CALL FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANT EXPERT ON DISABILITY RIGHTS INITIATIVE PROJECT: ACCESSIBILITY (DRIPa)
Name of Organization: Freky Andrew-Essien Care Foundation
Acronym: FAECARE Foundation
Project Title: Disability Rights Initiative Project: Accessibility (DRIPa)
Service Description: Technical Assistant Expert
Location, Country: Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Mode of Engagement: Physical/Virtual/Hybrid
Submission Deadline: 19th February, 2024
Commencement Date: February, 2024
Starting date & Duration: February – December (11 months)
ABOUT FREKY ANDREW-ESSIEN CARE FOUNDATION (FAECARE FOUNDATION)
Freky Andrew-Essien Care Foundation (FAECARE Foundation) is an organization with a vision to add value to the lives of target vulnerable groups in our society/communities including persons with disabilities through a variety of organization led programs and support services. For over ten (10) years we have empowered persons with disabilities and enhanced social inclusion and advocacy for better policies.
BACKGROUND
Persons with disabilities have the same right as anyone else to participate in society: to attend school, to have friends to work and take part in social political and cultural life and events. However, in practice, persons with disabilities are often not able to enjoy these rights and use public outlets and buildings.
Accessibility is broadly understood as the ability to access or benefit from services, products and devices and / or environments. It is a cross cutting human rights concern for Persons with Disabilities and feels like a daunting task. Despite this, it is important that accessibility is addressed in all its complexity, encompassing the physical environment, transportation, information and communication, and services. As long as goods, products and services are open or provided to the public, they must be accessible to all.
The United Nation Convention on the rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) requires that “parties ensure that persons with disabilities access on an equal basis with others, the physical environment and information communications technologies and systems and to other facilities and services open or provided to the public, both in urban and in rural areas”.
Denial of access constitutes a discriminatory act.
PURPOSE
FAECARE Foundation envisions a Rivers State, where accessibility becomes an integral aspect of societal infrastructure and consciousness. We want to see the identification, resolution, and elimination of barriers hindering accessibility and tangible advancements in accessibility and inclusion for persons with disabilities in the state.
The purpose of the project is to support activities (The “Project”) that advance the goal to push for accessibility of the physical environment in Rivers state and increase the knowledge of disability rights among persons with disabilities and the public.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANT EXPERT ENGAGEMENT OBJECTIVE
To conduct a comprehensive audit in Port Harcourt, Rivers State with recommendations: Data Collection, Documentation, and Analysis of audit findings to identify common accessibility challenges and recurring issues, prioritize the identified barriers based on their severity and impact.
PROJECT EXPECTATIONS
- In this project, FAECARE Foundation envisions several specific outcomes aimed at addressing and eliminating barriers to accessibility in Rivers State. Relevant to this engagement are the following outcomes:
- An increase in the competence and capacity of more persons with disabilities in the state. Strengthening their knowledge and skills regarding rights and inclusion is crucial for effectively integrating the disability perspective and narrative as a human right in this state.
- A comprehensive access audit report to identify barriers to access in the state, assess compliance with existing legislation, and identify gaps in legislation and implementation frameworks related to accessibility.
- It will evaluate the accessibility of existing infrastructure and services in Rivers State.
- The findings from this audit will lead to valuable recommendations for improvements.
- Through sustained efforts, we will raise public awareness, a shift in public perception and support for widespread accessibility in Rivers State.
- Based on this project the technical assistant expert is to conduct a comprehensive audit in Port Harcourt, Rivers State with recommendations; Data collection, documentation and analysis of Audit findings to identity common accessibility challenges and recurring issues, prioritize the identified barriers based on the seventy and impact.
EXPECTATIONS
- Adequate time to be dedicated to the project to complete work as described in the scope of work, which includes: Ongoing and regular communication
- Commitment to working collaboratively and collectively with FAECARE Foundation
- Commitment to gender and cross-disability mainstreaming
- Commitment to addressing the discrimination of underrepresented groups within the disability and human rights movements
- Have a keen interest to work with Persons with Disabilities
- Have the ability to engage with the different clusters of disabilities
- Be knowledgeable in the UNCRPD and the National Disability Discrimination (prohibition) act and their application as advocacy tools.
