Consultant_Disability Assessment
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Vacancy Announcement
WFP encourages female candidates and people with disabilities to apply.
WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles. Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis. We are committed to promoting diversity and the principle of equal employment opportunity for all our employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of religion or belief, ethnic or social background, gender, gender identity and disability.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
JOB TITLE: Consultant_ Disability Assessment
TYPE & LEVEL OF CONTRACT: National Consultant, SSA9
UNIT/DIVISION: Programme and Policy/ RBB Myanmar Country Office
DUTY STATION (City, Country): Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar (work from home plus field visits)
REPORT TO: Deputy Country Director (Programme)
TECHNICAL SUPERVISION : Regional Disability Inclusion Advisor
DURATION: 3 months
OPENING DATE OF APPLICATION: 27 September 2022
CLOSING DATE OF APPLICATION: 11 October 2022
BACKGROUND:
People with disability in Myanmar are not only at great economic and financial risk but are also facing great challenges in accessing health and education facilities and services, social protection, and entering the labour market. According to the 2019 Myanmar Information Management Unit (MIMU) Analytical Brief , an estimated 5.9 million people in Myanmar – or 13% of the population, have a disability. Whilst this figure is lower than the estimated rate of 15% of the world’s adult population experiencing some form of disability, it is anticipated that the ageing population, persistent health crises, including COVID-19, and increased instances of diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease will likely result in increased disability experiences in Myanmar. The impact of the worsening conflict in Myanmar on newly acquired disabilities is not yet known, however, the conflict has certainly worsened already poor access to health care and pre-existing constraints of full and free participation in all aspects of life. Rates of disability increase in situations of disaster and conflict, so it is safe to assume that rates of disability have also increased.
People with disabilities are often amongst the most determined and resilient people, in the face of discrimination and barriers, which can be attitudinal, physical, communication, and institutional, denying them access to their fundamental rights to equally participate in society: to access basic services – health, education, food security, social protection, protection from violence, and abuse. In addition, people with disabilities are often denied access to the labour market, livelihood opportunities; freedom of choice in relationships, to have families and raise children; to move freely, to access housing, land, and property rights. In humanitarian emergencies, persons with disabilities are disproportionately affected, as they face further obstacles in accessing protection and humanitarian assistance and experience particularly high rates of mortality and morbidity.
The United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS) provides the foundation for sustainable and transformative progress on disability inclusion through all pillars of the work of the United Nations: peace and security, human rights, and development. The Strategy enables the UN system to support the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and other international human rights instruments, as well as the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, the Agenda for Humanity, and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. WFP globally has an important role to play in enhancing disability inclusion given its direct support to millions of individuals, families, and communities to alleviate poverty and hunger through its partnership with governments, civil society, private sector and other UN agencies and international organizations, as well as in country capacity strengthening. In this regard, WFP launched its Disability Inclusion Road Map 2020-2021, which seeks to operationalise WFP’s commitments to disability inclusion in its programming, operations, and support functions, to ensure no one is left behind.
WFP Myanmar is committed to disability inclusion throughout its programming, led by its protection, gender and accountability to affected people (PGAAP) team. In 2021, the Country Office engaged a Data Analyst (PGAAP) to conduct a disaggregated analysis of data already available through the research assessment and mapping (RAM) unit post distribution monitoring surveys and through the Community Engagement Mechanism (CEM) cases (including feedback and complaints). The data at household level indicated that households with people with disabilities did not report less access to assistance, but were consuming fewer key nutrients, such as heme-iron, when compared to households without people with disabilities. Whilst the data analysis provided strong quantitative knowledge based on existing WFP datasets, there remains a need for further depth of data collection and analysis, both quantitative and qualitative, to better understand the ‘why’ question behind the key findings. Additionally, there is a need to increase the scope of data fields to ensure that we have a holistic understanding of the multidimensional needs of households with people with disabilities to inform ongoing and future WFP assistance.
PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
In collaboration with the WFP Myanmar RAM, Nutrition, and PGAAP teams, a national data consultant is being sought to work closely with a local Organization of People with Disabilities (OPD) to undertake further data collection and analysis to inform improved (where necessary) WFP assistance to households with people with disabilities. The purpose is to obtain insights into the food security and nutrition of people with disabilities, and PGAAP dimensions relating to them, to form the basis of future programming for households with people with disabilities in Myanmar, through conducting a Disability Assessment. As persons with disabilities are the primary stakeholders in the project, it is important that the consultant liaise closely with one or more Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and, as far as possible, hires people with disabilities as enumerators.
