UN jobs

<h2 class="h5">Job description</h2> <div class="t-break" data-jb-field="description"> Result of Service<br>The consultant is expected to provide a final report that includes recommendations to ensure alignment and consistency between the internal regulations related to the Labour Law, particularly those affecting the implementation of flexible work arrangements, and to develop draft by-laws governing the implementation of these new flexible work arrangements.<br> Work Location<br>Remote<br> Expected duration<br>3 months<br> Duties and Responsibilities<br>Background In May 2025, the Lebanese Parliament adopted Law No. 3/2025, amending the Labour Law to formally recognize flexible, part-time, and remote work arrangements and to extend National Social Security Fund (NSSF) coverage of workers. This new law was proposed by the Head of the Women and Children Parliamentary Committee following a process that included a case study on childcare in Lebanon, public hearings and dialogues, in addition to a legal study and meetings, all in collaboration between ESCWA and the committee. This reform represents a milestone in Lebanon’s labour and social protection framework, aiming to promote inclusive and equitable access to employment. It is particularly significant for advancing women’s economic participation, as flexible and family-friendly work arrangements can help reduce barriers that prevent women - especially those with caregiving responsibilities - from entering or remaining in the workforce. In order to ensure the effective implementation of the new law, ESCWA, UN Women, and the International Labour Organization (ILO) joined hands to provide technical assistance to the Lebanese Women and Children Parliamentary Committee to support its follow-up on the implementation of the law as part of the Parliament’s role in post-legislative scrutiny. The process entailed a legal study/advice to propose reforms and updates to the internal laws and regulations of the Lebanese National Social Security Fund (NSSF). These reforms and updates are necessary to allow for the implementation of Law No. 3/2025 without misuse of the new arrangements for fraudulent purposes, which, in turn, serves as a foundational input to guide the actuarial feasibility study leading to the full implementation of the labour law reform while also ensuring the benefits of this reform are utilized appropriately and fairly. These efforts must be aligned with the Labor Law and its implementing by-laws. Therefore, updates and reforms to the Ministry of Labor's by-laws are necessary to ensure the full and coherent implementation of the Labor Law reforms. Objective and methodology Against this backdrop, ESCWA, as it continues its technical support to ensure a full implementation of Law No. 3/2025, seeks to hire a consultant to undertake necessary research, advise and support the reform of the by-laws of the labour code in full alignment with the NSSF internal regulations. The consultant will work in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, the NSSF and the technical team working on the implementation of the law reform. Tasks and responsibilities The consultant will be responsible for the following tasks: - Desk review: Conduct a revision of the Ministry of Labour relevant rules and internal regulations and by-laws in conjunction with those of the NSSF; - Ensure alignment of the internal regulations between the two entities; - Undertake consultations with involved stakeholders on the relevance and consequences of different options and alternatives to ensure the effective implementation of Flexible Work Arrangements including the required actuarial studies; - Suggest labour-law related by-laws for the Ministry of Labour, specifically in relation to flexible work arrangements; - Propose monitoring and evaluation procedures for the application of the amended labour law. The consultant is expected to provide regular updates on the work progress.<br> Qualifications/special skills<br>A master's degree in Lebanese law is required. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. A minimum of 5 years of professional work experience in areas related to law reform and changes is required. Previous experience in working on labour law and/or social security laws is desirable. Previous experience in working on labor and social security laws in Lebanon is desirable.<br> Languages<br>English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA. For this position, fluency in Arabic is required. Knowledge of French and English is desirable. Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas.<br> Additional Information<br>Not available.<br> No Fee<br>THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.<br><br><br> </div>

<h2 class="h5">Job description</h2> <div class="t-break" data-jb-field="description"> Result of Service<br>The consultant is expected to deliver data collection tools including questionnaires and guides and tabulation of data collected, literature review reports, concepts notes for knowledge products and meetings and workshops, sections/chapters of studies, write-ups on specific issues, and presentations.<br> Work Location<br>UN House-ESCWA / Hybrid<br> Expected duration<br>4 months<br> Duties and Responsibilities<br>Background Despite strong momentum towards gender equality and considerable achievements in women’s empowerment, the Arab region continues to register one of the largest gender gaps. Arab women still lag behind in terms of political participation, labour force participation, equality and sex-based discrimination. In 2025, women’s labour force participation was 19 per cent in the Arab States, less than half the global average of 49 per cent, making it the lowest rate worldwide. Various factors can be attributed to the low economic participation of women in the Arab region, most important of which are the high involvement of women in unpaid care work and their weak involvement in entrepreneurship. In the Arab States, women carry out 80 to 90 percent of all unpaid care tasks and spend an average of 4.7 times more time than men on unpaid care tasks. If women continue to bear the brunt of unpaid care work, there is a serious risk that gender gaps widen and hard-won achievements in women’s socioeconomic empowerment are reversed. Addressing the available policies and legal frameworks is thus crucial to promote women’s economic empowerment in the region and build the resilience of women to future shocks. ESCWA supports its member States in promoting gender equality and the advancement of women at the legislative, policy and programmatic levels through the translation of global normative frameworks into region-specific actions within the areas of gender justice and the law, women, peace and security, women economic empowerment, care economy, and gender mainstreaming in national institutions. ESCWA supports member States in their efforts to reform care-related policies and develop new ones to promote women’s economic empowerment. Within the care economy workstream, ESCWA is currently working with Lebanon, Oman, Morocco and Tunisia, following an approach comprising the preparation of knowledge products and organization of capacity building workshops. ESCWA also supports several countries including Iraq, Lebanon, Mauritania and Morocco to strengthen gender mainstreaming in national institutions. Furthermore, ESCWA develops training packages and contributes to capacity-building efforts to transform knowledge, good practices and related skills into innovative online and in-person awareness-raising sessions and training programmes to support countries in developing national strategies, policies and action plans relevant to implementing and reviewing global commitments, including those under CEDAW and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Objective and methodology ESCWA seeks to hire a consultant to provide input and contributions to support the successful completion of several gender equality related outputs including: • National case studies mainly on unpaid care work and care economy; • National technical requests related to the advancement of gender equality; • National dialogues and meetings as well as capacity building workshops targeting various governmental entities in Arab States to support the reforms and development of policies; • Papers and knowledge products to explore concepts related to women’s economic empowerment in the region, gendered perspectives in recovery and reconstruction, and other women and gender-related concepts; • Regional meetings, consultations, and capacity building workshops to exchange experience and knowledge, disseminate the results and findings of prepared knowledge products and advocate for needed legal and policy reforms. Tasks and responsibilities The consultant will be responsible for the following tasks: - Desk review: Undertake necessary research and desk reviews on topics related to gender equality and women empowerment as required for the development and finalization of the gender equality related outputs; - Prepare necessary data collection tools including questionnaires for surveys and guides for interviews and focus groups; - Undertake analysis of data and other inputs; - Draft inputs following the set outlines for various outputs; - Prepare required inputs for the preparation and organization of meetings with relevant stakeholders. Supervision: The consultant will work under the direct supervision of Ms. Rouba ARJA, the Social Affairs Officer responsible for the women’s economic empowerment project, and the overall guidance of the Gender Justice, Population and Inclusive Development cluster leader.<br> Qualifications/special skills<br>A master's degree in social or economic or gender or anthropology studies or studies in related areas is required. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. A minimum of 5 years of professional work experience in socio-economic issues is required. Experience in preparing and reviewing publications or reports is required. Experience in working in the Arab region is required. Experience in working on gender issues and women’s economic empowerment is required Experience in working with government entities is desirable.<br> Languages<br>English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA. For this position, fluency in English and Arabic is required. Fluency in French is desirable. Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas.<br> Additional Information<br>Recruitment for this position is on a local basis. The incumbent is required to have the legal right to live and work in the specified working location.<br> No Fee<br>THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.<br><br><br> </div>

