Consultancy: Mapping and analysis of Arab States’ National Voluntary Commitments HLM-TES-AGS, (Remote- Part-time, 13 working days within one month)

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, [Love]

Carry out mapping and analysis of national voluntary commitments including by thematic clusters of Arab States for Young People’s Learning, Skilling and Transition to Decent Work across produced by 3 key high-level events organized by the UN in 2022, including (1) Amman, May 2022 High level Meeting on Young people’s Learning Skilling and Transition to Decent Work (HLM) (2) New York, September 2022 Transforming Education Summit (TES) and (3) Amman, October 2022, Arab Girls’ Summit (AGS). The mapping should be presented through graphic visual representations of collected information and data that utilize graphics for improved cognition focusing on patterns and trends. This with a view to highlight convergence as well as complementarities among recommendations arising from the 3 important streams and facilitate planning of UN support to the commitments at the level of the UN Country Teams as well as individual Agency planning units. Compelling infographics of the findings will serve to support (joint) advocacy on these important agendas.

How can you make a difference?

According to ILO STAT, 2019 levels of youth unemployment in the Middle East and North Africa Region are the highest in the world. In early 2019, before the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, youth unemployment stood at 24.7% in the Middle East/ Arab States Region. Unemployment among young women stood at a worse level yet, at 36.5% in the Middle East / Arab States Region, despite women’s relatively high levels of academic qualifications. As shown in the ILO Global Employment Trends for Youth 2022 in the Arab States, Covid-19 has exacerbated pre-existing bottlenecks affecting youth employment across the region. Youth unemployment is of great concern to governments in the region. Addressing youth unemployment requires multi-sectoral action at the supply side of the labor market (human capital), at the demand side (creation of employment and entrepreneurship opportunities), and finally, requires actions to help young people make the transition from learning to decent work.

1. In May 2022 within the framework of the Issue-Based Coalition for Adolescents and Youth for the Arab States, the Regional Offices of ILO, UNDP, UNFPA and UNICEF convened the first Regional High-Level Meeting on Young People’s Learning, Skilling, and Transition to Decent Work. The High- Level Meeting was convened and designed as a region-wide input to the September global Transforming Education Summit
2. The 16 country delegations from the Middle East and North Africa consisted of relevant government sectors (education, labour, youth), private sector, civil society organisations and young people themselves. Delegations were led by government at ministerial level.
   1. 16 country delegations presented national voluntary commitments outlining priority actions supporting young people’s transition from learning to earning, ranging from commitments related to (1) young people’s learning and skilling, (2) the creation of employment or entrepreneurship opportunities to (3) connecting young people with opportunities.
   2. Secondly, the High-Level Meeting produced recommendations from the MENA region to the global Transforming Education Summit (New York September 2022).
3. Both the High-Level Meeting and the Transforming Education Summit produced a set of voluntary commitments reflecting Member States' commitment to invest in human capital and young people’s transition to a productive, healthy, engaged adulthood. The Arab Girls’ Summit held in Amman, convened by UNFPA, UNICEF and the League of Arab States on the international Day of the Girl this October underscored the critical importance of addressing root causes of gender disparities in youth employment and economic empowerment.
4. Resident Coordinator's offices have been highly engaged and supportive in the lead up to these important events and will have an equally critical role in coordinating the UN’s support to realizing the national commitments made by member states.
5. The regional directors of the concerned UN agencies invite / kindly request RC’s offices to incorporate UN support to realization of the commitments made at HLM, TES and AGS on the planning of the UNCT and its thematic groups (for example the youth thematic group) for 2023.
6. In response the RCs’ request to the Issue Based Coalition to support RC offices in their follow up to the High-Level Meeting (DCO/RC meeting 26th May 2022), our regional UN teams (under the IBC for youth and adolescents) are ready to technically support RC offices in this process including through mapping and analysis of national commitments made at HLM, TES and Arab Girls’ Summit, with a view to highlight convergence as well as complementarities among recommendations arising from the 3 important streams.

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks/Milestone:

Deliverables/Outputs:

Timeline

Mapping of all the National Commitments made at HLM, TES and AGS

Excel Data sheet

3 days

Analysis of Commitments highlighting convergence as well as complementarities that will be used to inform planning (serve/inform planning processes)

Analysis document

7 days

Visually attractive presentation of the analysis (PDF and online version) that can be used for advocacy

Presentation

3 days

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• At least 8 years’ experience in planning and results-based management (UN system preferred), good knowledge of UNCT planning cycle required
• Minimum qualifications of Masters in these disciplines : Programme Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation, Development, International Relations, and other Social Sciences
• Experience with analysis of qualitative data Understanding and experience with programming/policy for young people (learning, employability, employment) Experience in presenting data analysis in an attractive way.
• Demonstrated ability to work harmoniously within a multicultural environment and communicate complex ideas.
• Proactive and dynamic personality with attention to detail.
• Result driven and strong planning and organizing skills. Fluency in written and spoken English (Arabic an asset)
• Desirable: Good understanding of Arab States Region, experience working in Arab States Region

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.