Disability Specialist, NO-3 – Fixed Term Position - UNICEF

Job Summary

The Disability Specialist will provide technical support for the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of disability inclusion programming and related advocacy.

The position will support disability inclusion across UNICEF's country programme, strengthen disability-inclusive systems and services, build partnerships, generate evidence, and promote rights-based and results-based programming for children and adolescents with disabilities.

Key Responsibilities

1. Coordination and Integration of Disability Issues

• Support implementation of UNICEF's disability inclusion policy and strategy.
• Promote inclusion of children and adolescents with disabilities across the country programme using an intersectional approach.
• Support relevant coordination and programme integration committees.
• Serve as Secretary of the Disability Inclusion Task Force.
• Participate in inter-agency disability inclusion mechanisms and capacity-building activities.
• Provide technical support to sectoral programmes on disability inclusion.
• Coordinate disability inclusion capacity-building activities for staff and partners.

2. Disability Inclusion and Transformative Impact

• Support development of policies, legislation, and programmes addressing the needs of children and adolescents with disabilities.
• Generate and present evidence to support disability-inclusive programming.
• Provide technical support for disability-inclusive systems and services.
• Support improvements in assistive technology provisioning systems.
• Promote anti-stigmatisation programmes and community-based inclusive development and rehabilitation platforms.
• Support disability inclusion across health, nutrition, education, WASH, child protection, social protection, and HIV programmes.

3. Advocacy and Partnerships

• Support the effective use of data and evidence concerning children and adolescents with disabilities.
• Develop partnerships with government, donors, NGOs, civil society, local leaders, private-sector actors, and UN agencies.
• Promote awareness and strengthen partner capacity on disability inclusion.
• Facilitate collaboration within the UN system and with external stakeholders.

4. Rights-Based and Results-Based Programme Management

• Support quality child-rights-based programme planning, design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Apply results-based management approaches to programme design and implementation.
• Provide recommendations on project implementation, alternative approaches, and resource utilization.
• Contribute to the development of new programme initiatives and management recommendations.

Job Requirements

🎓 Education:
Master's degree or equivalent advanced university degree in:

• International Development
• Public Administration
• Social Science
• Public Policy
• Social Development
• Community Development
• International Relations
• Or another related field

💼 Experience:
At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in:

• Social Policy
• International Development
• Disability Inclusion
• Or related areas

Required Skills

• Disability identification
• Inclusive education
• Rehabilitation services
• Policy analysis
• Disability surveys
• Disability mainstreaming
• Assistive technologies
• Capacity building
• Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPD) engagement
• Social change
• Anti-stigmatisation
• Inclusive communication

Desirable Experience

• Experience working with Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs)
• Disability identification, certification, registration, and referral systems
• Disability data collection and analysis
• Disability mainstreaming and advocacy
• Policy and legal frameworks
• Community-based inclusive development
• Rehabilitation services and occupational therapy
• Experience in development, fragile, and humanitarian settings

Language Requirements

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another official UN language or a local language is an advantage.

Core Competencies

UNICEF identifies the following competencies for this position:

1. Builds and maintains partnerships
2. Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
3. Drives to achieve results for impact
4. Innovates and embraces change
5. Manages ambiguity and complexity
6. Thinks and acts strategically
7. Works collaboratively with others

How to Apply

Interested and qualified applicants can apply through the UNICEF Careers platform:

Apply on UNICEF Careers

Application Deadline: September 8, 2026

UNICEF states that it does not charge any processing fee at any stage of recruitment, selection, or hiring.