National Individual Consultant - Legal expert - Chisinau, Moldova, Programme/Social Policy Section - 4 months (remote/work from home))

The Personal Assistance Service (PAS) is an important tool for social inclusion, enabling persons with disabilities to live independently and participate actively in community life, in line with the provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which the Republic of Moldova ratified in 2010. Currently, the regulatory framework governing the organization and functioning of the PAS is defined by Law No. 60/2012 on the social inclusion of persons with disabilities and Government Decision No. 314/2012 approving the Framework Regulation on the organization and functioning of the PAS, together with the Minimum Quality Standards. However, the existing modalities for employing personal assistants and delivering the service do not adequately meet real needs, resulting in inequities in coverage, quality, and financial sustainability. While the number of beneficiaries has steadily increased in recent years, the human and financial resources allocated have not evolved proportionally to demand. The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection (MLSP) intends to revise and improve the contracting and delivery framework of the PAS to ensure a more equitable, flexible, and needs oriented system. This will include differentiating levels of support and exploring alternative financing and contracting mechanisms, with the ultimate goal of strengthening inclusion and improving the quality of life for persons with disabilities. The consultant, in coordination with the financial expert, shall prepare legislative recommendations and costing scenarios for the revision of contracting and delivery modalities of the Personal Assistance Service.