National Disability Inclusion Consultant

..Purpose of consultancy

The role of the successful candidate is to provide support to the MoH in preparing and reviewing health-sector legislation and normative legal acts relevant to health equity for persons with disabilities, and to ensure that this legislative work is informed by dialogue with Ukraine’s Disability Rights movement and Civil society organization. As an embedded consultant, the incumbent works day to day to support the MoH , providing legal and technical assistance,  that carries WHO EURO Framework priorities directly into the Ministry's own programme of work and Health Strategy 2030.

Background

The purpose of this position is to strengthening the legislation and regulatory framework for health equity for persons with disabilities by providing embedded technical and legal support to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine (MoH) in developing amendments and updates to the legislation, acts of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the MoH, as well as relevant action plans, to implement the WHO European Framework for action to achieve the highest attainable standard of health for persons with disabilities 2022–2030 (WHO EURO Framework), with the incumbent based on-site at MoH premises to enable close, day-to-day collaboration. The incumbent will support the integration of the WHO EURO Framework into the Ministry’s ongoing work, while providing legal and policy support to the MoH and, where relevant, other ministries to ensure that measures contributing to the implementation of Article 25 Health of the UNCRPD, WHO EURO Framework are incorporated and coordinated through the Action Plan (2027-2028) for the implementation of the National Strategy for the Creation of a Barrier-Free Environment in Ukraine (2030).

In doing so, the incumbent in cooperation with WHO CO Disability Inclusion Focal Point must elevate the voices of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations, ensuring that policy and legislative advice is informed by Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and ensures their meaningful participation. The incumbent will coordinate with national, regional, and headquarters WHO counterparts and external government, non-government, OPD, and other civil society actors to ensure a cohesive approach in line with Ukrainian legislation, policy, and sector strategies.

This work is guided by World Health Assembly and Regional Committee resolutions, the Second European Programme of Work (EPW2), the Fourteenth WHO Global Programme of Work (GPW14), the Sustainable Development Goals, and the Biennial Collaborative Agreement (BCA), as well as the Resolution WHA74.8 (2021) on the highest attainable standard of health for persons with disabilities and the WHO European Framework for Action to Achieve the Highest Attainable Standard of Health for Persons with Disabilities 2022-2030  the WHO Rehabilitation 2030: A call for action. It is also guided by the WHO Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) for Ukraine 2024-2030, whose three strategic priorities (access to universal quality health services, prevention and reduction of major health risks, and building robus institutions) this position is expected to advance through legislative work, principally the first and third. It is further guided by resolution WHA71.8 (2018) on improving access to assistive technology, Health equity for persons with disabilities: guide for action, and resolution WHA76.6 (2023) on strengthening rehabilitation in health systems, together with the national goals and priorities of the Government of Ukraine.

Deliverables

• In cooperation with WHO CO Technical Officer (Disability Health Services) Prepare an initial analysis of implementation WHO EURO Framework objectives in Ukraine, identifying key gaps in legislation and legal acts. Report shall be no longer than 25 pages. Expected by: Month 1-2

• Attend briefings with the MoH, WHO Rehabilitation and Disability Unit Lead, OPD representatives, and relevant legal/legislative counterparts to review key legislative gaps and identification and agreement on the list of legislative and normative legal acts to be amended or developed.  

  Expected by: Month 1-2.

• Prepare  draft legislation and other normative legal acts, ensuring legal accuracy, consistency with existing legislation, and compliance with legislative drafting standards as per the list agreed upon following the briefing. 

  Expected by: Month 2-5

• Support Rehabilitation and Disability Unit and other WHO CO units on drafting tasks and activities to Draft of the Action Plan (2027-2028) for the implementation of the National Strategy for the Creation of a Barrier-Free Environment in Ukraine (2030).  

  Expected by:  Month 2-3 

• Contribute technical evidence and analysis to support Government of Ukraine policy dialogue on health equity legislation and community-delivered rehabilitation services.  Expected by:  Month 4
• Document engagement with civil society and the disability movement (e.g., working groups, consultations attended) informing MoH’s policy and legislative work.  Expected by:   Month 5
• Prepare a final evidence summary and set of recommendations on the continuation of disability inclusive health for the Ministry of Health and WHO, including legislative work completed, legal texts reviewed, and stakeholder dialogue conducted. Expected by:  Month 6

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages
 

Educational Qualifications

Essential: A first-level university degree in Law, social sciences, political science, international development, public health, or another relevant field.

Desirable: Additional training, education, or experience in human rights law, disability rights, political science, international development, social sciences, or similar fields is desirable.

Experience

Essential: 

• At least two years of experience working with the Ministry of Health and/or other ministries on the development of legislation, normative legal and regulatory acts, standards, action plans, and other long-term legal and policy documents related to the health sector, including health equity.
• Experience working in health systems strengthening, including a focus on community services for persons with injuries, health conditions, and/or disabilities in Ukraine.

Desirable:

• Experience working to support Ukrainian Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) to promote the role of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations in decisions which impact them across health in Ukraine.
• Experience representing or advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities, or supporting implementation of the UNCRPD at national level.

Skills/Knowledge

Essential:

• Excellent legal drafting and legal analysis skills, with strong attention to accuracy and consistency.
• Ability to review and provide substantive comments on legal texts prepared by others. Ability to engage effectively with civil society and disability rights stakeholdersin a policy dialogue context.
• Ability to work in multicultural and multidisciplinary settings with excellent interpersonal skills.

Essential IT Skills

Effective use of Microsoft Excel, Outlook, OneDrive, PowerPoint, Teams and SharePoint

Languages and level required

 Essential: Written and spoken fluency in English and Ukrainian is essential.  / Expert
Desirable: Working knowledge of other UN languages is an advantage.

Location

On-site: WHO Country Office, Kyiv, Ukraine

Travel

The consultant is expected to travel to other operational hubs in Ukraine as required.

Remuneration

Monthly rate, daily rate and numbers of the days: 16 200 USD
Consultant pay band range:  NOA
Terms of payment: The payment will be on a monthly basis after provision of Technical Report and approval from Responsible Officer.

Expected duration of contract 

Target Start Date: November 16, 2026
Target end date:  May 16, 2027
Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): 6 months

Additional Information:

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
•  For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits workforce regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics. 
  The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply for WHO jobs. 
  Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to  reasonableaccommodation@who.int 
• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter (https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values) into practice.
• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of short-listed candidates.
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• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. 
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