Summary
Date Posted: Friday, August 05, 2022 , Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
Master of Science Scholarship in Monitoring of Organisations of People with Disabilities (OPDs) Participation in Development Programmes and Policies

The Assisting Living & Learning (ALL) Institute of Maynooth University and the International Disability Alliance (IDA) are pleased to announce that a Master of Science (MSc) Scholarship will be available for one student intending to commence MSc studies in 2022.
This Scholarship will bring a decisive contribution to monitoring global progress in advancing the rights of persons with disabilities to participate in decisions that concern them, through their representative organisations. The scholarship is in collaboration with and co-supported by IDA.

Background
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) under Article 4.3 mandates States to “closely consult with and actively involved persons with disabilities, including children with disabilities, through their representative organisations”, and to do so “in the development and implementation of legislation and policies to implement the Convention, and in other decision-making processes concerning issues relating to persons with disabilities”.
Though meaningful participation remains an unfulfilled promise, in recent years, major progress has been made in securing commitments to include persons with disabilities in development and humanitarian action, for example through the 2030 Agenda, the Sendai framework, the Global Disability Summit, or the recent UN Security Council resolution 2475. Accountability is now critical to ensure that pledges translate into action.
In order to monitor progress in realising these commitments, the International Disability Alliance, with technical research support from the ALL Institute, launched the IDA Global Survey to monitor OPDs Participation in policies and programmes.
The IDA Global Survey is the first ever OPD-driven accountability exercise for government, UN Agencies and UN Country Teams and INGOs, undertaken at the global level (read more on the IDA Global Survey here). The first iteration of this survey was launched in 2018 as a pilot version (see the report of the 1st survey here) and the 2nd Survey was launched in 2021 (see the report of the 2nd survey here). This provides a baseline and additional data to track OPDs’ perceptions of the progress with the obligations of duty bearers to consult and actively involve persons with disabilities in decision-making processes. The IDA Global Survey provides robust data collection to capture perceptions by OPDs of their levels of engagement in development and humanitarian action policies, programmes and initiatives.

Research
The research will build on an existing collaboration between the ALL Institute and IDA on the pilot version of the Global Survey and on the second Global Survey. The MSc research will expand on this work to undertake quantitative data analyses (including possible disaggregation and correlations), contribute to the development of an OPD participation index, and monitor progress through undertaking another cycle of the Survey, in 2024.
The outcome of the research work will feed into IDA global and regional level advocacy, to promote meaningful participation of OPDs in decision-making as an essential step towards reflecting their priorities and advancing all human rights for all persons with disabilities.
The researcher will be supported by a multidisciplinary supervision team from within Maynooth University, and external experts from IDA. Academic supervision will be coordinated by a member of the supervisory team at MU. They will also be supported in acquiring strong technical expertise in online data tools and analytics, with regards to accessible survey design, delivery and analysis.
The MSc oversight will be jointly ensured by Maynooth University together with IDA as the owner of the Survey and its use to advance the rights of persons with disabilities.
The MSc will be conducted by publication; involving publication of papers and production of a thesis combining papers published over the two-year term of the scholarship.

The scholarship will entail:
1. The scholarship will be for 2 years, subject to annual review.
2. Full annual tuition fees.
3. A fixed maintenance award of €16,000 per annum.
4. Participation in Departmental activities is encouraged and where appropriate may include opportunities to teach. These activities will be carried out under the direction of the Head of Department, or a member of staff nominated by the Head.
5. The scholarship will be awarded to newly registered students only, for two years of study, subject to satisfactory annual review of progress in research.

Roles and Responsibilities
Technical Research
• To conduct relevant analyses from the dataset of the initial and subsequent iterations of the IDA Global Survey, including correlations and analyses using multiple variables of responses, in relation to the Global Survey objectives; preparing the dataset; providing technical support and interpretation of the data results, conducting additional analyses focused on a sub-set of data, and leading on the write-up of survey reports
• To support, under-supervision and in consultation with IDA and its members, the development of the methodology for an OPD Participation Index to serve as a marker for progress on realisation of Article 4.3 of the CRPD by governments and international cooperation stakeholders
• To support, under-supervision and in consultation with relevant stakeholders, the required adjustments to the questionnaire for the next iterations of the Global Survey to ensure quality and strength of the results
• To contribute to training, presentations, dissemination of the results (including in accessible formats) and as relevant to technical partnerships with similar complementary surveys and to the advocacy work of IDA with UN agencies, INGOs or with IDA Members
Qualifications Required:
The scholarship will be awarded on the basis of the qualifications and research potential of the applicant in relation to the purpose of the research.
• Scholarship support eligibility: full-time research degree student commencing MSc programme of study in 2022 (i.e., new entrants)
• First class or 2.1 honours in their primary degree
• Prior studies in a relevant field. e.g. disability studies, international development, human rights, or behavioural sciences;
• Demonstrated interest in and knowledge of the rights of persons with disabilities, experience of active engagement with the disability rights movement
• Experience with quantitative data collection and data analyses, for example the use of SPSS or other analyses software.
• Excellent analytical and writing skills.
• Experience or demonstrated willingness to engage with diverse teams including scholars, web-based developers, and persons with disabilities and their representative organizations (OPDs);
• Excellent oral communication and writing skills in English; knowledge of another official UN language or International Sign Language would be an asset.
• Persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Terms and Conditions
The scholarship may be held by new entrant full-time registered students only.
Students do not have to be based at Maynooth, but a schedule of attendance should be agreed with the supervisors (Prof Mac MacLachlan and Prof Delia Ferri) prior to the commencement of the scholarship.
Maintenance Award
A fixed stipend of €16,000 per annum will be offered. This will be paid in twelve equal instalments from January to December. The scholarship will be awarded for the expected duration of the studies, up to a maximum of two years, subject to satisfactory annual review of progress in research under the university’s normal processes.
There will be no pension entitlements arising from the scholarship. Scholarship beneficiaries may not undertake any other substantive paid work within the university.


Education Requirement: No Requirements

Job Experience: No Requirements

Work Hours: 8

Job application procedure

To be determined by Head of the ALL Institute. The position is being advertised openly. The selection panel will comprise members of Maynooth University and IDA.
Applicants are required to submit the following by email:
• Personal statement (500 words)
• Curriculum Vitae highlighting research experience, skills and aptitude.
• Relevant academic transcripts
• Writing sample relating to personal experience of disability rights activism (up to 800 words maximum)
Interviews will take place in August 2022 and will be held, virtually on the Teams platform. Applicants are invited to indicate any reasonable accommodation they may require for the interview.
Closing date for applications: 8th August2022. Please send applications to all.institute@mu.ie. 


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