Country: Georgia
Closing date: 29 Jul 2016
Background
Over the last years UNICEF and its partners have been working in Abkhazia, Georgia to improve basic health, education and other social services for children and their families. Amongst the achievements in the field of social protection is the establishment and equipment of three Child Development Centers in Gali, Tkvarcheli and Ochamchira, Abkhazia ,Georgia. These centers provide a range of services to children with disabilities and their families, including educational activities, development of speech and life skills, physical therapy and psychological counseling. 272 children with disabilities benefit from services of the three Child Development Centers. Besides that, UNICEF provides support to the newly established Rehabilitation Center for Children with Disabilities in Sukhumi in the capacity development of its staff.
Despite the assistance being provided, medical treatment and social rehabilitation of children with disabilities remain a serious challenge in Abkhazia, Georgia. There are still significant barriers to accommodating the needs of various groups of children with disabilities, related primarily to a lack of data, specialists and technical facilities to deal with these children. One of the groups of children lacking appropriate services are deaf and hard of hearing children. According to the local health professionals, the estimated number of such children in Abkhazia, Georgia is up to 60-70 and most of them are not registered as hearing-impaired. At the same time, there are no surdologists to diagnose and treat hearing problems and no specialists trained to provide education to hearing-impaired children in Abkhazia, Georgia.
Given the above, UNICEF intends to strengthen its efforts to address the situation of deaf and hard of hearing children in Abkhazia, Georgia.
Purpose of the consultancy
UNICEF seeks to engage a consultant to undertake – in close cooperation with UNICEF's Sukhumi Field Office, World Vision and their local partners – an assessment of the situation of deaf and hard of hearing children in Abkhazia, Georgia, with the aim to develop recommendations on needs of equipment and capacity building activities to address their situation. During a second and third visit to Abkhazia, Georgia, the consultant will carry out trainings for local medical and other professionals working with deaf and hard of hearing children, and will coach the latter during their work.
Main tasks of the consultant
- To carry out an assessment of the existing professional and technical capacities, as well as needs for the identification, medical treatment, education and social inclusion of deaf and hard of hearing children in Abkhazia, Georgia;
- To elaborate recommendations for UNICEF, World Vision and their local partners on how best to address the situation of deaf and hard of hearing children in Abkhazia, Georgia, including recommendations on needed technical equipment and a training plan for local medical professionals and other professionals working with deaf and hard of hearing children.
- To carry out training for local medical professionals in the diagnosis of deaf and hard of hearing children in Abkhazia, Georgia.
Tasks/Timelines
- To carry out an assessment of existing professional and technical capacities, as well as needs for the identification, medical treatment, education and social inclusion of deaf and hard of hearing children in Abkhazia, Georgia
Timeframe: by 2 September 2016
Amount of working days: 4 (in Abkhazia, Georgia)
Expected outputs: existing professional and technical capacities and needs assessed
- To elaborate recommendations for UNICEF follow-up activities to address the situation of deaf and hard of hearing children in Abkhazia, Georgia, including on the purchase of needed equipment and a training plan for local medical professionals.
Timeframe: by 5 September 2016
Amount of working days: 1 (from home)
Expected outputs: good quality report with recommendations for UNICEF follow-up activities developed
- To prepare, carry out and evaluate a training for local medical professionals in the diagnosis of deaf and hard of hearing children in Abkhazia, Georgia (including preparation of agenda and pre/post-training evaluation questionnaires)
Timeframe: by 30 September 2016
Amount of working days: 5 (in Abkhazia, Georgia)
Expected outputs: good quality training
Qualifications/experience required
- Advanced university degree in medicine, specialization in Otolaryngology;
- At least 10 years' experience in working with children with hearing impairment, including hearing testing and diagnose of deaf and hard of hearing children;
- In-depth understanding of medical and social needs of and services for children with hearing impairment, as well as knowledge international best practices and standards in this field;
- Fluency in Russian and at least working level English.
Remuneration
Applicants are required to submit a financial proposal for the requested services. The remuneration will be negotiated between the applicants and UNICEF on the basis of the applicant's proposal and will be paid as a lump sum after the delivery of a quality report with recommendations and its acceptance by UNICEF.
Performance indicators
Consultant's performance will be evaluated against the following criteria: timeliness, responsibility, initiative and quality of the product delivered.
Supervision arrangements
The selected consultant will work under the supervision of the National Project Officer of UNICEF's Sukhumi Field Office, and in close cooperation with the Child Wellbeing/Protection Assistant and the World Vision project coordinator in Sukhumi.
Unsatisfactory performance
In case of unsatisfactory performance the contract will be terminated by a notification letter sent 15 days prior to the termination date.
How to apply:
Requested Information
Interested applicants are kindly requested to apply online and submit: a cover letter, CV a financial proposal with explanatory note to UNICEF under the following link:
http://jobs.unicef.org/cw/en/job/497993?lApplicationSubSourceID=
Advertised: 20 Jul 2016 Georgian Standard Time
Applications close: 29 Jul 2016 Georgian Standard Time orial Guinea