Regional Analysis and Foresight Specialist

Volunteering

Overview

Support foresight and strategic analysis for the Arab States’ sustainable development.

You have:

• Experience in foresight, strategic or futures analysis.
• Familiarity with UN 2.0 principles.
• Proficiency in AI tools, data curation, and scenario planning.
• Strong analytical and writing skills.
• Experience working in complex crisis contexts or with international organizations.

Contract

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Foresight has emerged as a core capability for supporting the Arab States’ recovery and sustainable development needs and priorities. As emphasized under UN 2.0, foresight embeds horizon scanning, long-term thinking, predictive analytics, and scenario planning into the daily work of the UN development system, so to enable a more impactful engagement of the UN system to advance the 2030 agenda. This assignment supports the institutionalization of foresight within the RC system, enabling strategic analysis and responses, as well as anticipatory integrated policy advice across the Arab region.

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Office, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: • Collect and curate multi-source data required to train an AI model in analysis and foresight. • Code the AI to generate outputs tailored to the Arab States dynamics, including cross-border interdependencies to enhance analysis, planning and delivery. • Operationalize foresight as a leadership capability embedded into RCS retreats and interagency scenario exercises. • Leverage internal UN assets to align and scale foresight capacity across the system. • Strengthen partnerships with regional foresight actors. • Produce actionable reports with methodologies, lessons, and recommendations, as needed.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for in-stance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities; • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

• Accountability • Adaptability and Flexibility • Building Trust • Client Orientation • Commitment and Motivation • Commitment to Continuous Learning • Communication • Creativity • Empowering Others • Ethics and Values • Integrity • Judgement and Decision-making • Knowledge Sharing • Planning and Organizing • Professionalism • Respect for Diversity • Technological Awareness • Working in Teams

• Experience in foresight, strategic or futures analysis. • Familiarity with UN 2.0 principles. • Proficiency in AI tools, data curation, and scenario planning.
• Strong analytical and writing skills. • Experience working in complex crisis contexts or with international organizations.

Location: The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is located in the Middle East. Bound by Syria to the north, Iraq to the northeast, Saudi Arabia to the east and south, Red Sea to the south and the Palestinian National Authority to the west.

Weather: Jordan’s climate can be classified as semi-arid (Bsh) on the Koeppen-Geiger classification. It features a hot, dry climate characterized by long, hot, dry summers and short, cool winters. The climate is influenced by Jordan's location between the subtropical aridity of the Arabian desert areas and the subtropical humidity of the eastern Mediterranean area. January is the coldest month, with temperatures from 5°C to 10°C, and August is the hottest month at 20°C to 35°C. Daily temperatures can be quite hot, especially in the summer; on some days it can be 40°C or more, especially when a hot, dry southerly wind blows. Such winds can sometimes be very strong and can cause sandstorms. About 70 percent of the average rainfall in the country falls between November and March; June through August are often rainless. Rainfall varies from season to season and from year to year. Precipitation is often concentrated in violent storms, causing erosion and local flooding, especially in the winter months.

Safety and Security: Jordan is a relatively stable country. The potentials for internal or external armed conflict are considered very unlikely in the current political environment. Peaceful demonstrations, and sometimes road blockages, do occur in Jordan, motivated by domestic factors such as unemployment, deprivation of resources and development or for regional issues such as solidarity with the Palestinian cause or with the Syrian crises. Most of these events are driven by civil society unions and Islamic parties. Domestic tribal civil unrest sometimes turns violent, especially outside main cities, due to tribal disputes or socio-economic reasons. In all occasions law enforcement agencies usually manage to contain the situation rapidly. Road traffic accidents are the primary threat against UN personnel in Jordan. Poor road conditions and bad driving behaviours are the main reasons for the high rate of traffic accidents. Amman is a category A duty station with security level 1.

Transportation and housing: Taxis as well as ride-hailing services (Uber and Careem) are abundant and affordable in Amman. Medical facilities are generally very good, particularly in Amman where there are several modern, well-equipped public and private hospitals. Public minibuses are the most common form of public transport. They normally only leave when full, so waiting times of an hour or more are inevitable, especially in rural areas. The larger air-con buses offer a speedy and reliable service, departing according to a fixed schedule. Housing is readily available with rents for one- to two-bedroom apartments ranging between 500 and 800 JD (1 JD = 0.708 USD) depending on the location.

Health Services: Medical facilities are generally very good, particularly in Amman where there are several modern, well-equipped public and private hospitals. Almost all doctors (and most pharmacists) speak English; many have studied abroad.

Language: The official language of Jordan is Arabic, but English is widely spoken – especially in the cities. Many Jordanians have travelled or have been educated abroad so French, German, Italian and Spanish are also spoken, but to a lesser extent.

Learn more about Jordan from the Ministry of Tourism’s website: https://www.mota.gov.jo/Default/En

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Potential interview questions

Added 5 months ago - Updated 5 months ago - Source: unv.org