Result of ServiceThe consultant is expected to collaborate with ESCWA’s internal inequality team to provide strategic direction and also support the consultants in identifying data sources. Work LocationRemote Expected duration3 months Duties and ResponsibilitiesI. Background The Arab region has the highest inequality in the world, and it is growing. The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) has launched a project entitled ‘Inequality in the Arab region’, to better understand the nature of the multidimensional and overlapping inequalities faced by people in the Arab region, to identify key drivers, and provide policy solutions to policymakers for addressing these inequalities. In 2022, ESCWA and Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies published a study entitled ‘Inequality in the Arab region: A ticking time bomb’, held the First Arab Forum for Equality in Amman, Jordan, and launched the regional ‘Josour’ programme to expand employment opportunities for young people in the region. All these initiatives sought to address inequality in employment and focused on the acute inequalities young people face in accessing decent employment opportunities. In 2023, ESCWA and Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies published a second report, entitled ‘Inequality in the Arab Region: Food Insecurity fuels Inequality’, hosted the Second Arab Forum for Equality in Beirut, Lebanon, and launched an online portal, ‘Inequality Solutions’, to provide policymakers with good examples of policies that have a proven track record in reducing inequalities in specific contexts. The 2023 initiatives were all under the theme of inequality in food security. In 2024, ESCWA and Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies published a report entitled ‘Inequality in the Arab region: crisis upon crisis”, hosted the Third Forum for Equality in Cairo, Egypt, and launched the Egyptian and Jordanian national chapters of Josour. ESCWA’s inequality work in 2024 focused on the polycrisis, demonstrating how the compound impact of overlapping crises in the region (conflict, climate, economic and institutional) is having a devastating impact on the ability of governments to ensure the welfare of their citizens, which in turn exacerbates the vulnerability of the most vulnerable and widens inequality. In 2025, ESCWA with its partners investigated the relationship between inequality and social protection, and examined how social protection can be used to effectively reduce inequalities across the region. The findings of the report will be published in June 2025, ahead of the fourth Arab Forum for Equality, and will be utilized to support the design and implementation of effective social protection policies and systems. The fifth edition of the Arab Inequality Report, planned to be published in 2026, will focus on intergenerational inequality in the Arab region. Duties and Responsibilities: The consultant will develop two sections of the 2026 Arab Inequality Report, which will also serve as the background discussion at the fifth Arab Forum for Equality. The two sections will examine the relationship between inequality, climate change and natural resources. The final sections are expected to cover (i) the relationship between inequality and climate change in the Arab region across years, (ii) the relationship between inequality and natural resources in the Arab region, (iii) identify and present one or two short case studies/boxes to be reflected in the sections as good practices and (iv) practical policy recommendations for policymakers. In line with previous reports, the sections should aim to provide a new way of examining inequality in the Arab region and should be embrace innovative analysis and non-traditional data sources. Each section should be around 8 – 10 pages, including references and citations. The consultant is expected to collaborate with ESCWA’s internal inequality team to provide strategic direction and also support the consultants in identifying data sources. ESCWA will be responsible for drafting the report. Qualifications/special skillsA Masters or equivalent degree in economics, social studies, development studies, or related area is required. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. A minimum of 10 years of experience in writing flagship publications and high-level reports is required. Strong analytical and drafting skills is required. