 months

Ensuring the full realization of human rights, especially for persons with disabilities, is integral to societal development and well-being. Kosovo institutions have been committed to this principle through the implementation of the National Strategy on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2013-2023 and subsequent National Action Plans. The current National Action Plan for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2023 addresses five key areas crucial to the lives of individuals with disabilities: health, social welfare and employment, education, legal protection, and accessibility. For each area objectives have been determined. These are accompanied by identified responsible institutions and implementation timelines. Collaboration with other relevant institutions, donors, and disability-focused organizations is also outlined to ensure shared responsibility and assistance where necessary. The Office for Good Governance/Office of the Prime Minister annually publishes a Progress Report on the implementation of the National Action Plans for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, consolidating efforts from the broader strategy and specific action plans. These reports assess progress based on predefined measurement indicators and timelines, demonstrating the fulfillment of strategic and specific objectives, as well as activities outlined in the plan. The Progress Report highlights activities tailored to address the essential needs of the disability community, ultimately aiming to enhance their quality of life.

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, [insert tagline] 

To this end, in close cooperation with the Office of Good Governance/Office of Prime Minister (OGG), UNICEF is seeking to engage a local consultant to develop the 2023 progress report on implementation of National Action Plan for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2023. The report will be developed in close collaboration with relevant Kosovo institutions, Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), civil society organizations and others as relevant.

How can you make a difference? 

The implementation of the National Action Plan for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2023 has been concluded in 2023. The Office for Good Governance seeks technical support from an expert to assess the plan's progress and activity fulfillment for the year 2023.

Under the overall supervision of the UNICEF Child Protection Officer and Social Policy Specialist and in close collaboration with the OGG the local Consultant is expected to lead and facilitate the process for development of the progress report. The Action Plan includes matrices detailing Strategic and Specific Objectives, along with measurement indicators and activities. The Consultant is expected to gather data and information on progress from line ministries, consult relevant stakeholders and develop a final progress report. The exercise requires the active involvement of line ministries and government stakeholders, OPDs, and civil society.

Within the scope of the work, and in accordance with the requests from the Office for Good Governance the local Consultant is expected to deliver following outputs:

• Stakeholder mapping: the consultant is required to do a stakeholder mapping exercise and ensure that all relevant stakeholders are consulted.
• Desk review/literature review: the desk review should focus on reviewing available data sources, legal frameworks that include relevant legislation, strategies, policies, and other relevant documents identified by the consultant in close collaboration with the OGG. The review shall also include various reports such as reports on situation of persons with disabilities and SDG related reports by institutions, agencies and nongovernmental actors.
• Data collection and analysis: Data collection modalities and process will be designed by the consultant in consultation with OGG and UNICEF. A core requirement is the engagement of all relevant stakeholders throughout the process in order to ensure ownership

Report Writing and validation: Following the completion of the fact-finding stage, the report should be developed in interaction between the expert and the OGG to allow full alignment of the report with the desired scope and focus. The expert shall compile the final analytical report based on triangulation of information from the desk review and data collection exercise. The report shall clearly demonstrate whether the objectives, indicators and activities foreseen in the plan have been implemented and achieved. The expert is also required to develop recommendations to inform future interventions. The final draft report will be presented to OGG and UNICEF. Upon collection of comments and revisions, the report will be finalized.

References and document repository:

• National Strategy on the rights of persons with disabilities in Kosovo 2013-2023
• National Action Plan for the Rights of persons with disabilities 2021-2023 The expert can also refer to other relevant documents, such as:
• National Development Strategy – 2030
• European Disability Strategy 2021-2030
• Sustainable Development Goals /Goal 10
• The final report on the Implementation of the Action Plan (2021-2023) for the Program for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (2021-2025), the evaluation period (2021-2022),
• Appendix 1 - in tabular form the progress related to the implementation of the Action Plan (2021-2023) was presented.
• Human Rights Report in the Republic of Kosovo 2021
• Annual Report (2021) on implementation of the Law No. 05/L-021 on Protection from Discrimination 

Work Assignments Overview: Conduct mapping of stakeholders, review of materials, legal framework, policies, studies and develop inception report including a detailed work plan, timeframe, and methodology.  
Deliverables/Outputs: Mapping of stakeholders and Desk review conducted 
Delivery deadline: (3 days)

Work Assignments Overview: Collection of data and consultations with stakeholders
Deliverables/Outputs: Consultations and data Gathering conducted 
Delivery deadline: (7 days)

Work Assignments Overview: Finalization of the report with input and comments received from relevant stakeholders
Deliverables/Outputs: Report is finalized based on the validation workshop comment 
Delivery deadline: (5 days)  

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

• At least three years of proven professional experience in research reporting in fields relevant to the scope of work
• Strong track record in coordinating multi-sectoral approaches programming needs of children and persons with disabilities.
• Demonstrated understanding and familiarity with country disability policy and legislative framework
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills and excellent report writing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver quality results within strict deadlines, through a proven track record.
  
  Competencies
  
  
• Works Collaboratively with others.
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships Manages ambiguity and complexity.
• Applying technical expertise Follows instructions and procedure.
  
  Administrative details: IT and Communication equipment required *Minimum requirements to consider candidates for a competitive process
  
  Note: Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply  

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 here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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. 

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.