Consultant for Strategic Foresight Exercise

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) was established in 1973 with the mission to promote economic and social development in the Arab region. ESCWA aims to foster regional cooperation and integration among its member states, which currently number 1

• The organization focuses on various areas including sustainable development, climate change, and social justice, and operates across multiple countries in the Arab region, providing a platform for dialogue and collaboration among governments, civil society, and the private sector.

Job Overview:
The position involves conducting a strategic foresight exercise aimed at evaluating the impacts of a project focused on climate resilience through regional cooperation for inclusive sustainable development in the Arab region. The consultant will be responsible for analyzing the project's outcomes to date and proposing forward-looking recommendations that will be articulated in a policy brief. This role requires a deep understanding of climate resilience strategies and the ability to engage with various stakeholders to gather insights that will inform future interventions. The consultant will utilize strategic foresight tools to explore potential future scenarios and ensure that the findings align with existing intergovernmental strategies and mandates.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Review existing regional and global strategies and action plans that impact programming for enhancing climate resilience for inclusive sustainable development through regional cooperation.
• Analyze project annual reports, website content, stories, meeting reports, publications, and policy notes to gather relevant data.
• Consult with ESCWA pillar leads to clarify project impacts and identify remaining gaps.
• Organize a Strategic Foresight Consultation, which includes preparing strategic foresight tools and methodological notes, drafting meeting information notes and agendas, and identifying a consortium of regional experts from various fields such as climate finance, food systems, water security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, sustainable energy transition, and climate science-policy interface.
• Conduct the Strategic Foresight Consultation in person.
• Prepare a preliminary policy brief by the end of February.
• Solicit feedback on the draft policy brief from ESCWA, either online or in person in Beirut.
• Finalize the policy brief based on the feedback received.
• Contribute to brainstorming sessions with ESCWA on structuring a project document that addresses the needs and recommendations identified in the policy brief.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master's degree in political science, public policy, development economics, international relations, or a related field. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with qualifying years of experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. All applicants are required to submit a copy of their educational qualifications, as incomplete applications will not be considered. Additionally, candidates must have at least 10 years of demonstrated professional experience in monitoring and evaluating sustainable development issues affecting the Arab region, along with at least 5 years of experience advising international organizations or governments on program evaluation and planning. Experience in utilizing strategic foresight tools is also required.

Educational Background:
A Master's degree in political science, public policy, development economics, international relations, or a related field is required. A first-level university degree may be accepted in combination with relevant experience. All candidates must provide proof of their educational qualifications, as incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 10 years of professional experience in the area of monitoring and evaluation of sustainable development issues, particularly those affecting the Arab region. Additionally, candidates should have at least 5 years of experience in advising international organizations or governments on program evaluation and planning, with a strong emphasis on strategic foresight tools.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory 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.

Additional Notes:
The position is remote and expected to last for a duration of 3 months. There are no fees associated with the recruitment process, and the United Nations does not charge applicants at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview, or training. The organization is committed to ensuring a transparent and fair recruitment process.