The Disability and Human Rights Intern under the direct supervision of Rukungiri Association of Persons with Disability (RAPD) Chairperson, will execute his/her internship activities through providing technical support to RAPD in; preparation and conducting a comprehensive community needs assessment focused on issues that constrain persons with disabilities from accessing the socio-economic development services in Rukungiri Municipality, and formulating an advocacy strategy.
Unlike similar internships, this work focuses on providing a high level of intensive support to a group of professional development workers and less on the cultural, language and community immersion components associated with many “voluntourism” internships. This internship is intended to mirror the expectations and responsibilities of an entry level development position.
The basic responsibilities of this position will include; designing a research study (a comprehensive needs assessment plan on economic advocacy project), conducting the research study, compiling the research report, training RAPD staff and volunteers on the best practices of using the research findings to formulate human rights initiatives, empowering RAPD staff and volunteers on human rights programming and integrating PWDs in socio-economic development activities, designing an advocacy strategy and the development of a one year socio-economic advocacy implementation plan.
The Disability and Human Rights project is aiming at advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities in Rukungiri Municipality as stipulated in the United Nations Convention on the Right of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The project will identify and gauge community perception on the most abused rights of persons with disabilities in Rukungiri Municipality. The community members shall be given an opportunity to brainstorm on the best practices that can viably address the plight.
In general, this position is structured so that the intern can provide support on Human Rights programming initiatives and effectively highlight the challenges faced by persons with disabilities, the effects and the root causes which are lack of income generating initiatves. RAPD being an organisation of persons with disabilities and most of them having low levels of education, the implementing team may have limited capacity to effectively defend the rights of persons with disabilities that they lead. Their capacity to interpret the convention on the right of persons with disabilities is limited, they cannot effectively defend and advocate for the vulnerable persons with disabilities. Therefore, this internship position needs a high level of intensive support, volunteerism and a human rights professional to empower a group of persons that work towards having a dignity for every person with disability where PWDs have
better, independent and economically sustainable livelihoods.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
A. Conduct a comprehensive needs assessment on issues that constrain persons with disabilities in accessing the social economic development services in Rukungiri Municipality (approx. 40%).
B. Design an advocacy strategy to aid Rukungiri Association of Persons with Disabilities to advocate for equal rights of persons with disabilities (Approx. 30%).
C. Other Duties and Activities (not to exceed 20% of the time)
Expected Outcomes:
Supervision and Guidance:
The DHRI will function under the direct supervision of the Chairperson Board and in cooperation with other staff and volunteers. With an expectation that the DHRI can carry out most of the internship activities independently with guidance and training provided during
induction and orientation.
Desired Qualifications:
Other:
The intern will work for 7 hours per day from Monday – Friday. The intern may be required to work for extra hours to achieve expected target and the implementing team will have a prior discussion with him/her.
Transport means is a challenge for RAPD so the intern will be walking from the host home to RAPD office and will use public transport to carry out community activities.
Unlike similar internships, this work focuses on providing a high level of intensive support to a group of professional development workers and less on the cultural, language and community immersion components associated with many “voluntourism” internships. This internship is intended to mirror the expectations and responsibilities of an entry level development position.
The basic responsibilities of this position will include; designing a research study (a comprehensive needs assessment plan on economic advocacy project), conducting the research study, compiling the research report, training RAPD staff and volunteers on the best practices of using the research findings to formulate human rights initiatives, empowering RAPD staff and volunteers on human rights programming and integrating PWDs in socio-economic development activities, designing an advocacy strategy and the development of a one year socio-economic advocacy implementation plan.
The Disability and Human Rights project is aiming at advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities in Rukungiri Municipality as stipulated in the United Nations Convention on the Right of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The project will identify and gauge community perception on the most abused rights of persons with disabilities in Rukungiri Municipality. The community members shall be given an opportunity to brainstorm on the best practices that can viably address the plight.
