TERMS OF REFERENCE

CONSULTANT

DEVELOPMENT OF A CONTINENTAL DISABILTY STRATEGY

2011 - 2019

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SECTION ONE - INTRODUCTIONThe Secretariat of the African Decade for Persons with Disabilities (SADPD) is a technical agency established to implement the AU continental plan of action for persons with disabilities and the UN Convention on the Rights for Persons with Disabilities in Africa. The SADPD has offices in Pretoria South Africa (HQ), Dakar – Senegal and Addis Ababa – Ethiopia. The SADPD’s vision is “An African continent where people with disabilities enjoy their human rights” while its mission is “to be an African knowledge-based organisation that works in partnership with the AU, African governments, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Disabled People’s Organizations (DPOs) to promote inclusive development and human rights for people with disabilities”. The Secretariat has footprints in the following 25 African countries: Namibia, Lesotho, Malawi, Zambia, South Africa, Burundi, Cameroon, Tanzania, Uganda, Egypt, Mauritania, Tunisia, Gambia, Mali, Cape Verde, Ghana, Liberia, Togo, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Senegal, Kenya, and Mozambique.

SECTION TWO - BACKGROUNDThe past ten years have ushered in a new sense of urgency in an effort to change the quality of life of persons with disabilities in Africa. The OAU Labour and Social Affairs Commission at its 22nd Ordinary session held in Windhoek, Namibia in April 1999 recommended that the period 1999 – 2009 be proclaimed as the African Decade of Disabled Persons. The recommendation which is contained in the Secretary – General report CM/2112 (LXX) was adopted by the 23rd Session of the Labour and Social Affairs Commission in Algiers, Algeria, April 2000, and endorsed by the 72nd Session of the OAU Council of Ministers and 36 th

Assembly of Heads of State and Government respectively, in Lome, Togo in July 2000.

In 2001, the African Union’s Commission for Labour and Social Affairs along with the African Rehabilitation Institute, ILO and other stakeholders, developed a Continental Plan of Action to guide the member states of the African Union on how to implement the African Decade.

The adoption of the African Decade of Disabled Persons and the CDS placed responsibility on African States to implement Decade Programme activities. This provided a unique opportunity for African States to contribute to efforts improving the lives of disabled people on the Continent by realizing the set of targeted activities:

1. Formulate and implement national policies, programmes and legislation to promote the full and equal participation of persons with disabilities

2. Promote the participation of persons with disabilities in the process of economic and social development

3. Promote the self-representation of people with disabilities in all public decision-making structures

4. Enhance support services for disabled persons5. Promote special measures for children, youth, women and elderly persons

with disabilities

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6. Ensure and improve access to rehabilitation, education, training, employment, sports, cultural and physical environments

7. Prevent causes of disability8. Promote and protect disability rights as human rights9. Support the development and strengthening of Disabled Persons’

Organizations10.Mobilize resources11.Provide mechanisms for coordination, monitoring and evaluation of the

activities of the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities12.Advocate and raise disability awareness in general, and awareness of the

African Decade of Persons with Disabilities in particular

This Decade Programme of activities was to be implemented by: Government Line Ministries and Departments; Disabled Peoples Organizations; Non-Governmental Organizations; International organizations, including United Nations Agencies; and OAU

Specialized Agencies; Individuals committed to the full participation of equality and

empowerment of people with disabilities in the African continent.

The evaluation of the Decade conducted by the AU in 2010 noted successes and gaps in fulfilling the set goals. The report recommended the need to extend the Decade with the aim of riding on the new political will in the continent with 26 African ratifications of the UNCRPD. Similarly, it advised on the need to sustain the Decade’s gains by accelerating activities within the dispensation of “Partnerships” which aim to give dignity and voice to the marginalized citizenry. It further encouraged strengthening of bilateral and multilateral support for strategies at international, regional and national levels for the empowerment and development of Africa.

The second Decade for Persons with Disabilities in Africa is intended to support the clarion call for Africa’s recovery through fulfilling a very aggressive and innovative strategy, which will ensure that people with disabilities in Africa are not left behind as the implementation of the U. N. Convention gathers momentum and other development processes unfold.

