Light for the World is a global development organisation. We empower people with disabilities and enable eye health services in low-income countries. Over the last three decades we improved health systems, enabled education for all, and amplified the voices of people with disabilities. We focus on the poorest and hardest to reach because that’s where we will have the biggest impact. 

Our programmes include:

• Eye Health – preventing blindness and promoting eye health for all.

• Inclusive Education – ensuring children with disabilities receive quality, inclusive education.

• Inclusive Economic Empowerment – ensuring that barriers are removed for men and women with disabilities to access decent work.  

In Ethiopia, our country strategy for the year 2021-2025 focuses on Eye Health, Inclusive Economic Empowerment, Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), Inclusive Education and Humanitarian Action. Advocacy and disability inclusion are cross cutting theme.  Currently, Light for the World Ethiopia is supporting projects in Addis Ababa City Administration, Amhara, Tigray, Oromia, Sidama, and SNNP regions. 

Light for the World with funding from Mastercard Foundation will implement an 8-year project dubbed We Can Work, a regional signature disability program that uses a system and mindset change approach to impact the lives of at least 1,000,000 young women and men with disabilities and enables them to access dignified and fulfilling work. The program works with umbrella Organizations of Persons with Disabilities and Entrepreneurship Hubs in Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Senegal, Ghana, and Nigeria. 

With our partners, we will effect change at the level of individuals (including households and communities), organizations and institutions. Young persons with disabilities will act as change agents and provide disability inclusion advisory services and confidently advocate for disability-inclusive policies and practices among key system actors. 

Throughout the eight-year partnership intervention, the key ingredients of our work with young women and men with disabilities in the lead will be: 

• engaging caregivers and communities through positive and empowering messaging around disability and inclusion. 

• driving co-creation processes to inform inclusive economic development.

• developing agency of young women and men with disabilities through the We Can Work Academy, and amplifying voices of young persons with disabilities.

Light for the world therefore seeks the services of an experienced and self-driven person to lead this innovative and ambitious project hence the vacancy below.

Terms on Employment: One year contract with the possibility of extension

Reports to: Head of Disability and Inclusion Advisory Unit

Job Purpose:

The Disability Inclusion Advisor provides strategic and technical leadership to ensure the meaningful inclusion of persons with disabilities in the implementation of the Livelihoods for Resilience (L4R) project. Based at Light for the World’s Head Office in Addis Ababa, the Advisor plays a central role in supporting LFTW project teams and consortium members (CARE Ethiopia and AutRC) to integrate disability inclusion across the programme. The Advisor will also provide technical backstopping for standalone disability inclusion activities and mainstreaming efforts with consortium members (CMs) and other partners.

The Advisor ensures quality and accountability by offering tailored technical support, building capacity, and monitoring implementation and partnerships on inclusive resilience-building.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Support and Strategy

• Lead disability inclusion mainstreaming across L4R programme planning, implementation, and evaluation.

• Serve as the primary technical focal point for disability inclusion within the L4R programme, providing expert guidance to LFTW staff and consortium partners.

• Collaborate with the DIAU and relevant technical teams to align strategies with national policies and LFTW standards.

• Support and contribute to funding proposal development and fundraising efforts in collaboration with the program team and in consultation with leadership.

Capacity Building and Advisory Support

• Provide capacity building and on-the-job coaching to LFTW field staff, consortium members, and field officers.

• Lead and contribute to the co-creation of training materials and tools using human-centered design principles; develop content for manuals and tools; proactively identify gaps and support the creation of new training resources.

• Facilitate training on disability inclusion, disability-inclusive programming, and inclusive service delivery.

• Support the Disability Inclusion Facilitators (DIFs) to implement field-level inclusive activities.

• Organize DIFs monthly learning and sharing meetings/mentoring sessions

• Plan refresher and any capacity building trainings for DIFs as required

• Advise consortium partners in project activities with material and content development to make their programs inclusive of all persons with disabilities like sign language, easy read, and Braille

Partnership and Coordination

• Foster effective collaboration with consortium partners, OPDs, and relevant government stakeholders.

• Represent LFTW and the L4R programme in national and regional technical forums related to disability inclusion and resilience.

• Promote representation of OPDs and maximize their participation in various L4R programme activities 

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEAL)

• Ensure the integration of disability-inclusive indicators and data disaggregation into MEAL systems.

• Support assessments, learning reviews, and adaptive planning processes with a disability lens.

• Document and disseminate lessons learned, promising practices, and challenges.

Inclusive Programming and Safeguarding

• Promote inclusive and accessible programming aligned with safeguarding standards.

• Ensure that disability-sensitive safeguarding and accountability to affected populations (AAP) mechanisms are embedded throughout the project.

Job Requirements

Qualification, Skill and Experience

• Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in social works, psychology, Development studies, law, or related fields.

• At least 6/4 years of experience respectively for degree and master working in in disability inclusion or inclusive development in Non-Governmental Organizations, or Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) with related position.

• Experience in providing technical assistance and capacity building in inclusive programming.

• Proven track record of working with OPDs, government institutions, and multi-stakeholder projects.

Skills and Competencies

• Deep knowledge of disability inclusion, accessibility, and inclusive M&E.

• Strong facilitation, communication, and coordination skills.

• Ability to work in a multicultural and multidisciplinary team.

• Fluency in English and Amharic; and knowledge of other local language is an asset.

Safeguarding and Code of Conduct

Light for the World is committed to safeguarding and protecting vulnerable individuals, particularly persons with disabilities. The postholder must adhere to all safeguarding policies and procedures and support the implementation of inclusive and safe programming

• High level of exposure to barriers that persons with disabilities face and practical solutions to overcome those barriers, either through life experience or through previous work experience

• Experienced trainer and facilitator with experience in designing and conducting skills-building workshops and other capacity development approaches with a variety of stakeholders.

• Excellent people skills with the ability to develop others and to impart knowledge and experience in an accessible and clear manner.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

• Commitment to local capacity building and past experience of engaging and working with local stakeholders in project design and implementation.

• Demonstrated expertise in implementation of Livelihoods and Disability inclusion is desired.

• Show great initiative and be able to work well in a team and independently.

• Ability to produce timely and deliver high-quality results

• Interest to abide by Light for the world’s values- Together, with Respect, Accountability, Inclusion & Learning

How To Apply

Please send non-returnable CV and a cover letter mentioning how your experiences match with the job advertisement until August 12,2025. Please mention your expected salary in your application letter and include 3 professional references into your CV. Applications should be sent to THIS LINK

Note: Persons with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.