Mission and objectives

As the United Nations lead agency on international development, UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities, and to build resilience to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Our work is concentrated in three focus areas; sustainable development, democratic governance and peace building, and climate and disaster resilience. UNDP’s Regional Centre for Europe and the CIS (RBEC) is UNDP`s advisory hub for the region tasked with the responsibility to provide policy and programmatic support to UNDP´s development activities. Throughout UNDP´s focus areas, it works towards increasing the impact of UNDP´s activities in the region by assisting Country Offices in development of country-level initiatives through advisory services and technical support and by implementing regional-level projects in partnership with a wide range of partners supported to a global network of expertise. Under the leadership of the Director, the RBEC Regional Centre employs a multi-disciplinary team of specialists and advisors, project managers, operations and programme support staff. It is estimated that over 15 percent of the global population are living with disability, and face significant challenges in fully participating in society. The exact figures are unknown, however; many countries including in Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region have inadequate data and statistics on disabilities and special needs, with significant underreporting due to stigma and discrimination. People with disabilities constantly encounter discriminatory attitudes, structural barriers, and limited accessibility to physical and virtual environments, thereby perpetuating and exacerbating inequalities. They are often at higher risk of violence and exploitation, face barriers accessing basic services, jobs and are often excluded from education and livelihood opportunities. In many countries, they lack accessibility to assistance and protection risks, medical care and insufficient access to assistive technology which could make communication and mobility easier. Persons with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities, who are often excluded from a range of societal and political processes, experience multiple legal, institutional, and social barriers, which prevent them from voting, standing for election for public office, civic participation, or simply having a say in their own lives (UNDP Governance for People and Planet, 2023). Economically, employment and remuneration rates for people with disabilities are often lower, contributing to higher poverty incidences particularly for families already overburdened with high medical care and assistive devices, where social welfare support are inadequate to provide for such needs. The presence of armed conflicts in the region have also contributed to the increasing cases of disability, not only among combatants but also among the civilian population, including women, children and the elderly. Persons with disabilities are disproportionately affected by conflicts and disasters (natural and man-made), with inadequate inclusive planning and resources contributing to significant challenges during evacuations and inaccessibility to essential services.

Context

The adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2006 marked a significant shift towards a social and human rights-based model of disability, emphasizing non-discrimination, participation, and equality. The CRPD, ratified by most ECA countries, promotes the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights by persons with disabilities and highlights the importance of restructuring societal policies to remove barriers. Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) hinges on including persons with disabilities in development efforts, adhering to the pledge to leave no one behind. UNDP supports this inclusive approach by integrating the principles of the CRPD and SDGs, guiding its staff to implement these frameworks effectively and advance disability-inclusive development globally. Guided by the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS), UNDP adopts a twin-track approach involving mainstreaming and targeted support to member states through various initiatives and projects. UNDP’s disability inclusion efforts focus on cross-sectoral issues, mainstreaming inclusion into specific sectors like gender and climate action and supporting coordinated UN system-wide action. These efforts are bolstered by participation in the UN Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Multi-Partner Trust Fund (UNPRPD MPTF), which unites UN entities, governments, and organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) to advance CRPD implementation and disability-inclusive SDGs globally, with UNDP hosting the technical secretariat within its Governance Team. UNDP’s global Governance for People and Planet (GPP) initiative highlights the importance of supporting the delivery of public services in an inclusive, accountable and transparent manner, promoting inclusion in public decision-making, and strengthening gender-disaggregated and gender sensitive data, including for people living with disabilities. In the ECA region, the Governance and Peacebuilding (GPB) Team in the UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub (IRH) supports this initiative’s policy and programmatic engagements across its various areas of work including in ensuring effective people-centred governance, transparency and anti-corruption, public sector delivery, digitalization and tech integration, human rights protection and promotion, rule of law, conflict prevention and peacebuilding, and human mobility, among others. Working closely in an integrated way with thematic clusters in IRH, this UN Volunteer assignment will further support integrated approaches and solutions to strengthen disability-related legal and policy frameworks and their implementation that are consistent with the CRPD, building on the existing substantive work of country offices and in partnership with national institutions, civil society actors, private sector, and development partners in the region.

Task Description

Under the direct supervision of the Policy Specialist on Rule of Law, Security and Human Rights, in the Governance and Peacebuilding Team, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: 1. Support mainstreaming and integration of disability rights and inclusion principles, practices and design in UNDP policy and programmatic initiatives and engagements in the region, as informed by data and evidence; 2. Contribute to establishing a state-of-the-art knowledge base on disability data and information in the region, including through conduct of needs assessments, consultations, and desktop analysis, to identify issues, challenges, and opportunities according to development contexts in the region; 3. Support formulation of UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub’s Disability Rights and Inclusion Strategy through close consultation with COs, development partners, UN agencies, and other stakeholders, including support to the formulation of concept notes, project documents, and programmatic ideas to advance the Strategy in particular, and disability inclusion in general, in the region; 4. Support the development and rollout of learning and training programs to enhance capacity and awareness of disability rights and inclusion internally within UNDP and externally with partner institutions 5. Develop and strengthen partnerships with relevant organizations, including UN entities, on disability rights and inclusion and empowerment of people living with disabilities, particularly women, youth and people on the move. 6. Perform other tasks as may be needed for the effective fulfillment of these functions. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day, 5th of December). • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country. • Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities (for instance at https://vra.unv.org), • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc. • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers. • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Competencies and values

• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organizing • Professionalism • Self-management

Living conditions and remarks

The UN Volunteer will be based in Istanbul (center in European Side) and responsible for arranging her/his own housing and other living essentials. The full entitlements at the duty station: https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service: https://explore.unv.org/cos Summary of National UN Volunteer (Expert) Entitlements: (paid in local currency) • Current Monthly Living Allowance (MLA) is USD 1,904 (paid in local currency) • Private insurance: Health, dental, life and dismemberment coverage by CIGNA ! As per UN’s diplomatic mission status, it is not included in National Security Institution’s (SGK) system but can be only initiated on private basis. • Entry allowance: USD 400 • Exit allowance: USD 113 per month and upon the satisfactory completion of assignment • Annual leave: 2.5 days accrued per calendar month • Free access to different learning platforms and UN & UNV network Notes: 1) The allowances are in no way to be understood as a compensation, reward or salary in exchange for the volunteer work. 2) It’s important to note that UNV assignments are volunteer assignments, not employment. The purpose of the allowances and entitlements paid to UN Volunteers is to enable UN Volunteers to sustain a secure standard of living at the duty stations in line with United Nations standards without incurring personal costs. The allowances are in no way to be understood as compensation, reward, or salary in exchange for the UN Volunteer’s service. Contingent on specific eligibility criteria, location of the volunteer assignment, and contractual type and category, the payment of allowances will begin from the date of Commencement of Service For more information on entitlements please read the Condition of Service (https://explore.unv.org/cos).