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Technology for Disabilities Consultancy

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Technology for Disabilities Consultancy

Duty station: NYHQ Section Department: Division of Policy and Practice / Disabilities Post title: Technology for Disabilities Consultant Duration of Contract: 5.5 months

  1. Background

Vocational training in computer programming and engagement with the open-source community can uniquely empower children with disabilities. These activities can help them potentialize their abilities, turning them into assets and enable them to become active stakeholders in fast developing technological community, and in society.

Specific projects, which initially focus on issues and ideas around producing computer programming training modules for hearing-disabled youth in Country Offices (COs) (which will also eventually include other groups) need technical support and a reference focal point in New York Headquarters.

  1. Objective

Identify a Technology for Development (Tech4Dev) Specialist to support UNICEF Country Offices’ work on innovative projects for disabled individuals. Specifically, ‘programabilities’ : teaching modern and in-demand programming skills using open source programming languages.

These pilot ‘programabilities’ projects will have a very specific focus, and day-to-day support needs. The identified consultant will need to respond to daily queries and create documents for scaling the projects to other areas (geographical and programmatic).

  1. Duties and responsibilities

 Be the NYHQ focal point for open source technology training project (several UNICEF Country Offices) including administration of necessary tasks, recommending of, and monitoring of partnerships and supporting the country offices as necessary.  Collaborate with Country Offices to ensure that they receive support in Tech4Dev disabilities projects.  Support offices to help them craft Terms of Reference and other necessary documents.  Input into strategy around disabilities work in Innovation Labs.  Support to Child Friendly Technology (CFT) framework to include several worksheets on disabilities and to finalize materials coming from CFT mission to Sudan.  Support HQ in planning meetings in 2011 and 2012 in order to bring experts together to discuss this topic.  Provide day-to-day monitoring of Country Office projects.  Produce 200-300 word blog posts every two weeks on major issues on technology and innovation for /with disabilities at UNICEF.  Monthly two-page progress reports on Technology for Development for Disabilities project.  Produce framework documents explaining how to replicate successes and apply lessons from failures in the pilot country office projects to other projects.  Produce relevant communications materials (presentations, documents etc.) for internal and external stakeholders.  Produce drafts of key documents (budgets, logframes, Monitoring & Evaluation frameworks, partnership agreements, etc).

  1. Deliverables

 Final “recipe” for projects (what worked, what didn’t, what documents were used) so that other COs can replicate and scale.  Two meetings (pending budget) to bring together key minds in the field of technology and disabilities.  Blog posts (every two weeks).  Monthly two-page updates on two country office projects, and Head Quarter’s involvement in them.  Draft “Disabilities in Lab” document (5 pages plus visuals).  5 Child Friendly Technology worksheets.  Final consultancy report (5 pages or equivalent media – can be video, audio, etc.- see examples onhttp://unicefstories.wordpress.com for ideas).

Activity    Deadlines  

1 Blog posts, monthly updates and other day-to-day work Ongoing 2 Five Child Friendly Technology worksheets. Month Two 3 Draft “Disabilities in Lab” document Month Three 4 10 – 15 pages “recipe” Month Four 5 Final consultancy report Month Five

  1. Accountability and Responsibilities The Consultant will be responsible for ensuring the timely completion of all deliverables meeting defined and agreed quality standards

  2. Skills and previous experience

 Understanding of disabilities issues.  Knowledge of and experience with international development.  1-2 years of experience working with Information and Communications Technology (ICT) projects and policy.  Ability to coordinate and effectively communicate with multiple organizations.  Excellent communication skills in English.  Prior work with children-focused projects.  Experience with open source technology.

  1. Duration of Assignment

The consultant contract will cover a period of 111 working days approximately 5.5 months.

How to Apply:

Qualified candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, CV and UN Personal History form (use the attached blank P11 form) to pdconsultants@unicef.org with subject line “Technology for Disabilities Consultancy” by 27th of October 2011.

Please indicate your ability, availability and daily rate to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a daily rate will not be considered.