Result of ServiceThe consultant will engage in an open discussion with participants at the Arab Forum for Equality in session 6. They will exchange contrasting viewpoints and international experiences to deliver a rich discussion on the different ways that social protection can reduce inequality in all its forms. Work LocationRemotely Expected duration10 Working Days Duties and ResponsibilitiesBackground: In recent years, the Arab region has witnessed multiple and overlapping crises. Conflict as well as economic, environmental, humanitarian and political crises have constrained economic growth, inhibited social development, exacerbated existing inequalities, and created new inequalities. Many of these crises reinforce one another and are both a cause and consequence of inequality; they exacerbate and create inequalities by disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable, and they also trigger crises by driving social dissatisfaction or unsustainable development. This requires a new policy paradigm – one that reflects the urgency and depth of the challenges and ensures that policymakers are not trapped in an endless process of short-term policymaking, unable to deliver on sustainable long-term development. Economic, climate and other challenges do not equally impact different population groups, including women, persons with disabilities, older persons and young persons. Those unequal consequences deepen the divide within and among countries and exacerbate existing inequalities. Social protection, which encompasses social insurance, social assistance and labour market programmes, plays a crucial role in supporting low-income households during challenging times and preventing middle-income households from sliding into poverty. It is essential not only for providing protection during an individual’s lifespan but also for addressing community-wide shocks. Social protection contributes to economic development and redistribution, and over the medium to long term, reduces inequality and fosters social cohesion. However, inequalities in social protection coverage and financing exacerbate existing challenges. Depending on their design and implementation, social protection programmes can reinforce inequality and the exclusion of certain groups of people. In this context, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and its partners, including the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development, Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies at New York University, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab, the Institute for Middle East Studies at George Washington University, and Social Protection for Women in the MENA Region (Hiya-MENA) will hold the Fourth Arab Forum for Equality (AFE) under the patronage of the Algerian Government. The Forum will focus on the theme of inequality and social protection, bringing together political leaders, ministers, the private sector, experts, and civil society organizations from the Arab region and globally. The Forum aims to continue the discussions generated during the First Arab Forum for Equality, held in Lebanon under the theme “Building the future…a job for everyone”, the Second Arab Forum for Equality, held in Jordan under the theme “One voice…equality in food security”, and the Third Forum for Equality, held in Egypt under the theme “Addressing inequalities in times of multiple crises”. Duties and Responsibilities: The consultant(s) are requested to: - Develop a main argument, with country examples, for how social protection can reduce specific inequalities. - Detail common challenges to be aware of when designing inclusive and progressive social protection policies. - Discuss the above with other panelists and the audience in session 6 of the AFE. - Share the above argument and case studies with ESCWA’s inequality team for their future use. - Provide at least one interview with the ESCWA media team for the use of ESCWA’s inequality team. Qualifications/special skillsA Masters degree in economics and/or social studies and/or development studies and/or related areas is required. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. 7 years of global experience/expertise in public and social policy, with a specific focus on reducing inequality is required. Previous experience in presenting at high-level forums is required. Publications in the field of reducing inequality is required. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA. For this position, fluency in English is required and fluency in Arabic is desirable. Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE 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.