Consultant to Draft the Toolkit on Mainstreaming Social Justice in Lifelong Learning

Job Posting Organization:
The job posting organization is the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), which was established in 197

• ESCWA aims to promote economic and social development in the Arab region through regional cooperation and integration. It operates in 17 member countries and focuses on various issues including social justice, sustainable development, and economic growth. The organization works closely with member states to address socio-economic challenges and enhance the well-being of people in the region.

Job Overview:
The consultant will be responsible for developing a comprehensive toolkit aimed at mainstreaming social justice in lifelong learning. This toolkit is intended to support policymakers in integrating social justice principles into relevant policies and initiatives. The consultant will begin by creating an annotated outline that includes a conceptual framework, proposed chapters, and relevant literature. Following feedback from ESCWA, the consultant will draft the full toolkit, incorporating best practices and policy recommendations. The toolkit will serve as a practical resource, providing frameworks, guidelines, and capacity-building modules to ensure that skills development efforts are rooted in social justice. The consultant will also be expected to engage with various stakeholders, including government agencies, labor unions, and educational institutions, to ensure the toolkit's relevance and applicability across the Arab region.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant's duties will include:

• Developing an Annotated Outline of the Toolkit: Prepare and submit an initial annotated outline for ESCWA’s review, including the conceptual framework, proposed chapters, and relevant literature.
• Drafting the Content of the Toolkit: Produce and submit a zero draft of the full toolkit, integrating key concepts, policy recommendations, and best practices for review and comments by ESCWA.
• Revising and Finalizing the First Draft: Incorporate ESCWA’s feedback into the zero draft and submit a revised first draft for endorsement before sharing with the ILO.
• Reviewing and Integrating Feedback: Address any comments and recommendations from the ILO, incorporate necessary revisions, and finalize the second and final draft of the toolkit.
• Ensuring Quality and Relevance: Maintain high standards in research, analysis, and documentation, ensuring the toolkit is practical and trainable, contains case studies and relevant group exercises, is evidence-based, and is aligned with social justice principles in upskilling and reskilling policies.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a master’s degree or equivalent in a social science-related field such as sociology, economics, development studies, or public administration. A minimum of eight years of progressively responsible experience at the national or regional level in analyzing socio-economic issues related to skills development, labor market policies, social justice, and inclusive economic growth is required. Familiarity with labor market dynamics and employment challenges in the Arab region is essential. Experience in developing practical toolkits, policy guides, and capacity-building materials for policymakers is desirable.

Educational Background:
A master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field such as sociology, economics, development studies, or public administration is required. Candidates must submit a copy of their educational degree as part of the application process.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of eight years of progressively responsible experience in analyzing socio-economic issues related to skills development and labor market policies. Relevant experience in upskilling and reskilling frameworks, lifelong learning strategies, and workforce transformation in the context of equity and social justice is essential. Familiarity with labor market dynamics in the Arab region is also required, along with experience working with government agencies and international organizations.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Arabic is required for this position. English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat, while Arabic is a working language of ESCWA. Fluency means a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand).

Additional Notes:
The expected duration of the consultancy is 3.5 months, and the work will be conducted remotely. The position does not specify any additional notes regarding contract duration, seniority level, or compensation. It is important to note that the United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.