Position Title – Disability Appraisal Specialist

Long-Term / Short-Term – Short-term (15 days)

Position Location – Home-based

Reports To – Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Advisor

 

Program Background

Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I) is the Australian Government’s flagship infrastructure initiative for Southeast Asia. It partners with Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to foster inclusive growth through sustainable economic infrastructure (i.e. transport, energy, telecommunications, and utilities).

P4I focuses on infrastructure prioritisation and planning, policy and regulation, and procurement and project preparation. P4I does not finance the delivery of infrastructure. All services aim to address gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) and disaster risk reduction and climate change issues. P4I can respond to rapid requests, but ultimately aims to develop longer-term infrastructure engagement.

Delivered through a single cohesive team, the initiative is led by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in collaboration with EY, Adam Smith International, The Asia Foundation and Ninti One. The Program’s Head Office is in Bangkok, with a range of dedicated staff and program contributors working at a distance in Australia and across Southeast Asia.

Further information about P4I is available at www.partnershipsforinfrastructure.org

 

Background to this consultancy

People with disabilities are the largest and most disadvantaged minority in the world, disproportionately affected by poverty and marginalization. People with disabilities are underrepresented in decision making across sectors, from governance to education to infrastructure, which in turn lose out on the benefit of their inputs and perspectives.

 

Disability inclusion and empowerment is a cross-cutting priority for Australia’s international engagement, including COVID-19 response and recovery (Partnerships for Recovery: Australia’s COVID-19 Development Response). P4I prioritizes a disability focus as part of its GESI mandate. This focus is to be implemented across P4I program operations as well as the services it delivers.

 

To guide P4I’s effective implementation of disability inclusion and empowerment, we are commissioning a rapid disability appraisal with the aim of baselining where we stand and where we can be doing more. The appraisal will consider: 1) P4I’s organizational structure, policy, capacity and procedures, and 2) P4I’s service delivery (infrastructure advisory services, government-to-government partnerships, and regional learning, knowledge and networking). The objective of this appraisal is to produce implementable recommendations to guide P4I’s aspiration, planning, implementation and monitoring around disability inclusion and empowerment.

 

The Role

P4I seeks an individual, team or organization (the ‘consultant’) to conduct a rapid appraisal. This will examine:

1.   How P4I is addressing / can address disability inclusion and empowerment through its engagement and service delivery, and
2.   How P4I as a program is addressing / can increasingly address disability inclusion and empowerment as an organization, for example through human resource practice, organizational policy, capacity building, etc.

The consultant will employ in-depth knowledge and understanding of organizational disability best practices as well as in program delivery in a development context.

The disability appraisal will be informed by DFAT policy, P4I’s guiding documents and organizational systems and a review of a representative sample of P4I’s service delivery work. In addition to reviewing organizational and project documents, the disability specialist will consult with selected P4I staff to gain an understanding of current practice and frame recommendations for improvement.

The appraisal is proposed to follow the process below:

1. A kick-off meeting to agree expectations, direction, priorities and schedule
2. Develop a 2–3-page methodology confirming agreed scope and table of contents of final report
3. Review P4I documents, DFAT policy and relevant external literature
4. Undertake consultations with select P4I program staff
5. Draft, finalize and present recommendation report

15 days of input are allotted for this consultancy.

 

Selection Criteria

•  Demonstrated expertise in analyzing disability-related policy and practice in institutions and programs, and in making implementable recommendations for improvement
• Prior experience in a development context required, with experience in Southeast Asia and infrastructure a considerable bonus
• Experience working on DFAT-funded or other donor-supported programs
• Strong research, writing, analytical and presentation skills
• Ability to work effectively at a distance, within a tight timeframe, and in a complex environment with a multi-disciplinary team.

 

How to Apply

Interested applicants are requested to submit a CV and a short covering note in an email, with format “[Candidate Name] – Disability Appraisal” to recruitment@partnershipsforinfrastructure.org.

Applications close 22 May 2022.

Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications for P4I positions, only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Note, Terms of Reference remain subject to final DFAT approval. Some revisions to scope of role are possible.

This consultancy will be filled through Adam Smith International (ASI). ASI is committed to continually improving the diversity of our workforce through the attraction, retention, and development of a diverse range of talented people. We want people to be comfortable bringing their whole self to work and recognize that inclusion brings further opportunities for innovation and creativity. People with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.