Consultancy - Policy Brief on Ageing

Result of Service Policy brief of around 20 pages, containing 4-6 graphs and figures illustrating inequalities among groups of older persons in vulnerable situations in the UNECE region, and around 10 boxes with good practice policy examples.

Work Location Home based

Expected duration 11.11.22 - 30.12.22

Duties and Responsibilities We do not age equally. Older persons are a heterogeneous group. The intersectionality of various forms of discrimination and inequalities that accumulate across the life course as well as circumstantial factors such as severe physical or mental illness, disability, loss of income or support networks, disasters/emergencies or the experience of violence and other human rights violations can leave an older person in a situation of vulnerability.

UNECE Policy Brief on Ageing No. 28 will focus on older persons in vulnerable situations and review policy measures and multi-stakeholder initiatives designed to enhance solidarity and equal opportunities throughout life to prevent vulnerability in later life, protect older persons in situations of vulnerability, mitigate the impact of adverse events, and enhance resilience.

The consultant will prepare a policy brief on Older Persons in Vulnerable Situations: Joining forces for solidarity and equal opportunities throughout life, covering the following main aspects:

1. A conceptual discussion of factors causing vulnerability in later life, drawing on the research literature and available data and considering regional diversity. The discussion should offer definitions and distinguish between different types of vulnerability and how they can be addressed, thus setting the framework for policy responses discussed in subsequent sections of the brief.

2. Review a range of policy strategies from across the UNECE region to prevent vulnerability in later life, protect older persons in situations of vulnerability, mitigate the impact of adverse events and enhance resilience, covering a range of themes to be proposed by the consultant and agreed on and illustrated with concrete policy examples.

3. Formulate, based on the research evidence and tested policy approaches in the countries in the UNECE region, concrete policy recommendations.

In developing the policy brief, the international human rights and policy-oriented literature on older persons in vulnerable situations should be reviewed and key recommendations considered. The policy brief should address different kinds of vulnerability. Challenges and responses related to the current COVID-19 pandemic and climate change related disasters will be addressed (with cross-references as appropriate to UNECE Policy Brief No. 25 on Emergencies).

Examples of policy measures will be provided by members of the UNECE Standing Working Group on Ageing and complemented by desk research by the consultant as needed.

The consultant will review the submissions of good practice examples from the UNECE member States, will make a preliminary selection among them and, after agreement with the Secretariat, will prepare text boxes with examples illustrating how strategies suggested in the text have been implemented in practice in national contexts.

The policy brief targets policymakers/practitioners who may wish to learn from/adapt examples of policy practice. Enough detail should therefore be given to enable policymakers/practitioners to decide whether they may wish to implement similar strategies. The bibliography should identify suggested readings and links as well as sources used. The policy brief’s overall structure, length and style should broadly align with the UNECE Policy Briefs on Ageing series: https://unece.org/policy-briefs.

The consultant will work in close cooperation with the secretariat and will receive comments on drafts also from the Bureau and selected members of the Working Group on Ageing and should be ready to revise the draft policy brief in line with the comments received.

Qualifications/special skills Advanced Degree in social or political science is required. - Expertise on ageing, social exclusion and older persons - Quantitative as well as qualitative research skills, communication and planning - Prior experience with writing policy briefs/policy-oriented papers is a plus - Proven analytical and drafting skills

Languages Fluency in one of the working languages of the UN Secretariat, English is required.

No Fee 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.