The Position:
The results from the 2022 Census show that out of a total of 6,526,707 inhabitants, 356,404 people with disabilities live in the Republic of Serbia, which represents about 5.46% of the total population. Observed by gender, there is a higher proportion of women (58.42%) than men among people with disabilities.ย
In 2024, UNFPA CO Serbia supported the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran, and Social Affairs (MoLEVSA) in drafting and finalizing the Strategy for Improving the Position of Persons with Disabilities in Serbia (2025-2030) and its first three-year Action Plan (2025-2027) that were adopted on 16 January 2025 by the Government of the Republic of Serbia. The new Strategy for Improving the Position of Persons with Disabilities in Serbia introduced certain innovations aimed at enhancing the quality of life for persons with disabilities and achieving a higher level of participation in nearly all aspects of life (social and health protection, education, and upbringing, employment and work engagement, etc.). Furthermore, the new Strategy for Improving the Position of Persons with Disabilities in Serbia strengthens the gender component by explicitly recognizing and addressing the multiple forms of discrimination faced by women with disabilities. It builds on Serbiaโs Gender Equality Strategy (2021-2030) and international frameworks such as CEDAW and the SDGs to promote equal opportunities in employment, education, healthcare, and social protection. The strategy acknowledges that nearly 50% of unemployed persons with disabilities are women and introduces targeted measures to improve their economic inclusion, such as equal pay and accessible workplaces. Additionally, it highlights the vulnerability of women with disabilities to gender-based violence and advocates for stronger protection mechanisms. By emphasizing gender-sensitive policies and ensuring that women with disabilities are not left behind, the strategy takes a crucial step toward bridging existing inequalities and fostering a more inclusive society.
Building on this successful cooperation, in 2025, the UNFPA CO Serbiaย has been invited to provide support, in accordance with its mandate, in drafting the Law on the Registry of Persons with Disabilities (Law), accompanied by an ex-ante analysis. MoLEVSA will lead the process and establish a Working Group to oversee the lawโs development. The primary goal of this Law is to establish a unified registry of persons with disabilities in the Republic of Serbia.ย
The new Law will have two main objectives: i) defining a standardized classification system for persons with disabilities that sets clear criteria for assessing and recognizing disabilities. This system will ensure that disability assessments are conducted in a transparent, fair, and standardized manner, aligning national standards with international best practices. By refining the way disability is assessed, the law will create a more reliable framework for determining eligibility for support and services; ii) establishing a registry for persons with disabilities based on the standardized classification system, the law will introduce a Registry to facilitate the identification and registration of persons with disabilities. The registry will primarily serve as a tool to record individuals classified under the standardized classification system. Additionally, it will enhance institutional coordination and data management, enabling more effective policymaking and resource allocation to support persons with disabilities.
How you can make a difference:
UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.ย UNFPAโs strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to โbuild forward betterโ, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on womenโs and girlsโ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.
In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.
UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.
Job Purpose:
The team of three National Consultants has already been engaged to support this process: i) a Coordinator to oversee the ex-ante analysis and lead the drafting and finalization of the new Law on the Registry of Persons with Disabilities; ii) two experts to conduct the ex-ante analysis and contribute to drafting and finalizing the law.
The purpose of this consultancy is to engage an IT and data systems expert to support the ex-ante analysis and development of the Law on the Registry of Persons with Disabilities. The consultancy will focus on the following key areas:
Technical assessment of existing databases and registries containing data on persons with disabilities, including those maintained by the Institute of Public Health \"Dr. Milan Jovanoviฤ Batut,\" the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund, local governments (categorization records), the National Employment Service, and other relevant institutions. Evaluation of data entry mechanisms for the future Registry of Persons with Disabilities. This task will include an assessment of possible models for identifying and registering individuals, specifically examining the feasibility, advantages, and limitations of the following three approaches:ย Voluntary registration, whereby individuals submit personal applications to be included in the Registry;ย Automated integration, involving the transfer of data from existing institutional databases and registries;ย Hybrid model, combining voluntary registration with automated data integration. The evaluation will consider legal, technical, operational, and data protection implications associated with each model. Definition of technical specifications necessary for establishing, operating, and maintaining the new Registry of Persons with Disabilities. Recommendation on the identification method for persons with disabilities, including: i/ย Chip-based card providing access to registry data (similar to national ID cards); ii) non-chip-based card used for accessing benefits (e.g., similar to pensioner or veteran cards). Preliminary financial assessment, including estimated budget funds for each proposed solution, and a comparative cost-benefit analysis outlining the advantages and limitations of each option.The data and outcomes generated through this process will also support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and theย Expanding Choices: Gender-Responsive Family Policies for the Private Sector in the Western Balkans โ Phase 2 project. The law directly aligns with the project's objectives by promoting a more inclusive labor market and strengthening support systems for families with members who have disabilities. By establishing a comprehensive registry, the law will enhance data-driven policymaking, ensuring better access to services, workplace accommodations, and social protection measures that enable persons with disabilities and their families to participate fully in economic and social life.
During this assessment, the National Consultant will work closely with the Coordinator for the ex-ante analysis and drafting of the Law on the Registry of Persons with Disabilities, as well as with two experts involved in the same process.
The UNFPA Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) Regional Office, together with the EECA Disability Task Team Focal Point, will provide technical backstopping by offering expertise and insights on regional best practices and services for persons with disabilities. Throughout the process, the National Consultant will work in close coordination with the UNFPA Country Office in Serbia to ensure ongoing feedback and alignment with guidance from the UNFPA EECA Regional Office.