In general, this position is structured so that the intern can provide support on Human Rights programming initiatives and effectively highlight the challenges faced by persons with disabilities, the effects and the root causes which are lack of income generating initiatves. RAPD being an organisation of persons with disabilities and most of them having low levels of education, the implementing team may have limited capacity to effectively defend the rights of persons with disabilities that they lead. Their capacity to interpret the convention on the right of persons with disabilities is limited, they cannot effectively defend and advocate for the vulnerable persons with disabilities. Therefore, this internship position needs a high level of intensive support, volunteerism and a human rights professional to empower a group of persons that work towards having a dignity for every person with disability where PWDs have
better, independent and economically sustainable livelihoods.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
A. Conduct a comprehensive needs assessment on issues that constrain persons with disabilities in accessing the social economic development services in Rukungiri Municipality (approx. 40%).
- The intern will be introduced to the community needs assessment concept by the country FCDE staff and he/she will integrate his/her understanding to involve RAPD staff and volunteers to design a plan for conducting a comprehensive needs assessment in Rukungiri Municipality a chief town of Rukungiri district
- Work with RADP staff to develop needs assessment data collection tools and test their validity and reliability
- Support RAPD in conducting a comprehensive needs assessment in Rukungiri Municipality
- Work with RAPD staff and volunteers to compile a report of the comprehensive needs assessment and disseminate it to the relevant stakeholders
- Building the capacity of RADP staff on the best practices of using the needs assessment findings in designing community based projects
B. Design an advocacy strategy to aid Rukungiri Association of Persons with Disabilities to advocate for equal rights of persons with disabilities (Approx. 30%).
- Conduct training assessment of RAPD staff and volunteers on disability and human right related issues
- Create a brief report on the capacity of RADP staff and volunteers on disability and human rights issues
- Provide a three days training for RAPD management and leadership in advocacy approaches
- Support RADP in identification of the best strategies that can create an enabling environment of persons with disabilities in Rukungiri Municipality
- Use the strategies to come up with an advocacy strategy that has specific goals, objectives, indicators, activities, and outcomes
- Support RAPD to develop an M&E framework for the advocacy strategy
- Support RAPD to a develop 12 month action plan for implementing the advocacy strategy
C. Other Duties and Activities (not to exceed 20% of the time)
- Do other organization activities assigned by the Chairperson Board of Directors and providing mentorship on basics on organization development
- Building the capacity of RADP staff on internet usage, formulation of social media account and ensure ownership by the organization members
- Provide basic skills on writing skills
- Creating at least two linkages with potential disability organizations either in Uganda or the intern’s home country
Expected Outcomes:
- A comprehensive needs assessment conducted, and a report well documented and disseminated to the relevant stakeholders
- RAPD staff and the board able to design disability and human right projects based on community needs
- RAPD staff and volunteers will experience clear understanding of advocacy
- An advocacy strategy developed and being implemented
Supervision and Guidance:
The DHRI will function under the direct supervision of the Chairperson Board and in cooperation with other staff and volunteers. With an expectation that the DHRI can carry out most of the internship activities independently with guidance and training provided during
induction and orientation.
Desired Qualifications:
- Education: Pursuing or achieved a university degree in Social Work or Humanitarian studies or a related field
- Language Proficiency: Fluency in spoken and written English.
- Knowledge: Solid working knowledge of community development and Uganda's culture/history/current events; demonstrated ability to maintain working level relationship with NGO officials and families in Western Uganda, demonstrated experience and skills in public speaking, training or educational events and knowledge.
- Skills and Abilities: Ability to effectively volunteer and support the most vulnerable persons with disabilities in Rukungiri Municipality in the Western Uganda, organizational and administrative skills, self-motivated and commitment to work effectively as part of an inter-cultural team, and excellent. Interpersonal skills.
Other:
The intern will work for 7 hours per day from Monday – Friday. The intern may be required to work for extra hours to achieve expected target and the implementing team will have a prior discussion with him/her.
Transport means is a challenge for RAPD so the intern will be walking from the host home to RAPD office and will use public transport to carry out community activities.
