Research Assistant

Update

The UN Volunteer will support a study focused on the socio-economic vulnerabilities of persons with disabilities in India. The purpose of this study is to conduct a comprehensive situational analysis of persons with disabilities in the domain of health, education, and vocational/skilling and livelihoods. The study will deep-dive into three thematic areas: 1) understanding the vulnerabilities experienced by persons with psychosocial disabilities, 2) understanding risk and generating evidence on the impact of disasters and climate change on persons with disabilities, and 3) assessing the levels of participation, access, and utilization, as well as the barriers to social protection benefits and entitlements for persons with disabilities. This study will be conducted in 5 states of India. This assignment aims to gather data, analyze trends, and contribute to developing strategies that enhance resilience and inclusion for persons with disabilities.

Under the direct supervision of Disability Rights Officer, UN RCO, the UN University Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:
• Coordination Plan/Matrix Creation: Assist the team in creating a coordination plan/matrix. Facilitate timely communication among stakeholders, including UN agencies, expert groups, technical teams, and government and non-government stakeholders.
• Data/Research Compilation and Documentation: Collect relevant data, information, research studies, legislation, and programmes to support secondary research. Document all deliberations and prepare briefing notes on various thematic areas.
• Progress Tracking and Updates: Support the team in tracking the study's progress and stage-wise deliverables from each stakeholder to ensure adherence to deadlines by internal and external partners.
• Ethics Committee Reporting: Assist in preparing timely updates for the Central Ethics Com-mittee (under RPwD Act 2016) and the Technical Advisory Committee as required.
• Stakeholder Analysis: Support in comprehensive stakeholder mapping for the team and document good practices in the disability sector, including support networks for persons with disabilities.
• Internal Database Creation: Compile various databases to support the inclusion of persons with disabilities, including a list of sign language interpreters and service providers, organizations promoting the employment of persons with disabilities, and businesses owned by or employing persons with disabilities to support their participation in UN tenders and consultancies.
• Executive Documentation Support: Assist in preparing various executive documents, in-cluding meeting minutes, action points, and narrative reports featuring human-interest sto-ries and testimonies from beneficiaries and stakeholders.
• Other Related Tasks: Perform any other related tasks as required or assigned by the supervisor.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:
• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by read-ing relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for in-stance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
• Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities;
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publica-tions/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers;
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.