Disability and Inclusion Specialist

International Rescue Committee · UG

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The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

The IRC and its consortium partners have been selected by British High Commission (BHC) Kampala for the Refugee Support, Empowerment and Transformation (ReSET) Programme, pillar 1. ReSET programme aims to make Uganda’s refugee response more sustainable and locally owned, while protecting refugees’ rights, delivering lifesaving aid, and supporting self-reliance and resilience.

The IRC leads Pillar 1 (Lifesaving Assistance) through a local consortium of Refugee-Led Organisations Network (RELON), Transcultural Psychosocial Organisation (TPO) Uganda and Uganda Network on Law, Ethics and HIV/AIDS (UGANET). Pillar 1 meets core needs, such as food security and protection, for the most vulnerable refugees (typically new arrivals) and host communities facing acute shocks. It applies a cash-first principle, primarily multipurpose cash linked to protection and referral systems.

ReSET will improve the ability of the most vulnerable refugees and host communities to meet core needs, withstand shocks, and avoid negative coping strategies, along with better community cohesion, more resilient local economies, and a more efficient, effective, and sustainable refugee response. The programme is built on vulnerability-based targeting, a “no wrong door” approach, closed-loop referrals, community-informed accountability, and the progressive transfer of leadership to government, national organizations and refugee-led organizations (RLOs). Stabilized households will be voluntarily connected to ReSET Pillar 2 and other self-reliance opportunities, with a route back to humanitarian assistance if vulnerability re-emerges.

The programme covers 10 refugee settlements across 4 regions (West Nile, Mid-Western, Northern, South-Western), in close coordination with OPM, UN agencies, INGOs, national NGOs and district local governments.

JOB SUMMARY

The Disability and Inclusion Specialist will make sure that persons with disabilities and other groups at risk of exclusion (including on the basis of gender, age, ethnicity, nationality or displacement status), including refugees and host community members, can meaningfully access, participate in, feel dignified and benefit from every part of ReSET Pillar 1 on an equal basis with others. The specialist will lead the technical approach to disability and wider inclusion in targeting, cash assistance, protection, referral and accountability, and will work with all consortium partners as a consortium lead on disability and inclusion, accountable for reviewing program processes and adapting programming approaches as needed.

The role combines technical leadership, hands-on capacity strengthening and partnership. The specialist will work closely with Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), refugee-led organizations, disability service providers and community groups representing other people at risk of exclusion, and will make sure that persons with disabilities and other at-risk groups help shape how the programme is designed, delivered and reviewed. The specialist will also generate evidence and learning on what works for inclusive cash and protection, with a particular focus on disability, in Uganda's refugee response.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Strategy and technical leadership

• Develop and lead the implementation of a Pillar 1 disability and inclusion strategy and action plan. Align it with FCDO requirements, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Guidelines on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action, the Humanitarian Inclusion Standards for Older People and People with Disabilities, relevant gender equality and protection mainstreaming standards and the IRC's Safe, Inclusive and Transformative (SIT) Programming approaches.

• Advise programme leadership and consortium partners on disability and wider inclusion in programme design, adaptation and decision-making.

• Support the integration of disability and wider inclusion into work plans, budgets, risk management and donor reporting.

• Validate the GEDSI analysis with Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), women-led refugee organisations (WROs) and refugee-led organisations; establish the baseline accessibility audit and disability data; and agree inclusion standards with all consortium partners before client-facing delivery begins.

• Conduct quarterly reviews of targeting, registration, cash delivery, referral and feedback outcomes for bias and exclusion; with recommendations and actions for program adaptation.

2. Inclusive targeting, registration and cash assistance

• Review targeting and vulnerability criteria so that persons with disabilities, and households that include them, are identified fairly and are not left out, alongside other groups at heightened risk such as female-headed households, older persons, adolescents, unaccompanied and separated children, and people at risk because of ethnicity or nationality. Use appropriate tools such as the Washington Group Short Set of Questions and age, gender and diversity analysis.

• Work with the cash and market-based programming teams to identify and reduce barriers in registration, verification, delivery mechanisms, financial service providers and post-distribution monitoring that affect persons with disabilities and other at-risk groups.

• Advise on how to account for the additional costs of reasonable accommodations, such as assistive devices, transport and personal assistance, in transfer values and in complementary support, and on the specific risks and needs of other at-risk groups (for example, safe access to cash for women and girls).

3. Protection, referral and case management

• Strengthen links between cash assistance and protection services so that persons with disabilities and other at-risk groups can reach case management, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), gender-based violence (GBV) response, child protection and legal aid.

• Help develop and maintain accessible, up-to-date referral pathways to specialist services, including rehabilitation, assistive technology, health, education and livelihoods providers.

• Work with TPO Uganda, UGANET and IRC protection teams to make case management and psychosocial support inclusive. Support them on safeguarding and on the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (PSEAH) for persons with disabilities and other at-risk groups.

4. Partnership and participation

• Identify and build relationships with OPDs, disability-focused organizations and other organizations representing groups at risk of exclusion, such as women's and youth groups at national, district and settlement levels. Create regular channels for them to take part in programme planning, monitoring and review.