METHODOLOGY AND SCOPE OF THE CONSULTANCY
The target respondents will include purposive sampling of WFP beneficiaries with disabilities and/or their carers, including different age, gender and other diversity (religion, ethnicity, urban/rural). The geographical reach includes key locations of WFP Myanmar’s operation, including Rakhine, Kachin, Shan, Kayah, Kayin and Yangon peri-urban areas, and the consultant will be expected to travel within Myanmar to implement the assessment. The methodology would include:
i. Secondary data analysis: desk review & literature review (WFP data, interagency reports on disabilities, consult with staff, partners, sectors, civil society organizations), identify tools used to assess the nutritional status of people with disabilities;
ii. Interviews (combination of in-person and phone) and focus group discussions: direct consultation with people with disabilities and/or their carers to understand specific food and nutrition needs and challenges, experiences of food assistance (if relevant), perspectives, preferences and threats they face. Includes mainly key informant interviews (100 – 200 depending on the proportion that are face-to-face and by phone) and focus group discussions (minimum 24);
iii. Collection of nutrition anthropometrics: during interviews, collection of middle upper arm circumference (MUAC) and other nutrition screening actions (such as weight measurement by age/gender);
iv. Interviews with other key stakeholders: including OPDs, WFP staff and cooperating partners, camp management agencies and food management committees (minimum 32);
v. Analysis and consolidation of findings: disaggregated analysis of the data, how this differs from what is known of the rest of the population, analysis of their preferences for information and assistance; and
vi. Recommendations: whether or not WFP current response is meeting the food security and nutrition needs of people with disabilities, or whether some specific tailoring of response is warranted and if so, what are the options for nutrition-responsive relief as well as enhanced inclusion in school feeding, asset creation and livelihoods, and other nutrition programming, and improved access to information and assistance with safety and dignity.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)
The National Consultant will be under the guidance of the PGAAP unit, the line management of the Deputy Country Director (Programme) and the technical supervision of the Regional Disability Inclusion Advisor.
The consultant is responsible for:
• Identifying suitable OPDs to work with for data collection.
• Liaising with PGAAP team in preparing assessment tools using appropriate software and providing enumerators with appropriate equipment and materials and training (including safeguarding).
• Organizing field data collection, data cleaning, analysis and reporting.
• Organizing meetings with County Office and Field Office staff, partners and local OPDs.
• Ensuring appropriate security checks and measures are in place.
• Working with administration/finance unit on arrangements for travel and payment of enumerators.
• Arranging any translation or interpretation needed to ensure people with disabilities can communicate in their preferred language.
• Liaising closely with PGAAP team colleagues and Regional Disability Advisor on the progress of the study, any issues that may delay the timeline, any concerns relating to safety and security.
• Providing written summaries of all meetings and consultations held throughout this project; and
• Drafting reports including conducting validation of findings and recommendations.
DELIVERABLES AND ESTIMATED TIMELINES
The Disability Assessment Consultant is expected to work for three months starting from November 2022. The duration might be no cost extendable maximum two weeks subject to the strong reasons provided by the national consultant. WFP will bear transportation and daily allowance cost for field visits only.
Key deliverables and timeframes are provided under three phases as follows:
Month : 1
Phase : Preparation
Key Activities :
• Finalize tools (key informant interview, focus group discussion tool, survey) in consultation with PGAAP team and external partners
• Discuss and agree upon places for data collection, and how many respondents for each tool, and any remote data collection planned
• Identify OPDs to work with for data collection
• Liaise with WFP contracted translator for translation of tools into Myanmar language
Deliverables : Inception report, November 2022
Month : 2
Phase : Data collection and processing
Key Activities :
• Make logistical arrangements for field data collection, including training enumerators on the tools
• Keep track of the progress of the data collection in the field; follow up with any challenges that may be reported by the enumerators
• Undertake data cleaning
• Conduct data analysis
• Prepare and deliver presentation of initial findings based onthe analysis for discussion with internal and external stakeholders
Deliverables: Presentation of initial consultation findings to WFP and OPDs and discussion of initial recommendations, December 2022
Month : 3
Phase : Reporting
Key Activities :
• Prepare initial draft report, share for inputs internally and with external partners
• Final report including recommended actions
• Dissemination presentation with English, Burmese and sign language interpretation services
Deliverables :
Initial draft report ,Final report, Dissemination presentation including WFP and external disability partners, January 2023
QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
• Advanced degree in development studies, disability studies, social sciences or other relevant fields.
• Previous experience conducting research and developing recommendations for inclusion of persons with disabilities in food security, nutrition, emergency preparedness and response and social protection (or similar technical area).
• Knowledge of inclusion trends, policies and practices in the Myanmar or Asia Pacific region.
• Prior experience facilitating inclusive events/trainings/meetings, including leading focus groups discussions.
• Experience in a rights-based approach to disability work.
• Knowledge of national and international disability and other relevant movements and networks.
• Experience in working with various organisations to mainstream disability inclusion in Myanmar, preferably in the context of food security, nutrition, emergency preparedness and response and social protection (or similar technical area).
• Knowledge of gender, protection, accountability to affected people and humanitarian principles.
• Strong analytical and communication skills, including facilitation, organizing, partnership and teamwork, and quality report writing.
• Track record for producing high-quality reports with concrete, deliverable recommendations, and milestones.
• Fluency in Myanmar and English languages.
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All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.
