Disability Inclusion Advisor

About Light for the World

Light for the World is a global disability and development organisation. We empower people with disabilities and enable eye health services in low-income countries. Over the last three decades we have contributed to improved health systems, enabled education for all, and amplified the voices of people with disabilities.

Our programmes include:

• Eye Health – preventing blindness and promoting eye health for all.
• Inclusive Education – ensuring children with disabilities receive quality, inclusive education.
• Inclusive Economic Empowerment – ensuring that barriers are removed for men and women with disabilities to access decent work and business opportunities.

In Kenya, our country strategy for the year 2021-2025 focuses on Inclusive Economic Empowerment, and disability inclusion. We do this using the twin track approach of capacity building of persons with disabilities, and building system strengthening so that barriers for employment and entrepreneurship are removed. Currently, Light for the World Kenya implements projects across the country with the country office located in Nairobi.

Light for the World Kenya is seeking to hire a Disability Inclusion Advisor to promote its advocacy and capacity building efforts within the networks of organizations of persons with disabilities.

Role Profile

Reporting to the Head of the Disability Inclusion Advisory Unit, the Disability Inclusion Advisor promotes advocacy and capacity building within the networks of organizations of persons with disabilities and manages the disability inclusion academy. S(he) will play a key role in nurturing. partnerships with actors in the civil society, private & public sector and provide hands on technical support in the form of training and coaching, and policy input.

Whereas the Disability Inclusion Advisor (DIA) will be responsible to train and advise different stakeholders on disability inclusion, (s)he will work primarily as a technical advisor on disability inclusion within the Disability Inclusion Academy, and support partners and OPDS. The Advisor will support the Disability Inclusion Facilitators (DIF) to effectively tailor their interventions to the needs of the organizations they are linked to.

The DIA is a powerful ambassador for disability inclusion, a natural networker, an inspirational communicator, as well as a role model and changemaker.

Key Responsibilities

Networking

• To represent Light for the World in networks of NGOs and/or government bodies, as required, and provide expertise on disability inclusion services to organization of persons with disabilities and public and private sector.
• To initiate and build relationships with organizations of persons with disability, exploring how to build their capacity and how well the DIF model can be of value at the community for the OPD members within the larger space of advocacy and mainstreaming of disability inclusion.

Advising and training

• To coordinate learning sessions and working groups; to bring organisations together in learning platforms; to develop and deliver trainings and workshops on the inclusion of persons with disabilities in development programming, workplaces, and policies; to provide coaching and technical advice on the same.

Consolidate and further expand the Pool of Disability Inclusion Facilitators

• In close collaboration with the Manager of the Disability Inclusion Advisory Unit and the rest of the team, provide training and support to a growing pool of DIFs; to coach them on specific aspects of training, etiquette, self-expression, communication skills, understanding diverse disabilities, and the business case for inclusion. To be the principal coach for the DIFs, support them with preparation of their career in disability inclusion and beyond, coaching them on how to conduct professional training and ensuring continuous quality and consistency of all the activities of the pool of DIFs by monitoring, facilitation of continuous learning and refresher trainings.

Training material and tool development

• To lead and provide input to co-creation processes, building on principles of human centered design; to provide content to training manuals and tools; Pro-actively identify the need for additional training materials and tools, and support the development of those.

Knowledge and information management

• To gather and disseminate relevant information regarding disability mainstreaming; To document lessons learned, case studies and stories of change. This information is used in the advocacy space with mainstream and OPD player to influence policy.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• University Degree or higher in field relating to development work, or program management. Master’s degree preferred.
• At least 5 years of experience working in the disability inclusion space within public, private & Non-Governmental Organizations, or Organizations of Persons with Disabilities, ideally focused on Capacity Development and Project Cycle Management
• Familiar with Adult learning/ participatory training methodologies
• High level of exposure to barriers that persons with disabilities face and practical solutions to overcome those barriers, either through lived experience or through previous work experience
• Experienced trainer and facilitator with experience in designing and conducting skills building workshops and other capacity development approaches with a variety of stakeholders.
• Excellent people skills with the ability to develop others and to impart knowledge and experience in an accessible and clear manner.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Commitment to local capacity building and experience of engaging and working with local stakeholders in project design and implementation.
• Demonstrated expertise in implementation of Livelihood programs and disability inclusion is desired.
• Show great initiative and be able to work well in a team and independently.
• Ability to produce timely and deliver high-quality results.