<h2 class="h5">Job description</h2> <div class="t-break" data-jb-field="description"> Result of Service<br>The consultant is expected to deliver the following outputs: • Inception note and detailed workplan for version 1 of ADA 2.0 development; • Review and provide feedback on the progressively evolving editions of the ADDR as regional baselines; • Successive Iterations/Drafts of version 1 of ADA 2.0, including the Provisional Progress Report and the Provisional Proposed Architecture to member countries. • Executive summary in English; • PowerPoint presentations and briefing materials; • Consolidated bibliography and references database. The completed document shall: • Be submitted in editable MS Word format (*.docx); • Include automatically generated table of contents, list of tables, and figures; • Be thoroughly proofread and referenced; • Respect ESCWA publication and anti-plagiarism requirements. The content of all outputs shall remain the sole property of ESCWA.<br> Work Location<br>Remote<br> Expected duration<br>6 months<br> Duties and Responsibilities<br>Background The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) launched the Advancing Digital Cooperation and Development – Arab States Action Programme (ADCD-ASAP) in 2020 to support Arab countries in harnessing digital technologies for sustainable development and accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The programme aims, among others, to strengthen regional and national digital policy frameworks, promote digital cooperation, and support evidence-based digital development strategies across the Arab region. Within this framework, and under the auspices of the Arab Telecom and Information Technology Council of Ministers (ATICM), and its resolution in December 2020, ESCWA and the League of Arab States (LAS) jointly established a joint project to Develop, Deploy and Constantly Upgrade the Arab ICT Strategy for the region, in the form of an Arab Digital Agenda as strategic living instrument for 10 years. The ADA is not an outcome, it is a journey of constant growth that is meant to cope with any future developments in the technology and related policies; to induce action at different fronts in all facets of technology, through it mechanism and through partnerships with UN bodies and Arab bodies; and to advance progress at member states level that can be measured and monitored. Accordingly, ESCWA and LAS worked with Member States, to co-develop, the Arab Digital Agenda/ICT Strategy (ADA 1.0 / ADAICTS), which serves as a regional strategic vision, compass and action-framework guiding Arab digital development efforts and supporting national digital development agendas, in all digital development areas. The process of co-developing by ESCWA and Member States of the first edition of the ADA took place during 2021-2022, through successive iterations and engagements, with Member States (through the ADA’s Core Research and Technical Cooperation Mechanism (CRTCM), the ADA’s Joint Technical Committee (JTC), the LAS Arab Working Group on Arab ICT Strategy, the LAS Arab Permanent Committee on ICTs, the LAS Arab Executive Bureau all the way up to the Council of Minsters; leading to the adoption of the final version of the 1st edition of the Arab Digital Agenda 2023-2033, by the ATICM on 23 January 2023 and by Arab ECOSOC in 9 February 2023, and by heads of States in 19 May 2023; with the promise of supporting its deployment and the expectation of constant update of the agenda and constant monitoring of member states progress in achieving its goals and targets using the agreed-upon instruments. The first milestone for all of the above will be towards the end of 2027. Overall Timeframes, Milestone and Nature of ADA 2.0 Building on the above, and under the umbrella of the ATICM, ESCWA and LAS are launching the process of co-developing with Member States the Second Edition of the Arab Digital Agenda (ADA 2.0); which is planned to be co-produced during the period of 2026-2027, with a target goal of adopting the second edition of the Arab Digital Agenda in its final form during the ATICM meeting of December 2027/January 2028. Accordingly, and based on the established work modalities, the first version of ADA 2.0 will need to be presented to the ATICM meeting scheduled for December 2026/January 2027. Towards this end, ESCWA is managing, during the second half of 2026, the first phase of ADA 2.0 sub-project to prepare for submitting the first version of the ADA2.0 to the respective LAS Arab Working Group on Arab ICT Strategy that is scheduled to be convened during November/December 2026, and subsequently to the LAS Arab Permanent Committee on ICTs, the LAS Arab Executive Bureau all the way up to the Council of Ministers during December 2026/January 2027. The envisaged ADA2.0 - as a comprehensive regional strategic framework and policy blueprint for digital development in the Arab region over the coming decade, aligned with international and regional digital cooperation priorities - is scheduled for the end of 2027 is planned to have two perspectives: 1-First, looking backward As part of its monitoring role, ADA2.0 will result a report on the progress of member countries in achieving the goals and targets of the ADA during the period between December 2022 and December 2027, namely the “Provisional Progress Report”,, marking the progress in the elapsing five years on the basic scope of ADA1.0, and will be finalized by the end of December 2027. As such, the work during 2026 along this perspective is specifically planned to result in a provisional version of this progress report (in four years only). During 2027, it will be updated in terms of value to reflect the five years; and more importantly, it will also be radically expanded in terms of scope during 2027, as per the second perspective below, producing the first baseline for the expanded scope. Hence, work on this perspective during the second half of 2026 is expected to produce around one third of the final report planned for end of 2027. The rest will be during 2027 benefiting from feedback from the Ministerial Council meeting of December 2026/January 2027. The work on this perspective will be supported by the ongoing third round of the National Digital Development Reviews (NDDRs 3.0), which will be reflected in the the Arab Digital Development Report (ADDR 3.0) that will accompany the ADA2.0 as it accompaniment flagship by the end of 2027. 2-Second, looking forward As part of its future orientation, strategizing and constant update role, ADA2.0 will: a. adapt to be in synch with the latest global mandates inscribed in the latest UNGA Resolution 80/173 of December 2025, and the preceding Global Digital Compact 2024. b. introduce an updated architecture for the basic scope of ADA 1.0 - defined by the 85 Goals, the 69 Targets and the 85 indicators (defined in the first edition of the ADA) c. expand the scope of the original ADA framework to address frontier, emerging and strategic policy areas shaping digital development globally and regionally. ADA2.0 will specifically witness an expanded scope that contains new thematic dimensions and indicators related to: • Artificial Intelligence (AI); • Emerging technologies; • Peaceful uses of outer space and geospatial technologies; • Environmental sustainability and green digital transformation; • Digital postal services and postal sector transformation. d. introduce a new architecture defining the goals and targets of the expanded scope in terms of additional Goals, Targets and indicators (in addition to the existing basic scope defined by the existing five-cluster ESCWA conceptual framework for digital development, which stands as the DNA of the whole process). These updates and expansions are based on the updated Guiding Manuals (GM 2.5)/(GM 3.0), as the common methodological framework underpinning the NDDRs, ADDR and ADA processes; and the Digital Development- Measurement and Monitoring Model (DD-MMM 1.5)/(DD-MMM 2.0), as the common framework for measurement, monitoring and assessment of digital development progress. The associated ESCWA newly produced addendums, developed by ESCWA in consultation with member countries and regional stakeholders during 2025-2026, are currently guiding the process of digital development reviews at national and regional levels during 2026-2027 and are considered an integral part of the envisaged ADA2.0. Hence, the work during 2026 along this perspective is specifically planned to result in a provisional version of the proposed new architecture to member countries, namely the “Provisional Proposed Architecture”, regarding the following aspects that will need to be worked on during 2027:  the new architecture of the expanded scope and the newly introduced addendums, in terms of Goals, Targets and Indicators;  the positioning of the new architecture of the addendums, vis-à-vis the existing architecture of the basic scope.  the sustainability of the Digital Development indicators observatories at the national level.  the periodicity of the next milestones for monitoring progress.  advancing partnerships and alliances between ADA and the partners of various thematic subprogrammes. Hence, work on this perspective during the second half of 2026 is expected to produce around one third of the final version of ADA 2.0 planned for end of 2027. The rest will be during 2027 benefiting from feedback from the Ministerial Council meeting of December 2026/January 2027. Purpose and Objectives of this assignment In summary, the consultancy subject to this assignment aims to support ESCWA and LAS in producing the first version of ADA 2.0, within the following contexts: • The NDDRs 3.0, ADDR 3.0 and ADA 2.0 processes constitute three interlinked components of a single regional policy cycle. o NDDRs 3.0 provides the national evidence base, o ADDR 3.0 provides the regional analytical synthesis, and o ADA 2.0 translates these findings into a regional strategic framework and implementation roadmap for digital development and digital cooperation in the Arab region. • This process is further anchored in United Nations General Assembly resolution 80/173 on the WSIS+20 review, which reaffirms the role of the United Nations regional commissions as regional mechanisms for implementation and follow-up of WSIS outcomes and calls for scaling up policy guidance, technical assistance, capacity-building and partnerships in support of digital development. • ADA 2.0 constitutes the regional strategic policy framework through which Arab countries will operationalize regional commitments related to WSIS+20, the Global Digital Compact, the Pact for the Future, Arab Vision 2045 and the Arab Digital Agenda 2023–2033, while contributing to the implementation of Arab Vision 2045 through digital development, digital cooperation and digital transformation pathways. The main objective of this consultancy is to support ESCWA and LAS in the preparation, drafting, and refinement of the first version of ADA 2.0, building on: • ADA 1.0 outcomes and lessons learned; • Findings emerging from NDDRs 3.0 and ADDR 3.0; • Capacity Building programme for National Focal Points intended for July 2026 • The additional five addendums of the expanded scope of the Conceptual Model • The updated Guiding Manual (GM 2.5 / GM 3.0), as the common methodological framework underpinning the NDDRs, ADDR and ADA processes; and the Digital Development - Measurement and Monitoring Model (DD-MMM 1.5 / 2.0), as the common framework for measurement, monitoring and assessment of digital development progress; and their associated addendums; • Contributions from Arab countries, regional organizations, UN agencies, and technical experts. The consultant shall contribute to the development of successive iterations of version 1 of ADA 2.0, including its strategic framework, implementation approach, monitoring framework, and regional cooperation dimensions, with explicit attention to digital cooperation, digital governance, digital diplomacy, the formulation of regional positions in global digital processes, and multistakeholder engagement modalities. Duties and Responsibilities Under overall guidance and supervision of Chief of ESCWA ICT Policies Section, and Programme Lead of the ADA, and in close collaboration with the Programme Management Officer and ESCWA substantive focal point for this consultancy, the consultant will conduct the following tasks: Strategic and Substantive Work a) Review ADA 1.0, related ESCWA/LAS documentation, NDDRs 3.0 findings, ADDR 3.0 preliminary outputs, and relevant international and regional digital policy frameworks, including WSIS+20, the Global Digital Compact, the Pact for the Future, United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/80/173, Arab Vision 2045 and the Arab Digital Agenda 2023–2033. b) Review the updated Guiding Manual (GM 2.5 / GM 3.0), as the common methodological framework underpinning the NDDRs, ADDR and ADA processes; and the Digital Development- Measurement and Monitoring Model (DD-MMM 1.5 / 2.0), as the common framework for measurement, monitoring and assessment of digital development progress; and the related addendums. c) Support the development of baselines, comparative analysis, and synthesis of findings emerging from NDDRs 3.0 and ADDR 3.0 during the early phases of the assignment, to inform the strategic priorities, indicators, implementation approach, and monitoring framework of ADA 2.0. d) Coordinate and undertake the substantive formulation and structuring of version 1 of ADA 2.0, including the development and refinement of its successive iterations, strategic priorities, objectives, and implementation components. e) Integrate and mainstream emerging and cross-sectoral priorities within version 1 of ADA 2.0 to ensure its relevance and responsiveness to evolving regional and global digital development trends, including those related to the addendums: • Artificial Intelligence; • Emerging technologies; • Peaceful use of outer space and geospatial technologies; • Environmental sustainability and green digital transformation; • Role of postal sector in digital development/Digital postal services. f) Ensure alignment between version 1 of ADA 2.0, NDDRs 3.0, and ADDR 3.0 findings, and the progressively evolving regional baselines, including corresponding goals, targets, indicators, and actions. g) Contribute to the refinement of strategic priorities, implementation pillars, action plans, indicators, monitoring frameworks, and regional cooperation mechanisms. h) Ensure that ADA 2.0 monitoring framework builds upon the Digital Development - Measurement and Monitoring Model (DD-MMM 2.0), including baselines values, indicators definitions, measurement approaches and reporting modalities while maintaining consistency with relevant NDDRs 3.0 and ADDR 3.0 indicators and findings. i) Review and update strategic content related to digital governance, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, financing mechanisms, institutional coordination, digital cooperation and digital diplomacy. Research j) Undertake desk research, policy analysis, benchmarking exercises, and literature reviews related to regional and international digital agendas and technology governance. k) Maintain a comprehensive bibliography and reference database. l) Coordinate closely with the ESCWA consultant and the team working on the development of the ADDR3.0 and GM3.0 to ensure alignment and consistency of findings, indicators, baselines and regional digital development narratives, as well as with designated national consultants, national focal points, LAS Arab Working Groups, and relevant regional mechanisms, including the Digital Cooperation and Development Forum (DCDF), the Arab Internet Governance Forum (Arab IGF), the Arab High-Level Forum on WSIS and the 2030 Agenda (Arab WSIS Forum), as well as relevant regional and international organizations, as needed. m) Compile and harmonize contributions received from Arab countries and participating organizations. n) Participate in and contribute substantively to technical meetings, workshops, consultations, expert group meetings, policy deliberations and multi-stakeholder engagement processes related to version 1 of ADA 2.0. o) Support regional consultations, policy dialogue processes, expert meetings and consensus-building activities related to digital development, digital cooperation and emerging digital policy issues. p) Analyze and integrate outcomes emerging from relevant regional and global digital governance, digital cooperation, and digital development processes, including their implications for ADA 2.0 priorities, regional cooperation mechanisms, and implementation pathways. q) Support joint technical coordination among ADA 2.0, ADDR 3.0 and NDDRs 3.0 workstreams to align the emerging regional baseline with ADA goals, targets, indicators and actions. Drafting and Consultation Process r) Prepare and revise successive iterations of version 1 of ADA 2.0 based on ESCWA, LAS, and stakeholders feedback. s) Contribute to the development of presentation materials, executive summaries, and briefing notes. t) Ensure that version 1 of ADA 2.0 incorporates gender equality, youth empowerment, inclusion of persons with disabilities, and inclusive digital development principles in line with ESCWA publication standards. u) Ensure that all outputs are evidence-based, properly referenced, and aligned with ESCWA editorial and publication standards.<br> Qualifications/special skills<br>Master's degree in ICT, digital development, public policy, international development, or related fields is required. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. At least 15 years of professional experience in ICT for development, digital transformation, digital policies and strategies, Internet governance, or related areas is required. Experience in digital governance, digital cooperation, Internet governance, AI governance and multilateral digital policy processes is required. Proven experience in drafting regional digital agendas, ICT strategies, or digital development reports is required. Extensive knowledge of digital development issues in the Arab region is required. Demonstrated experience working with international and regional organizations is required. Familiarity with ESCWA digital development work, including ADA, NDDRs, and ADDR processes, is desirable.<br> Languages<br>English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA. For this position, fluency in written and spoken Arabic and English is required. Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas.<br> Additional Information<br>Not available.<br> No Fee<br>THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.<br><br><br> </div>

<h2 class="h5">Job description</h2> <div class="t-break" data-jb-field="description"> Result of Service<br>The ultimate result of this consultancy is a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness, adequacy, accessibility and responsiveness of cash assistance and care services provided to Older Persons in Palestine - in both West Bank and Gaza. The assessment will inform the Ministry’s of Social Development policy improvements and adjustments in these two areas.<br> Work Location<br>Palestine / Remote<br> Expected duration<br>4 Months<br> Duties and Responsibilities<br>Background In Palestine, prolonged socioeconomic challenges, conflict, displacement, and growing pressures on public institutions have heightened the vulnerability of older persons, particularly those living in poverty, experiencing disability, living alone, or requiring long-term care. In the West Bank, older persons continue to face multiple vulnerabilities associated with the prolonged occupation, including movement restrictions, increasing poverty, unequal access to essential services, and mounting economic pressures. In the Gaza Strip, the ongoing humanitarian crisis has further exacerbated these challenges, severely disrupting access to healthcare, social services, income security, and community support systems. The Ministry of Social Development has undertaken important reforms to strengthen the national social protection system through the implementation of its Strategy (2025–2027), the National Strategy for Older Persons (2021–2026), and broader initiatives related to the national social registry, case management systems, and multidimensional poverty reduction. Within this evolving policy landscape, cash assistance programmes and care services constitute two critical but complementary pillars of social protection for older persons. While cash transfers provide essential income security, their effectiveness depends on the availability, accessibility and quality of healthcare, long-term care and social services that enable older persons to maintain their dignity, independence and quality of life. Yet, evidence remains limited regarding the extent to which existing programmes effectively respond to the multidimensional needs of older persons, the adequacy of benefits and services, institutional coordination, and the overall impact of social protection interventions on their well-being. Against this backdrop, ESCWA is hiring a consultant to prepare a study to assess the effectiveness, adequacy, accessibility and responsiveness of cash assistance and care services for older persons in Palestine -including the West Bank and Gaza. The consultancy will generate evidence to inform future reforms and improvement of social protection policies and programmes for older persons. Duties and Responsibilities of the Consultant In close coordination with ESCWA and the Ministry of Social Development in Palestine, the consultant will: 1. Prepare an inception report for the study outlining the refined methodology, detailed workplan, sampling strategy, analytical framework, and proposed data collection instruments, including questionnaires, focus group discussion guides and key informant interview protocols. The inception report will also identify the key informants to be interviewed in West Bank and Gaza. 2. Conduct a comprehensive desk review of relevant literature, legislative and policy documents and administrative data. 3. Provide a snapshot of the demographic and socio-economic situation of older persons in Palestine –West Bank and Gaza. 4. Design and conduct quantitative and qualitative data collection processes including surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and, where appropriate, interviews with caregivers in West Bank and Gaza. 5. Analyze and triangulate quantitative and qualitative findings and assess the effectiveness, adequacy, accessibility and responsiveness of cash assistance and care services in West Bank and Gaza. 6. Identify policy, institutional and operational gaps affecting programme implementation, coverage, targeting, coordination and service delivery in West Bank and Gaza. 7. Prepare the first draft of the study, including all annexes, references and data tables used in the analysis. 8. Revise the draft report based on comments received from ESCWA and the MoSD. 9. Present the main findings and policy recommendations during technical meetings, validation workshops or consultation sessions, if requested. 10. Coordinate closely with ESCWA and the Ministry throughout the data collection process to ensure methodological consistency, quality assurance and appropriate adaptation of fieldwork modalities to the operational context. 11. The consultant shall ensure full adherence to ethical research standards and compliance with stringent confidentiality and data protection standards.<br> Qualifications/special skills<br>A Masters degree or equivalent degree in Social Policy, Public Policy, Development Studies, Sociology, Economics, Public Health, Statistics, Social Work, or another closely related discipline or related area is required. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. A minimum of 7 years of professional work experience in Social Policy, Public Policy, Development Studies, Sociology, Economics, Public Health, Statistics, Social Work, or another closely related discipline is required. Experience working with national ministries, United Nations agencies or other international organizations is desirable. Knowledge of the Palestinian social protection system or previous work in the Palestine is highly desirable. Strong analytical and research skills and demonstrated experience analyzing quantitative and qualitative datasets is required. Ability to synthesize complex findings into concrete policy recommendations and excellent report-writing skills is required.<br> Languages<br>English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA. For this position, fluency in Arabic is required. Knowledge of English is desirable. Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas.<br> Additional Information<br>Recruitment for this position is on a local basis. The incumbent is required to have the legal right to live and work in the specified working location.<br> No Fee<br>THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.<br><br><br> </div>

