Consultant to Prepare a Background Paper on Multidimensional Poverty

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) is a regional arm of the United Nations established in 197

• Its mission is to support the countries of the Arab region in achieving sustainable development through economic and social development initiatives. ESCWA works with member states to formulate policies and strategies that address regional challenges, promote economic growth, and enhance social welfare. The organization operates in 22 member countries across the Arab region, employing a diverse team of experts and professionals dedicated to improving the lives of people in the region. ESCWA's work encompasses various sectors, including poverty alleviation, social protection, economic development, and environmental sustainability, and it plays a crucial role in facilitating regional cooperation and dialogue among member states.

Job Overview:
The position of Consultant to Prepare a Background Paper on Multidimensional Poverty involves conducting a comprehensive analysis of how multidimensional poverty information can be integrated into social protection policies and service delivery in the Arab region. The consultant will be responsible for delivering a consolidated background paper that outlines evidence, methodological considerations, and policy options for enhancing the capacity of Arab governments to assess and apply multidimensional poverty data effectively. This role requires collaboration with ESCWA's Poverty and Social Protection teams, as well as engagement with relevant stakeholders to ensure that the findings are relevant and actionable. The consultant will also be expected to address feedback from team leaders and provide all necessary statistical software code, data sets, and bibliographic references related to the assignment. The ultimate goal is to contribute to the development of effective social protection systems that can better target and serve the needs of vulnerable populations in the region.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will undertake a variety of duties and responsibilities, including:

• Reviewing existing literature on social protection programming, particularly focusing on Proxy Means Tests (PMT) and emerging Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)-informed programming.
• Analyzing country experiences with PMT and MPI approaches to identify effective methods for determining household eligibility for cash and non-cash benefits.
• Mapping the coverage of social registries in Arab middle-income countries and identifying the MPI-related data collected during registration.
• Developing a typology of policy applications that includes geographic targeting, household-level targeting, and case management for complementary services.
• Conducting a consultative meeting with ESCWA teams to propose a framework for integrating PMT-based systems with MPI-informed approaches.
• Describing a model case of how MPI-informed registration data can support case management and referral systems.
• Consolidating a draft of the background paper that will serve as input for training materials and policy recommendations.
• Presenting findings at ESCWA meetings or workshops as requested.
• Assisting with other related tasks as directed by the supervisor.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master's degree or equivalent in economics, statistics, social policy, public policy, or a related field. A minimum of 3 years of professional experience in poverty measurement and social protection analysis is required, with a focus on multidimensional poverty measurement using the Alkire-Foster method. Candidates should demonstrate knowledge of social protection targeting methods, including PMTs and social registries, and have experience analyzing household survey, census, or administrative microdata using statistical software. Familiarity with the Arab region and a record of publications on poverty or social assistance are desirable qualifications.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master's degree or equivalent in a relevant field such as economics, statistics, social policy, or public policy. Candidates must provide a copy of their educational degree as part of the application process, as incomplete applications will not be considered.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 3 years of professional work experience in the fields of poverty measurement and social protection analysis. Candidates should have hands-on experience with multidimensional poverty measurement techniques, particularly the Alkire-Foster method, and should be well-versed in social protection targeting methods, including the use of PMTs and social registries. Experience in analyzing data from household surveys, censuses, or administrative records using statistical software is essential. Additionally, experience working in the Arab region and a history of publications related to poverty or social assistance will be considered advantageous.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position, as it is one of the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of Arabic is desirable, as it is a working language of ESCWA. Fluency is defined as a rating of 'fluent' in all four areas: speaking, reading, writing, and understanding. Knowledge of Arabic is defined as a rating of 'confident' in at least two of the four areas.

Additional Notes:
This position is recruited on a local basis, meaning that the incumbent must have the legal right to live and work in Lebanon. The expected duration of the assignment is 3 months, and the position may involve remote work options. It is important to note that the United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview, or training. The organization also does not request information regarding applicants' bank accounts.