Recommendations for a strategy of intervention in institutional settings in Ukraine

Handicap International – Humanity & Inclusion

Outraged by the injustice faced by people with disabilities and population groups particularly at risk, we aspire to a world of solidarity and inclusion, enriched by our differences, where everyone can live in dignity. Handicap International is changing his name and becomes « Humanity & Inclusion ». HI, Humanity & Inclusion is an independent and impartial aid and development organization with no religious or political affiliations operating in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. We work alongside people with disabilities and people at risk, discriminated against to help meet their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights. Since the organization was first founded in 1982, we have set up development programmes in more than 55 countries and responded to many emergencies. Today we have a budget of around 150 million euros, with 3500 employees worldwide.

In Ukraine, HI has designed a Programme aimed to reduce the suffering of at risk conflict-affected populations through the delivery of an inclusive, timely and multi-sectoral humanitarian response addressing the Health, Protection and Essential Needs of conflict-affected populations, with specific focus on internally displaced persons, persons with disabilities, persons with injuries and/or with signs of psychological distress, while reducing the risks caused by Explosive Ordnance contamination, facilitating the delivery of aid in Ukraine and supporting the wider humanitarian response to be more inclusive.

Background to the Consultancy

Ongoing hostilities and forced displacement in Ukraine are exacerbating pre-existing vulnerabilities. Despite the huge data gap on the risks faced by persons with disabilities and other groups exposed to particular vulnerabilities, individuals particularly at risk of encountering difficulties to access safe refuge, flee and access basic and specific necessities are often women and children, adult and children with disabilities and older men and women.

This is especially so for those with high support needs, without family support and those living outside family sphere including in institutions, who may face multiple additional barriers to autonomous functioning, freedoms of choice, movement and access to outside services, resulting in risks to their lives, struggles to meet daily needs. These groups are also likely to be more exposed to protection risks (such as neglect, denial of assistance including evacuations, GBV and human trafficking and exploitation) and to face environmental, institutional and attitudinal barriers hindering them from easily and safely accessing humanitarian assistance. It is also assumed that previously flagged violations of rights of children and adults with disabilities jeopardizing their physical, social, and mental health wellbeing in these institutions might be further aggravated due to the impact of the war.

More details on the context of intervention in the terms of reference found at: https://www.hi.org/fr/ad/-CFE-10-22-7574

Details of the Consultancy

General Objective

Within the current emergency context, HI is responding to the most urgent needs of adults and children with disabilities, including those trapped in institutions, in line with international humanitarian rights and the IASC guidelines on the inclusion of persons with disabilities in humanitarian action.

However in order to improve the quality of its interventions at institutional level in light of the numerous challenges outlined in the terms of reference, HI aims to strengthen its risk and response analysis and to define more appropriate strategies for inclusive and safe response to the most critical needs and risk for adults and children with disabilities, while promoting their participation.

This is what HI is seeking out of this consultancy, whose objective is to inform the organisation’s positioning and operational strategy in responding to the needs of persons with disabilities in institutional settings, moving forward.

Proposed Methodology

The Consultant will:

1. Conduct a desk review of relevant literature to date on the situation of persons with disabilities in Ukraine, including key protection concerns, gaps in the humanitarian and protection policies, strategies to respond to needs of persons with disabilities, including those in social care settings.
2. Develop research and facilitation tools in consultation with HI, including developing and refining the study approach and developing tools to prompt reflection.
3. Facilitate workshops with various stakeholders such disability rights networks, OPDs, child protection actors and coordination bodies, local authorities etc. to prompt critical and strategic reflection on addressing the critical needs and rights of children and adults with disabilities through HI’s operations and suggest strategies for areas of further thought as well as learning.
4. Conduct field visits to project sites to gain an understanding of the context, programming, particularly to question assumptions made and validate.
5. A final report will draw together conclusions. It should set out recommendations for inclusive humanitarian programing at institution level (and in link with other systems of actors outside institution), including recommendations as to HI’s operational strategy and positioning in the short and longer term. The report should also include an executive summary highlighting key findings that is suitable for public release.
6. Present key findings and facilitate action planning. The consultant will prepare and present key findings to HI on the key findings and recommendations, and facilitate action planning as appropriate.

Consultant Deliverables

• An inception document detailing methodology, tools and assessment plans.
• A written report that includes findings, analyses and recommendations. Please read below the guidelines for reporting.
• Materials for the facilitation of an internal workshop to present and discuss findings and action planning.

Reporting

In accordance with agreed standards, the consultant will prepare a final report of up to a maximum of 30 pages (excluding appendices), clearly setting out recommendations arising from the consultation process. This report will be prepared in English, submitted in both hard and soft form. The contents of the report will include, at a minimum:

• Executive Summary (max 4 pages), covering background; brief overview of aims; brief summary of methodologies used; key findings; conclusions and recommendations
• Context & Introduction
• Methodology
• Limitations
• Findings
• Conclusions
• Recommendations.

Consultant Profile and Expertise

• Proven successful experience on promoting the rights of adults and children with disabilities in emergency settings and support deinstitutionalization preferable in Eastern Europe and / or the Balkans
• Strong experience working on disability inclusive humanitarian action and inclusive governance and /or mental health and psychosocial support
• Proven successful experience as a consultant conducting analysis and research on the situation of persons with disabilities, protection concerns and barriers to inclusive humanitarian action
• Experience in protection, GBV and child protection with a disability inclusive approach is a strong asset
• Strong facilitation skills and experience guiding learning processes
• Demonstrated skills and experience in designing and engaging in disability, age and gender sensitive qualitative data collection research and analyzing qualitative data
• Minimum of five years of field experience
• Knowledge of the complexities of working in an emergency context, including an understanding of the context in Ukraine
• Excellent participatory facilitation, communication and writing skills
• Excellent written and spoken English and knowledge of Ukraine language an asset.

Timeframe of Consultancy

• Expected start date: November 2022 / ASAP