The pattern of policy, planning, and programmes has been gradually undergoing change since the International Year of the Disabled Initiative in 1981 and the implementation of the AU Continental Plan of Action of the Africa Decade of Persons with Disabilities.

The call for the Second African Decade of Persons with Disabilities supports:1) The need to ensure that disability policies and legislation are in place and

being implemented;

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2) The development of capacity and a strong resource base made part of a broader effort by people with disabilities themselves to raise public awareness of their rights, to challenge stereotypes, and to remove false perceptions of disability, and;

3) Africa’s commitment to implement disability conventions and covenants given further impetus and resources.

The Continental Objectives of the Second Africa Decade Proclamation gives fresh impetus to the implementation of the new CDS, UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and other World and Regional policy instruments for Africa’s development beyond 2010.

The Secretariat has been requested by the AU Labour and Social Affairs Commission to provide technical support in the development of a Continental Disability Strategy (resided continental plan of action). The Secretariat has planned a couple of activities to ensure wide consultation of stakeholders and means of contributing towards the development of the strategy.

SADPD therefore seeks to recruit a consultant to provide technical support during the process of consultation, drafting and presentation of the strategy.

SECTION THREE - SCOPEThe scope of this assignment is to provide technical support during the process of consultation, drafting and presentation of the Continental Disability Strategy.

SECTION FOUR - SPECIFIC OBJECTIVESa) To provide technical support during the process of drafting the strategy.b) To facilitate the consultation roundtable for the development of the CDS.

SECTION FIVE - METHODOLOGYThe methodology should include desktop research, documentation reviews, policy analysis, programme analysis, interviews and documentation of best practises.

A roundtable will be organised by SADPD as a consultation mechanism to generate information for the development of the CDS. The consultancy will be required to facilitate and provide technical support during the roundtable.

SECTION SIX – MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES Study the concept note and develop reference documents and policy

proposals related to articles and provisions in the concept note. Develop documents and other related materials for inclusion in the

roundtable folders Facilitate the proceedings for the roundtable Consolidate inputs from groups, plenary and working commissions for input

into the CDS

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Develop a draft and final copy of post roundtable continental disability strategy inputs.

Provide technical support in the development of the final CDS for presentation to the AU Commission for Labour and Social Affairs.

The consultancy will be required to work full time with the SADPD from the 22nd

August to the 9th September 2011.

SECTION SEVEN - EXPECTED RESULTSa) A detailed report on proceedings of the roundtableb) Final copy of CDS ready for presentation to the commission of labour and

social affairs.c) Summarised PowerPoint presentation of the CDS

SECTION EIGHT - REQUIRED PROFILE OF THE CONSULTANTa) Degree in Political Science or other social development qualificationsb) Degree in disability studiesc) Degree in Human rights d) Excellent facilitation skillse) Experience in disability development and human rights work at policy

planning levelf) Good research skillsg) Ability to write and communicate in Englishh) Good editorial skills (grammar, spelling, references and etc)

SECTION NINE - TIMEFRAME / DEADLINESa) Deadline for submission of tenders: 5th August 2011 at 1700hrs central

African timeb) Commencement of consultancy assignment: 15th August 2011c) Draft report of the roundtable and CDS: 16th September 2011d) Submission of final report: 30th September 2011

SECTION TEN - TENDER SUBMISSIONPlease submit a detailed proposal detailing the following:a) Methodology for undertaking the studyb) Number of days required to complete the task as specified hereinc) Curriculum vitae of personnel to be responsible for the studyd) Itemised quotation for the overall assignment.

All submissions and enquiries should be directed to: Mr. Bhekie Jele – Executive Support Officer, bheki@africandecade.co.za , +27 788 781 922 and copied to Mr. Thomas Ongolo – Programme manager, ongolo@africandecade.co.za

SECTION ELEVEN – GENERAL PROVISIONSa) The Secretariat reserves the right not to appoint the lowest bidderb) The Secretariat’s policies with regard to, among other things, procurement,

diversity management and financial management will apply.

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