Advisor to the Disability Program

About Taawon

Taawon (Welfare Association) is an independent non-profit organization established in 1983 by a group of Palestinian business and intellectual figures to provide development and humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Palestine and Lebanon. Taawon aims at supporting Palestinians through a series of programs addressing education, social development, culture, youth empowerment as well as emergency and relief. It works in partnership with both international and local partners to promote a better future and improved living conditions for Palestinians, while preserving their heritage and identity.   

About the Disability Program at Taawon

For more than 20 years, Taawon has been providing support both technical and financial for several local partners active in the field of disability.  Long term collaboration has been established with six local partner organizations to help extend a wide range of services benefitting children and people with disabilities across all Palestinian refugee camps.  Taawon’s support involves the provision of needed rehabilitation and therapy services, supply of assistive devices, building institutional capacities, and contribute to integration of children with disability in education.

Scope of Work

Under the direct supervision of Country Director, and in close coordination with the Program Department, the Advisor to the Disability Program will take charge of enhancing the impact of the disability program within Taawon. He/she will set up strategic plan for the disability program, provide technical support and advise for improved delivery of services and higher impact as well as synergize efforts and outcomes among Taawon partners and concerned stakeholders. 

• Lead the disability program at Taawon; develop a comprehensive multi-year plan with clear objectives, outcomes, budget, and verifiable indicators that ensure a more effective, impactful, and measurable support by Taawon.  Ensure that Taawon’s activities, interventions, funding, and support in the disability sector are aligned with this plan.
• Provide strong leadership and extend technical support to Taawon’s local partners active in the disability field for the provision of quality, relevant and impactful services.
• Coordinate and supervise the implementation of a capacity building needs assessment of Taawon partners serving PWD/CWD. This includes: specify expected outcomes and outputs, review assessment methods and tools and follow up on practical implementation of needs assessment.  Contribute to the analysis of results; discuss and disseminate among the partners and contribute to recommendations for actions.
• Considering assessment results, contribute to the development of a comprehensive, participatory and results-oriented capacity building plan that is feasible and effective in bringing positive change towards improved service delivery and promoted living conditions for PWD/CWD. 
• Oversee and coordinate the implementation of the capacity building plan among all concerned partners including on the job mentoring and coaching.   Recommend innovative and creative approaches to capacity building that are interactive, practical and instil positive change in the practice of organizations serving PWD/CWD.
• Suggest capacity building providers – training institutions, universities, sister organizations, individual experts – and capacity building activities, tools and methods including activities for continuous learning and development.
• Liaise with the Palestinian Disability Forum to oversee and maintain the disability database and ensure it is regularly updated.  Support the visualization and dissemination of data for evidence-based interventions and effective advocacy for the rights of PWD/CWD.
• Develop a coordinated plan for the production and dissemination of communication material and educational tools (such as posters, slogans, pamphlets, guides, and other promotional material) relevant to different disability issues.  Contribute towards increased knowledge among practitioners, PWD and parents of CWD, community members and other stakeholders active in the disability field.
• Support the concerned partners improve the educational and awareness raising dimension within their activities. 
• Continuously liaise and coordinate with the Taawon partners and share relevant information and findings.  Organize and facilitate coordination meetings and technical workshops for the effective development and implementation of the disability program.
• Conduct regular visits to Taawon partners’ premises and centres. Assess the different services delivered for PWD/CWD, identify opportunities for enhancement, and recommend measures to improve coverage and quality of services for future programming.
• Improve disaggregated data collection and reporting on implemented activities to better reflect outcomes by different parameters.
• Recommend new interventions that can add value and further improve the provision of services to PWD/CWD. Provide advice for enhanced integration of children with disability in education and means to reduce dependency through strengthening sustainable parental capacities and skills.
• Produce relevant reports as required by funding organizations.  Ensure program delivery is consistent with donor’s requirements and conditions.
• Support and contribute to the development of information and communication material particularly what is relevant to the disability program within Taawon.
• Organize and document all communication related to the disability program.  Maintain proper and up-to-date filing of all relevant documents including budgets, reports, letters, and communication material.

Coordination tasks

• Liaise and continuously coordinate with Taawon local partners and the Palestinian Disability Forum. 
• Establish positive collaboration between relevant local partners and external third parties
• Liaise with the different concerned team members at Taawon in Lebanon and HQ
• Represent Taawon in relevant conferences and meetings as required
• Undertake regular travel within Lebanon and to the Palestinian refugee camps

Required skills, experience, and knowledge: 

• Degree in Social Sciences, Public Health, Development Studies, or similar fields.
• A minimum of six years of relevant work experience including experience working in the disability sector
• Experience in program development and management and knowledge of development concepts
• Proven capacity to liaise with a wide range of partners including the ability to work cooperatively
• Skilled in program design, and project planning; accurate and detail-oriented
• High work ethics and committed to professional development
• Excellent organizational and communication skills
• Openness, flexibility, and ability to manage complexities in a positive and constructive attitude 
• Proficiency in English and Arabic both oral and written with good writing skill
• Willingness to work in the Palestinian refugee camps across all Lebanon
• Knowledge of the Palestinian refugee context in Lebanon is an asset