Research Assistant – 20‑Year CRPD Report (Consultant)

About the role

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is seeking a consultant to serve as a Research Assistant for a flagship report marking the twentieth anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The role involves analysing two decades of stakeholder input, legal developments and policy actions to produce evidence‑based recommendations for States and development actors.

Key responsibilities

• Analyse stakeholder contributions on lessons learned and challenges in disability‑related human rights standards over the past 20 years.
• Integrate inputs, highlighting illustrative examples, good practices and remaining gaps.
• Research legal, policy and institutional developments related to the CRPD and assess their impact.
• Identify concrete examples, good practices and implementation challenges.
• Develop practical, actionable recommendations aligned with the CRPD.

Required profile

• Advanced degree in Economics, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Law or a related public‑policy discipline (or equivalent professional experience).
• Minimum five years of progressive experience in research, policy analysis or legal analysis on disability rights.
• Demonstrated experience with the CRPD and its legal framework.
• Fluency in English; knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

Required skills

• Legal analysis under the CRPD.
• Research methodology and policy analysis.
• Stakeholder analysis and synthesis of qualitative inputs.
• Report writing and formulation of evidence‑based recommendations.