Technical Support, Disability Inclusion Consultant

Role Description

Linked to the Strategic Plan 2026-2029, the Global Disability Team of UNICEF is working to develop flagship initiatives and provide technical support to implement strategic interventions at country level that accelerate disability inclusion at scale. This includes:

• A Global Programme on Children with Disabilities aimed at supporting flagship countries to forge a pathway of change for 20 million children with disabilities in 20–25 countries, directly reaching 8% of the global total and positively impacting 60–80 million family members, particularly women and girls providing unpaid care.
• A continental initiative on Inclusive Vision and Hearing in Africa, spearheaded by the African Union and UNICEF, together with a range of technical partners and stakeholders.

It also includes mainstreaming disability inclusion into selected major programmes and initiatives, such as the Building Resilience in the Sahel programme, targeting over 14 million people across 250 municipalities in 5 countries. This investment mobilizes intense technical capacity to support Country Offices (COs) engagement with these initiatives, develop required technical partnerships, and facilitate capacity building and knowledge management among participating COs.

The Global Disability Team requires technical support to accompany the development, launch, and strategic integration of these initiatives within UNICEF country work, ensuring their technical relevance and alignment with the Strategic Plan 2026-2029, the Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy (DIPAS), UNICEF commitments at the Global Disability Summit, and CO priorities. Particular attention is needed to develop resources and deliver technical assistance to French-speaking COs and partners.

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in a sector relevant to the consultancy, e.g. international development, social policy, disability studies.
• At least 12 years of professional experience working on issues related to persons or children with disabilities in low- and middle-income countries, particularly West and Central Africa.
• Proven track record in disability inclusive programming, including designing and formalizing large-scale programmes, drafting Theories of Change, results frameworks, and proposals/investment cases.
• Demonstrated experience of capacity building and technical support on disability rights and policies, including advising public policy development or review, systems strengthening, and/or financing for disability inclusion.
• Substantial experience of engagement with OPDs from local to international levels.
• Prior experience of engagement with UNICEF, including CPD processes.
• Proficient in English and French (excellent oral and written skills).

Requirements

• Technical knowledge in coordinating multi-sectoral work on disability inclusion, using a rights-based approach, promoting scale and integration.
• Deep understanding of the CRPD and the commitments of the Global Disability Summit (specifically the Amman-Berlin Declaration).
• Strong skills in producing quality evidence on disability inclusion, including research and disability reviews.
• Strong and effective coordination skills across multiple and diverse partners at different levels (e.g. high-level officials, technical experts, grassroots organizations).
• Ability to design and lead technical webinars and workshops for diverse audiences, from government officials to field-level staff, using inclusive facilitation and participatory approaches.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple deadlines.
• Ability to work remotely across multiple time zones, strong interpersonal communication and diplomatic skills.

Desirables

• Familiarity with UNICEF’s DIPAS (Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy) is a significant advantage.
• An existing professional network within relevant African stakeholders (African Union, African OPDs), major global disability stakeholders (governmental, civil society, academia).
• Experience supporting disability inclusion in emergency contexts is an asset.

Benefits

• Diverse opportunities for professional and personal development.
• Attractive compensation and benefits package.