Disability & disaster preparedness advisor

Mainstreaming disability and people with disabilities into disaster management in Nepal (DIPECHO, funding secured)

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Project Description:

Project Title: Mainstreaming disability and people with disabilities into disaster management in Nepal.

Overall objective: The vulnerability of people with disabilities to natural hazards (floods, landslides etc.) is reduced.

Specific objective: The capacity of Handicap International’s HI's local partners to integrate DM into programmes for people with disabilities (PwDs) in Nepal and  other Disaster Management (DM) focused organizations to mainstream disability into DM is enhanced.

Primary Objective:
The disability adviser’s main role be in ensuring the quality of the technical assistance given to the local organisations focussed in disaster preparedness and management in order to enhance their capacity to include disability in their disaster management programmes; it will also assist the proper integration if Disaster Preparedness into HI-supported disability projects and actions.  This will be required in the first few months of the project implementation period for a period of 3 months with a subsequent follow-up period of 2 months during the latter half of the project period – times will be negotiated with the applicant. 

Specific Objectives:
-    Support the Project Manager by providing senior level technical expertise with international standards on disability issues for reinforcement of sustainable capacities and skills in integrating and mainstreaming disability into Disaster Preparedness (as well as integrating Disaster Preparedness into HI-supported disability projects).

-    Assist, advice, support, train and supervise the Project Team on disability issues in line with the project’s Objectives.

-    Develop and implement a training strategy adapted to the project needs and requirements in the field of disability.

-    Build mechanisms and tools to ensure the project’s quality on disability issues through appropriate quantitative and qualitative monitoring of project implementation and delivery of international-level technical expertise.

-    Ensure appropriate capacity building of the local project partners on technical issue related to disability within Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Management.

Difficulties involved in the job (isolation, security, travel, climate, living conditions)

The country is still in a political sensitive and unstable phase. This requires strict respect of the security rules and instructions as well as cautious and adapted behaviour in line with the Organisation’s approaches and recommendations. Due to specific country and beaucratic requirements there maybe some procedures that are important to comply by in regards to obtaining a necessary visa.

The position will require some travels to the different project locations and other places in the country for the delivery of training.
As mentioned above, life in Kathmandu is quite comfortable; housing conditions are specific for short-term missions might require sharing accommodation and/or staying in hotels as per the Organisation’s standards and policy. Depending of the locations, travel conditions in the countryside can obviously be tougher. In Kathmandu, atmospheric pollution is a real problem, particularly during the dry season (October to April).

Applicant profile

Qualifications sought: preferably Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy degree.

Essential:
-       Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapy degree; however other relevant degrees and experience will be considered.
-       At least 3 years of practical experience in working with people who have disabilities, preferably in development context.
-       Experience in natural hazards, disaster preparedness or post disaster would be an advantage.
-       Excellent capacity of adaptation, transfer of skills and training.
-       Great capacity of adaptation, used to work in multicultural contexts.
-       Capacity to work in team and autonomously.
-       Strong oral and written communication capacities.
-       Dynamism, constructive, high level of motivation and with a strong result-oriented approach.

Desirable:
-       Experience in social inclusion and/or mainstreaming of disability
-       Experience in infrastructural design and modifications for people with disabilities.

Languages:
Advanced oral and written English mandatory.