National estimates report that the prevalence of disability in the Kyrgyz Republic is about about three percent, affecting 194,000 people (53% women), with an overall increase of 21.5 percent over the past seven years, and a total increase in child disability from 22.4 thousand in 2010 to 32 thousand children in 2020. At the end of 2018, the total number of recipients of state benefits as related to disability (57,204) made up approximately 15% of the total recipients of state benefits (365,227)[1]. According to the National Statistical Committee, every year on average about 11,000 people are recognized as persons with disabilities for the first time, while more than 4,000 cases of disability are reported among children. Disability prevalence both in general and in women’s groups and persons of working age is considerably higher in rural areas compared to urban areas. Likewise, among children, there is also a higher level of disability in rural areas (71%) versus urban areas (29%), including more than a thousand children who do not enroll in a school due to disabilities every year.

In this context, in the past few years, the rights of people with disabilities (PWDs) have been increasingly ranking high on the national development agenda, leading to the ratification, in May 2019, of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the People with Disabilities (UNCRPD), and the establishment,  shortly after, of an Interagency Working Group, tasked with drafting the Initial Action Plan for implementation of the CRPD in 2019-2022 and the concept for the programme “Accessible country” (“????????? ??????”) aimed at elimination of discrimination against PWDs in various areas and improvement of accessibility of infrastructures. The national Population Housing Census[2] has also finally been conducted from March 25 to April 3, 2022, providing for the first time updated data on disability based on Washington Group Questions. The full report on disability is expected to be finalized by the end of the year.

However, despite these promising pledges, PWDs continue to be the hardest hit by the current gaps in economic and human development and experience serious challenges of discrimination, poverty and severe difficulties in accessing fundamental rights.  The implementation of the UNCRPD is lagging behind while the legal and policy frameworks still do not fully comply with the ratified international human rights framework and disability-inclusion standards.[3] This also includes one of the main legislations on disability, the Law No. 38 on the Rights and Guarantees of Persons with Limited Health Functions, which continues to reflect the medical model of disability. In December 2020, a new inter-agency governmental body, the National Disability Council (NDC), has been established to accelerate, coordinate and oversee efforts towards implementation of the CRPD, while the Ombudsman Institute (the National Human Rights Commission) has also formed a “Coordination Council for PWDS and their Families”. However, the “Accessible country” has not been approved due to political and COVID-19 circumstances, while both the NDC and the Ombudsman’s Coordination Council are still lacking resources and are not yet effective as expected.

Against this backdrop, the participating UN organizations (PUNOs), i.e. UNICEF, UNDP and UNFPA, under the overall coordination of the Office of the Resident Coordinator (RCO), have been invited to implement the Inception Phase of the UNPRPD Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF; 4th Funding Round Call for Proposals) in order to promote national progress on disability-inclusive development and the rights of PWDs in the Kyrgyz Republic. In particular, the UNPRPD MPTF aims at supporting the following objectives:

1. Objective One – Advance CRPD implementation at the country level by focusing on the essential preconditions for disability inclusion across sectors, translating these into concrete policies, programs, and/or services which lead to systemic changes through a cohesive, inter-sectoral approach;
2. Objective One  - Improve and increase the implementation of disability inclusive SDGs at the country level by providing fundamental support to the UN’s collective response to the SDGs – including UNCTs, governments, OPDs, and civil society – to address national priorities and gaps concerning persons with disabilities in their national planning to advance the SDGs.

[1] UNICEF (2021) “Situation Analysis:  Children and Adolescents Disabilities in Kyrgyzstan.”

[2]https://kyrgyzstan.un.org/en/176799-population-and-housing-census-started-march-25-kyrgyzstan

[3] UNICEF (2021) “Situation Analysis:  Children and Adolescents Disabilities in Kyrgyzstan.”

OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

Under the direct supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor on Rule of Law and the guidance of the Senior Advisor on Strengthening Parliament Democracy and Rule of Law, in close collaboration with the RCO, the UNCT and the PUNOs (UNFPA, UNDP,UNICEF) and with the full assistance of a number of national experts who will be recruited to support the Inception Phase, the International Consultant is expected to lead the implementation of the Inception Phase of the UNPRPD MPTF project. The Induction Workshop and the Situational Analysis processes should include all potential programme partners, such as participating UN organizations, government stakeholders, OPDs, and civil society, and additional stakeholders, such as donors, private sector, should be consulted during the data collection process of the Situational Analysis.

