National Consultant to conduct the analysis on extra cost for children with disabilities in Albania
Unicef CHAD
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**Job no:**
591577
**Contract type:**
Consultant
**Duty Station:**
Tirana
**Level:**
Consultancy
**Location:**
Albania
**Categories:**
Child Protection, Disability
UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.
At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.
UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture., coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.
Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.
**For every child,
*the right to Growth and Development!***
The National Strategy on Social Protection 2024-2030 aims to address issues of poverty, social exclusion and advancing the reforms in the area of integrated social care services, disability assessment reform, provision of social care services, deinstitutionalization of care.
The strategy underlines the role of local government in the provision of social care services, including services for children with disabilities. Furthermore, the strategy aims at further consolidating the provision of social care services at the local level, strengthening the mandate and capacities of local government units to local social planning and provision of social services and financing with the funds from central budget, local budget and through other partnerships with the public or private sectors. Furthermore, it notes the importance of expanding specialized services and shared services at the regional level. The strategy has set a priority in continuing to strengthen the disability assessment reform and increasing the access and adequacy of services for children with disabilities.
Albania has ratified the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities and has established a National Plan of Action for People with Disabilities (2021-2025) which is under revision and defines a number of areas and actions supporting children and adults with disabilities. UNICEF has been supporting the Government of Albania to transform the system of disability assessment and status determination and to optimize social protection measures for children with disabilities (CWD). However, many families raising children with disabilities still face substantial extra costs, often equating to nearly half of their income, driven by specialized equipment, therapies, higher energy usage, and increased care needs. These added expenses, coupled with reduced income potential for caregivers, frequently lead to higher rates of poverty and exclusion.
In order to further expand the fiscal space for ensuring that children with disabilities and their families will be supported to fulfill their needs, UNICEF is hiring a consultant to undertake a costing analysis and generate evidence in support of the Government-led transformation of the disability support system. Such evidence is critical to formulate a package of support that would allow for the effective matching of the needs of children with a more individualized support system that addresses specific needs of children with disabilities in Albania. It is important to note that addressing disability-related costs faced by families requires a set of inclusive policies that aim to reduce barriers in the environment that generate costs while, at the same time, increasing and optimizing the support provided.
**How can you make a difference?**
The National Consultant will be undertaking the following key tasks and prepare:
- Inception report.
- Desk review of relevant studies, analysis, legal and normative framework related to children with disabilities and their entitlements in Albania.
- Facilitate Participatory Consultations
- Organize meetings/ semistructured interviews with the representatives of MoHSW, State Social Service, multidisciplinary commissions for disability assessment, CSOs representatives.
- Organize FGD with parents, children and persons with disabilities to explore their experiences and validate unment and met needs and identify costs covered by the state programme.
- Prepare a draft report on the consultation process and findings
- Conduct market research to identify goods and services
- Conduct market research to consolidate the costs; identify goods and services and determine their value based on their costs
- Prepare the analysis, share and consult with key stakeholders
- Develop child profiles.
- These profiles will serve to illustrate the reality of those combined costs with details about monthly recurrent or yearly costs as well as more infrequent costs such as Assistive Technologies or the need for home adaptation
- Validation and Finalization
- Present the final findings and analysis through a workshop to representatives of MoHSW, MoF and disability rights organizations focused on children.
- Finalize the analysis
**Specific Deliverables Include**
**Deliverable 1**
: Inception Report (6–8 pages) presenting a clear and detailed methodology, stakeholder mapping, list of documents for review, finalized data collection tools, and a validated workplan with timeline and key deliverables.
Task: Conduct the inception phase by defining the overall methodology, mapping key stakeholders, identifying documents for desk review, developing data collection instruments (KIIs and FGDs), and preparing a detailed timeline with milestones.
Timeline for completion: 2 working days - 30-31 March
**Deliverable 2**
: Desk Review Analysis (6–8 pages) summarizing key findings, gaps, overlaps, and implications for budgeting and service provision.
Task: Conduct desk review of legal, policy, administrative and programmatic documents related to cash transfers and care services for children with disabilities.
Timeline for completion: 7 working days; 1–9 April 2026
**Deliverable 3:**
Excel file mapping budget allocations by category (assistive devices, personal assistance, rehabilitation, health, accessibility, etc.); Excel file listing required goods and services by disability type and support level; Estimated % of children requiring each category of support; Analytical narrative summary (8–10 pages) explaining methodology, assumptions, and findings.
Tasks: Map public budget allocations and identify required goods and services for children with disabilities by type of disability and level of support needs (low/high), including estimation of coverage gaps.
Timeline for completion: 12 working days, 10-25 April
**Deliverable 4:**
FGD summary report (5–6 pages) highlighting validated needs, existing services, and gaps. Updated Excel files reflecting validated and refined lists of available and required goods/services by support level
Tasks: Design and facilitate consultations and focus group discussions to validate findings and identify service gaps and needs.
Timeline for completion: 10 working days, 28 April – 9 May 2026
**Deliverable 5:**
Costing Excel model with unit costs, assumptions, and total estimated costs per category. Narrative summary explaining costing methodology, data sources, and limitations.
