Consultant – Health equity for persons with disabilities

Purpose of consultancy

To provide technical guidance to WHO and Member States in advancing health equity for persons with disabilities, utilizing WHO tools and guidance.

Background

In December 2022, the WHO Global Report on Health Equity for Persons with Disabilities was published. This report came at the direct request of Member States through WHA resolution 74.8 on the highest attainable standard of health for persons with disabilities. This resolution requested WHO to produce a report on the highest attainable standard of health for persons with disabilities, which included updated WHO Global estimates on disability prevalence, as well as recommendations for strengthening health systems to better include persons with disabilities. The Global Report outlines a range of actions that Member States can take to address health inequities, building on the existing health system strengthening approach of primary health care. To support the recommendations of the Global Report, WHO is currently developing a Disability Guide for Action to assist Member States in to develop disability-sensitive and inclusive approaches in accessing quality health services, protection during health emergencies and cross-sectoral public health interventions.

Deliverables

• Activity 1. Technical guidance to develop the WHO Disability Guide for Action. Specifically:
  • Deliverable 1.1: Draft the zero full version Disability Guide for Action toolkit including annexes.
  • Deliverable 1.2: Revised version Disability Guide for Action toolkit including annexes.
  • Deliverable 1.3: Preparation of documents related to launch of Disability Guide for Action.
  • Deliverable 1.4: Facilitate the publication process of the Disability Guide for Action.
    Expected by: 30 June 2024
• Activity 2. Technical guidance to Member States in the implementation of the WHO Disability Guide for Action.
  • Deliverable 2.1: Situation analysis report on disability-inclusive health for selected countries that implement the Guide for Action.
  • Deliverable 2.2: Disability-inclusive health action plans and monitoring and evaluation frameworks for countries that implement the Guide for Action.
  • Deliverable 2.3: Cost breakdown for action plans (in consultation with WHO teams).
    Expected by: September 2024
• Activity 3: Disseminate and roll-out of WHO Global report on health equity for persons with disabilities in Member States.
  • Deliverable 3.1: National policy dialogues and workshops organized in selected countries.
  • Deliverable 3.2: Collection of case studies in countries where the policy dialogues have been organized.
    Expected by: October 2024
• Activity 4: Develop guidance on workforce capacity building for disability inclusion in the health sector.
  • Deliverable 4.1: Draft guidance on workforce capacity building for disability inclusion for the health and care workforce.
  • Deliverable 4.2: Implement guidance in selected countries.
  • Expected by January 2025

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• Advanced university degree in public health, law, humanitarian studies or any related field.

Experience

Essential:

• Over 10 years of relevant experience in developing and implementing global policies and guidance on disability inclusion, including collaboration with organizations of persons with disabilities.

Desirable:

• Experience in health system assessments and working with the UN system.
• Experience working with WHO.

Skills:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Technical expertise in gender equality, intersectional approaches, and humanitarian response.

Languages required:

Essential:

• Expert knowledge of English.

Desirable:

• Intermediate knowledge of another UN language.

Location

Off site: Home-based.

Travel

The consultant is expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band level C - USD 10,000 - 12,500 per month.

Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited):

N/A

Expected duration of contract:

11 months.

Additional Information

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
• Consultants working in Switzerland must register with the applicable Swiss cantonal tax authorities and social security authorities, within the prescribed timeframes (Guidelines issued by the Swiss Mission are available at: https://www.eda.admin.ch/missions/mission-onu-geneve/en/home/manual-regime-privileges-and-immunities/introduction/Manuel-personnes-sans-privileges-et-immunites-carte-H/Non fonctionnaires et stagiaires.html