Disability Inclusion Specialist

UNFPA BTN organization mission TBD

The Disability Inclusion Specialist will serve in UNFPA’s Bhutan Country Office with the primary goal of embedding the Disability Inclusion Principle across all aspects of UNFPA’s 8th Country Programme. This role is critical in ensuring that disability inclusion is not only a key element of UNFPA’s work but is also linked with broader UN programming and operations in Bhutan.

The Disability Inclusion Specialist, who is expected to be a person with disability, will be working at a pivotal time. With the signing of the 8th Country Programme, the early stages of its implementation provide an opportunity to make a substantial impact. A strong focus on disability inclusion, led by this Specialist, will ensure that the principles of inclusivity are thoroughly integrated into the program’s activities and goals.

Key areas of focus for this role include advocating for policies that promote disability-inclusive and youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, supporting national efforts to review and amend discriminatory laws and policies, and addressing data gaps related to persons with disabilities. This will be essential for creating a policy environment that is inclusive and responsive to the needs of marginalised groups. Additionally, Bhutan is currently undergoing rapid socio-economic changes while upholding its commitment to Gross National Happiness (GNH). Despite progress in poverty reduction, education, and healthcare, inequalities remain, particularly for women, rural communities, and persons with disabilities. The Disability Inclusion Specialist will play a key role in ensuring that these inequalities are addressed by integrating disability considerations into government planning, particularly in the 13th Five Year Plan.

Through these efforts, the Disability Inclusion Specialist will help promote a more inclusive and equitable development agenda in Bhutan, in alignment with UNFPA’s global mandate to leave no one behind.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Office, UNFPA Country Office in Thimphu, the disability inclusion specialist will be tasked to provide expert advice and technical guidance to integrate disability inclusion across all interventions outlined in UNFPA’s 8 CPD. The specialist will undertake following tasks:

1. Strategic Planning, Technical Support and Programme Design
– Support the disability inclusion in UNFPA’s work on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), gender equality, youth empowerment, and gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and response, including population and demography areas.
– Support UNFPA and data systems institutions to strengthen data collection and analysis on disability, ensuring disaggregated data by disability is used for programme design, monitoring, and reporting.
– Support the inclusion of needs of persons with disabilities in SRHR and GBV plans and programmes in related to disaster risk reduction, climate resilience, and emergency and humanitarian response activities within the CPD framework.
– Support the CO as the chair of the Human Rights a, Disability, and Gender Working Group to promote disability-inclusive development across the SDGs in Bhutan with UN agencies, development partners, and relevant sectors (health, education, social protection)
– Ensure disability inclusion is considered in cross-cutting areas such as youth engagement, gender equality, and climate action

2. Capacity Building:
– Support capacity building of UNFPA staff, government counterparts, and implementing partners on disability-inclusive program design, implementation, and monitoring.
– Develop and deliver training modules or workshops on disability inclusion, focusing on rights-based approaches, universal design, and accessible services.

3. Communications, Advocacy and Partnership Development:
– Advocate for disability inclusion in national policymaking, development planning, and humanitarian action.
– Foster partnerships with disability rights organisations, civil society, government agencies, and international partners to advance disability inclusion in Bhutan’s development agenda.
– Engage with relevant national and international platforms to promote disability-inclusive policies and practices aligned with global commitments, including the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
– Support CO in developing relevant advocacy and sensitization materials on disability inclusion.
– Contribute to the development of knowledge products and case studies that highlight UNFPA’s work on disability inclusion in Bhutan.
– Lead the development and adaptation of communication materials, tools, and resources that are accessible and inclusive of persons with disabilities.

4. Research and Analysis:
– Jointly conduct research on disability issues in Bhutan with a focus on gender, youth, and sexual and reproductive health (SRH), ensuring an intersectional approach.
– Collect, analyze, and report on disability-related data, identifying trends and gaps to inform policy and programming.
– Prepare comprehensive reports and policy briefs that highlight key findings and provide evidence-based recommendations for addressing disability priorities in line with national and international frameworks.
– Support additional research and data analysis tasks as assigned by the Head of Office, ensuring alignment with UNFPA’s mandate and strategic priorities.

Results/expected outputs:

As an active member of UNFPA Bhutan team, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNFPA and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including contribute towards UNFPA CO’s 8th Country Programme three output for transformative results: Improved integration of sexual and reproductive health and rights and population data and evidence into relevant laws, policies, plans, and accountability frameworks; Strengthened policies, systems and capacities of institutions and communities for a coordinated multi-sectoral approach to change discriminatory social norms, and to advance gender equality with a special focus on those furthest left behind; and Strengthened skills and opportunities for adolescents and young people in all their diversity, including adolescent girls from the furthest left behind populations to ensure bodily autonomy, leadership and participation in issues that affect their development and well-being.