Background

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

Placing women’s rights at the centre of all its efforts, the UN Women leads and coordinates United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.  It also contributes to gender equality and  empowermnet of women and girls with disabilities.

Many countries in the region have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the corresponding Optional Protocol (CRPD), the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, and the Continental Plan of Action of the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities. Several women’s rights instruments also specifically mention the needs of women and girls with disabilities, including General Recommendation 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the Beijing Platform for Action, Protocol of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women, and the Southern Africa Development Cooperation Gender Policy. The government has since initiated measures to ensure that the embedded principles and rights are implemented.

Despite wider adoption of international, regional, and national instruments guaranteeing the rights of women and girls with disabilities, significant gaps remain in implementation. Information and data on women and girls with disabilities is limited in Eastern & Southern Africa (ESA), and their specific needs are not always addressed in initiatives promoting women’s empowerment. Women and girls with disabilities in ESA are more likely to experience gender-based violence, have less access to education and economic opportunities, and are excluded from the political system.

The Internaitonal Consultant with a focus on Gender Equality, Empowerment of Women and Girls with Disabilities, and Disability Inclusion, under the overall strategic direction, guidance and oversight of the UN Women Regional Director and will work closely with the Regional Program Manager-EVAW, and in consultations with the other program team at ESARO and designated focal persons at the UN Women Head Quarters.

The International Consultant will contribute to UN Women’s work on gender equality, empowermnet of women and girls with disabilities and disability inclusion in line with the principles of leaving no one behind.  In this context, the Consultant will undertake mapping of gender related discrimination amongst women with disabilities in the Eastern & Southern Africa Region.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

1. Technical and Programme Support;
2. Research and Analysis Support;
3. Knowledge building and sharing and Advocacy efforts Support;
4. Map and Outline Key Stakeholders for Establishing and strengthening Strategic Partnerships .

Outputs/ Deliverables:

A research paper of approximately 20-30 pages on mapping of gender related discrimination amongst women with disabilities, including:

• A short literature review;
• An overview of key forms of discrimination against women and girls with disabilities in ESA and how their experiences vary across types of disabilities and countries;
• Examples of national policies that have effectively addressed one or more of these forms of discrimination (at least 3 short case studies from different countries);
• Examples of or civil society and other groups activities that helped in policy discourse, change and impact in preventing discrimination against women with disabilities;
• Recommendations for future UN Women ESARO programming.

The research paper should be based on both desk research and key informant interviews. Interviewees should include women/girls with various types of disabilities from at least six countries covered by ESARO, as well as UN Women staff and relevant policymakers.

A compendium of existing data on:

• The prevalence of disability in the 17 countries covered by ESARO, disaggregated by sex, age, and type of disability where available;
• Income, employment, education levels, access to public services (including medical, sexual and reproductive health, and rehabilitation services), and political participation among women and girls with disabilities in each country;
• The prevalence of violence against women and girls with disabilities.

This should also include a list of key information gaps at the regional and country levels, which will be used to guide programming under the Making Every Woman and Girl Count FPI on gender statistics.

A list of regional civil society organizations and government agencies that are working to promote the rights of women and girls with disabilities, especially women-led Disabled People’s Organizations (DPOs):

• Mapping of regional civil society organizations, government agencies and other institutions and groups working to promote rights of women and girls with disabilities;
• Key areas of work including past/ongoing activities on the above areas;
• Contact information of the above organizations/groups/institutions.

Impact of Results:

The key results expected will have positive impact on the overall effectiveness of UN Women Eastern & Southern Africa Region’s work related to gender equality and empowerment of women and girls with disabilities,  by contributing directly to achieving  relevant Goals in UN Women’s Strategic Plan. Specific results include:

• Document the various forms of discrimination faced by women and girls with disabilities in ESAR, drawing on both desk research and key informant interviews;
• Highlight variation in the experiences of women and girls with disabilities, particularly across types of disabilities and countries;
• Compile available data on the prevalence of disability among women and girls in ESA and the social, political, and economic challenges they face and highlight key information gaps;
• Map potential partners for UN Women programming and advocacy, especially regional civil society organizations that represent women and girls with disabilities;
• Make recommendations on priority areas for UN Women ESARO programming on the empowerment of women and girls with disabilities to focus on, including types of disabilities, countries, and issue areas.

Competencies

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity;    
• Integrity;
• Professionalism.

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
• Accountability;
• Creative Problem Solving;
• Effective Communication;
• Inclusive Collaboration;
• Stakeholder Engagement;
• Leading by Example.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies: http://www.unwomen.org/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/about%20us/employment/un-women-employment-values-and-competencies-definitions-en.pdf

Functional Competencies:

• Good knowledge of gender equality and disability inclusion related issues;
• Good understanding of to the rights of women and girls with disabilities;
• Ability to communicate sensitively, effectively and creatively across different constituencies;
• Proven networking skills, and ability to mobilize support on behalf of UN Women;
• Ability to write policy papers, speeches, briefings;
• Ability to synthesize program performance data and produce analytical reports in order to inform management and strategic decision-making;
• Ability to draft policy papers, speeches, talking points, briefings etc;
• Ability to develop and maintain roster of experts, and a databank of research institutes, academics, civil society experts, etc. of direct relevance to the Focus Area.

Key Performance Indicators:

• Timely and quality research, analysis and technical support;
• Enhanced best practices and lessons learned documented;
• Quality reports and other strategic documents drafted and submitted in a timely manner;
• Quality mapping of the key stakeholders undertaken with outline of priority areas of focus and contact information.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in research-oriented social science with extensive knowledge of and experience in leading (designing and undertaking) large scale quantitative social/health/surveys as well as qualitative research;
• Extensive knowledge and experience with statistical data analysis; (examples of completed relevant studies to be mentioned in the application).

Experience:

• At least 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in gender equality, women’s empowerment, women and girls with disabilities and ending violence against women, specifically, in undertaking research studies on above areas;
• Experience in designing and managing programmes and advocating for gender equality and the empowerement of women and girls with disabilities, ideally with some experience in developing countries;
• Experience in programme, policy analysis, strategic planning and data analysis;
• Prior work experience in the Eastern & Southern Africa region on similar surveys; 
• Familiarity with the UN systems and procedures and monitoring tools will be an asset.

Language Requiement:

• Written (excellent drafting skills) and oral proficiency in English is required;
• Knowledge of another UN working language is desirable.