Disability & Inclusion Associate job at United Nations Population Fund (Unfpa)

Background

The Disability & Inclusion Associate will contribute towards UNFPA’s mainstream needs of women and young people living with disabilities across the implementation of SRHR/GBV/Youth programmes. Under the overall supervision of the UNFPA Representative, the Disability & Inclusion Associate will report directly to the Programme Coordinator, Gender and Youth.

UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff who embody these international norms and standards and will defend them courageously and with full conviction. UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact sustained results, ensuring effective external relations, communications, partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results.

Studies in Uganda revealed that persons living with disabilities continue to live in severe poverty. Ugandan households with PWDs were more likely to be poorer than similar households without disabled members (World Bank 2011:12). Therefore, the attainment of the SDGs, especially education attainment and improvement of health outcomes, may not be achieved if actors do not make disability a main concern in development strategies, including public health interventions. Disability has therefore become a key focus for UNFPA. You will support the Country Office to strengthen UNFPA’s programming for persons living with disabilities through disability inclusiveness in all Programme interventions.

Responsibilities

• Enhance UNFPA’s Contribution to national efforts in the area of Disability Inclusion, especially linked to SRHR and GBV.
• Support UNFPA to increase its engagement with other actors in the area of disability inclusion in Uganda’s Policy and strategy frameworks.
• Increase UNFPA’s leadership in promoting Disability, including chairing the Disability Subgroup reporting to the United Nations Country Team.
• Support Programme design to capture aspects of PWD-related issues
• Mainstream Disability and Inclusion across programme implementation, including capacity building of UNFPA staff and implementing partners.
• Support the practical application of UNFPA’s guidelines for providing Rights- based and Gender and youth-responsive services to address Gender- based Violence, sexual and reproductive health, and Rights among women and young people with disabilities.
• Support UNFPA Implementing partners in ensuring that disability inclusion is well integrated in all their interventions.
• Evaluate projects and programme activities to ensure disability inclusion, conducting field visits, participating in review meetings and evaluation missions, and preparing regular inputs to track project status and progress reports.
• Analyzes disability issues, challenges recommend corrective actions, and follows up on recommendations, including in humanitarian settings.
• Analyzes and interprets the political, social, and economic environment relevant to disability issues and identifies opportunities for UNFPA assistance and intervention.
• Keeps abreast of new policy developments and strategies, analyzing policy papers, strategy documents, national plans and development frameworks and prepares briefs and inputs for policy dialogue and technical assistance coordination with a disability lens.
• Analyzes and reports on programme and project progress in terms of achieving results, using existing monitoring and evaluation tools and introducing new mechanisms and systems, including in humanitarian settings.
• Helps create and document knowledge about current and emerging disability issues, by analyzing programmes, projects, strategies, approaches and ongoing experience for lessons learned and best practices and shares with management for use in knowledge sharing and planning future strategies.
• Assists advocacy and resource mobilization efforts of the Country Office by preparing relevant documentation with disability inclusion.
• Facilitate UNFPA engagement in implementation of national advocacy initiatives on SRHR/GBV and disability.
• Participate in disability inclusion coordination mechanisms and make substantial contributions for Gender and Youth /SRHR/GBV integration.
• Chairs the UNCT disability and inclusion subgroup, on behalf of UNFPA.

Qualifications and Experience

Education:

Completion of Secondary Education is Required. University Degree in any one of the following: Statistics, Social Sciences, Demography, or Public Health, is desirable.

Knowledge and Experience:

At least six years’ experience working on issues of inclusive development with a focus on Gender and Youth, health, and ending violence in a related field.

Functional computer knowledge (especially Microsoft Office)

Languages:

Fluency in oral and written English is essential. Knowledge of local languages is an asset.

Required Competencies:

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity,
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
• Embracing cultural diversity,
• Embracing change

Core Competencies:

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,

Functional Competencies:

• Analyzing
• Applying technical expertise
• Planning and organizing
• Following Instructions and Procedures
• Learning and Researching

Compensation and Benefits

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including leave days, health insurance and additional remuneration for pensions and social security obligations.

UNFPA Work Environment

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA’s workforce – click here to learn more.

“People with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.”

• Enhance UNFPA’s Contribution to national efforts in the area of Disability Inclusion, especially linked to SRHR and GBV.
• Support UNFPA to increase its engagement with other actors in the area of disability inclusion in Uganda’s Policy and strategy frameworks.
• Increase UNFPA’s leadership in promoting Disability, including chairing the Disability Subgroup reporting to the United Nations Country Team.
• Support Programme design to capture aspects of PWD-related issues
• Mainstream Disability and Inclusion across programme implementation, including capacity building of UNFPA staff and implementing partners.
• Support the practical application of UNFPA’s guidelines for providing Rights- based and Gender and youth-responsive services to address Gender- based Violence, sexual and reproductive health, and Rights among women and young people with disabilities.
• Support UNFPA Implementing partners in ensuring that disability inclusion is well integrated in all their interventions.
• Evaluate projects and programme activities to ensure disability inclusion, conducting field visits, participating in review meetings and evaluation missions, and preparing regular inputs to track project status and progress reports.
• Analyzes disability issues, challenges recommend corrective actions, and follows up on recommendations, including in humanitarian settings.
• Analyzes and interprets the political, social, and economic environment relevant to disability issues and identifies opportunities for UNFPA assistance and intervention.
• Keeps abreast of new policy developments and strategies, analyzing policy papers, strategy documents, national plans and development frameworks and prepares briefs and inputs for policy dialogue and technical assistance coordination with a disability lens.
• Analyzes and reports on programme and project progress in terms of achieving results, using existing monitoring and evaluation tools and introducing new mechanisms and systems, including in humanitarian settings.
• Helps create and document knowledge about current and emerging disability issues, by analyzing programmes, projects, strategies, approaches and ongoing experience for lessons learned and best practices and shares with management for use in knowledge sharing and planning future strategies.
• Assists advocacy and resource mobilization efforts of the Country Office by preparing relevant documentation with disability inclusion.
• Facilitate UNFPA engagement in implementation of national advocacy initiatives on SRHR/GBV and disability.
• Participate in disability inclusion coordination mechanisms and make substantial contributions for Gender and Youth /SRHR/GBV integration.
• Chairs the UNCT disability and inclusion subgroup, on behalf of UNFPA.

• Functional computer knowledge (especially Microsoft Office)
• Fluency in oral and written English
• Knowledge of local languages
• Analyzing
• Applying technical expertise
• Planning and organizing
• Following Instructions and Procedures
• Learning and Researching

• Completion of Secondary Education is Required.
• University Degree in any one of the following: Statistics, Social Sciences, Demography, or Public Health, is desirable.
• At least six years’ experience working on issues of inclusive development with a focus on Gender and Youth, health, and ending violence in a related field.