Result of Service

The incumbent is tasked to: ▪ Disability-related research materials and background documents to support ESCWA’s provision of technical assistance to member states. ▪ Reports and training materials on disability policy inclusion. ▪ Bi-monthly reports and regular follow-ups on the projects ESCWA and its partners currently implement. ▪ Documentation and reporting of disability-related missions to member states. ▪ Reports and minutes of meetings held by ESCWA with member states and partners. ▪ High-quality desk research and analysis on implementing the UNCRPD in the Arab region.

Work Location

UN-House ESCWA

Expected duration

6 Months

Background: Persons with disabilities in the Arab region are one of the most marginalized and excluded population groups. They remain excluded from participating in public life due to several barriers. Social and physical surroundings are inaccessible, and their educational achievements and employment rates are significantly lower than those without disabilities. This situation is perpetuated and aggravated by environmental and social barriers, discriminatory attitudes, and inaccessible facilities. In humanitarian crises and situations of armed conflict, the number of persons with disabilities increases along with their limited access to assistance, services, and livelihoods. They also often face heightened protection concerns due to the breakdown of community structures and social cohesion. Despite the difficult situation of persons with disabilities in the Arab region, many ESCWA member States have made progressive steps towards higher inclusivity. All ESCWA member states signed or ratified the CRPD and have developed enabling legal and policy frameworks, best practices, and success stories of empowering persons with disabilities. ESCWA is mandated to provide technical support to member States in adopting a rights-based approach to equitable, inclusive, and participatory social development toward achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. ESCWA has an extensive body of knowledge on disability issues in the Arab region; regularly carries out studies on disability-related issues, policies, and best practices in the region; monitors implementation of certain aspects of the CRPD and SDGs by the Arab States; delivers thematic expert group meetings and workshops for member States on subjects important for the region; and has access to an extensive network of experts on disability-related matters. Due to the increased demand for ESCWA’s assistance to member states on disability-related issues, a Disability Research Assistant is needed to contribute to the work of the disability team. The research assistant will cooperate closely and report to ESCWA’s Regional Adviser on Disability. Duties and Responsibilities Under the guidance of the Regional Adviser on Disability, the Individual contractor will be responsible for the following tasks: • Assist in researching disability-related topics to enhance disability inclusion in ESCWA member states. • Prepare reports, presentations, tables, lists, charts, data sets, and/or diagrams in order to facilitate the analysis and/or use of the retrieved information by the supervisor. • Assist in preparing and reporting the Technical Assistance missions to Member States, including workshop materials, PowerPoints, media coverage, and documentation. • Support research on disability assessment and determination tools. • Assist in the preparation and review of written outputs published by ESCWA e.g. policy briefs, background papers, technical papers, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications. • Assist in adapting the ‘Family-based Early Intervention Package’ for children with disabilities from 0 to 5 years for its use at the Social Development Centers in Lebanon. • Assist in finalizing and printing out the ‘Family-based Early Intervention Package’ for children with disabilities from 0 to 5 years. • Assist in establishing regional disability networks on Inclusive Education and Community-Based Inclusive Development. • Prepare minutes of meetings and perform a wide range of office support and administrative functions. • Conduct other duties as requested.

Qualifications/special skills

A Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, public policy, political science or related area is required. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. A minimum of 2 years of work experience in Social Sciences, Public Policy or related area is required.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA. For this position, fluency in English and Arabic is required. Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas.

Additional Information

Recruitment for this position is on a local basis. The incumbent is required to have the legal right to live and work in the specified working location.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.