<h2 class="h5">Job description</h2> <div class="t-break" data-jb-field="description"> Result of Service<br>The IC will be responsible for the following: 1. Optimal and timely provision of conference services in accordance to the conference standards used by the Department of General Assembly and Conference Management (DGACM); 2. Servicing of ESCWA meetings and events is done to the satisfaction of the organizers and the participants; 3. With the assistance of the meeting services attendant, meeting and events run smoothly, and substantive offices are able to fulfill their mandates in a satisfactory manner.<br> Work Location<br>UN-House ESCWA / Hybrid<br> Expected duration<br>1.5 months<br> Duties and Responsibilities<br>This position is located within the Conference Management Section (CMS), Resource Management and Service Development Division (RMSDD) of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). The meeting services attendant will report directly to the Chief Conference Management Section. The IC is required to undertake the following tasks: 1. Monitor meeting requests submitted on gMeets and books rooms and other services requested; 2. Assist the Unit with cost estimates that are requested on ESCWA’s portal of services, as needed; 3. Assist with matters related to the cost estimator currently being developed within CMS; 4. Assist entering data in e-APG pertaining to interpreters that are in the roster and who are hired to service at meetings and events; 5. Assiss in the preparation of the preliminary list and annotation of agenda items; 6. Prepare the list of participants, as necessary; 7. Prepare and organize sets of official documentation and reference material, and distribute them in the conference room; 8. Prepare invitations to participants to attend meetings/conferences; 9. Escort participants to the conference room, upon request; 10. Distribute texts of speeches and conference room papers to the podium, interpreters and précis-writers, and delegations or participants in the meeting room; 11. Distribute stationery supplies in the conference room; 12. Assist relevant officials/participants and delegates in the meeting room on meeting-related matters; 13. Assist in the coordination with the interpreters and the sound technician; 14. Assist the Chair on the needs of the podium, as needed; 15. Assist in the coordination for coffee breaks, as needed; 16. Assist the information desk, as needed; 17. Distribute bottles of water during intergovernmental meetings, or as requested; 18. Perform general office management functions as required; 19. Assist in the management and coordination of the ASMEs 2026; 20. Prepare the conference room the day before the meetings takes place, including: a. Type the name and title of each participant on the nameplate template; b. Print each nameplate and insert them on holders; c. Carry the holders to the conference room; d. Set up nameplates in conference rooms as per the approved seating protocol for podium, official delegations, observers and other participating entities; e. Retrieve, distribute and/or set up nameplates for meetings on an urgent basis; f. Set up the meeting room; g. Collect the holders and other conference items and place them in the storage (e.g. UN flags etc). 21. Carry out other tasks as requested by the Chief and the senior staff.<br> Qualifications/special skills<br>A High School diploma or equivalent is required. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed A minimum of one year of experience in conference services, meeting services management or related area is required. Experience working in the United Nations or other multinational or international organization is desirable.<br> Languages<br>English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA. For this position, fluency in English and Arabic is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas<br> Additional Information<br>Recruitment for this position is on a local basis. The incumbent is required to have the legal right to live and work in the specified working location.<br> No Fee<br>THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.<br><br><br> </div>

<h2 class="h5">Job description</h2> <div class="t-break" data-jb-field="description"> Result of Service<br>Ultimate Results of Service and Delivery Dates • Inception Report: The evaluator will submit a draft Inception Report totalling not more than 10 pages, in addition to associated annexes. The Inception Report will summarize the desk review and propose the evaluation methodology and sampling strategy/ies to be used in the evaluation, along with a detailed workplan, draft evaluation matrix, stakeholder matrix, and quality assurance mechanism. Any revisions to the Inception Report will be implemented no later than one week following receipt of comments. o The Inception Report shall, where relevant, address the integration of human rights, disability inclusion, gender equality, and environmental issues. The Inception Report should contain ideas for further exploration to support organisational learning, to be done either as part of this evaluation or separately by ESCWA itself. • Debriefing Meeting: Following the completion of the data collection and field mission phase, and prior to the delivery of the draft evaluation report, the evaluator should hold a debriefing meeting for the presentation of the preliminary findings to the project team. • Draft Evaluation Report: Following data collection and the analysis of findings, the evaluator will submit a Draft Evaluation Report. The Draft Evaluation Report will be user-friendly, well-structured and evidence-based, totalling not more than 40 pages, in addition to a 2-page Executive Summary and associated annexes. • The Draft Evaluation Report will summarize the agreed-upon methodology listed in the Inception Report, describe the evaluation’s data collection and analytical approach, and present findings. In addition, the evaluator should develop clear action-oriented recommendations, which are forward-looking and will enable ESCWA to leverage and capitalize on innovative practices emerging from the Reform. o The Draft Evaluation Report will be reviewed by ESCWA’s SPARK Section, and the programme team, before being discussed with the evaluator. • Final Evaluation Report: The Final Evaluation Report that should incorporate the comments and feedback from the Evaluation Manager and the programme team, is expected. The Final Evaluation Report shall, where relevant, address the integration of human rights, disability inclusion, gender equality, and environmental issues. o The Final Evaluation Report shall contain information (data, findings, expert views) that may allow ESCWA to identify lessons for wider organisational learning or for potential changes to relevant organisational policies, irrespective of the extent to which the evaluation recommendations make reference to such information.<br> Work Location<br>Remote<br> Expected duration<br>5 Months<br> Duties and Responsibilities<br>Background Subprogramme 4 Statistics, the information society and technology (subprogramme 4) aims to strengthen official statistical systems and advance the information society in the Arab region by improving the quality, availability and use of data, while accelerating the integration of technology and innovation for sustainable development. It focuses on enhancing national statistical capacities to adopt international standards and innovative data sources; supporting evidence based policymaking through improved production and use of statistics, including gender and disability data; and guiding digital transformation through policy advice on emerging technologies. The subprogramme also promotes regional dialogue and partnerships among governments, experts, civil society and the private sector to maximize the value of statistics, geospatial data, digitization and new technologies in support of the 2030 Agenda. Duties and Responsibilities Purpose of the Evaluation Evaluations at ESCWA strive to demonstrate the difference that is being made by the work of ESCWA, and its impact on member States and their citizens. This evaluation will aim to determine the extent to which subprogramme 4 is achieving its intended results, the pathway to these results, and the elements that contribute most significantly to the achievement of these results. In addition, it will also consider how the project brings about any unintended results that may have occurred. The evaluation will serve three main purposes: • It will provide a basis for evidence-informed decision-making, strategic planning, and risk management. • It is a means to demonstrate accountability to the organization’s Executive Management and member States for performance, relative to ESCWA’s mandate and strategic objectives. • It will inform and facilitate organizational learning by identifying evidence-based findings, lessons to be learned, and recommendations for action that enhance the next generation of ESCWA’s work. The evaluation will therefore take both a summative and a formative approach. It will look at results achieved or not achieved so far (summative) with a view to inform ESCWA’s work in the future (formative). The evaluation will be conducted in line with ESCWA’s Evaluation Policy (2025), and the UNEG Norms and Standards for Evaluation.. The evaluation will strive to employ development best practices with regard to promoting gender equality and a human rights-based approach, including the rights of persons with disabilities. The evaluation will be facilitated and coordinated by ESCWA’s Strategic Planning, Accountability, Results and Knowledge team. Scope of the Evaluation The evaluation will be forward-looking and will objectively and systematically assess the performance of the subprogramme in terms of its relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability. Furthermore, the evaluation will assess the extent to which gender, human rights, disability inclusion, environmental concerns, and other cross-cutting issues were incorporated or mainstreamed into the subprogramme. The evaluation will cover the period from January 2020 to December 2025. Areas of focus for each sub-programme evaluation include: • Key aspects of UN and ESCWA reforms, including the merger of the Statistics Division and the Technology for Development Division into one Cluster, as relevant; • The overall coherence of the subprogramme’s work and the extent to which its work has been synergetic; • The relevant IT- and AI-enabled tools/systems/platforms developed by the subprogramme; • Organisation-wide policies, as relevant, to promote organisational learning. Evaluation Criteria The following key evaluation questions per criteria will guide the evaluation. The evaluator/s is expected to refine evaluation questions where necessary and to include the refinement in the Inception Report. Relevance • To what extent are the objectives and expected accomplishments of the subprogramme aligned with: o ESCWA's strategic framework and programme budget? o Regional development priorities and challenges? o The 2030 Agenda and relevant SDGs? • To what extent do the subprogramme's interventions respond to the evolving needs and priorities of member States? • How well do the subprogramme's products and services (research, policy advice, capacity-building, convening) address identified gaps and demands? • To what extent are the needs and priorities of vulnerable or marginalized population groups reflected in the subprogramme's design and implementation? • How relevant are the subprogramme's thematic areas and approaches in the current regional context? • To what extent has the subprogramme adapted to emerging regional challenges and opportunities? Coherence • To what extent did the merger of the Statistics and Technology divisions create positive synergies, or did it result in parallel, siloed work streams? • How well does the subprogramme align its data and technology initiatives with the interventions of UN Country Teams and the League of Arab States to avoid duplication? • How well does subprogramme 4 align its scope and collaborate with other teams in ESCWA to avoid duplication and improve efficiency? For example with DSDSD. • Are there opportunities for greater coordination, collaboration, or integration with other subprogrammes within ESCWA and other institutions? Effectiveness • To what extent have the planned outputs and activities been delivered as intended? • To what extent have the expected accomplishments/outcomes been achieved? • How effectively has the subprogramme contributed to strengthening the capacities of member States and other stakeholders? • To what extent have knowledge products and policy recommendations been utilized by target stakeholders? • What factors facilitated or hindered the achievement of results? • How effectively has the subprogramme integrated cross-cutting issues such as gender equality, human rights, disability inclusion, youth, and environmental sustainability? • How could other factors have contributed to the achievement of the identified results? • How were key partnerships integrated in the delivery of the programme to maximise the achievement of results? Efficiency • To what extent were financial, human, and technical resources used efficiently to produce outputs and outcomes? • To what extent were management arrangements conducive to efficient implementation? • How cost-effective were the different types of interventions (e.g., research, policy advisory services, capacity-building, regional forums)? • To what extent did coordination within ESCWA and with external partners reduce duplication and generate synergies? • Were monitoring, reporting, and learning mechanisms adequate to support adaptive management and efficient implementation? • Could similar results have been achieved with fewer resources or through alternative approaches? Impact • What, if any, high-level effects did the programme cause (such as changes in norms or systems)? • To what extent has the subprogramme influenced policies, legislation, strategies, institutions, or practices in member States? • To what extent has the subprogramme contributed to regional cooperation, knowledge exchange, and policy dialogue? • To what extent did the intervention lead to other changes, including “scalable” or “replicable” results? • While long-term transformative impact may be difficult to measure, what 'early signals' of impact – such as specific policy adoption, changes to statistical regulations, or behavioral shifts – can be directly traced to the subprogramme's interventions? Sustainability • Have capacities, systems, and institutional arrangements been strengthened sufficiently to maintain benefits? • To what extent have knowledge products, tools, methodologies, and networks continued to be used after their initial delivery? • What risks could affect the sustainability of the results, and how have they been addressed? • Did the subprogramme successfully establish formal 'institutional homes' (e.g., permanent national observatories, explicit operational manuals, or formal focal points) within Member State governments to ensure tools and data platforms survive beyond ESCWA's direct involvement? • To what extent has the subprogramme fostered partnerships and mechanisms that can support continued implementation and scaling up? • What evidence is available to indicate that the results of the programme can be maintained by stakeholders? Gender, Human Rights, Disability Inclusion, and Environmental Issues • To what extent were issues of gender, human rights, disability inclusion, and the environment incorporated into the design, planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation practices of the programme, as well as the results achieved? • To what extent did the programme respond to and affect the rights, needs and interests of different stakeholders, including women, men, youth, people with disabilities and other marginalized groups? Evaluation Methodology Management and Governance Arrangements All evaluation methodologies are to be reviewed by ESCWA’s SPARK Section and approved by ESCWA’s Senior Management. • The evaluation will be conducted by an external consultant/s. • The evaluator is expected to identify the main objectives achieved through the implementation of the programme, intended and unintended, as established by key stakeholders and relevant documentation, and the pathways that led to achieving them, with particular focus on innovative practices and initiatives that can be leveraged to further enhance ESCWA’s work. • The evaluator is expected to ensure a mixed method (qualitative and quantitative), inclusive, and participatory approach, with adequate triangulation across methods, to arrive at credible, reliable, and unbiased findings. • The evaluator will also ensure that all aspects of the evaluation are gender and human rights sensitive (including a special focus on the rights with person with disabilities). In addition, the evaluator must ensure that he/she always complies with the UNEG Ethical Guidelines for Evaluation during the conduct of the evaluation. The above methodology is indicative. The evaluator is expected to build upon it and present a robust evaluation methodology within the inception report, including addressing and refining the evaluation questions. Quality Assurance Mechanism The evaluator will employ a quality assurance mechanism of her/his preference (either an internal or an external system can be used), which will provide quality checks throughout the evaluation process. This quality assurance mechanism will be indicated in the Inception Report and in the Final Evaluation Report. In addition, ESCWA will review the evaluation report prior to finalization to ensure that it aligns with the UNEG Quality Checklist for Evaluation Reports , particularly with reference to the quality of recommendations. Evaluation Ethics The evaluation will be conducted in accordance with the principles outlined in the UNEG Ethical Guidelines for Evaluation; and all rights and confidentiality of information providers will be prioritized and safeguarded as per UNEG Ethical Guidelines for Evaluation.<br> Qualifications/special skills<br>A Master's degree in management, evaluation, or related area is required. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Minimum of 5 years of experience conducting assessments, reviews or evaluations of projects, programmes or policies in the UN or international context is required. A high level of knowledge in the distilling, communication and reporting of findings, forward-looking recommendations, best practices, and lessons learned is required. Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to effectively convey complex information in a clear and concise manner to both governmental and UN audiences is required. Work experience in STATISTICS and/or THE INFORMATION SOCIETY AND TECHNOLOGY issues is desirable.<br> Languages<br>English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA. For this position, fluency in English is required. Fluency in Arabic is desirable. Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas.<br> Additional Information<br>Not available.<br> No Fee<br>THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.<br><br><br> </div>

