VACANCY: Children with Disabilities - Consultant - Save The Children Georgia

Children with Disabilities - Consultant

Save the Children

Closing date: 13 Sep 2010
Location: Georgia

1. Summary

Save the Children (SC) in Georgia seeks an international consultant to provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs (MoLHSA) and Parliamentarian Committee on Healthcare and Social Affairs for the conceptual design of a new State system of granting disability status. The consultant is asked to (1) briefly review the current State system; (2) present successful models of disability-granting systems from at least three countries with the similar experience in the past and/or countries in transition; (3) meet with the representatives of the MoLHSA, persons with disabilities (PWD, disabled people’s organizations (DPO), parents of children with disabilities, doctors and social workers, to better understand PWD needs in Georgia and (4) design a new system and present it in draft form to the MoLHSA working group for discussion and feedback, and (5) make recommendations for developing a design for (a) structural and functional transformation, (b) legal changes, (c) methodology implementation, and (d) capacity building for relevant actors. The design should be in line with the WHO classification for disabilities (ICF) .

This consultancy is within the project, “Supporting Equal Opportunities for People with Disabilities”, which is supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and its Displaced Children and Orphans Fund (DCOF). The consultant will work in Georgia on a two/three-month contract with SC starting ASAP. S/he will be based in Tbilisi; however field trips in the regions might be required. Deliverables of the consultancy will be reviewed by SC jointly with the MoLSHA.

2. Consultant Responsibilities

- Prepare for the consultancy by reviewing these Government documents: (1) Concept on Social Integration for PWDs (2008), and (2) Three Year Disability Action Plan of Government, legal and regulatory documentation on the roles and functions of the current system of disability.
- Meet with local as well as international NGOs/DPOs, PWDs and relevant government structures/officials.
- Make field visits to the regions as needed to explore needs and challenges of system at the regional/district level.
- Review and present successful models of disability-granting systems from at least three countries with the similar experience in the past and/or countries in transition. While selecting countries, pay special attention to context relevancy, effectiveness and efficiency of ICF system, number of people classified and similarities, e.g., countries with similar social heritage.
- Make recommendations for selecting a country for a study tour by relevant ministry and NGO representatives. (NOTE: The trip depends on the availability of State and/or other funding.)
- Facilitate roundtable discussion(s)/workshop(s) about ICF principles, qualifiers and categories.
- Detail recommendations on revision/improvement of Georgia’s State system and formulate a conceptual model for it.

3. Deliverable to Save the Children

- Interim progress (after first month) and Final reports
- Situation Analysis and review of the current needs of social protection of people with disabilities
- Narrative report and a PowerPoint presentation of best practices of selected countries (at least 20 slides) for Georgian government and Parliament members, i.e., readily translated into the Georgian language
- Narrative report and a PowerPoint presentation of ICF approach (at least 20 slides) for Georgian government and Parliament members, i.e., readily translated into the Georgian language
- Design of the new system of disability status granting, including its structure, procedures, human resources needs, needs for capacity building.
- Recommendations for a study tour for Government and NGO representatives

4. Educational/Professional/Related Requirements

- Advanced degree in disability or/and related field(s)
- At least 10 years progressive professional experience in disability and social policy development;
- Fluency in written and spoken English required; Russian language skills considered an assets;
- Excellent interpersonal and facilitation skills;
- Ability to work in Tbilisi with required travel in the regions of Georgia;
- Professional experience with countries in transition, particularly with regard to social systems, considered an asset

5. Timeframe

Two/three- month consultancy starting ASAP. 

How to apply

Interested candidates should submit their CVs and Cover Letters to the following addresses: ndeisadze@savechildren.org and ajokhadze@savechildren.org