Background
World Education (WE) has been operational in the Lao PDR since 1992. WEI has worked in a number of sectors (agriculture, education, health, microfinance, and repatriation) over the past 25 years. Projects are currently focused on: Disability Inclusion, Explosive Ordnance Risk Education, Capacity Building, and Economic Development. Current projects include:
1. USAID Okard: Promotes the independence and functional ability of persons with disabilities through equal access to health and social services, partnering with the public and private sectors to support persons with disabilities in the areas of health, economic empowerment and stakeholder engagement.
2. Lawang: Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE): Keeps children safe from unexploded ordnance (UXO) by integrating EORE lessons into the national primary and secondary school curriculum, and creating EORE messages and platforms for non-formal education and community engagement.
3. War Victims Medical Fund: Provides critical financial support to survivors of UXO accidents including immediate and ongoing medical care, as well as funeral costs in case of death.
In implementing these activities, World Education works in partnership with relevant Government of Lao PDR agencies including the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and Sports, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Ministry of Industry and Commerce, National Regulatory Authority and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. To learn more visit us at www.worlded.org or www.laos.worlded.org
The USAID Okard (?????) Activity is managed and implemented by World Education (October 2017 – September 2027) together with several sub-recipients from government and civil society organizations. The project intends to improve and sustain the independent living and functional ability of persons with disabilities, regardless of factors such as age, sex, gender expression, ethnic origin, or indigenous status, and their households in Lao PDR. It is implemented in four target provinces – Vientiane Capital, Xieng Khouang, Savannakhet, and Sekong.

Overview of USAID Okard Activity
The USAID Okard Activity is designed, measured, and evaluated across four main interconnected and mutually reinforcing interventions and components: Health, Economic Empowerment, Stakeholder Engagement, and the Community Based Include Development (CBID) Model.

In addressing these four components, USAID Okard takes a two-tiered approach to reach its goal of improving and sustaining the independent living and functional ability of persons with disabilities in Lao PDR. Tier 1 is a systems-centered approach focused on long-term sustainability, while Tier 2 examines and supports the individual unmet needs of persons with disabilities and the communities that support them.

The anticipated results of the Okard Activity are: 1) Increased number of people with disabilities who are matched with sensitized and engaged employers in an internship program and gain professional and technical skills; 2) improved coordination among the Government of Laos (GOL) line ministries and all disability inclusion stakeholders, including persons with disabilities, OPDs, and civil society organizations to implement policies promoting the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities and to foster actions toward disability inclusive development; 3) improved capacity of GoL and representative organizations to operate effectively; 4) improved leadership of the Ministry of Health to strengthen the health systems to increase rehabilitation and increased competencies of health personnel to provide quality rehabilitation and assistive product services; 5) GoL local authorities and CBID Facilitators work together to implement the CBID Model, taking tangible actions towards disability inclusion in local communities, removing barriers to inclusion, and supporting people with disabilities to improve functioning and economic self-sufficiency through case management.

Job Description:
The STA (Disability Rights and Inclusion) will support the technical and management oversight of the project through providing targeted technical direction and leadership for the Stakeholder Engagement component and inclusive employment activities. In addition, they will work closely with Senior Technical Advisor (Health and CBID) to develop strong linkages and alignment between (i) the work of NCPD - CBID Steering Committee and Disability Management Information System (DMIS) and the implementation of the CBID model and (ii) the work of MoH on disability inclusive health and equal access to rehabilitation services. They will manage project staff, ensure quality and timeliness of outputs and reports, maintain relationships with key stakeholders and provide technical expertise and guidance to project activities.

Responsibilities:
1. Oversee the overall development of technical approaches and quality assurance of the USAID Okard Activity:
? Work closely with Managers, Technical Advisors and Technical Coordinator to ensure cohesiveness of approaches and interventions on:
¦ System strengthening on disability inclusive social protection and governance including the Disability Law and National Disability Policy, National Coordination Mechanism of the National disability Committee and United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) Action Plan, and capacity building of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs).
¦ Inclusive Employment with private and public sector
? Work closely with Senior Technical Advisor (Health and Community Based Inclusive Development (CBID) to develop strong linkages and alignment between (i) the work of NCPD - CBID Steering Committee and Disability Management Information System (DMIS) and the implementation of the CBID model and (ii) the work of Ministry of Health (MoH) on disability inclusive health and equal access to rehabilitation services.
? Provide technical guidance and support to Managers and Technical Coordinators so they can plan and conduct USAID Okard Technical Management Committees related to Economic Empowerment (EE) and Stakeholder Engagement (SE), and actively participate in CBID Technical Management Committees (TMC) meetings as required.
? Ensure technical approaches and implementation of activities are aligned with local priorities especially the voice of persons with disabilities, builds on existing systems, is validated with local stakeholders, leads to local capacity and system strengthening and incorporates feasible transition plans and exit strategies for sustainability at the end of USAID Okard.

