Consultancy for the Development of Preparedness Materials for children with Disabilities and families with children with disabilities

Develop emergency preparedness materials targeting families with children with disabilities across the Eastern Caribbean.

Institutional/Corporate Contract

Terms of Reference (TOR)

Summary:

Background:

The Caribbean is one of the most disaster-prone areas in the world, frequently affected by hurricanes, floods, volcanic activity, earthquakes, landslides, and more recently, climate related events such as prolonged droughts and extreme heat. These hazards often strike with little warning and can cause widespread disruption to health systems, education, transportation, and social services. Children with disabilities face particularly heightened risks during such emergencies due to barriers in mobility, communication, sensory processing, and access to essential support systems. Ensuring that preparedness efforts address their needs is critical to upholding their rights and safety as outlined in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

In the Caribbean, families of children with disabilities report persistent gaps in accessible and actionable emergency information. Preparedness messages are often not available in formats suitable for children with visual, hearing, developmental, or cognitive disabilities, making it difficult for caregivers to plan effectively. During emergencies, disruptions in electricity, assistive devices, medications, therapies, and specialized transportation can place children with disabilities at an even greater risk of harm. These inequities directly intersect with the targets of SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), which emphasize inclusive access to health services and the reduction of vulnerabilities among marginalized groups. Strengthening emergency planning at the household and community levels is also central to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), which calls for inclusive, resilient disaster risk reduction systems.

Given countries’ increasing exposure to climate-related disasters, developing and disseminating accessible emergency preparedness materials tailored specifically for families with children with disabilities is essential. Such materials will provide caregivers with clear guidance, practical steps, adaptive strategies, and inclusive disability checklists to reduce risk before, during, and after emergencies. This initiative supports the region’s broader resilience agenda and reinforces the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals’ commitment to “leave no one behind.” By prioritizing disability‑inclusive communication and preparedness, Caribbean communities can strengthen their disaster resilience while ensuring that all children, regardless of ability, are protected, supported, and empowered during crises. 

Specific Tasks:

Target group 1:Parents and caregivers who have children living with disabilities 

• Consult with stakeholders from the disabled community in at least one country to share existing UNICEF and CDEMA emergency preparedness and response materials [ see below], including those currently developed for special needs and assess whether they require adaptation for parents of children with disabilities (including autism). If adaptation is needed, provide UNICEF with a reportof the changes that will need to be done for future materials to be developed
  • Produce 2 of the current printed emergency preparedness materials [see below] in video format for parents [with sign language interpretation and captions] . Ads should be suitable for social media platforms such as face book, Instagram and TikTok
  • Produce 1 additional video material on what parents should pack in a grab bag for children with disabilities [e.g extra hearing aids, foldable walking cane; headphones for children with sensory autism etc]. This information should be influenced by the findings from the consultations

Target group 2: Children and young people living with disabilities

• Using the 2 UNICEF-developed materials that teach children how to prepare for emergencies [see below], combine the information and produce 1 video  targeting children who are hearing impaired. The video format should have sign language interpretation and captions -any changes to be made from the consultation with stakeholders can be included in the videos to be produced

Expected Deliverables: 

• A report on changes that need to be made on current preparedness and response materials to make them more relevant for persons from the disabled community
• 2 videos from the posters below [with sign language interpretation] for parents who have children with disabilities
• 1 video from the posters [see below] for social media platforms including for TiK Tok and Instagram for primary and secondary school children with special needs children about what they can do to be better prepared for emergencies including what to pack. Video should have close captions and sign language interpretation
• 1 video on what parents should pack in a grab bag for children with disabilities 

Payment Terms: 

Reporting:

Supervision will be provided by the UNICEF Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) Specialist, with support from the UNV SBC Officer, Child Protection Officer and the CDEMA Communication Officer.

Duration:

The length of the consultancy is for three (3) months for the period 23 March- 30 May 2026.

Expected background and Experience: 

• A contractor with a minimum of 3 years of demonstrable professional work in developing communication materials
• Ability to work independently in a timely manner.
• Ability to engage stakeholders especially those from the differently abled community
• Experience working within the Eastern Caribbean region.

 Recourse: 

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs are incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines. Performance indicators against which the satisfactory conclusion of this contract will be assessed include timeliness/quality of submission and responsiveness to UNICEF and counterpart feedback.  

Property Rights: 

UNICEF shall hold all property rights, such as copyright, patents and registered trademarks, on matters directly related to, or derived from, the work carried out through this contract with UNICEF. The bidder must submit all documentation and source code where necessary to UNICEF upon successful launch. 

How to Apply:  

The application package should include the following:  

1. Financial Proposal* (Detailed budget stipulating all-inclusive fees) 
2. Evidence of similar services provided in the past or currently; include a maximum of two (2) examples showcasing company expertise in the areas outlined in this terms or reference: 

Prospective institutional or corporate contractors should apply to the email above with the subject line “Development of preparedness materials for persons with disabilities ”no later than 17^th March 2026, 23:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time).

Preparedness Materials to be adapted for video for children and adolescents