Consultant to develop needs assessment on assistive devices

Ramallah Office

Ref: RAM/2020/ED/WA/58                                                                                                       

Consultant to develop needs assessment on assistive devices for children with disabilities in Palestine.

Dead line: 13 March 2020

UNESCO works in Palestine with the Education Cannot Wait (ECW) partners to achieve the goals Multi Year Resilience Plan (MYPR). One of the outputs of the MYRP is to make sure Girls and boys (aged 4-17 years) including children with disabilities receive education in an environment that is conducive to learning, with adequate infrastructure and equipment. To increase access and continuity of education as well as ensure protection of students, interventions under this output will include infrastructure improvements to UNRWA and government schools (and where appropriate private schools), including government and/or private pre-primary 0 grade classrooms and Kindergardens in East Jerusalem, Hebron and Area C, where the physical conditions of schools (e.g. gender and disability sensitive sanitation facilities) are preventing quality learning and pose threats to safety of children. To achieve this output, UNESCO will develop a needs assessment study for students in need of assistive devices at public and UNRWA schools in Palestine. 

UNESCO is asking applications from prospective individuals or institutions for a consultancy to develop a needs assessment study identifying the number of students in need of assistive devices at the identified list of schools, the type of disability they have, and the type of assistive devices, which are relevant to their situation. 

The needs assessment will be developed in accordance with the joint programming policies of the ECW MYRP and follow its monitoring and evaluation plans. The work will include but is not limited to creating a baseline study to assess the current situation and developing base values for agreed indicators to track result progress in the implementation of future programs. 

Purpose of the consultancy

UNESCO Ramallah Office  and the consultant have entered into this contract in order to perform tasks to develop a needs assessment on assistive devices for children with disabilities in the 

selected schools in  Palestine (outcome 1” Improved access to and continuity of inclusive, equitable and gender responsive education and learning opportunities for girls and boys (4-17 years old)” within the MYRP).

Under an overall supervision of the Head of Office and direct supervision of the Head of the Education Unit and coordination of Sr. Education Officer, the consultant will perform the following tasks:

1. Conduct a needs assessment of identifying the number of students in need of assistive devices at public and UNRWA schools in Palestine, the type of disability they have, and the assistive devices which are relevant to their situation. The assessment should address the needs and abilities of the students, demands of the customary environments, educational goals, and related activities.

The consultant(s) will develop the methodology for the needs assessment, which at minimum should include:

1. A desk review of any existing data around disability in the identified list of schools in Palestine and the need for assistive devices
2. Based on international best practices, a review of available relevant assistive devices that may be useful in the Palestinian context, and to how many students. This should include a list of Assistive Technology devices generally needed and used by children with disabilities in schools, including different disability profiles (Mobility/Motor Skill, Vision, Hearing, Speech, and Cognitive etc.), as well as their suitability in the Palestinian schools addressed by the programme. Ensure that gender disparities in access to education and to assistive devices are taken into account and include information as to how these gender differences should be accounted for. 
3. A baseline of the current coverage of assistive technologies in schools, and proposed indicators (to be agreed with UNESCO, MOE and ECW partners) to assess progress towards increasing access to education for children with disabilities. 
4. Interviews with stakeholders (eg, teachers, principals, officials of the Ministry of Education, Disabled people’s organizations and international agencies (e.g., UNDP)) to collect relevant information 

1. The consultant will produce an outline of the report and a report with the results of the assessment, including the number of students in need of assistive devices and the type and number of assistive devices needed including technical specifications and cost.
2. In line with the conducted needs assessment, prepare a Request for Proposals (RFP) from prospective suppliers for supplying Assistive Devices to UNESCO. The RFP should include detailed technical specifications for Assistive Devices used for different disability profiles included Mobility/Motor Skill, Vision, Hearing, and Speech, Cognitive etc. The RFP should also include training for users of the products. 
3. Compile a list of competent suppliers by undertaking basic market research on who has a long established reputation for supplying assistive devices. The list may be used for requesting offers in the competitive bidding process.

Deliverables and Timeline:

1. By 15 March – submit the outline of the needs assessment report
2. By 20 March submit the first draft needs assessment report
3. By 10 April submit the second draft needs assessment report, taking into consideration the feedback from UNESCO.
4. By  15 April prepare a list of competent vendors
5. By 15 April  develop a Request for Proposals 

جميع الحقوق محفوظة لموقع جوبس.

Qualifications:
Individuals applying for the consultancy position should have the following qualifications Institutions interested in the assignment are expected to assign consultant(s) for the project with the following qualifications:.

• Advanced University degree (Masters or equivalent) in information technology, education or social studies with courses relevant to disability studies. 
  • At least 5 years of proven work experience in the field of disability, accessibility enhancement, Assistive Technology etc.
  • At least 2 years of proven experience in vendor sourcing for businesses e.g. contracting, writing Terms of Reference, Specification for Request for proposal documents etc.
  •  A knowledge of UN and/or UNESCO approaches on  disability would be an advantage
  • Excellent verbal and writing skills in English and Arabic
  • Ability to work with minimal supervision

By the deadline date of 13 March 2020, please submit ALL of the above via email to: [email protected]  Including the subject: ED: Consultant to develop needs assessment on assistive devices for children with disabilities in Palestine.

1. Cover letter
2. A proposal (2-3 pages) for the activity (including methodology, time-line and budget quoted in US dollars, according to the outputs/deliverables foreseen) 
3. CV’s of the consultant and any team members indicating prior experience in Inclusive education with references of prior similar assignments.
4. Statement confirming that the consultancy or consultant holds a valid bank account in the name indicated on the bid document.

Incomplete or missing information or documentation and evidence of experience as requested above, may exclude you from further consideration.