<h2 class="h5">Job description</h2> <div class="t-break" data-jb-field="description"> Work Location<br>In Person - Full Time UNIC Beirut<br> Expected duration<br>3 mos to 6 mos max<br> Duties and Responsibilities<br>The global network of United Nations Information Centres (UNICs) is part of the Department of Global Communications. It is key to the Organization's ability to reach the peoples of the world and to share the United Nations story with them in their own languages. These centres, working in coordination with the UN system, reach out to the media and educational institutions, engage in partnerships with governments, local civil society organizations and the private sector, and maintain libraries and electronic information resources. Just as UNICs are the principal sources of information about the United Nations system in the countries where they are located, they are also responsible for promoting greater public understanding of and support for the aims and activities of the United Nations by disseminating information on the work of the Organization to people everywhere. This position is located in the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Beirut, within the Information Centres Service (ICS), Department of Global Communication (DGC). The duration of the internship is three (3) months with possibility of extension for another three (3) additional months for a maximum period of six (6) months. The internship is UNPAID and full-time or part-time depending on academic obligations, to commence as soon as possible. Interns work five days per week (35 hours) as full-time interns or three days per week (21 hours) as part-time interns, under the supervision of the Outreach Assistant and other office staff. This internship is designed to be in person but may be flexible. Remote work modalities can be offered on a case-by-case basis. Daily responsibilities will depend on the individual's background, assigned office, as well as internship period. Under the direct supervision of the OIC and/or PIO, the intern will undertake the following tasks: Duties may include, but are not limited to: Assist in drafting in English and Arabic media advisories, press releases, press reviews, talking points, statements, news stories, etc.; Assist in contributing to the content creation for UNIC Beirut's website and other social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc.) with relevant UN news and events; Assist in providing media support to events/campaigns organized by UNIC Beirut; Assist in organizing press conferences, meetings, briefings and other PR events by UNIC- Beirut; Assist in taking photos and videos for media coverage and archiving; Assist in other ad-hoc activities as instructed.<br> Qualifications/special skills<br>Applicants must meet one of the following requirements: (a) Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or (b) Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent). Applicants must have good knowledge of standard software applications, especially MS Word, MS PowerPoint, and MS Teams. Ability to draft news articles and/or social media posts in desirable. Ability to design surveys and polls is desirable. Have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter; Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views. Applicants to the UN Internship Programme are not required to have professional work experience. However, a field of study that is closely related to the type of internship that you are applying for is required. Applicants must be a student in the final year of the first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), Master’s or Ph.D. Programme or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PH.D. Programme. Do you meet any of the above criteria? If yes, please indicate which one and attach proof to the application. Please note that you will have to provide an official certificate at a later stage. Applicants must have good knowledge of standard software applications, especially MS Word, MS PowerPoint, and MS Teams. Ability to draft news articles and/or social media posts in desirable. Ability to design surveys and polls is desirable. Have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter; Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.<br> Languages<br>English and French are the working languages of the United Nations. For this internship, fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.<br> Additional Information<br>Not available.<br> Intern Specific text<br>Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions. Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship is undertaken, may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer.<br> No Fee<br>THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.<br><br><br> </div>

<h2 class="h5">Job description</h2> <div class="t-break" data-jb-field="description"> Org. Setting and Reporting<br>UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and is mandated to provide assistance and protection to a population of some 5.8 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip to achieve their full potential in human development, pending a just solution to their plight. UNRWA’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance, and emergency assistance. UNRWA is the largest UN operation in the Middle East with more than 30,000 staff. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions. If you are looking for a rewarding opportunity to make a tangible difference for one of the most vulnerable communities in the world, UNRWA would like to hear from you. Cash for Work project associate reports to Cash for Work project officer.<br> Responsibilities<br>•Manage project-related complaints and issues by coordinating with field staff and cash for work project team, and compile relevant reports. •Prepare responses and correspondence for project-related queries. •Develop standard operating procedures, eligibility criteria, guidance notes, documentation of best practices, and lessons learned. •Lead in creating and implementing a communication plan for the project, including the development and dissemination of communication materials and organizing events, in coordination with the UNRWA Public Information team and in line with donor and UNRWA communication policies. •Organize and maintain project databases by systematically archiving all pertinent information and conducting quality assurance checks. •Assist in project implementation by ensuring that all activities and deliverables meet the required quality standards and adhere to legal agreements and set tolerances. •Track project progress and assess performance based on scope, budget, timeline, and quality by working closely with the project team, and promptly report any issues to Project Officers along with recommended corrective actions. •Carry out additional tasks as prioritized and assigned by the CfW Project Officers and Project Manager.<br> Competencies<br>UN Core Values of Professionalism, Integrity, and Respect of Diversity and Core Competencies of Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results apply by default. In addition: •Relating and Networking •Persuading and Influencing •Planning and Organizing •Adapting and Responding to Change •Deciding and Initiating Action<br> Education<br>A bachelor's degree is required, particularly in fields such as business administration, public administration, development studies, project management, international relations, social sciences, communications, or a related discipline.<br> Job - Specific Qualification<br>Not available.<br> Work Experience<br>A minimum of two years of relevant experience in areas such as project management support, project coordination, monitoring and evaluation, stakeholder engagement, community involvement, communications, and reporting, preferably with a UN agency or non-governmental organization, is required. Applicants are required to mention if they have close relative(s) in UNRWA (mother, father, daughter, son, sister brother), please provide full name(s) and relationship. If applicable, please provide further details below. Applicants are required to mention if they are a Palestine refugee. If yes, please provide you Registration Card Number Indicate your current involvement in any outside activities, as it is required. Including but not limited to employment, independent contractor/freelance consultant, board member (corporate, academic, etc), expert group, lobby, public speaking/writing (article, book, blog, social media etc), teaching, conferences, training, press statement, voluntary work, political activity, fundraising/donation for non UNRWA entity, running for public office, role in political party or orgs, owning business, work for gov./NGO/private company/charity, UNRWA partner/vendor, full/part-time, paid or not. A "yes" answer doesn't necessarily lead to exclusion from future work at UNRWA, yet misrepresentation in providing accurate/complete info can lead to disqualification/termination of appointment, if hired. Candidates are required to make a declaration as to whether they have any current or past affiliations with non-governmental organisations, academic institutions, political organisations, military, or have/are engaged in activities or have made any public statements, that could be seen to impact their neutrality, objectivity or independence in the performance of their duties for the UN / UNRWA. Any declaration will not necessarily disqualify candidates from consideration for this post.<br> Languages<br>English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English <b>and</b> Arabic are required. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).<br> .headtable { font-family: arial, sans-serif; border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; border: 1px solid gray; border-radius: 10px; overflow: hidden; } .headTitle { font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; /*color: rgb(65, 98, 145);*/ color:black; } .headtable tr td, .headtable tr th { text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; padding: 6px; } .headtable th{ background-color: #F4F4F4; color: #002d62; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; padding: 12px; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; } .headtable td { text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; background-color: white; border-top: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; } .headtable th:last-child, .headtable td:last-child { border-right: none; } .headtable tr:last-child td { border-bottom: none; } .rounded-table-wrapper { border-radius: 12px; border: 1px solid #ccc; overflow: hidden; } Required LanguagesLanguageReadingWritingListeningSpeaking<br><b>English</b>UN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level II<br><b>Arabic</b>UN Level IUN Level IUN Level IUN Level I<br> <br> Assessment<br>Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.<br> Special Notice<br>Type of Contract: Limited Duration Contract (LDC), Band E. The Limited Duration Contract applies to external candidates and UNRWA internal candidates on LDC. Duration of Contract: 6 months - with the possibility of further extension, subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory performance and continuing need. Grade &amp; Salary: LDC- Band E monthly salary of USD 1,633.20 (basic salary USD 1,466.20 + special allowance USD 167) Other Benefits: Other benefits include compulsory medical insurance, 30 days of annual leave pro-rated to the duration of the contract where less than one year, and family allowance (if applicable). Additional benefits: - 2 days of sick leave for each completed month of service. - Maternity Leave, upon meeting eligibility requirements. - 2 weeks paternity leave. upon meeting eligibility requirements. This vacancy notice is open to internal candidates on LDC contract and external candidates. Only candidates residing in Lebanon, and within commuting distance of the duty station with authorization to work in the duty station at the time of application are eligible to apply. The Agency will not assume responsibility or accountability to support or facilitate the issuance of work permit in Lebanon, and without a valid work permit, the appointment may be rescinded. UNRWA is committed to achieving gender balance in its workforce. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to registered Palestine refugees and candidates assisting the Agency to meet its commitment to gender parity. UNRWA welcomes applications from qualified candidates with disabilities. A roster may be created from the selection exercise, and successful candidates may become eligible for appointment to the same post or a similar post in the future should suitable vacancies become available. Only applications that have been fully completed in UNRWA's online e-recruitment system inspira will be considered and no late applications will be accepted. The PHP should be completed with full relevant work experience under the experience tabs as per the requirements in the Job Opening. All acquired university degrees must also be stated, if applicable. Applicants applying to positions for Grades 12 to 20 or LDC Bands E to H must submit a cover letter/motivational statement in order to be considered. Additionally, providing incorrect or misleading information on an application will result in the immediate disqualification of a candidate. For UNRWA internal staff, they are required to specify and include their current UNRWA grade level. To do so applicants should select under "Category" RLG, scroll down to see all categories, then select their local grade. Please find below the link to a video that guides applicants on how to apply to Job Openings that approach you for guidance: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MH-IYA6Y8kxA1fgao5qyTV8VwNajgx4u/view Equivalency: Equivalency may apply for this post. NB: Work experience alone or formal qualifications with no relevant work experience are not considered an acceptable combination. Advertisements published only in English will only accept applications in English, and Arabic submissions will not be considered. The Agency disqualifies applicants whose name appears on the UN Sanctions List or a UN database of staff separated for reason of misconduct or of staff who separated while a misconduct process was pending. UNRWA shares investigation and misconduct information with other UN Agencies, and past and prospective employers about staff members who have been separated for misconduct, or who have separated while an investigation and/or disciplinary process for misconduct was underway; and those individuals may be prohibited from employment with the United Nations. Desirable qualification: Experience in overseeing labor-intensive projects, cash assistance programs, multi-sectoral initiatives, or similar types of projects is considered an asset. Additional Information: N/A Providing incorrect, incomplete or misleading information on an application form will result in the immediate disqualification of the candidate. UNRWA has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNRWA, including sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, racism/racial discrimination and other forms of conduct, including but not limited to discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all recommended candidates and those placed on a roster to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s), employment history, Clear Check and INTERPOL, as well as certification of non-conviction, where available. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check. By applying for a position with UNRWA, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes. The Agency will immediately disqualify applicants who are ineligible for any reason in accordance with the Agency regulatory framework. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states, regional bodies, business foundations and individual contributions. The mission of UNRWA is to help Palestine refugees achieve their full potential in human development under the difficult circumstances in which they live. We are pleased to announce that applications for internship/volunteer assignments are now open. We invite all interested individuals to submit their applications through the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeXdiVz61BAUCSXAnx9Bn0y0erblqKBt7xia_YM3M167nIBGw/viewform?usp=sf_link. For more details on UNRWA, please visit: https://www.unrwa.org/<br> United Nations Considerations<br>Staff members are subject to the authority of the Commissioner-General of UNRWA and to assignment by him or her. UNRWA is committed to achieving gender parity at all levels of staffing under the current UN-wide gender agenda and strongly encourages applications from qualified applicants from under-represented groups. At UNRWA, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. UNRWA is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. UNRWA Considerations UNRWA staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of efficiency, competence, neutrality, impartiality and integrity. This includes respect for and commitment to human rights, diversity and non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for UNRWA jobs. Candidates will not be considered for employment with UNRWA if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. The Agency may disqualify applicants who have separated for reason of misconduct, who left a UN Agency while misconduct processes were pending, or who appear on the UN Sanctions List. UNRWA is a non-smoking work environment. Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.<br> No Fee<br>THE UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR EAST (UNRWA) DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE OR REQUEST MONEY FROM CANDIDATES AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT AND ONBOARDING PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING, ONBOARDING). UNRWA DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.<br><br> </div>