Tasks: Estimate costs of required goods and services using market survey and secondary national data (HBCS, Census).
Timeline for completion: 11 working days, 12-26 May
**Deliverable 6:**
3–5 child case profiles (3–5 pages each) including disability type, support needs, required services, and total annual estimated cost per child.
Tasks: Develop model case profiles of children with disabilities illustrating typical support packages and associated inclusion costs.
Timeline for completion: 8 working days; 27 May – 5 June
**Deliverable 7:**
Workshop agenda and presentation (PPT). Brief workshop report summarizing key recommendations and agreed next steps.
Tasks: Organize and facilitate validation workshop to present findings and gather feedback
Timeline for completion: 2 working days; 9–10 June
**Deliverable 8:**
Final Study Report (50–60 pages). Policy Brief with key findings, cost implications, and policy recommendations
Tasks: Draft final study report and policy brief incorporating stakeholder feedback and comments from UNICEF and relevant ministry.
Timeline for completion: 8 working days, 11 - 20 June
*If you have any question regarding the TORs for this assignment, contact UNICEF HR team at epernaska@unicef.org.*
**To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…**
**Minimum Requirements**
- Advanced university degree (master’s or higher) in Human Sciences, Social Policy, Psychology, Human/Child Rights, Public Policy, Sociology, or a related field relevant
- At least 10 years of progressive professional experience in the field of social protection with a focus on disability inclusion social protection policies and programmes.
- Proven experience in conducting policy analysis, and advising on inclusive disability social protection systems, with a special focus on children with disabilities both on cash and care services.
- Demonstrate experience of the Albanian social protection and public finance, including the roles of national and local institutions, existing service models, and relevant legal and policy frameworks in the area of inclusive disability social protection system.
- Demonstrate experience on EU and international standards and practices, UNICEF policies related to inclusive disability social protection system, especially focused on children with disabilities.
- Experience with similar exercises in other countries and market research will be a value added to this consultancy
- Knowledge of English and Albanian.
**For every Child, you demonstrate...**
UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values
**The UNICEF Competencies Required For This Post Are…**
- Builds and maintains partnerships
- Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
- Drive to achieve results for impact
- Innovates and embraces change
- Manages ambiguity and complexity
- Thinks and acts strategically
- Works collaboratively with others
[
*add the 8th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role*
].
Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.
UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.
UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.
UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.
**Remarks**
As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.
Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.
UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.
Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.
All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.
Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.
**Advertised:**
11 Mar 2026 Central Europe Standard Time
**Deadline:**
20 Mar 2026 Central Europe Standard Time
Back to search results Apply now
Whatsapp Facebook LinkedIn Email App
**Job no:**
591577
**Contract type:**
Consultant
**Duty Station:**
Tirana
**Level:**
Consultancy
**Location:**
Albania
**Categories:**
Child Protection, Disability
UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.
At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.
UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture., coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.
Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.
**For every child,
*the right to Growth and Development!***
The National Strategy on Social Protection 2024-2030 aims to address issues of poverty, social exclusion and advancing the reforms in the area of integrated social care services, disability assessment reform, provision of social care services, deinstitutionalization of care.
The strategy underlines the role of local government in the provision of social care services, including services for children with disabilities. Furthermore, the strategy aims at further consolidating the provision of social care services at the local level, strengthening the mandate and capacities of local government units to local social planning and provision of social services and financing with the funds from central budget, local budget and through other partnerships with the public or private sectors. Furthermore, it notes the importance of expanding specialized services and shared services at the regional level. The strategy has set a priority in continuing to strengthen the disability assessment reform and increasing the access and adequacy of services for children with disabilities.
Albania has ratified the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities and has established a National Plan of Action for People with Disabilities (2021-2025) which is under revision and defines a number of areas and actions supporting children and adults with disabilities. UNICEF has been supporting the Government of Albania to transform the system of disability assessment and status determination and to optimize social protection measures for children with disabilities (CWD). However, many families raising children with disabilities still face substantial extra costs, often equating to nearly half of their income, driven by specialized equipment, therapies, higher energy usage, and increased care needs. These added expenses, coupled with reduced income potential for caregivers, frequently lead to higher rates of poverty and exclusion.
In order to further expand the fiscal space for ensuring that children with disabilities and their families will be supported to fulfill their needs, UNICEF is hiring a consultant to undertake a costing analysis and generate evidence in support of the Government-led transformation of the disability support system. Such evidence is critical to formulate a package of support that would allow for the effective matching of the needs of children with a more individualized support system that addresses specific needs of children with disabilities in Albania. It is important to note that addressing disability-related costs faced by families requires a set of inclusive policies that aim to reduce barriers in the environment that generate costs while, at the same time, increasing and optimizing the support provided.
**How can you make a difference?**
The National Consultant will be undertaking the following key tasks and prepare:
- Inception report.
- Desk review of relevant studies, analysis, legal and normative framework related to children with disabilities and their entitlements in Albania.
- Facilitate Participatory Consultations
- Organize meetings/ semistructured interviews with the representatives of MoHSW, State Social Service, multidisciplinary commissions for disability assessment, CSOs representatives.