2. Provide technical guidance and support for the delivery of SE component activities with National Committee of Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) and OPDs in close collaboration with the SE Project Manager and SE Technical Coordinator:
? Provide training, coaching and/ or guidance to NCPD and USAID Okard SE staff to support the implementation of SE activities.
? Lead the development of technical evidence-based documents, tools and guidelines for the NCPD team.
? Lead the facilitation of technical meetings with NCPD in close coordination with the SE Project Manager and SE Technical Coordinator.
? Participate in meetings (work planning, coordination, etc) with NCPD teams supporting the SE Project Manager and SE Technical Coordinator as and when needed.
? Participate in monitoring trips at provincial and district level to support NCPD as required.
? Provide technical guidance on the design, implementation and monitoring of a capacity fund for OPDs, and other activities implemented with OPDs.
? Support the SE Project Manager and SE Technical Coordinator to empower and enable OPDs to lead the advocate for disability mainstreaming with United Nations (UN) agencies, donors, international organizations and International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs),

3. Provide technical guidance and support for the delivery of EE component activities with public and private sector employers in close collaboration with the Inclusive Employment Project Manager:
? Provide training, coaching and/ or guidance to USAID Okard EE staff to support the implementation of inclusive employment activities.
? Lead the development of technical evidence-based documents, tools and guidelines related to inclusive employment.
? Participate in meetings (work planning, coordination, etc) supporting the Inclusive Employment Project Manager as and when needed.

4. Provide technical guidance and support to other Okard staff and Consultants to support design, implementation and monitoring of all activities as per USAID work plan and other documents:
? Research and provide the USAID Okard staff with appropriate, up to date and necessary technical resources and documentation.
? Support the Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Manager on implementation of the Activity Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (AMEL) plan focusing on internal evaluations (as per Program Description [PD]), Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) and other areas as required.
? Support the Communications/Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) Manager to review, update, plan and monitor implementation of the SBCC Strategy and Action Plan in close collaboration with Senior Technical Advisor (Health and CBID).
? Support Managers and Technical Coordinators on accessibility modifications and protocols for approval and reporting as stated in Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (EMMP).
? Support Technical Consultants for EE and SE activities as per annual work plan.
? Support technical review for procurement for EE and SE as required.

5. Support the completion of USAID documentation in close collaboration with Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP), Chief of Party (COP) and Senior Program Officer including annual work plans, quarterly and annual reports, Gender Inclusion and Disability Action Plan (GIDAP), EMMP and AMEL plan and others as required to comply with the USAID contract regulations.

6. Develop and maintain a Lao and international professional network related to disability inclusion, social protection, CBID and UNCRPD.
? Guide and connect Okard staff and sub-recipients as relevant to network and communicate regularly with national and international stakeholders (other technical advisors, international professional societies, associations, etc.) involved in disability inclusion, CBID, social protection, UNCRPD, etc.
? Connect with and connect other Okard staff (and sub-recipients as appropriate) with other technical advisors, international professional societies, associations and institutions, and regularly share information on learning events/ webinars.
? Keep updated on planned conferences and symposiums of international professional societies and associations and provide recommendations on participation, submission of abstracts and presentations on USAID Okard activities, and regularly share information on learning events webinars.

7. Other:
• Manage all documentation relating to stated responsibilities above, ensuring that all documentation saved is final, comprehensive, updated and accessible to those who need it (in google drive AODOCS).
• Support compliance with JSI/WE Child Safeguarding Policy in coordination with USAID Okard Child Safeguarding Focal Point.

Reports to:
? Chief of Party (CoP), USAID Okard

Direct Reports:
? Stakeholder Engagement Project Manager
? Inclusive Employment Project Manager

Competencies:
? Undergraduate degree in social science, Humanitarian Law, Human Rights, Disability studies, or similar field. Graduate degree, or an undergraduate degree and equivalent experience together, preferred.
? Minimum of six years of experience in the humanitarian sector, preferably in technical/advocacy and management positions; preferably with experience in engaging with clusters, working groups and inter-agency coordination mechanisms.
? Strong knowledge about and experience applying UNCRPD, and disability inclusion principles and approaches
? Extensive professional experience in the development of strategies, action plans and guidelines for disability inclusion in developing countries.
? Prior experience in implementing/managing relevant technical projects funded by the US government or other donors.
? Experience in capacity building of local individuals and organizations and ability to establish strong working relationships with stakeholders, including government representatives, donors and partner organizations.
? Excellent written and spoken English.
? Capacity to interact with Government authorities and local partners and demonstrated
? Skills in team work, negotiation, persistence and patience.
? Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

To apply for this position, please visit the job opportunities page at https://www.worlded.org/WEIInternet/careers//index.cfm and click on the position name on the job posting page.

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Job Email id: meredith_lunsford(at)worlded.org