<h2 class="h5">Job description</h2> <div class="t-break" data-jb-field="description"> Result of Service<br>The consultant is expected to draft a paper that develops a framework outlining the key determinants for advancing care reforms and systems.<br> Work Location<br>Remote<br> Expected duration<br>3 months<br> Duties and Responsibilities<br>Background Around the world, societies and economies are undergoing socio-demographic changes such as ageing populations, low fertility rates, urbanization, increased migration, widespread crises and conflicts, and climate change, which have all intensified the demand for care. However, while gaining global importance, care work still remains invisible and undervalued, often relegated to informal and unpaid labour, disproportionately borne by women, thus hindering their empowerment. Although this trend is observed globally, it is particularly acute in the Arab region where women undertake 80 to 90 per cent of all unpaid care work and spend 4.7 times more time than men on these responsibilities, exceeding the global average of 3.62 . Unpaid care work hinders women’s visibility and participation in public economic and political spheres as well as in decision-making processes in the Arab region. The disproportionate unpaid care work undertaken by women limits their economic engagement and opportunities, as it makes it challenging for them to balance work and family responsibilities. Additionally, women often face gender stereotypes, limited professional development opportunities, and an institutional culture that marginalizes their contributions. Women’s economic and political participation in the region remain low compared to global averages. In 2025, women’s labour force participation was only 19 per cent, less than half the global average of 49 per cent, making it the lowest rate worldwide . Women’s political representation shows a similarly stark gap. In December 2025, women held only 27 per cent of national parliamentary seats globally, with an even lower share in the Middle East and North Africa at around 16 per cent, the lowest in the world . However, there has been growing regional momentum realizing gains in the care economy with many countries in the Arab region offering instructive examples of care reforms. Nevertheless, these reforms are often sector-specific, focusing on one policy area such as labour without approaching care in a holistic manner interconnected across different sectors and policy areas. Within this context, understanding the political economy which examines how social, economic, and political factors shape care policies and systems becomes a pressing priority. Building on these reform efforts in the Arab region and looking at breakthroughs in care policymaking globally, including Latin America which has been particularly active in advancing comprehensive care systems, it is increasingly important to understand how care, often framed solely as a gender equality issue, intersects with other major development issues and policy domains. This highlights the regional need for policies that recognize care as a central element of sustainable economies and redistribute it among different stakeholders including the state. Ongoing inter-regional collaboration between UN regional commissions, namely ESCWA and the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) including through a project on advancing care policies for transformative recovery in Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia-Pacific and the Arab states, seeks to draw lessons from Latin American countries’ experiences in advancing comprehensive care systems. Given the inherent political nature of care policymaking, it is essential to understand what prompts political actors to prioritize care. A key driver is awareness around the critical role care plays in society and its far-reaching implications for economic and social well-being. When care is made visible as a cross-cutting issue that affects economic growth, labour force participation, health outcomes, social cohesion, and gender equality, it is more likely to gain traction in political discourse and influence the selection of policy instruments, thereby driving change in laws, budgets, and institutional support for care systems. Objective and methodology ESCWA seeks to hire a consultant to assist in drafting a paper, in collaboration with ECLAC, that thoroughly examines the factors and determinants behind care reforms, investigating the political economy of care in the Arab region and relating it to Latin America’s experience. The paper will draw on experiences from both Latin American and Arab countries to demonstrate the importance of moving beyond fragmented care reform policies towards comprehensive care systems. It will build on the recommendations provided by experts during ESCWA’s Expert Group Meeting on the Political Economy of Care Policies: Determinants for Reform in the Arab Region organized in July 2026. Tasks and responsibilities The consultant will be responsible for the following tasks: - Desk review: undertake a desk review of available successful and as well as unachieved experiences in advancing care policies and systems from Latin America and the Arab region; - Based on the results of the desk review, undertake consultations with relevant stakeholders on the main determinants, challenges or barriers which they have faced while working on advancing care policies and systems; - Review the results of consultations with relevant stakeholders from the Arab region on the main determinants, challenges or barriers which they have faced while working on advancing care policies and systems; - Propose the elements and dynamics among key determinants to advance care policies and systems and draw lessons for future policy making and reforms on care while taking into account the discussions and recommendations of the Expert Group Meeting above mentioned. - Suggest a detailed outline to be validated and agreed upon with ESCWA’s team in consultation with ECLAC; - Based on the agreed outline, prepare the first draft of the paper to be reviewed by ESCWA’s team; - Prepare a final draft based on the comments and recommendations provided by ESCWA and ECLAC’s teams. Supervision: The consultant will work Under the direct supervision of the Social Affairs Officer responsible for the care economy stream at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) Ms. Rouba ARJA, and overall guidance of the gender Justice, Population and Inclusive Development cluster leader. The consultant is expected to provide regular updates on the work progress.<br> Qualifications/special skills<br>A master’s degree in economy, or sociology, or law or gender studies or related area is required. A PhD in one of these fields is desirable. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. A minimum of 10 years of professional work experience in areas related to public policy making is required. Previous experience in social policy reform and changes is required. Previous experience in working on care policies is desirable.<br> Languages<br>English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Spanish and/or Arabic is desirable. Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas.<br> Additional Information<br>Not available.<br> No Fee<br>THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.<br><br><br> </div>

<h2 class="h5">Job description</h2> <div class="t-break" data-jb-field="description"> Result of Service<br>The objective of this employment opportunity is to assist in vetting the accuracy of Machine Learning models through human intervention, help in translation of documents, and building project proposals.<br> Work Location<br>UN-ESCWA/ Remotely<br> Expected duration<br>5 months<br> Duties and Responsibilities<br>Background The world is currently experiencing the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, and automation of activities are the key drivers of this revolution. This revolution will inevitably eliminate many current lines of work yet can bring in new lines of employment. ESCWA's Future of work initiative is expected to provide a forum for ESCWA countries to prepare for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (FIR) jobs while factoring in the number of jobs needed between now and the attainment of the 2030 Agenda. The key aim is to support member States for the upcoming change in employment and skills due to technological advancements. Ultimately, ESCWA will help member states harness job opportunities emerging from the advent of newer technologies while taming challenges. ESCWA skills monitor is part of ESCWA's initiative on the Future of Work that uses Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence to assess the demand for skills and jobs in the Arab region. Even though AI is very powerful, it still requires significant human intervention to be helpful. In most cases, AI models might be fit for the data that they only have been trained on, where human intervention is required to detect higher accuracy. This was evident, especially during unprecedented events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Tasks - duties and responsibilities: The individual contractor will be responsible for the following tasks: 1- Assist in checking accuracy of how Machine Learning is capturing Occupation classification. 2- Assist in checking accuracy of skills for almost ISCO jobs. 3- Assist in checking accuracy of how regular expression (Reg-X) models are capturing different features from text. 4- Assist in conducting data analysis using data from the ESCWA Skills Monitor. 5- Assist in meeting, workshops and mission preparations including administrative activities. 6- Help in all Ad hock activities related to labor market policies and private sector development.<br> Qualifications/special skills<br>A High school Diploma is required. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. A minimum of 2 years of experience in data manipulation data analysis, presentation, drafting and data visualization is required. Proven experience in successfully working with a team is required. Familiarity with Microsoft Suite is required.<br> Languages<br>English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA. For this position, fluency in English and Arabic is required. Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas.<br> Additional Information<br>Recruitment for this position is on a local basis. The incumbent is required to have the legal right to live and work in the specified working location.<br> No Fee<br>THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.<br><br><br> </div>

<h2 class="h5">Job description</h2> <div class="t-break" data-jb-field="description"> Result of Service<br>Avoid any electrical problems or any malfunctioning in the electricity within UNSCOL premises.<br> Work Location<br>UNSCOL<br> Expected duration<br>6 Months<br> Duties and Responsibilities<br>Under the direct supervision of the Logistics Assistant, the incumbent shall perform the following tasks within UNSCOL Premises located at Villa Sehnaoui, Yarze, Baabda: Performing maintenance, inspection, repair, installation, testing and wiring of all electrical apparatus within UNSCOL premises. Installing electrical components to architectural and code specifications. Running wires through conduit. Testing wiring connections with test equipment like volt/ohmmeters and oscilloscopes. Test or repair electrical based equipment. Assist or perform mechanical repairs, (such as 3-phase industrial breakers, running conduit, pulling wire and machine control panels bin. Periodic inspections of equipment, test and replace circuit breakers and switches. The electrician should assist in case of emergency 24 hours/7 days per week and should report to the premises as soon as called to fix the problems that may occur.<br> Qualifications/special skills<br>High school diploma or equivalent. Three years of experience in electrical repair and maintenance, or related area.<br> Languages<br>Fluency in Arabic and knowledge of English is required.<br> Additional Information<br>The individual contractor is expected to be residing in Lebanon and to report to duty in Baabda whenever needed and during emergencies, which may include weekends and at night.<br> No Fee<br>THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.<br><br><br> </div>