- Organize FGD with parents, children and persons with disabilities to explore their experiences and validate unment and met needs and identify costs covered by the state programme.
- Prepare a draft report on the consultation process and findings
- Conduct market research to identify goods and services
- Conduct market research to consolidate the costs; identify goods and services and determine their value based on their costs
- Prepare the analysis, share and consult with key stakeholders
- Develop child profiles.
- These profiles will serve to illustrate the reality of those combined costs with details about monthly recurrent or yearly costs as well as more infrequent costs such as Assistive Technologies or the need for home adaptation
- Validation and Finalization
- Present the final findings and analysis through a workshop to representatives of MoHSW, MoF and disability rights organizations focused on children.
- Finalize the analysis
**Specific Deliverables Include**
**Deliverable 1**
: Inception Report (6–8 pages) presenting a clear and detailed methodology, stakeholder mapping, list of documents for review, finalized data collection tools, and a validated workplan with timeline and key deliverables.
Task: Conduct the inception phase by defining the overall methodology, mapping key stakeholders, identifying documents for desk review, developing data collection instruments (KIIs and FGDs), and preparing a detailed timeline with milestones.
Timeline for completion: 2 working days - 30-31 March
**Deliverable 2**
: Desk Review Analysis (6–8 pages) summarizing key findings, gaps, overlaps, and implications for budgeting and service provision.
Task: Conduct desk review of legal, policy, administrative and programmatic documents related to cash transfers and care services for children with disabilities.
Timeline for completion: 7 working days; 1–9 April 2026
**Deliverable 3:**
Excel file mapping budget allocations by category (assistive devices, personal assistance, rehabilitation, health, accessibility, etc.); Excel file listing required goods and services by disability type and support level; Estimated % of children requiring each category of support; Analytical narrative summary (8–10 pages) explaining methodology, assumptions, and findings.
Tasks: Map public budget allocations and identify required goods and services for children with disabilities by type of disability and level of support needs (low/high), including estimation of coverage gaps.
Timeline for completion: 12 working days, 10-25 April
**Deliverable 4:**
FGD summary report (5–6 pages) highlighting validated needs, existing services, and gaps. Updated Excel files reflecting validated and refined lists of available and required goods/services by support level
Tasks: Design and facilitate consultations and focus group discussions to validate findings and identify service gaps and needs.
Timeline for completion: 10 working days, 28 April – 9 May 2026
**Deliverable 5:**
Costing Excel model with unit costs, assumptions, and total estimated costs per category. Narrative summary explaining costing methodology, data sources, and limitations.
Tasks: Estimate costs of required goods and services using market survey and secondary national data (HBCS, Census).
Timeline for completion: 11 working days, 12-26 May
**Deliverable 6:**
3–5 child case profiles (3–5 pages each) including disability type, support needs, required services, and total annual estimated cost per child.
Tasks: Develop model case profiles of children with disabilities illustrating typical support packages and associated inclusion costs.
Timeline for completion: 8 working days; 27 May – 5 June
**Deliverable 7:**
Workshop agenda and presentation (PPT). Brief workshop report summarizing key recommendations and agreed next steps.
Tasks: Organize and facilitate validation workshop to present findings and gather feedback
Timeline for completion: 2 working days; 9–10 June
**Deliverable 8:**
Final Study Report (50–60 pages). Policy Brief with key findings, cost implications, and policy recommendations
Tasks: Draft final study report and policy brief incorporating stakeholder feedback and comments from UNICEF and relevant ministry.
Timeline for completion: 8 working days, 11 - 20 June
*If you have any question regarding the TORs for this assignment, contact UNICEF HR team at epernaska@unicef.org.*
**To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…**
**Minimum Requirements**
- Advanced university degree (master’s or higher) in Human Sciences, Social Policy, Psychology, Human/Child Rights, Public Policy, Sociology, or a related field relevant
- At least 10 years of progressive professional experience in the field of social protection with a focus on disability inclusion social protection policies and programmes.
- Proven experience in conducting policy analysis, and advising on inclusive disability social protection systems, with a special focus on children with disabilities both on cash and care services.
- Demonstrate experience of the Albanian social protection and public finance, including the roles of national and local institutions, existing service models, and relevant legal and policy frameworks in the area of inclusive disability social protection system.
- Demonstrate experience on EU and international standards and practices, UNICEF policies related to inclusive disability social protection system, especially focused on children with disabilities.
- Experience with similar exercises in other countries and market research will be a value added to this consultancy
- Knowledge of English and Albanian.
**For every Child, you demonstrate...**
UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values
**The UNICEF Competencies Required For This Post Are…**
- Builds and maintains partnerships
- Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
- Drive to achieve results for impact
- Innovates and embraces change
- Manages ambiguity and complexity
- Thinks and acts strategically
- Works collaboratively with others
[
*add the 8th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role*
].
Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.
UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.
UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.
UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.
**Remarks**
As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.
Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.
UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.
Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.
All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.
Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.
**Advertised:**
11 Mar 2026 Central Europe Standard Time
**Deadline:**
20 Mar 2026 Central Europe Standard Time
Back to search results Apply now
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