Republic of Moldova

Background

A Joint UNCT for Human Rights Protection and Promotion project is seeking to hire a pool of consultants to design a Roadmap for Introduction of the World Health Organisation International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in Moldova, and Related Policy and Regulatory Reform Measures, as Foreseen under Item 3 of the Action Plan of the Government of the Republic of Moldova’s Strategy on the Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities, 2010-2013.

There are currently more than 170,000 persons with disabilities in Moldova.  Persons with disabilities face discrimination, social exclusion, poverty, unemployment, low quality education and inaccessibility to the general system of social protection. The Soviet system has left a legacy of over-reliance on institutionalization, doctor-centric approaches, and a dearth of person-centered social inclusion mechanisms for persons with various forms of disabilities.

Tasks and Responsibilities

The main tasks covered by this assignment should cover the following:

• Elaborate a paper assessing (i) current legislation, regulatory framework, procedures and practices at odds with the system described by the WHO ICF and related methodological guidance; (ii) structural barriers to the social inclusion of persons with disabilities; (iii) areas of expertise required for the development of comprehensive system reform for assessment of the needs of persons with disabilities.
• Design a Roadmap for the introduction of the World Health Organisation International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in Moldova, and related legal, policy, regulatory and procedural reform measures, as Foreseen under Item 3 of the Action Plan of the Government of the Republic of Moldova’s Strategy on the Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities 2010-2013, and based on international standards and best practices; the roadmap is to include details of process as to the involvement of relevant policy and professional staff.
• Develop detailed drafts of relevant legislation and corresponding regulations, guidelines and effective mechanisms for the implementation of the World Health Organisation International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), and related international law and best practice, to be determined and specified in detail as a result of the roadmap conclusions and consultative process.
• Provide finalized versions of relevant legislation and corresponding regulations, guidelines and effective mechanisms for the implementation of the World Health Organisation International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), and related international law and best practice, to be determined and specified in detail as a result of the roadmap conclusions and consultative process.

            Specific areas of expertise/ tasks for the Team Leader

• Primary responsibility for all delivery under the linked  consultancies concerning the elaboration of Roadmap for the introduction of the World Health Organisation International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in Moldova and for the Support provided to the implementation of the Roadmap provisions.
• Coordination of team of consultants in different areas of expertise, including health, labour, law,  education, social protection and rehabilitation, economy or any other relevant field;
• Responsibility for alerting the project team of any possible issues or delays which might hinder timely delivery.

Terms of Reference

Qualifications and skills required:

Education: University or MA degree in Law, Social Science, Health, Education, Social Work, Economy and/or other relevant fields.
Experience and Skills:

• At least 3 years of proven professional experience in human rights, including familiarity with relevant international and regional human rights law pertaining to the fundamental human rights of persons with disabilities;
• Demonstrated experience in comparative analysis, research, monitoring, assessment/evaluations in social inclusion and human rights areas;

• Familiarity with UN Convention on the Rights of Persons (UNCRPWDs) with Disabilities, the WHO ICF, and other relevant national legal and institutional frameworks in the field of the fundamental rights and social inclusion of persons with disabilities; the candidate will be expected to demonstrate basic understanding of the WHO ICF, as well as modes through which it has been introduced in other countries;
• Demonstrated familiarity the situation of persons with disabilities in the Republic of  Moldova, as well as with ongoing reform efforts in this area;
• Knowledge of the national and international institutional, legal and policy frameworks in the area of social inclusion, in particular in the area of the treatment of persons with disabilities;
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills;
• Advanced law, policy and professional document drafting abilities;
• Strategic thinking ability;
• Good PC skills, ability to use the Internet;
• Fluent in Romanian, Russian and English.

Personal qualities: responsibility, creativity, flexibility and punctuality.

Application Instructions

Interested persons should submit their application letters and duly completed Personal History Form (P11) with the mark“National consultant for the Social Inclusion of the Persons with Disabilities Reform” by 20 September 2010, 17:30 (local time) to the following address: UNDP Office, 131, 31 August 1989 Street, MD-2012, Chisinau, Moldova, alternatively by email to vacancies-moldova@undp.org.

Only those short listed will be contacted.