Result of Service
Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Section (GESIS) or her designate, the individual contractor is required to (a) provide administrative, project management and outreach assistance to ensure effective implementation of the technical cooperation projects in target countries, (b) support research, consultation and drafting related to the mid-point review of the the Jakarta Declaration implementation and knowledge product development; (c) provide administrative and substantive support for the organization of other internal and external meetings; d) provide necessary support to the implementation of the social media campaign on the Jakarta Declaration, in coordination with staff members and teams responsible for communications; and (e) support ESCAP’s implementation and reporting of the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS).
Work Location
Bangkok and/or Remote
Expected duration
01/01/27-30/09/27
Duties and Responsibilities
In October 2022, ESCAP members and associate members adopted the Jakarta Declaration on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2023-2032, at the high-level inter-governmental meeting held in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Jakarta Declaration emphasizes the continued importance of accelerating actions to implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and regional frameworks such as the Incheon Strategy to “Make the Right Real” for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific, and the Beijing Declaration and Plan of Action to Accelerate Implementation of the Incheon Strategy. To support member States in effectively implementing commitments made through the Jakarta Declaration, the Social Development Division (SDD) of ESCAP is implementing various technical cooperation projects in relation to the priority areas identified under the Jakarta Declaration. One of the priority areas is to galvanize the power of the private sector for disability inclusion. It emphasizes leveraging the vast resources the private sector has, including but not limited to job opportunities, capital, technology innovation and the supply chain to support the empowerment of persons with disabilities. It points to the fact that businesses could tap into the largely untapped talents with disabilities to make their products, services and work environments more inclusive, which will give them access to much larger markets represented by persons with disabilities, older persons and their families, friends and consumers who increasingly prefer buying from disability-inclusive businesses. There is a strong business case for disability-inclusive business value chains given that persons with disabilities currently represent 16 per cent of the global population, amounting to about 750 million in the Asia-Pacific region. As many countries in the Asia-Pacific region experience rapid population ageing, the need for accessible and inclusive products and services comes from an even bigger number of the region’s population. However, without workers, product designers, technicians and suppliers with disabilities, businesses will not be able to design and produce goods and services that meet the needs of people who want and need these products and services. Therefore, it is increasingly important for the business sector to undertake transformation towards disability inclusion
Against this background, ESCAP has launched the regional initiative Catalysing Disability-inclusive Employment and Business towards Effective Implementation of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities, 2023-2032. The initial phase will be implemented from April 2024 to June 2027, with the aim to support governments, organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) and business associations in target countries (i.e., Thailand, Viet Nam and China) to develop/or strengthen policies, programmes and multi-stakeholder mechanisms to advance disability-inclusive employment and business. Two more countries – Indonesia and Mongolia – started to receive technical support from ESCAP in 2026-2027. In the meantime, SDD is providing other technical support to Asia-Pacific countries on various priority areas identified by the Jakarta Declaration, as well as a regional social media campaign, regular knowledge product development, and events in support of the Jakarta Declaration implementation.
To support the implementation of these work programmes above, SDD is seeking an individual contractor to provide support on project management, research and event organization.
Qualifications/special skills
Master’s degree in social studies, international development, or related field. Academic background specifically related to disability rights a strong asset. Minimum two year of work experience in disability research and/or projects Experience working within the UN system, preferably with ESCAP, in disability inclusion matters is required. Experience of providing training on disability inclusion strongly preferred. Proven project management skills and strong event organization skills. Strong analytical, written and communication skills. Excellent command of Microsoft Office
Languages
Excellent command of English both oral and written is required. Knowledge of any national language in the Asia-Pacific region is considered a strong asset. Qualified candidates who live with a disability are strongly encouraged to apply.
Additional Information
Not available.
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.