SCOPE OF WORK

In line with the Term of Reference, UNPRPD MPTF Guiding Document and the operational guidelines of the UNPRPD MPTF Fourth Funding Call, as well as the UNPRPD MPTF’s Strategic Operational Framework (SOF) 2020-2025,  the International Consultant will conduct the implementation for Inception Phase, specifically supporting the following tasks:

1. In line with MPTF training materials, conduct the UNPRPD Joint Program Induction Training:  Cross-cutting Approaches and Preconditions for Disability Inclusive Development for PUNOs and national stakeholders’ representatives. The purpose of the Induction Workshop is to provide basic training on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and disability inclusive SDGs, UNPRPD’s cross-cutting Approaches, preconditions for disability inclusion, and elements of the situational analysis. The Induction Workshop is a standardized training module developed by UNPRPD’s Technical Secretariat to ensure consistency between country level stakeholders. It is important to ensure that persons with disabilities play a key role in the delivery of the workshop. The workshop should prepare the UNCT, government, OPDs, and other partners to complete the Situational Analysis and Full Proposal in line with UNPRPD’s new Strategic Operational Framework. This five-day workshop should be delivered before the UNCT undertakes the Situational Analysis or Full Proposal, as it will ensure familiarity with the CRPD and disability inclusive SDGs and understanding of UNPRPD’s Cross-Cutting Approaches and the preconditions for disability inclusion.
2. In line with UNPRPD MPTF template, plan and develop the Situational Analysis and implementation through holding consultative meetings with identified national implementing partners and stakeholders; developing data collection protocols, undertake data collection, data analysis and report writing. The purpose of the Situational Analysis is to conduct a comprehensive review of the national context. Through this process, PUNOs and project’s partners, including Organizations of People with Disability (OPDs) should engage in active dialogue on the contextual factors affecting CUNRPD and SDG implementation and the preconditions to disability inclusion in order to ensure that the project’s interventions will be based on the national needs, demands and respond to national challenges. The Situational Analysis will inform UNCTs in the development of the Full Proposal
3. Hold a national validation and dissemination meetings of situational analysis report.

FINAL DELIVERABLES

Procurement notice is announced:

UNDP | Procurement Notices - 97071 - PN--2022-076 International Consu

Procurement Opportunities (ungm.org)

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in social sciences (sociology, anthropology, economics, development studies, etc.),
• A minimum of seven years of professional work experience in working in the area of disability and/or the rights of persons with disabilities.
• Excellent report writing skills (Previous sample report in English)
• Proven experience in quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis related to disability issues (Previous projects/assignments when coordinating and/or leading on qualitative/quantitative data collection and analysis).
• Experience in writing of situation analysis on disability (previous project’s assessment on disability and/or situation analysis)
• Previous experiences in facilitating trainings/workshops on disability
• Previous experience working for UN agencies and/or MPTF is an asset.
• Experience working in CIS region is an asset.
• Fluency in English. Fluency in Russian is an asset.

SCOPE OF PRICE PROPOSAL

Contracts based on lump-sum

Preferred Currency of Offer: United States Dollars (US$)

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days).

For local contractors in Kyrgyzstan UNDP shall effect payment in Kyrgyz Som based on the prevailing UN operational rate of exchange on the month of payment. The prevailing UN operational rate of exchange is available for public from the following link: http://treasury.un.org/operationalrates/OperationalRates.aspx

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR RECOMMENDED CONTRACTORS

Statement of Medical Fitness for Work

Individual Consultants/Contractors whose assignments require travel and who are over 65 years of age are required, at their own cost, to undergo a full medical examination including x-rays and obtaining medical clearance from an UN - approved doctor prior to taking up their assignment.

Where there is no UN office nor a UN Medical Doctor present in the location of the Individual Contractor prior to commencing the travel, either for repatriation or duty travel, the Individual Contractor may choose his/her own preferred physician to obtain the required medical clearance.

Inoculations/Vaccinations

Individual Consultants/Contractors are required to have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. The cost of required vaccinations/inoculations, when foreseeable, must be included in the financial proposal. Any unforeseeable vaccination/inoculation cost will be reimbursed by UNDP.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

SECURITY CLEARANCE

The Consultant/Contractor will be requested to undertake the security training (BSAFE). These requirements apply for all Consultants, attracted individually or through the Employer