Consultant- Social Protection Speaker

Result of ServiceThe consultant is expected to discuss the critical issue of inclusive, progressive financing of social protection, highlighting a country example in which they have experience. Work LocationRemotely Expected duration4 Working Days Duties and ResponsibilitiesI. Background: In recent years, the Arab region has witnessed multiple and overlapping crises. Conflict as well as economic, environmental, humanitarian and political crises have constrained economic growth, inhibited social development, exacerbated existing inequalities, and created new inequalities. Many of these crises reinforce one another and are both a cause and consequence of inequality; they exacerbate and create inequalities by disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable, and they also trigger crises by driving social dissatisfaction or unsustainable development. This requires a new policy paradigm – one that reflects the urgency and depth of the challenges and ensures that policymakers are not trapped in an endless process of short-term policymaking, unable to deliver on sustainable long-term development. Economic, climate and other challenges do not equally impact different population groups, including women, persons with disabilities, older persons and young persons. Those unequal consequences deepen the divide within and among countries and exacerbate existing inequalities. Social protection, which encompasses social insurance, social assistance and labour market programmes, plays a crucial role in supporting low-income households during challenging times and preventing middle-income households from sliding into poverty. It is essential not only for providing protection during an individual’s lifespan but also for addressing community-wide shocks. Social protection contributes to economic development and redistribution, and over the medium to long term, reduces inequality and fosters social cohesion. However, inequalities in social protection coverage and financing exacerbate existing challenges. Depending on their design and implementation, social protection programmes can reinforce inequality and the exclusion of certain groups of people. In this context, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and its partners, including the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development, Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies at New York University, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab, the Institute for Middle East Studies at George Washington University, and Social Protection for Women in the MENA Region (Hiya-MENA) will hold the Fourth Arab Forum for Equality (AFE) under the patronage of the Algerian Government. The Forum will focus on the theme of inequality and social protection, bringing together political leaders, ministers, the private sector, experts, and civil society organizations from the Arab region and globally. The Forum aims to continue the discussions generated during the First Arab Forum for Equality, held in Lebanon under the theme “Building the future…a job for everyone”, the Second Arab Forum for Equality, held in Jordan under the theme “One voice…equality in food security”, and the Third Forum for Equality, held in Egypt under the theme “Addressing inequalities in times of multiple crises”. II. Duties and Responsibilities: The consultant(s) is requested to: - Develop a national case study for financing inclusive social protection. - Present the above in session 7 of the AFE. Qualifications/special skillsMasters degree or equivalent in economics and/or social studies and/or development studies and/or related areas is required. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Seven years of experience in national expertise in public and social policy, with a specific focus on either public finances and/or inclusive social protection is required. Previous experience in presenting at high-level forums is required. LanguagesEnglish 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 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. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE 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.