INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT – TO SUPPORT IN DESIGN OF SOCIAL PROTECTION MEASURES FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES IN GEORGIA

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Scope of Work:

Background:  

The Government of Georgia ratified the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2013 and took commitment to harmonize its normative frameworks, national policies, systems and institutions and with the convention.

As a result, the Government of Georgia started transformation of the disability assessment and status determination system. The new system, based on the social model of disability and bio-psycho-social assessment, is being piloted in several regions of Georgia, with technical support of UNICEF and other development partners. Now, the emphasis of the Government is to ensure that the piloted system is rolled out country-wide and the mechanisms to ensure sustainability and quality of the new system (complete decision- making process during the status determination; training and supervision of the professional cadre; monitoring of the system; respective legislative changes; information management system; etc) are in place. In addition, the Government plans to optimize existing social protection measures for persons with disabilities (PwDs) to better address their needs, their functional limitations and the strive to overcome barriers for social inclusion. UNICEF is supporting in optimization of the system for children.

PwD and children with disabilities (CwD) in Georgia represent one of the disadvantaged social groups. Different administrative data or studies provide different estimates of the number of PwD. There were 126,631 PwDs registered as recipients of disability pensions in 2021, of which 11,763 children[1]. This constitutes about 3% of the total population of, which is well below the WHO global prevalence estimates. The official figure is particularly low for children (1.3%) and contradicts the figure from the latest national census. The lack of data on the incidence of different types of disabilities makes it impossible to discern the real extent of the problems and accordingly, the specific needs of PwDs and their families. The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) conducted by the National Statistics Office of Georgia in 2018, with support from UNICEF, indicates that the percentage of children age 5-17 years with functional difficulty in at least one domain is 9.5%, children age 2-4 is 1.8%, adult women is 8.9% and adult men is 6.8%.

CwD get different types of support from the Government that helps them and their families to offset additional costs related to disability and get services supporting their inclusion. Cash benefits (called the “social package”) and well as specialized services (e.g. early intervention, daycare, home care, rehabilitation services) provide considerable support to children and their families. However, UNICEF’s studies show that such comprehensive support is available only in big cities and many CwD in rural and more remote areas lack access to support services. Also, families often need to cover a large portion of the extra costs related to disabilities. Services, although growing in number and coverage, still is not accessible to many. Moreover, as currently there is no information of the aggregated needs of children with disabilities, based on their functional limitations, support needs, desires for inclusion – families try to fit into existing services and not vice versa. It is important to develop a support system, such as packages of social protection measures (cash and services) that provide children with disabilities with necessary support for inclusion. The following consultancy aims at providing support to the Government of Georgia to design such packages for CwD.

Purpose of the assignment:

The selected candidate will support in designing social protection and social service interventions that will provide more effective support to children with disabilities and their families.

Work Methodology

Under the supervision of the Social Policy and Economic Specialist, the selected candidate will be completing the agreed tasks and providing professional expertise in social protection and disability areas.

The work can be done remotely. The consultancy may require online participation in meetings with partners.

Work Assignment Overview:

 

Tasks/Milestone:	Deliverables/Outputs:	Timeline:
Complete the decision-making process during the disability status determination in cases when the assessment specialists do not agree on the condition of the applicant (a status seeker) and proposed status	Document reflecting decision making process during status determination process; appr.	6 consultancy days in September 2021
Propose design/composition of social protection measures (packages with cash and services) for children with disabilities based on their functional limitations, support needs and objectives for inclusion. Note: the proposed packages should be developed taken into consideration: (1)  Existing social protection measures; available societal financial resources (central and local government; expenses of the families, etc); understanding of the goods and services required for social inclusion of children with disabilities; (2) and in consultation with disability communities and agreement of the responsible state agency (Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labor, Health and Social Affairs); UNICEF will provide access and organize meetings with disability communities and Government officials; also, other stakeholders as needed	packages of social protection measures for different groups of CwD (group composition to be agreed during the assignment	15 consultancy days in September – November 2021
Provide approximate costing of the developed and agreed packages for children with different functional limitations and support needs in order to understand the magnitude of the cost for the Government	costed packages of social protection measures of the agreed packages;	7 consultancy days in November – December 2021
Develop a guiding document for the case managers/social workers responsible to link CwD with social protection measures	Guiding document for social workers; appr.	7 consultancy days in December 2021

 

Minimum Qualifications required:

Advanced university degree in the field of social policy, social science or equivalent

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• At least 10 years of relevant working experience in social protection-related work, namely disability-friendly social protection system development, strengthening and/or reform for ensuring inclusion of children and persons with disabilities;
• Expertise and experience in working with social entitlements for persons and children with disabilities;
• Experience with the social model of disabilities;
• Knowledge and experience of applying the rights-based approach to persons and children with disabilities, child rights and international standards;
• Proven track record on successful delivery of high-level expert advice to governments and international organizations in the area of social protection;
• Experience with design and implementation of cash transfers or other social protection programmes;
• Previous work with UNICEF will be an asset;
• Demonstrated analytical, negotiation, advocacy, reporting and writing skills;
• Fluency in oral and written communication in English

Location: Home-based.

Remarks:

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.

 

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UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

 

 

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UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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.