International Disability Alliance is looking for a COSP19 Consultant

Terms of Reference

COSP1 9 consultant

1. The organization

The International Disability Alliance (IDA) was established in 1999 as a network of global and regional organizations of persons with disabilities ( OPDs ) and their families. The aim of the Alliance is to promote the effective and full implementation of the UN CRPD worldwide, as well as compliance with the UN CRPD within the UN system, through the active and coordinated involvement of organizations of persons with disabilities at the national, regional and international levels. Learn more about our activities at www.internationaldisabilityalliance.org

2. The Conference of States Parties 1 9th session (‘’COSP1 9’’) and Civil Society Forum

The Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP) was established pursuant to article 40 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2008. Since then, eighteen sessions have been convened at United Nations Headquarters in New York.

The International Disability Alliance (IDA) coordinates civil society engagement around COSP, including delivery of the Civil Society Forum (CSF) and support to civil society participation during the formal COSP programme.

For COSP19, IDA requires dedicated consultancy support to ensure high -quality planning and implementation of the CSF, strong coordination with the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), and effective facilitation of civil society participatio n in the official programme, including the General Debate and roundtables.

IDA Members are actively engaged in all aspects of the Conference and play an active coordination role in supporting broader civil society engagement through the Civil Society Coordination Mechanism. The Conference of States Parties to the CRPD must include the voices of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations in order to meet the standard and commitments laid out in the CRPD.

Civil Society Coordination Mechanism

In 2016, through the leadership of the International Disability Alliance, civil society established a coordination mechanism to promote the active participation and meaningful engagement of all persons with disabilities in the Conference of States Parties through a unified voice.

The Civil Society Coordination Mechanism (CSCM) is a self -organizing, voluntary group of persons with disabilities, their representative organizations, non -governmental organizations and other relevant civil society stakeholders who share a commitment to e nsuring the implementation of CRPD Article 4.3 in the COSP.

3. Scope of work

Under IDA guidance, the consultant will:

A. CSF planning, design, and coordination

• Prepare and maintain a detailed CSF workplan, timeline, and task tracker.
• Develop background and preparatory documents for CSF planning and decision -making.
• Coordinate with IDA and relevant civil society coordination stakeholders on CSF scope, agenda elements, and implementation requirements.
• Liaise with DESA on CSF logistics (including rooming, accessibility, practical arrangements, and operational interfaces).
• Develop and manage the CSF registration process and related participant communications.
• Draft, revise, and finalize CSF programme materials and run -of -show in consultation with IDA focal points.
• Prepare and circulate CSF logistics note(s) in accessible formats.

B. Speaker/moderator process and event readiness

• Coordinate selection and confirmation of CSF MC, moderators, notetakers, and speakers, in line with IDA guidance and agreed process.
• Provide briefing support and practical orientation to moderators/speakers as required.
• Support inputs to IDA internal delegation briefs related to CSF participation.

C. Civil society support during formal COSP programme (9 –11 June)

• Support IDA’s coordination role for civil society participation in the official programme, including practical management support for civil society speaking participation in the General Debate and relevant roundtables.
• Liaise with civil society speakers and DESA to facilitate timely communication on speaking order/arrangements.
• Provide in -room/on -site coordination support as required by IDA during COSP week.

D. Close -out and reporting

• Prepare a concise wrap -up summary of CSF implementation, key outcomes, and follow -up points for IDA internal use (including presentation -ready inputs for governance/reporting purposes, as requested).
• Submit final timesheet and completion note.

The assignment is capped at 500 hours, tentatively phased as follows:

• Phase 1 (16 Mar – 27 Mar 2026): ~24 hours/week for 2 weeks = 48 hours
  (Background preparation, consultations, DESA liaison, early agenda/process work)
• Phase 2 (30 Mar – 5 Jun 2026): ~32 hours/week for 10 weeks = 320 hours
  (Main organization phase: programme finalization, registration, communications, speaker/moderator coordination, logistics)
• Phase 3 (8 Jun – 12 Jun 2026): ~40 hours/week for 1 week = 40 hours
  (COSP week delivery support, CSF implementation, official programme civil society coordination)
• Phase 4 (post -COSP close -out): 20 hours
  (Wrap -up summary, final documentation, handover and administrative close)

4. Deliverables

The consultant will deliver, at minimum:

• Inception package (workplan, timeline, communication protocol, risk/issues log template).
• Preparatory documentation set for CSF planning and implementation.
• Operational registration and communications package (including participant -facing information).
• Final CSF programme and run -of -show (with speaking and moderation plan).
• Accessible logistics note(s) for participants and contributors.
• COSP civil society speaking coordination support outputs (tracking and communications records).
• Post -event wrap -up summary with outcomes, lessons, and recommended next steps.
• Final consultancy completion package (timesheets and brief completion memo).
• All outputs must meet IDA quality and accessibility expectations and be delivered in formats requested by IDA.

5. Governance, reporting, and ways of working

• The consultant will report functionally to the designated IDA focal point and work under overall management oversight set by IDA senior management.
• Regular coordination check -ins will be held (frequency to be agreed at inception).
• The consultant will maintain updated task tracking and submit periodic progress/time -use updates.
• Any substantial scope variation must be pre -cleared by IDA and remain within contract provisions and budget ceiling unless formally amended.

6. Skills and Requirements

• Essential Requirements
  • Strong commitment to the human rights of persons with disabilities.
  • Demonstrated experience coordinating disability rights -related UN conference processes and/or high -level civil society forums.
  • Strong working knowledge of COSP/UN processes and stakeholder coordination dynamics.
  • Excellent drafting, facilitation, and event operations skills.
  • Proven ability to coordinate multi -stakeholder processes under tight timelines.
  • Strong commitment to accessibility and inclusive communication.
  • Experience working with organizations of persons with disabilities.
  • Strong team playing skills and sensitivity to work in a multicultural environment in decentralized locations.
  • Dynamism, responsiveness, and quick action solving eventualities.
  • A strong sense of diplomacy and interpersonal communication.
  • Substantive knowledge of Microsoft Office (Teams, SharePoint, Excel, Word), and other software relevant for the job.
  • Fluency in English (written and spoken) . Working knowledge of at least one other UN language is an asset.

7. Duration and contract management

• Contract start and end dates will be specified in the consultancy agreement.
• Engagement is deliverables - and hours -based, not full -time employment.
• The consultant is responsible for delivering outputs within agreed timelines and approved level of effort.
• A consultancy contract (as per Swiss law) will be signed between the selected consultant and IDA.
• Only applicant with valid commercial and/or consultant registration and/or tax numbers will be considered.
• Payments will be made in several instalments and upon successful completion of the deliverables and submission of invoices.

8. Confidentiality, safeguarding and compliance

The consultant will:

• Comply with IDA policies and procedures, including safeguarding, anti -fraud/corruption, code of conduct, and data/confidentiality requirements.
• Handle all documents and stakeholder information confidentially and only for assignment purposes.

IDA will not tolerate any form of abuse, violence, fraud, corruption, or any breach of IDA policies .

9. Application Process

Interested individuals are invited to submit a CV, cover letter and daily rate (8 hours x day) or hourly rate .

Submission to: consultancy@ida -secretariat.org indicating in the subject of the email “COSP19 consultancy ” and send us all mentioned above.

The deadline for applications: 10 March 202 6, 4:00 PM CET

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