The National Consultant is expected to execute the followingย tasks/activities:ย
Task 1.ย Conduct a technical assessment of existing databases and registries containing data on persons with disabilities, including those maintained by the Institute of Public Health \"Dr. Milan Jovanovic Batut,\" the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund, local governments (categorization records), the National Employment Service, and other relevant institutions. This assessment should evaluate the technical specifications, interoperability, and data quality of each system, while identifying opportunities and limitations for establishing technical linkages and protocols for data exchange with the future Registry of Persons with Disabilities.
Task 2.ย Conduct a technical assessment of data entry mechanisms for the future Registry of Persons with Disabilities, with particular emphasis on the legal, technical, operational, and privacy implications of each of the three proposed modalities. Specifically, assess whether data should be: i) entered based on voluntary applications submitted directly by persons with disabilities; ii) integrated from existing databases and registries (referenced above); or iii) collected through a hybrid approach combining both methods.
Task 3.ย Propose detailed technical specifications for the establishment, operation, and maintenance of the new Registry of Persons with Disabilities. This should include a description of the system architecture and technical aspects of the databaseโsuch as the types of data to be collected, access methods, security protocols, data retention periods, and conditions for integration with other registriesโalong with the database model, integration points with other systems, user interface, and security mechanisms. It should also include a proposal for appropriate software and hardware solutions, databases, programming languages, and platforms to support the development and functioning of the Registry.ย
Task 4.ย Conductย a technical assessment of identification methods to be used within the Registry of Persons with Disabilities, focusing on two primary options for the proposed identification card: i/ a chip-based card that allows secure access to data within the Registry (similar to a national ID card); ii/ a non-chip-based card intended solely for verifying eligibility and accessing specific benefits (e.g., similar to pensioner or veteran cards). As part of the assessment, provide technical and financial specifications for the design and type, production, issuance, and maintenance of each card type, including considerations related to data type and its security, user accessibility, administrative feasibility, and costs - covering estimates of initial and ongoing expenses.
Task 5.ย Conduct a preliminary financial assessment of the proposed Registry system. Estimate the budgetary resources required for implementation and maintenance of each proposed solution and provide a comparative cost-benefit analysis outlining the advantages and limitations of each option. This should also include an assessment of initial setup costs (hardware and software), implementation costs, infrastructure expenses, and ongoing annual maintenance costs. Additionally, assess the plans for long-term data storage and the associated archiving costs. Evaluate the systemโs flexibility for future integration with other systems and the potential costs related to such integrations.
Task 6.ย Provide technical inputs and supporting documentation from an IT and data systems perspective to the Coordinator and two experts involved in the ex-ante analysis and drafting of the Law on the Registry of Persons with Disabilities, to inform the development of the analysis and contribute to the drafting process.
Task 7.ย Perform any additional tasks as requested by UNFPA leadership, especially within the specific domain where the consultant holds expertise.
Delivery dates and how work will be delivered:
1st Deliverable, to be completed by 1st August 2025:ย
A technical assessment of existing databases and registries containing data on persons with disabilities is conducted, finalized in Serbian, and submitted to UNFPA CO Serbia and the Ministry of Labor, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs for quality assurance.
2nd Deliverable, to be completed by 15th August 2025:ย
A technical assessment of data entry mechanisms for the future Registry of Persons with Disabilities is conducted, finalized in Serbian, and submitted to UNFPA CO Serbia and the Ministry of Labor, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs for quality assurance.
3rd Deliverable, to be completed by 1st September 2025:ย
Detailed technical specifications for the establishment, operation, and maintenance of the new Registry of Persons with Disabilities are developed in Serbian and shared with UNFPA CO Serbia and the Ministry of Labor, Employment, Veteran, and Social Affairs for quality assurance.
4th Deliverable, to be completed by 10th September 2025:ย
A technical assessment of identification methods for the Registry of Persons with Disabilities is conducted and finalized in Serbian, focusing on the two primary options for the proposed identification card. This includes technical and financial specifications for the design, production, issuance, and maintenance of each card type. The report will be shared with UNFPA CO Serbia and the Ministry of Labor, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs for quality assurance.
5th Deliverable,ย to be completed byย 15th September 2025:ย
A preliminary financial assessment of the proposed Registryย of Persons with Disabilities is conducted, finalized in Serbian, and submitted to UNFPA CO Serbia and the Ministry of Labor, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairsย for quality assurance.
6th Deliverable, to be completed by 1st October 2025:ย
Technical inputs and supporting documentation from an IT and data systems perspective are provided to the Coordinator and two experts involved in the ex-ante analysis and drafting of the Law on the Registry of Persons with Disabilities, to inform the development of the analysis and contribute to the drafting process.ย
Qualifications and Experience:ย
University degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering (with a specialization in IT or systems engineering); Excellent practical knowledge of the inclusive social protection systems; Working experience with relevant ministries in similar exercises in the past will be a strong asset; Good knowledge of national policy and practice in the Republic of Serbia, national laws and by-laws, key players both at the institutional and local levels, and understanding of challenges in Serbia and globally, related to the improvement of the position of persons with disabilities; Analytical skills, communication skills, and the ability to coordinate and group/team work; The ability to meet deadlines and dates and to prioritize multiple tasks;ย Strong organizational skills, self-motivated, result-oriented, and proactive;ย Excellent communication, writing, and editorial skills as well as the ability to communicate in accessible and inclusive formatsยLanguages:ย
Fluency in English and the local language is required.
UNFPA Work Environment:
UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click hereย to learn more.ย
Disclaimer:
Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance and other administrative requirements.ย
UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.ย