<h2 class="h5">Job description</h2> <div class="t-break" data-jb-field="description"> Result of Service<br>Project activities are effectively implemented, resulting in youth and persons with disabilities being better prepared for employment and actively connected to inclusive opportunities, thereby contributing to greater economic participation, autonomy, and independence.<br> Work Location<br>UN ESCWA/ Remotely<br> Expected duration<br>6 months<br> Duties and Responsibilities<br>Background Youth inequality in Jordan has been rising since 2015 and now exceeds global and regional averages. Young people, particularly those with disabilities, face high levels of underemployment and exclusion from social and economic life. Despite legal frameworks that guarantee equality, persons with disabilities remain marginalized, with employment rates at only 21 per cent compared to 39 per cent for persons without disabilities. This exclusion is not only a social challenge but also an economic burden, costing the national economy an estimated $328 million annually. The barriers are both cultural—persistent misconceptions about productivity and cost—and structural, including inaccessible transport, unsuitable urban environments, and limited workplace accommodations. ESCWA has long been engaged in advancing disability inclusion and youth empowerment across the Arab region. Through its convening power, technical expertise, and regional mandate, ESCWA has supported national strategies, strengthened policy frameworks, and enhanced labour market statistics to promote inclusive development. In Jordan, ESCWA has produced policy briefs analyzing the challenges and opportunities for persons with disabilities. In 2025 the Government of Jordan formally requested ESCWA’s assistance in developing a national strategy for the economic empowerment of persons with disabilities, alongside technical support for programs aimed at connecting social assistance beneficiaries—including youth and persons with disabilities—to the labour market. In response, ESCWA is implementing the project “From Dependence to Dignity: Economic Empowerment for Persons with Disabilities and Youth in Jordan.” The project combines high-level policy reform with practical, demand-driven interventions. It focuses on three main areas: launching a national strategy for the economic empowerment of persons with disabilities; enacting reforms to bridge the national skills mismatch; and upgrading the skills of youth and persons with disabilities while connecting them to inclusive employment opportunities. Central to this effort is the enhancement of the Josour Initiative, which strengthens skills, employability, and job-matching opportunities for persons with disabilities and youth. By integrating these tools with Jordan’s national systems, the project aims to reduce inequalities, promote decent work, and empower marginalized groups to transition from dependence to dignity. Objective ESCWA seeks to hire an individual contractor to support the project “From Dependence to Dignity: Economic Empowerment for Persons with Disabilities and Youth in Jordan,” contributing to skills development, labour market access, and inclusive employment opportunities through the Josour platform, awareness campaigns, training, and private sector partnerships. Duties and Responsibilities: The individual contractor is requested to: General Project Support • Provide administrative and logistical support for project implementation, including meetings, workshops, and policy dialogues. • Draft and respond to routine correspondence and communications. • Compile, organize, and edit information for reports, work plans, presentations, and other project documents. • Proofread and edit texts for accuracy, clarity, and adherence to standards. • Prepare presentation and communication materials using appropriate technology and software. Josour Platform and Skills Development • Support the maintenance and enhancement of the Josour platform by ensuring regular updates on announcements, opportunities, and skills analysis, while providing ongoing user support. • Support awareness raising campaigns to increase enrollment of users, including persons with disabilities. • Support the mapping and engagement of potential partners across Arab countries. • Support in the collection and analysis of data on training participation, platform usage, and employment outcomes. • Assist in the preparation of agendas, info notes, presentations, and background material for meetings and activities. • Coordinate with partners and stakeholders on matters related to the Josour’s national chapters. • Contribute to evaluations to ensure activities remain inclusive, demand-driven, and responsive to beneficiary needs • Perform other related tasks as required.<br> Qualifications/special skills<br>Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in one of the following fields is required: Social Sciences, International Relations, Public Administration, Project Management, Social Policy, Social Development, or another relevant field. Eight years of progressively responsive experience in general office support or related area is required. Experience working in similar development projects is desirable. Background/familiarity with e-platforms management is desirable. Previous UN Experience is desirable.<br> Languages<br>English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA. For this position, fluency in English and Arabic is required. Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas.<br> Additional Information<br>Not available.<br> No Fee<br>THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.<br><br><br> </div>

<h2 class="h5">Job description</h2> <div class="t-break" data-jb-field="description"> Result of Service<br>• The report prepared should be in Arabic and in electronic format. • The report submitted should not be less than 30 pages. • A 2 to 4 pages executive summary of the report. The completed parts should be edited and saved in MS-Word (*.docx file) or an alternate compatible format. PDF format will not be accepted. It should include a table of contents to be automatically updated followed by a list of all tables and figures. The various parts should be submitted in electronic form and sent to the email address of the designated focal point. Attention is kindly drawn to the need to ensure that the final draft of the outputs be thoroughly reviewed prior to submission and to indicate the sources of tables and diagrams. References to reports and other substantive material should be clearly indicated within the text and noted at the end. It is also essential to send, with the completed output, photocopies or scans of at least the first page of books, reports and bulletins, used as reference material as well as copies of the pages quoted. The content of the generated document shall be the sole property of ESCWA. The consultant shall keep in mind that UN-ESCWA routinely checks all deliverables for plagiarism, using readily available electronic tools. All previously published content, even if written by the selected consultant, must be clearly referenced where required within the text and end-noted at the end of the study. The report submitted by the consultant must not contain quoted and/or previously published text equalling more than 20 per cent of the total number of pages. The consultant shall not publish or announce or reveal the content of the report, partly or entirely, on social media or any other public channel, without ESCWA and EQA permission. The content of the generated document shall be the sole property of ESCWA.<br> Work Location<br>Remote<br> Expected duration<br>16 weeks<br> Duties and Responsibilities<br>GENERAL SCOPE From an automated government through e-Government to a smart and open government, technology and innovation have become vital tools for managing and conducting government business, serving its citizens, and achieving its development targets. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development states that good governance at all levels as well as transparent, effective and accountable institutions are necessary to build peaceful societies and achieve sustainable development. In this Agenda, specific measures are given to achieve such societies especially in Goal 16 “Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels”. Under this goal, the development of effective, accountable and transparent institutions (16.6), responsive, inclusive participatory and representative decision-making (16.7) and public access to information (16.10) are promoted as targets. To implement these targets, a partnership, between the Government, the private sector, civil society, other stakeholders (such as the public, and regional, sub-regional and international institutions) and citizens, is envisioned. Better governance and better public institutions are essential elements in achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Technology and innovation provide governments with options to achieve the individual targets set out in Goal 16. Innovation in the public sector provides new processes, products and services that can either be new technologies or be supported by technologies that promotes access to information, inclusiveness, citizen participation, accountability, transparency and responsiveness. When the government adopts news technologies and openness as part of its paradigm, the possibility of collaboration, shared responsibility and co-decision-making, strengthens the government and empowers its citizens. The United Nations is involved in enhancing the use of emerging technologies for sustainable development. In September 2024 during the Summit of the Future, world leaders adopted the Pact for the Future and its annexes: the Global Digital Compact (GDC) and Declaration on Future Generations. The GDC mandates UN Regional Commissions to provide support to Member States to advance digital transformation. Recently, many Arab countries started developing/updating their national plans and strategies to reflect the aspects of digital government transformation. The Environment Quality Authority (EQA) in Palestine requested the technical assistance of ESCWA to develop their digital transformation strategy. The objective of this consultancy is to provide an advisory service to assist ESCWA team in suggesting the digital strategy to the Authority. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The consultant shall propose to the designated ESCWA focal point a detailed version of the digital transformation strategy. To produce the draft strategy, the consultant is requested to conduct, among others, the main following tasks: 1. Review the national digital documents and the existing policies and strategies in Palestine related to digital transformation, innovation, digital technologies, and other related national development plans; 2. Review best regional and international best practices related to Digital Transformation Strategies and policies (at least 2 selected regional and 2 international cases); 3. Identify main national stakeholders, hold, in coordination with EQA, interviews and meetings with the main national stakeholders and realising minutes of each meeting/interview summarizing the discussed points, their remarks, observations and proposals; 4. Contribute to sectoral workshops to discuss needs and priorities, if needed; 5. Assessment of EQA available capabilities, including current IT infrastructure, equipment, services and platforms; 6. Hold meetings with EQA departments to better understand EQA current digital status. This may include existing work procedures, process workflows, forms and interconnections between procedures, key business processes across departments and EQA offices in governorates and the HQ in Ramallah, Data centre project, EQA website, the need for AI systems if any. 7. Prepare the needed digital transformation strategy based on international and regional best practices, gap analysis, national needs (SWOT analysis) and technical analysis; 8. Present the draft report in a national workshop or meeting (physically or remotely) and capture the main comments and findings of the discussions; 9. Update the draft proposal according to all received feedback and comments during the reviewing process by ESCWA and EQA. The final draft report includes the above-mentioned assessment, SWOT, the suggested strategy with timeframe of implementation of identified initiatives. ESCWA promotes gender equality and integration of youth through its publications and therefore the consultant should pay attention, with the help of ESCWA staff, to gender considerations and youth dimension throughout the research work to ensure that the report gives equal attention to the needs of both men and women, as well as girls and boys. Writing should use gender-sensitive language<br> Qualifications/special skills<br>A Master's degree in ICT, technology, engineering, computer science or a related field is required. A Ph.D. degree is desirable. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. At least 7 years of professional experience and research in the domain of digital technologies is required. Previous experience in management and planning is required. Previous experience in the delivery of research papers is desirable. Previous experience in the development of digital plans is desirable. Knowledge of the environmental issues in Palestine is desirable.<br> Languages<br>English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA. For this position, fluency in written and spoken Arabic and English is required. Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas.<br> Additional Information<br>Not available.<br> No Fee<br>THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.<br><br><br> </div>

<h2 class="h5">Job description</h2> <div class="t-break" data-jb-field="description"> Result of Service<br>The IC is expected to provide the required research support on areas 1-6 to be delivered on a timely manner. The IC should also help in finalizing all comments provided and should provide all codes and data sets and programs related to the projects by the end of the contract in an organized manner.<br> Work Location<br>UN-House- ESCWA / Hybrid<br> Expected duration<br>5 months<br> Duties and Responsibilities<br>Background The world is currently experiencing the Fourth Industrial Revolution. With this transition, the velocity of change and the sheer number of innovations are unprecedented. This revolution will inevitably eliminate many current lines of work yet has the capacity to bring in new lines of employment. The agility of this revolution makes the jobs of the future difficult to predict using traditional techniques. Given this background, this project will tackle three main issues: • The lack of timely information to monitor the dynamism of the labor market needs. • The mismatch between human capital accumulation and labor market demand. • Labor market policies and regulations are mostly outdated and unprepared for the impact of automation on jobs in most ESCWA countries. Under the supervision of the Team Leader of Future of Work Project and the overall guidance of the cluster lead, the Individual Contractor will assist the Future of work project in scraping activities. Tasks - duties and responsibilities The Individual contractor will mainly contribute to the following areas: 1. Identifying job and employment-related websites for potential data scraping, under guidance. 2. Basic knowledge of ethical guidelines and legal boundaries in web scraping, focusing on adhering to terms of service and privacy laws of targeted websites. 3. Developing foundational skills in creating simple algorithms for extracting data like job listings and company information, and skills from websites. 4. Working using web scraping tools and technologies, such as Python libraries (BeautifulSoup, Scrapy), with an emphasis on learning and application under supervision. 5. Monitoring and updating scraped data, with an emphasis on understanding their importance and basic functionality. 6. Identify and solve basic issues during the web scraping process, with support from more experienced team members.<br> Qualifications/special skills<br>A bachelor’s degree in computer science, data science, or other related computer fields is required. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. A minimum of 1 year of experience in scrapping is required.<br> Languages<br>English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA. For this position, fluency in English and Arabic is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas.<br> Additional Information<br>Recruitment for this position is on a local basis. The incumbent is required to have the legal right to live and work in the specified working location.<br> No Fee<br>THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.<br><br><br> </div>

<h2 class="h5">Job description</h2> <div class="t-break" data-jb-field="description"> Result of Service<br>1. Annotated outline for the report, including proposed case-studies and a preliminary reference list. 2. First draft of the report 3. Final revised draft of the report, including case studies and reflecting ESCWA’s feedback and comments<br> Work Location<br>Remotley<br> Expected duration<br>3 months<br> Duties and Responsibilities<br>Objective ESCWA seeks to engage a consultant to support the drafting of a report which would constitute an input to ESCWA’s upcoming energy publication: “Enabling policies for inclusive, sustainable, and digitalized power grids and enhanced cross-border cooperation in the Arab region”. The analytical report would focus on the opportunities and challenges related to the digitalization of power grids in the Arab region, cross-border cooperation and regional integration, governance and policy frameworks for digitalized grids, and propose policy recommendations based on regional and international success stories and best practices. The report should also focus on aspects related to inclusion, resilience, and renewable energy integration, with particular attention to decentralized renewable energy, rural–urban disparities, and gender inclusion. The report should present policy-oriented, evidence-based content tailored to the Arab region and aligned with ESCWA’s analytical approach and editorial guidance. Duties and responsibilities • Under the overall supervision of the Cluster Lead and the direct guidance of the Chief of the Energy Section, the consultant will be responsible for the following overall duties Compile and assess relevant literature, data, policy documents, and institutional materials related to regional electricity interconnections, power-sector digitalization, grid governance, interoperability, cybersecurity, and enabling regulatory frameworks in the Arab region. • Examine capacity gaps in utilities, regulators, and institutions and identify targeted capacity‑building needs. • Assess how digitalization of power grids can address rural–urban electricity disparities, energy access, and affordability across different socio‑economic groups. • Integrate gender-responsive perspectives into the analysis. • Identify relevant regional and international success stories and best practices that can be used to support the analysis. • Prepare short and policy-oriented case-study boxes on selected Arab regional and international examples that illustrate inclusive digital grid governance, cyber‑resilient grid operations, renewable energy integration, and cross-border and regional electricity cooperation.. • Ensure that each section of the report is analytical, policy-relevant, clearly structured, and consistent with the agreed scope and style of the report.<br> Qualifications/special skills<br>Master's degree or equivalent degree related to energy, digitalization, or a related field is required. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. A minimum of 10 years of work experience in electricity, connectivity and digitalization or related to the above-mentioned fields is required. Excellent analytical, research, writing, and communication skills are required. Computer literacy is required.<br> Languages<br>English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA. For this position, fluency in English is required. Note: "Fluency" equals a rating of 'fluent' in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand).<br> Additional Information<br>Not available.<br> No Fee<br>THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.<br><br><br> </div>