• Make sure OPDs and other representative organizations are involved in validating the Phase 1 analyses and take part in targeting validation, accessibility review and programme governance, so that they help shape decisions and are not only consulted

• Work with RELON and its member organizations to strengthen the leadership and participation of refugees with disabilities and other at-risk groups, including women and youth.

• Represent the IRC and ReSET in relevant disability, inclusion, gender, protection and cash working groups and coordination forums. Coordinate with OPM, district local governments, UN agencies and other partners.

5. Capacity strengthening

• Assess the disability and inclusion capacity of IRC staff and consortium partners, and design and deliver a practical capacity strengthening plan.

• Conduct training, coaching and on-the-job support on topics such as inclusive communication, disability-sensitive data collection, age, disability inclusion in humanitarian actions core concepts and approaches, gender and diversity analysis, accessibility, reasonable accommodations and respectful engagement with persons with disabilities.

• Develop practical tools, checklists and guidance notes for field teams, and adapt them to local languages and contexts.

6. Accountability and community engagement

• Work with the accountability team to make feedback and complaints mechanisms accessible and safe for persons with disabilities, including people with sensory, intellectual and psychosocial disabilities, as well as other at-risk groups.

• Make sure information about eligibility, entitlements and services reaches persons with disabilities and other at-risk groups in accessible formats and languages.

• Help community outreach volunteers and staff identify and reach persons with disabilities and other at-risk individuals who are often hidden from services or face stigma.

• Monitor the feedback and the complaints so proper actions are taken including program approaches adaptation

7. Monitoring, evaluation, learning and reporting

• Work with the MEAL team to add disability-, sex- and age-disaggregated indicators (in addition to other relevant indicators) and data collection to the programme results framework.

• Track access, participation and outcomes for persons with disabilities and other at-risk groups, and use the findings to adapt programming.

• Document and share good practice and lessons learned on disability-inclusive and wider inclusive cash and protection with FCDO, the consortium and the wider sector.

• Contribute to donor reports, case studies and learning products that portray persons with disabilities and other at-risk groups with dignity and agency.

8. Other duties

• Contribute to the IRC Uganda country program's wider inclusion work, and support proposal development where relevant.

• Carry out any other duties assigned by the line manager that fit the scope of the role.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in social sciences, development studies, disability studies, gender studies, public health, human rights or a related field. A master's degree is an advantage.

Professional Experience:

• At least 5 years of progressive experience in disability inclusion, wider social inclusion (including gender, age and diversity), protection or inclusive programming in humanitarian or development settings, preferably in refugee contexts.

• Demonstrated experience of mainstreaming disability and wider inclusion into programs, ideally cash assistance or social protection programs.

• Experience working in partnership with OPDs and local or refugee-led organizations.

• Experience of building the capacity of staff and partners, and of working in consortium or multi-partner settings.

• Experience of FCDO or other institutional donor-funded programs is an advantage.

• Familiarity with the Ugandan refugee response, including its policy framework and coordination structures, is a strong advantage.

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of disability rights frameworks and standards, including the CRPD, the IASC Guidelines and the Humanitarian Inclusion Standards, as well as of wider inclusion, gender equality and protection mainstreaming principles.

• Knowledge of disability-inclusive data tools, including the Washington Group questions, and of disability-, sex- and age-disaggregated monitoring and age, gender and diversity analysis.

• Understanding of cash-based programming, protection mainstreaming and referral systems.

• Strong Knowledge of disability inclusion core concepts and approaches such as inclusive communication, accessibility and reasonable accommodations, accessibility audits, and others.

• Strong training, facilitation and coaching skills.

• Strong written and spoken English, and the ability to write clear reports, guidance and learning products. Knowledge of local languages spoken in the settlements is an advantage.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office. Experience with data analysis or case management tools is an advantage.

Leadership and Interpersonal Skills

• Ability to influence and advise colleagues and partners at all levels without direct line authority.

• Respectful, empathetic and culturally sensitive approach to working with persons with disabilities, refugees and host communities.

• Ability to build trust and collaborative relationships with local organizations, government and donors.

• Strong planning and organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities across several locations.

• Willingness to travel frequently to field sites and to work in remote settings.

Core Competencies:

• Commitment to the IRC mission and values: acts in line with the IRC's values of integrity, service, accountability and equality. Treats all people with dignity and respect, and shows commitment to safeguarding, PSEAH and zero tolerance for abuse.

• Accountability to affected persons: puts clients at the center of decisions and makes sure that persons with disabilities and other at-risk groups can take part in and influence the work that affects them.

• Partnership and collaboration: builds strong, equal working relationships with partners, communities and colleagues, and shares knowledge and credit openly.

• Communication: communicates clearly and respectfully in speech and writing, and adapts style and format to different audiences and access needs.

• Analytical thinking and problem solving: uses evidence and community insight to find barriers and develop practical solutions.

• Learning and adaptability: welcomes feedback, reflects on practice and adjusts approaches as the context and needs change.

• Results orientation: plans carefully, meets deadlines and delivers quality results within budget and donor requirements.

• Cultural awareness and inclusion: works effectively with diverse people and challenges stigma and discrimination.

NB: This advert will close on 29-Oct-26 and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Professional Standards: All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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