Consultant to support the development of a Multidimensional Vulnerability Index Department of Economic and Social Affairs

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UN DESA - Department of Economic and Social Affairs

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Application deadline 2 years ago: Friday 28 Jan 2022 at 23:59 UTC

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Result of Service The service will result in substantive and organizational support provided to the High-Level Expert Panel and the UN Secretariat in its support to the process to evaluate and carry the work forward to develop a Multidimensional Vulnerability Index.

Work Location Home-based

Expected duration The duration of the consultancy will be for about 10 months between contract start and November 2022.

Duties and Responsibilities This position is located in the Office of the High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States. The incumbent will report to the Chief of OHRLLS.

The need and call for the development of indices that capture the vulnerabilities of states, in order to better guide development financing, to countries with recognized vulnerabilities, such as Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Landlocked Developing States (LLDCs) has been around since the adoption of the Agenda 21. The call for exploration of criteria based on vulnerability was repeated in the Barbados Programme of Action, mentioned in the Mauritius Strategy and re-echoed in the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway. During the last 3 decades, a plethora of annual UN General Assembly resolutions also carried similar repeated calls.

During the 75th session of the General Assembly (GA), the Second Committee of the GA negotiated on this matter as the latest item to be included in the annual SAMOA Pathway roll over resolution. Paragraph 8(a) of Resolution A/RES/75/215, calls on the UN Secretary-General:

(a) To provide recommendations as part of his report on the present resolution to the General Assembly at its 76th session on the potential development and coordination of work within the UN system on a multidimensional vulnerability index for small island developing States, including on its potential finalization and use;

OHRLLS and DESA have coordinated the UN Secretariat’s response to the resolution, including consultations across the international development system and UN member states. The Secretary General’s recommendations were presented in his report on the implementation of the SAMOA Pathway in August 2021. Building on the Secretary General’s recommendations, the General Assembly, in the resolution on the implementation of the SAMOA Pathway in 2021, consider requesting the President of the General Assembly to establish a High-Level Expert Panel to carry forward the work on the MVI by end 2022.

The need and call for the development of indices that capture the vulnerabilities of states, in order to better guide development financing, to countries with recognized vulnerabilities, such as Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Landlocked Developing States (LLDCs) has been around since the adoption of the Agenda 21. The call for exploration of criteria based on vulnerability was repeated in the Barbados Programme of Action, mentioned in the Mauritius Strategy and re-echoed in the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway. During the last 3 decades, a plethora of annual UN General Assembly resolutions also carried similar repeated calls.

During the 75th session of the General Assembly (GA), the Second Committee of the GA negotiated on this matter as the latest item to be included in the annual SAMOA Pathway roll over resolution. Paragraph 8(a) of Resolution A/RES/75/215, calls on the UN Secretary-General:

(a) To provide recommendations as part of his report on the present resolution to the General Assembly at its 76th session on the potential development and coordination of work within the UN system on a multidimensional vulnerability index for small island developing States, including on its potential finalization and use;

OHRLLS and DESA have coordinated the UN Secretariat’s response to the resolution, including consultations across the international development system and UN member states. The Secretary General’s recommendations were presented in his report on the implementation of the SAMOA Pathway in August 2021. Building on the Secretary General’s recommendations, the General Assembly, in the resolution on the implementation of the SAMOA Pathway in 2021, consider requesting the President of the General Assembly to establish a High-Level Expert Panel to carry forward the work on the MVI by end 2022.

The consultant will support OHRLLS and DESA in their role as the Secretariat for this process including by providing substantive and organizational support for the work of the High-Level Expert Panel, through the following roles and responsibilities: 1.Substantive contribution and drafting of the interim report of the Expert Panel. 1.1 Inception report outlining the methodology and content of the interim report. 1.2 Support for developing the MVI itself, as the primary part of the report of the Expert panel. 1.3 Research and assistance with statistical modeling, collection of data and analysis as required for the development of the report. 2. Substantive contribution to the meetings of the Expert Panel, stakeholder consultation meetings and other meetings related to the development of the MVI. 2.1 Support the organization of the Expert Panel, its meeting, stakeholder consultation meetings and other meetings related to the development of the MVI. 2.2 Substantive contribution to meeting documents and meeting reports as required by the Expert Panel and the Secretariat 2.3 Research and assistance with statistical modeling, collection of data and analysis as required by the secretariat in its support to the Expert Panel 2.4 Provide expertise for outreach and communications activities and products Participation in virtual and physical meetings of the Expert Panel, stakeholder consultation meetings, retreats and other meetings related to the development of the MVI. 3 Substantive contribution to the final report of the Expert Panel, including incorporation of views from stakeholder consultations.

Qualifications/special skills Competency: Strong knowledge of development economics and statistics is required. Proven competency in production of analytical reports and in quantitative and qualitative research methods is required; Academic Qualifications: Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in economics, international development or related fields is required. A Doctoral degree is a distinct asset. Experience: A minimum of five (5) years of relevant national/international experience in international development research and vulnerability indices or related field is required. Experience with analysis of vulnerability of developing countries is a strong asset. Language: Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required, knowledge of other official UN languages is an asset.

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.

Added 2 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: careers.un.org