<h2 class="h5">Job description</h2> <div class="t-break" data-jb-field="description"> Result of Service<br>The ultimate result of service of the consultancy is to support ESCWA in providing technical assistance and capacity development to PCBS on risk management for statistical work, using the GSBPM as the main reference framework. The support will help PCBS staff review current arrangements, identify gaps and priority areas, and develop practical tools, procedures and a phased action plan aligned with the existing national strategy for the development of statistics and the requirements of the National Statistical System.<br> Work Location<br>Remote<br> Expected duration<br>3 months<br> Duties and Responsibilities<br>Background The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) submitted a technical cooperation request to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) for technical advisory and capacity-development support in risk management for statistical work. The request aims to strengthen the capacity of PCBS staff to identify, assess, mitigate and monitor risks that may affect the production of official statistics, in accordance with the Generic Statistical Business Process Model (GSBPM). The GSBPM will serve as the main reference framework for linking risk management to the phases of statistical production. This support is particularly relevant in the Palestinian context, where political, security and humanitarian conditions may affect field data collection, access to certain areas and population groups, staff mobility, administrative data flows, digital infrastructure, dissemination, and the continuity of statistical production. ESCWA will provide the requested support with the assistance of an international consultant. The proposed support will focus on enabling PCBS staff to develop a practical and applicable approach for managing risks related to statistical work according to the GSBPM phases, strengthening institutional preparedness, continuity, quality and reliability of official statistics, and ensuring alignment with the existing national strategy for the development of statistics and coordination requirements within the National Statistical System. Technical support is expected to start remotely during the initial phase. It may subsequently be built upon through more interactive technical support and capacity-development modalities, including in-person technical meetings, face-to-face training or a hybrid format, whenever feasible, as a future direction to be considered in light of progress and available resources. Duties and Responsibilities Under the overall supervision of ESCWA's Project Coordinator and in close coordination with PCBS, the consultant will: 1. Undertake a review of the current situation, covering relevant documents, policies, procedures and practices, complemented by interviews and working sessions with the relevant technical and administrative departments. 2. Support PCBS in assessing risks across the main phases of the GSBPM: needs, design, build, collection, processing, analysis, dissemination and evaluation. 3. Provide online technical guidance and capacity-development sessions on risk concepts, GSBPM-based risk mapping, risk registers, mitigation measures, monitoring and reporting. 4. Assist PCBS in developing a practical risk management approach for statistical work, including roles, responsibilities, coordination mechanisms, escalation procedures and review arrangements. 5. Support the preparation of practical tools and templates, including a risk register, risk assessment matrix, mitigation plan, monitoring format and reporting template. 6. Assist PCBS in preparing a phased action plan for implementation, including priority activities, roles and responsibilities, timeline, technical and institutional needs, and monitoring and evaluation indicators, ensuring alignment with the existing national strategy for the development of statistics and the requirements of the National Statistical System. The action plan should include a pilot phase to test the proposed tools and templates before their adoption and scale-up, as well as a clear mechanism for knowledge transfer and sustainability of institutional application, and finalize outputs based on comments from ESCWA and PCBS.<br> Qualifications/special skills<br>A Master's degree in statistics, data management, risk management, public administration, institutional development or a related field is required. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. At least seven years of relevant professional experience in official statistics, statistical systems, risk management, business continuity or institutional governance is required. Demonstrated knowledge of the GSBPM and its application in official statistics is required. Experience working with national statistical offices or public institutions and in capacity development or online training is desirable. Knowledge of crisis-affected or fragile contexts is desirable. Excellent analytical, drafting and communication skills are desirable.<br> Languages<br>English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA. For this position, fluency in English is required, and knowledge of Arabic is desirable. Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas.<br> Additional Information<br>Not available.<br> No Fee<br>THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.<br><br><br> </div>

<h2 class="h5">Job description</h2> <div class="t-break" data-jb-field="description"> Result of Service<br>The IC is to provide specialized technical expertise in the implementation, administration, monitoring, and optimization of cloud infrastructure and DevOps platforms within Microsoft Azure. The IC will be responsible for ensuring the availability, security, scalability, and performance of enterprise systems, managing CI/CD pipelines, and writing Infrastructure as Code (IaC). Crucially, the IC will work in close coordination with the internal development team to analyze existing on-premises application architectures, gather deployment requirements, and translate current on-premises VM resource metrics into optimized, cloud-native Azure resource allocations. The consultant will also execute the tactical technical migration of legacy systems from an on-premises Proxmox virtualization environment to the Microsoft Azure cloud platform.<br> Work Location<br>UN-House ESCWA / Hybrid<br> Expected duration<br>6 months<br> Duties and Responsibilities<br>Background: The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) forms part of the United Nations Secretariat and, like the other regional commissions, operates under the supervision of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. ESCWA comprises 21 Arab countries in Western Asia and North Africa. ESCWA provides a framework for the formulation and harmonization of sectoral policies for member countries, a platform for congress and coordination, a home for expertise and knowledge, and an information observatory. ESCWA activities are coordinated with the divisions and main offices of the Headquarters of the United Nations, specialized agencies, and international and regional organizations, including the League of Arab States and its subsidiary bodies, and the Gulf Cooperation Council. This position is located in the Decision-Support and Data Science Division (DSDSD). The Decision-Support and Data Science Division is part of ESCWA's broader modernization and innovation efforts, providing advanced analytics, secure digital platforms, and decision-support services within ESCWA, other UN entities, and Member States. Aligned with the UN 2.0 agenda and grounded in operational resilience, DSDS leverages cutting-edge hybrid infrastructure, scalable cloud tech frameworks, and modern deployment models to ensure high availability, security, and performance for critical digital assets. Its core functions include enterprise cloud environment management, infrastructure automation, continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) optimization, and the migration of legacy on-premises platforms to advanced public cloud ecosystems. Through these capabilities, DSDS maintains reliable, enterprise-grade digital decision-support tools that empower evidence-based decision-making and foster organizational efficiency across the region. Under the supervision of the Chief of the Decision-Support and Data Science Division and in close collaboration with the infrastructure and digital development teams, the Individual Contractor (IC) will support the implementation, automation, secure hosting, and optimization of core cloud systems and scalable technology environments to support strategic initiative delivery. Duties and responsibilities: The Cloud Systems and DevOps Analyst will perform the following tasks: - Cloud Infrastructure Implementation &amp; Administration: o Deploy, manage, and optimize enterprise-scale cloud resources within Microsoft Azure, ensuring optimal performance, governance, and resource utilization. o Administer hybrid virtualization architectures, transitioning existing virtual machines and workloads out of the on-premises Proxmox environment into designated Azure landing zones. o Maintain and configure base operating systems across enterprise Windows Server and Linux environments hosted in the cloud. - DevOps Platform Engineering &amp; Infrastructure as Code (IaC): o Design, build, and maintain automated CI/CD pipelines using Azure DevOps to support rapid, secure, and reliable software delivery cycles. o Author, review, and maintain infrastructure state using Infrastructure as Code tools, specifically Terraform, Bicep, and ARM Templates. o Develop automated operational scripts utilizing PowerShell to streamline recurring system administration and provisioning tasks. - Application Lifecycle &amp; Developer Collaboration: o Work closely with the development team to audit existing on-premises hosted applications and gather technical requirements for upcoming Azure cloud deployments. o Analyze the resource utilization and architectural dependencies of applications currently running on on-premises virtual machines to determine the optimal Azure cloud topology. o Evaluate and recommend whether applications should be migrated as traditional Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) virtual machines or refactored into cloud-native Azure resources (such as App Services, Azure SQL, or container instances) to maximize scalability and cost-efficiency. o Provide technical guidance to developers regarding cloud deployment pathways, access control configurations, and performance optimization on Azure. - Cloud Security, Identity, &amp; Monitoring: o Manage cloud governance, object lifecycles, and secure identity mapping through Azure Active Directory (Azure AD / Entra ID). o Configure comprehensive observability setups using Azure Monitor and Log Analytics to establish proactive system alerts, log analysis, and performance tracking. o Implement infrastructure hardening, security controls, and operational best practices across all deployed cloud frameworks.<br> Qualifications/special skills<br>A bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, Cloud Engineering, System Administration, or related technical fields is required. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in system administration, IT infrastructure operations, or cloud platforms architecture is required. Demonstrated hands-on experience deploying, administering, and monitoring production cloud environments using Microsoft Azure is required. Proven experience building automated CI/CD pipelines and developing infrastructure deployments utilizing Infrastructure as Code tools (Terraform, Bicep, or ARM Templates) is required. Proven experience collaborating directly with software development teams to extract application performance metrics, translate software requirements into infrastructure specifications, and plan application modernization strategies is required. Solid technical proficiency in scripting with PowerShell and configuring core infrastructure services, including Windows Server, Linux, and Azure Active Directory, is required. Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills are required. Practical technical experience supporting or executing system migrations from on-premises hypervisors (specifically Proxmox VE or VMware) to public cloud environments (Microsoft Azure) is highly desirable. Official Microsoft certifications (e.g., Azure Administrator Associate, Azure DevOps Engineer Expert, or Azure Solutions Architect Expert) are highly desirable.<br> Languages<br>English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA. For this position, fluency in English is required and knowledge of Arabic is desirable. Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas.<br> Additional Information<br>Recruitment for this position is on a local basis. The incumbent is required to have the legal right to live and work in the specified working location.<br> No Fee<br>THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.<br><br><br> </div>

