International Consultant for the Development of a Case Management Protocol for Families with Disabilities, training of frontline workers and development of a pilot intervention Sao Tome & Principe (4 Months) Home based

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In São Tomé and Príncipe, there is a lack of knowledge about disability, its classification and rights in society, even among local associations of people with disabilities. Data regarding the situation of children and people with disabilities is lacking and very little is known about the specific situations in which they live, their needs and family and community care mechanisms. Access to and quality of social services in STP remains a challenge, and there is an absence of coordinated multisectoral systems for case management in general, and in particular to identify and care for people with disabilities. For example, health care infrastructures are often underdeveloped, and physical barriers hinder access at all levels, in both rural and urban areas. Stock-outs of medicines and low affordability of health products continue to be a problem. It is therefore crucial to develop strategic and operational management of the national health system and create an articulated system that includes the health, education and social services sectors. People with disabilities also face additional costs for transportation, access to education and assistive devices, which exacerbates their situation of poverty. Poor case management capacity is one of the important pillars. Many children with disabilities do not have an accurate diagnosis. Their parents or guardians often lack information and support, they are not referred correctly, and there is a lack of follow-up. Improving early diagnosis, medical follow-up and access to specialized physical, psychological and social rehabilitation services, is a priority as it contributes to preventing further complications and to ensure adequate referral and case management. Another important challenge refers to stereotypes, discrimination and exclusion. Obsolete stereotypes about people with disabilities; lifestyles and social, health, educational and environmental situations are a challenge to their development and inclusion. In addition, children with disabilities are exposed to abuse and neglect and child protection laws and services remain weak. It is essential to strengthen awareness-raising and education efforts to change perceptions and attitudes and child protection services and laws. In STP, caring responsibilities generally fall on family members, often women, which can represent an additional burden and limit economic and educational opportunities. Due to poverty, the needs of people with disabilities are often neglected, and women with severe or profound disabilities are at risk of being isolated and uncared for, especially as they get older. It is crucial to develop strategies to include people with disabilities in all aspects of social and economic life, ensuring adequate support systems for them and their families, including through parental education interventions. However, an articulated system that includes different services including health, education, child protection and social protection is key. It is in this context that the Directorate of Social Protection, Solidarity and Family has requested UNICEF’s support in hiring an international expert with experience in developing protocols and referral mechanisms for care and case management and in training (multisectoral) professionals in the first line of care and follow-up for families with disabilities. This assignment to develop a Case Management Protocol for families with children with disabilities aims to contribute to strengthening access and quality of services and care for children and people with disabilities at national level. The consultancy will use as a basis, the information from the Directorate of Social Protection, Solidarity and Family (DPSSF), which has 1937 registered families with a family member with disability, within the universe of 5,000 vulnerable families (which corresponds to 23,519 people) currently participating in the social protection program, known as Programa Família. This programme includes cash transfers as well as parental education interventions to promote positive parenting practices, which UNICEF has been supporting since 2018. The consultant is expected to develop an pilot programme to test the application of the Case Management protocol, to be implemented in a subsequent phase and to train professionals across relevant social services for its adoption

How can you make a difference? 

Description of the consultant’s tasks:

1. Situation analysis:

• Review legal and policy framework and guidance documents on people and children with disability.

• Assess the capacity of services (at national and district levels) in terms of human resources and material resources for detection and case management of people with disability, including specialized services for children with disability.

2. Development of Case Management Protocol

• Develop case management and referral mechanism and tools (manuals and job aids) for individual support plans for children with disabilities and their families; including flowcharts for access to services and care.

• Draw up a multisectoral protocol compiling the case management and referral mechanisms for children and people with disability.

• Propose a coordination structure to lead, coordinate and monitor implementation of the protocol, at national and district level.

• Conduct consultation workshops for the development of the protocol, at policy and service delivery levels, with government services professionals, civil society, people with disability and children and adolescents.

• Conduct a technical validation workshop of the protocol. 3. Capacity building of professionals

• Develop a training package for different frontline professionals (health, education, social protection, policy, civil protection), DPOs and CSOs, and other relevant stakeholders, on the application of the case management protocol, and on approaches and concepts about disability, non-discrimination and inclusion.

• Conduct trainings for professionals of different sectors and other stakeholder groups.

4. Development of pilot for implementation of Protocol

• Design a pilot intervention for the application of the protocol, considering the sample of 408 families, 253 in the Lobata district and 155 in the Autonomous Region of Principe.

• Conduct consultations and validation sessions with relevant stakeholders on the design of the pilot.

• Develop an implementation roadmap with costed short-, medium- and long-term actions.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in  – Social Sciences, Health, Public Health and/or other relevant disciplines for drawing up the protocol for managing cases of disability.
• – Minimum of five years’ relevant professional experience in the field of public health, the development of case management protocols and the analysis of people with disabilities.
• • Creation of care and follow-up mechanisms for people with disabilities (including programs for integration and inclusion of people with disabilities, etc.).
• Experience working with UNICEF, WHO or other agencies of the United Nation’s system would be an asset.
• UNICEF values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability (CRITA).
• Knowledge of Portuguese would be an advantage. A working knowledge of French is required.

Evaluation Criteria :(This will be used for the Selection Report (for clarification see Guidance) A) Technical Evaluation (e.g. maximum 75 Points) B) Financial Proposal (e.g. maximum of 25 Points) – Educational background (30 points) – Relevant work experience (40 points) – Other, if applicable (5 points) 

Duration:4 months (Start Date: 01 September 2024 End Date: 30 December 2024.

Submission of applications and required documents

Interested candidates must submit their application online on UNICEF’s e-recruitment platform, following the link to the announcement. They must include with their application the following documents: (i) most recent CV/electronic profile; (ii) All-inclusive financial offer including consultant fees, travel expenses and all other expenses; (iii) Most recent university degree.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check. 

Remarks:  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts. 

Copy of TORs

 Terms of Reference Protocole Disability.pdf