- Develop and Train participants on specific training scope
SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITIES OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANT EXPERT
- The successful technical assistant expert will have the responsibility to undertake desk research
- Develop all tools required to carry out a comprehensive accessibility audit
- Develop methodology for accessibility audit assessment of the physical environment in Port Harcourt, Rivers State
- Map and determine areas of the physical environment in Port Harcourt, Rivers State to access via a sampling method
- Hold training for Project Team on thorough and accurate data collection, tools for accessibility audit, methodology, best practices and accessibility audit assessment and standards.
- Support and Supervise team to conduct a comprehensive accessibility audit assessment.
- Analyze data collected from the field.
- Write Detailed Report of Accessibility Audit, including identified common accessibility challenges and recurring issues, prioritize the identified barriers based on their severity and impact and recommendations.
- Join and present at Round Table Discussion and Press conference of Generated detailed accessibility audit report with recommendations, and presentation of findings and recommendations to stakeholders to promote a shared understanding and advocate accessibility.
- Be a Resource person (in-person/virtual) at a comprehensive training, on disability rights, policy & legislative advocacy skills, and accessibility for persons with disabilities in Rivers State, build the advocacy and leadership skills of advocates.
DELIVERABLES
- Hold a one-day training for Project Team in the month of February/March, 2024
- Supervise Project Team
- Support and Supervise team to conduct a comprehensive accessibility audit assessment from February and May, 2024
- Analyze data collected from the field with Detailed Report of Accessibility Audit by May 2024
- Presentation of findings and recommendations to stakeholders at Round Table Discussion and Press conference in May/June 2024
- Be a Resource person (in-person/virtual) at a comprehensive training, on disability rights, policy & legislative advocacy skills, and accessibility for persons with disabilities in Rivers State, build the advocacy and leadership skills of advocates in March/April, 2024
- Be further available throughout duration of Project February-December, 2024
KEY QUALIFICATIONS, TECHNICAL BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED.
- Experience in research, data analysis, analysis of development programs, and report writing.
- Knowledge of CRPD, Persons with disabilities and relevant guidelines and standards.
- Specific experience in developing training and guidance tools.
- Highly proficient in use of English with the ability to write and communicate in a clear and practical manner.
- Previous work or research with Organizations of Persons with Disabilities or Persons with Disabilities will be preferred
- Engagement can be physical or virtual, meaning that the technical assistant expert must not be based in Port Harcourt or Rivers State
- Persons with Disabilities with experience are encouraged to apply
PREFERRED EXPERIENCES
- Specific focus or experience addressing discrimination of underrepresented groups, including people with:
- Physical Disabilities
- Intellectual and/or developmental disabilities
- Psychosocial disabilities
- Hearing disabilities
- Albinism
- Foundational understanding of relevant legal frameworks, both local, national, and international, including the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Experience conducting research
- Experience developing and implementing advocacy campaigns
REMUNERATION
Freky Andrew-Essien Care Foundation (FAECARE Foundation), will provide the sum of 150,000 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand naira), with an advance of 70% and a balance of 30% on completion of the terms of engagement. Said payment shall be made electronically to the account provided by engaged technical assistant expert after signing and returning this TOR. FAECARE shall provide data for any virtual activities of the project involving the Technical Assistant Expert.
CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT
All data and information received from FAECARE Foundation for the purpose of this assignment are to be treated confidentially and are only to be used in connection with the execution of these Terms of Reference. All intellectual property rights arising from the execution of these Terms of Reference are assigned to FAECARE Foundation. Do not reproduce, distribute or make any other use. The contents of written materials obtained and used in this assignment may not be disclosed to any third parties without the expressed advance written authorization of FAECARE Foundation.
ACTION
Expression of Interest and accompanying Application clearly marked “Expression of Interest (EOI) with email subject “Technical Assistant Expert on Disability Rights Initiative Project: Accessibility (DRIPa)” should be submitted with CV on or before 19th February, 2024 via the email address faecarefoundation.info@gmail.com
ADDRESS TO:
The Executive Director
FAECARE Foundation
For: Disability Rights Initiative Project: Accessibility