<h2 class="h5">Job description</h2> <div class="t-break" data-jb-field="description"> Result of Service<br>Collaborate with UNEP and the SCE in conducting a comprehensive assessment of Bahrain's single-use plastics landscape, together with evidence-based policy recommendations and a practical implementation roadmap to enable informed decision-making, strengthen the national policy framework, and accelerate the country's transition towards a circular economy for plastics.<br> Work Location<br>Home based<br> Expected duration<br>9 months-part time<br> Duties and Responsibilities<br>The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. The Regional Office for West Asia delivers advisory services and capacity building support to countries to achieve environmental and sustainable development objectives. The UNEP Regional Office for West Asia (ROWA) provides technical cooperation and policy advice to countries in the region to help achieve their environmental goals and sustainable development priorities. Plastic pollution has emerged as one of the most pressing environmental challenges worldwide, posing significant risks to ecosystems, biodiversity, human health, and sustainable development. Single-use plastics (SUPs), including plastic bags, food packaging, disposable cutlery, straws, and beverage containers, represent a substantial share of plastic waste due to their short lifespan and limited recovery after use. The Kingdom of Bahrain has demonstrated a strong commitment to addressing plastic pollution through a range of regulatory and policy measures. Recent initiatives include restrictions on non-biodegradable plastic bags, limitations on small plastic beverage containers, and broader efforts to promote sustainable waste management and environmental protection. Nevertheless, SUPs continue to constitute a significant source of plastic pollution, particularly in terrestrial and marine environments. Recognizing the need to strengthen existing policy measures, the Supreme Council for Environment (SCE), in collaboration with UNEP ROWA, is undertaking a comprehensive assessment of Bahrain's policy and regulatory framework governing single-use plastics. The assessment will identify strengths, gaps, implementation challenges, and opportunities for improvement while drawing upon international good practices and lessons learned from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Arab region, and other jurisdictions. The assignment will culminate in the development of evidence-based policy recommendations and an implementation roadmap to reinforce Bahrain's transition towards a circular economy for plastics. UNEP seeks to recruit an International Expert on Plastic Pollution and Circular Economy to provide technical, analytical, drafting, and advisory provision for the assessment of Bahrain's policy and regulatory framework on single-use plastics, the review of international best practices, stakeholder consultations, and the development of evidence-based policy recommendations and an implementation roadmap, in close coordination with the SCE and under UNEP ROWA supervision. The objective of this assignment is to contribute to the work of UNEP ROWA in reviewing the current status of single-use plastics in Bahrain, assessing the effectiveness of the existing policy and regulatory framework, identifying policy and implementation gaps, benchmarking international and regional good practices, and developing a practical policy framework and implementation roadmap to reduce single-use plastics and advance Bahrain's transition towards a circular economy for plastics. The expert will provide technical, analytical, drafting, and advisory maintenance throughout the assignment. Duties and responsibilties: Under the direct supervision of the designated Programme Management Officer at UNEP ROWA, the selected consultant will carry-out, inter alia, the following duties and responsibilities for each of the four projects detailed previously: 2.a. Project Inception and Planning •Prepare an inception report outlining the proposed methodology, workplan, stakeholder engagement approach, data requirements, and timeline for the assignment. •Review all relevant background documents, policies, legislation, reports, and technical materials provided by UNEP and the SCE. •Identify additional information and data requirements necessary to successfully implement the assignment. 2.b. Assessment of the Current Situation •Conduct a comprehensive review of the current status of single-use plastics (SUPs) in Bahrain using available national and international literature, reports, statistics, and other relevant secondary data. •Assess trends in the production, import, consumption, waste generation, collection, recycling, treatment, disposal, and environmental impacts of SUPs, where data are available. •Identify the principal categories of SUP products contributing to plastic pollution and assess existing waste management practices and infrastructure relevant to their management. 2.c. Review of the Policy, Legal and Institutional Framework •Review Bahrain's existing policy, legal, regulatory, and institutional framework governing single-use plastics and plastic waste management. •Assess the effectiveness of existing policy measures, including implementation arrangements, institutional coordination, enforcement mechanisms, compliance, and monitoring systems. •Identify strengths, gaps, challenges, and opportunities within the existing framework that may affect the effective prevention, reduction, and management of SUPs. 2.d. International and Regional Benchmarking •Review international and regional policies, regulatory approaches, strategies, and best practices related to the prevention and management of single-use plastics, with particular consideration of experiences from GCC countries, the Arab region, and other relevant jurisdictions. •Assess the applicability of international good practices to Bahrain, taking into account national institutional, technical, economic, and social conditions. •Identify policy approaches and implementation mechanisms that could inform Bahrain's future policy framework. 2.e. Development and Assessment of Policy Options •Assess the feasibility and potential effectiveness of different policy instruments to reduce SUP consumption and improve the environmentally sound management of plastic waste. •Evaluate options including, but not limited to: - Regulatory restrictions and bans; - Product standards and eco-design requirements; - Economic instruments, including fees and levies on selected SUP products; - Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR); - Deposit-return systems; - Public procurement measures; - Awareness and behaviour change initiatives; - Voluntary agreements with industry. •Assess how fees on selected SUP products could function both as demand-reduction measures and as financing mechanisms to strengthen recycling infrastructure and circular economy initiatives. 2.f. Stakeholder Engagement and Consultation •Identify and engage relevant stakeholders, including government institutions, municipalities, private sector representatives, civil society organizations, academia, recycling companies, and consumer groups. •Prepare consultation materials, presentations, and discussion documents to facilitate stakeholder engagement. •Adopt the planning and facilitation of stakeholder consultation workshops and technical discussions in coordination with UNEP and the SCE. •Document stakeholder feedback and integrate relevant inputs into the assessment, policy recommendations, and implementation roadmap. 2.g. Development of Policy Recommendations and Implementation Roadmap •Develop evidence-based policy options and recommendations to strengthen Bahrain's framework for preventing and reducing single-use plastics, improving their environmentally sound management, and advancing the country's transition towards a circular economy for plastics. •Prepare recommendations addressing policy, regulatory, institutional, technical, financial, and behavioural aspects relevant to SUP management. •Develop a practical implementation roadmap that identifies priority actions, implementation timelines, institutional responsibilities, financing considerations, and monitoring arrangements to facilitate the phased implementation of the recommended measures. 2.h. Reporting and Knowledge Products •Prepare all technical reports, presentations, briefing materials, and other knowledge products required under the assignment in accordance with UNEP's quality standards. •Present findings and recommendations to UNEP, the Supreme Council for Environment, and other relevant stakeholders, and revise all deliverables based on comments received. •Ensure that all outputs are evidence-based, technically sound, clearly presented, and suitable for informing policy and decision-making. 2.i. Coordination and General Responsibilities •Maintain regular communication with UNEP throughout the assignment and participate in coordination meetings as requested. •Work collaboratively with UNEP, the SCE, and relevant stakeholders to ensure the timely delivery of all agreed outputs. •Maintain confidentiality of all information obtained during the course of the assignment. •Perform any other related tasks requested by UNEP that are necessary for the successful implementation of the consultancy and are consistent with the scope and objectives of the assignment.<br> Qualifications/special skills<br>An advanced university degree (master’s is required, PhD is an asset or equivalent) in Waste management, Environmental engineering, Environmental policy, Environmental management, Circular economy, public policy, Sustainable development, or another relevant discipline. A first-level university degree, combined with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience, may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree. At least 10 years of professional experience in solid waste management, plastic pollution, circular economy, environmental policy, or closely related fields is requied Demonstrated experience in reviewing and developing environmental policies, legislation, strategies, or regulatory frameworks related to plastics, waste i management, or circular economy is required en experience in conducting policy assessments, gap analyses, and developing evidence-based policy recommendations and implementation roadmaps is required Experience in stakeholder consultation and facilitation involving government institutions, private sector representatives, civil society organizations, and other relevant stakeholders is required Experience in preparing high-quality technical reports, policy briefs, and strategic documents for governments or international organizations is required Experience working in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the Arab region, or on environmental policy issues in developing countries is highly desirable Previous professional experience with the United Nations system, international organizations, or multilateral environmental programmes is desirable.<br> Languages<br>Fluency in written and spoken English is required.<br> Additional Information<br>Not available.<br> No Fee<br>THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.<br><br><br> </div>

<h2 class="h5">Job description</h2> <div class="t-break" data-jb-field="description"> Result of Service<br>The total number of pages of the report prepared should be at least 30 pages, in Arabic language; • A 2 to 4-page executive summary of the report; and • A PowerPoint presentation on the prepared report. The completed parts should be edited and saved in MS-Word (*.docx file) or an alternate compatible format. Note that PDF format will not be accepted. It should include a table of contents to be automatically updated followed by a list of all tables and figures. The various parts should be submitted in electronic form and sent to the email of the designated focal point. Attention is kindly drawn to the need to ensure that the final draft of the outputs be thoroughly reviewed prior to submission and to indicate the sources of tables and diagrams. References to reports and other substantive material should be clearly indicated within the text and noted at the end. It is also essential to send, with the completed output, photocopies or scans of at least the first page of books, reports and bulletins, used as reference material as well as copies of the pages quoted. The content of the generated document shall be the sole property of ESCWA. The consultant shall keep in mind that UN-ESCWA routinely checks all deliverables for plagiarism using readily available electronic tools. All previously published content, even if written by the selected consultant, must be clearly referenced where required within the text and end-noted at the end of the study. The study submitted by the consultant must not contain quoted, previously published text equaling more than 20 per cent of the total number of pages of the study. The consultant shall not publish or announce or reveal the content of the report, partly or entirely, on social media or any other public channel, without ESCWA and MTDE permission. The content of the generated document shall be the sole property of ESCWA.<br> Work Location<br>Remote<br> Expected duration<br>16 weeks<br> Duties and Responsibilities<br>GENERAL SCOPE Technology transfer is a critical driver of economic growth in today’s global economy. Access to technology, and its effective integration into economic processes, significantly determines the competitive positioning of key stakeholders, including innovators, producers, researchers, government institutions, and financial actors. The establishment of a National Technology Transfer Office (NTTO) can play a pivotal role in integrating the capacities of innovators, investors, entrepreneurs, and researchers who are developing technological solutions addressing sustainability challenges and strategic national priorities. An NTTO can provide a comprehensive range of services, including policy advisory support to government ministries, identification and valorisation of intellectual property (IP) generated through research, and close engagement with researchers to highlight the economic potential of their work. It can also support patent drafting and protection, technology valuation, and offer a suite of services related to commercialization and industrial consultancy. Furthermore, an NTTO should actively facilitate linkages between national capabilities and multinational corporations seeking local partnerships for joint development and production. Institutions coordinating NTTO activities are expected to mobilize their own resources for the establishment and initial operation of these units. Recently, the Ministry of Telecommunications and Digital Economy (MTDE) in Palestine requested technical assistance from ESCWA to assess and develop a roadmap for establishing an NTTO in Palestine. In the context of strengthening the national innovation system (NIS)—and the technology transfer system in particular—this report aims to identify gaps in the existing legal and regulatory frameworks, government policies, and institutional capacities, including those within universities, that may impede the development of an effective technology transfer ecosystem. Key policy areas such as research and development (R&amp;D) incentives, intellectual property protection, and innovation-related regulations have a direct impact on the performance of the NIS. Accordingly, this report provides a detailed assessment of these factors and proposes a practical roadmap for the establishment of an NTTO in Palestine. The report will also offer recommendations on addressing legislative and policy gaps to support the effective establishment and operation of the NTTO. In addition, it will outline the proposed structure, functions, and operational model of the NTTO, drawing on international best practices, regional experiences, stakeholder consultations, and previous ESCWA work. These Terms of Reference are developed to guide the preparation of the report titled: “Establishing an Effective System of Technology Transfer in Palestine: Current Status, Structure, Operations, and Roadmap.” The provision of this advisory service constitutes the core objective of these Terms of Reference. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The consultant shall propose to the designated ESCWA focal point a detailed version of the report’s outline. The proposed draft version should include the following sections: • Existing legal and regulatory framework and policies related to innovation and technology transfer; • Review the relevant national and institutional existent legal framework and policies relevant to the process of innovation and technology transfer systems; • Review international and regional best practices in developing NTTOs to benchmark Palestine with the regional and international best practices. • Examining the situation in other countries in the Arab region that have already established NTTO, and get knowledge about their legal and regulatory system as well as their STI related policies and that support the establishment of NTTO; • Identification of gaps in laws, regulations and policies to allow for a more effective enabling environment for innovation and technology transfer. This would include brief analysis of the current situation with regard to innovation and technology transfer involvement in the economy of the country based on the national STI landscape mapping from previous report; • Suggestion of the needed office structure, its main functions and expected role of the relevant stakeholders (governance) based on best international and regional practices. This would include exploring planned policies with the representatives of governmental, nongovernmental, and other public interest groups to evaluate the present and planned legislative system which will affect the technology transfer network in the future and its strategies; • Finally, the consultant will suggest an actionable roadmap that includes the structure of the national technology transfer office (NTTO), its sustainability, and related liaison network by describing the main NTTO functions and activities, based on best international and regional practices, previous ESCWA outputs and taking into account national specificities. The report needs to clarify the relation of the NTTO role within the national technology transfer system in Palestine. • The consultant will present the report findings in a related national workshop, then update the report based on the collected comments and feedback. ESCWA promotes gender equality and integration of youth through its publications and therefore the consultant should pay attention, with the help of ESCWA staff, to gender considerations and youth dimension throughout the research work to ensure that the report gives equal attention to the needs of both men and women, as well as girls and boys. Writing should use gender-sensitive language.<br> Qualifications/special skills<br>A Master's degree in law, or technology field is required. A Ph.D. is an advantage. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. At least, 10 years of professional experience in research including 5 years in the field of technology / innovation / technology transfer is required. Previous experience in working with international organizations is desirable.<br> Languages<br>English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA. For this position, Fluency in Arabic and English is required. Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas.<br> Additional Information<br>Not available.<br> No Fee<br>THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.<br><br><br> </div>

<h2 class="h5">Job description</h2> <div class="t-break" data-jb-field="description"> Result of Service<br>The consultant will enforce Trade Simulator Interface by assisting in developing a tracking and monitoring system of barriers to trade in services in Saudi Arabia and its key partners.<br> Work Location<br>Remote<br> Expected duration<br>3 months<br> Duties and Responsibilities<br>Under its technical assistance project with the Ministry of Economy and Planning in Saudi Arabia, ESCWA is hiring a consultant to support the development and strengthening of interconnected trade analysis tools by contributing to extending ESCWA’s trade negotiation and simulation tools. The tasks cover data preparation and management, analytical framework development, user-oriented interface improvements, and preparation of user guides and training materials. The objective of this consultancy is to support the development and strengthening of interconnected trade analysis tools. The following activities will be implemented by the consultant: 1. Develop a tracking and monitoring system of barriers to trade in services in Saudi Arabia and its key partners. The tracking and monitoring system will offer a unique platform through listing and displaying barriers through different forms covering legal barriers, STRI and AVEs of key barriers to trade in services with the possibility to classify them by mode of supply. 2. Refine and improve the generation of automatic briefs from running the final updated and extended GETSI developed for Saudi Arabia. 3. Prepares methodological notes, user guides, and training content to support national teams in effectively using the new trade simulation interfaces.<br> Qualifications/special skills<br>A first-level university degree in Economics or Finance is required. Master's in Economics or Finance is desirable. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed At least two years of professional experience in economic research and policy analysis, with a focus on international trade, is required. Experience in drafting technical documentation, methodological notes, and policy-oriented analytical outputs is required. Experience in the application of artificial intelligence tools for economic or trade-related analysis is required. Knowledge of programming languages (Python) is required. Experience working with international trade databases and programmatic data access tools (including APIs) is desirable.<br> Languages<br>English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA. For this position, Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French and Arabic is desirable. Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas.<br> Additional Information<br>Not available.<br> No Fee<br>THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.<br><br><br> </div>