Mission and objectives
MISSION OF UNRCO IN ZIMBABWE & OVERVIEW OF FUNCTIONS :
The Resident Coordination (RC) system aims to bring together the different UN agencies to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of operational activities at the country level. It comprises a series of global, regional and country-level working mechanisms that provide guidance and support the work of UN Resident Coordinators around the world.
The UN Resident Coordinator (RC) leads the Resident Coordinator System at the country level and represents the UN Secretary General to the Government of Zimbabwe. The RC, as the highest-ranking senior UN official in the country, is the primary interlocutor for the UN Development System with the Head of State and Government.
In Zimbabwe, the RC is responsible for coordinating and providing leadership to the UN Country Team (UNCT) in strategy setting, planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of development programmes at the country level as outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for 2022-2026, which will direct the country’s development priorities over the next years.
The RC also provides leadership on joint communications, advocacy, and resource mobilization efforts. In Zimbabwe, the RC is also the Humanitarian Coordinator, Designated Official for Safety and Security, and Director of the UN Information Centre.
Context:
Persons with disabilities are a key constituency in Zimbabwe and are estimated to make up 9.2% of the total population, however, they remain invisible at all levels of society and face numerous challenges in accessing healthcare, jobs, education, and justice among others. In order to meet its obligations under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which it ratified in 2013, the Government of Zimbabwe is making every effort to advance disability rights and inclusion across all sectors a. A Department within the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare was designated to exclusively deal with, and coordinate the disability agenda in the country; Gender and Disability Inclusion Focal Points have been designated in each of the Ministries; 2 senators were appointed to represent persons with disabilities; a National Disability Policy was adopted in 2021; and a bill on Persons with Disabilities to replace the Disabled Persons Act of 1992 is currently undergoing the legislative process. Despite these positive developments, persons with disabilities continue to face a plethora of challenges and barriers which relegate them to the periphery of society, resulting in exclusion, discrimination and being left behind in national development processes and thereby hamper them from fully enjoying their human rights. More still needs to be done to ensure the full implementation and domestication of these frameworks, creation of an inclusive and accessible society for all persons with disabilities, and institutionalizing a culture of inclusivity, equality, and diversity across all sectors.
It is within this context that the role of the United Nations in Zimbabwe has become increasingly important, as both the Government of Zimbabwe and its Development Partners consider the UNCT to be a key strategic partner and one which plays a crucial role in coordinating and channelling support to the country, and ensuring inclusion, and leaving no one behind in all development processes. The UNRCO is strategically placed to support and ensure the UNCT delivers disability inclusive programmes, that promotes the rights of persons with disabilities in Zimbabwe. The UNRCO also supports the Government of Zimbabwe to fulfil its obligations and ensure an inclusive society for all as set out in the National Development Strategy 1, the ZUNSDCF and also in line with national, regional, and international frameworks that the country is party to.
Task description:
Within the ambit of the “delivering as one modality” and under the guidance of the UNRCO Senior Human Rights Adviser, the Disability Inclusion Coordination Officer will support the coordination and execution of the UNCT’s disability inclusive programming. He/she will support the UNRCO’s oversight and coordination role on disability issues, ensuring high quality, accuracy and consistency of work related to the implementation of UNCT disability related projects and interventions, including the UNDIS implementation. The incumbent will also assist in providing strategic guidance and technical support to UNCT and RCO’s partners on disability inclusive programming, support resource mobilization initiatives targeting disability issues, and support promotion and implementation of the rights of persons with disabilities in Zimbabwe. The incumbent will undertake the following tasks:
1. Support mainstreaming of disability rights and inclusion in UNCT programming and implementation of the ZUNDSCF
2. Support implementation of the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy by the UNCT including through its programming and operational structures
3. Support RCO in engaging and maintaining strategic partnerships with all relevant national stakeholders
4. Support RCO in resource mobilisation for the disability rights and inclusion agenda
5. Support knowledge building and sharing on disability rights and inclusion within the UNCT and other stakeholders
6. Perform any other duties as required
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);
• 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.
• 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.
Results/expected outputs:
• Strengthened mainstreaming of disability rights and inclusion in the UNCT strategic and programming documents including the annual reports, CCA, Workplans as well as activities
• Strengthened engagement and knowledge on disability rights and inclusion with various stakeholders including Government, the legislature, development partners and organisations of persons with disabilities
• Improved knowledge of disability rights and inclusion within the UNCT, it programmatic and operational structures
• Improved ratings of the UNCT under the UN Disability Inclusion Scorecard
• Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment
• A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed
Required experience:
-3 years of experience in in Law,.
• Professional experience in the rights of persons with disabilities, inclusive development programming, and in several broad areas of human rights and development.
• Knowledge of contemporary development issues nationally and globally especially on disability rights and inclusion, HRBA, national development priorities, national and global planning frameworks (, SDGs, NDS1, UNSDCF, NDP) is necessary
• Demonstrable knowledge of result-based management, UN programme management policies, and procedures
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and database packages.
• Excellent command of English and good communication Skills.
Languages:
English, Level: Fluent, Required
Required education level:
Bachelor degree or equivalent in Human Rights, Public Administration, Development Studies, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, or related field
Harare
Expires
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Harare
Contractor
06 Aug 2024
24 Jul 2024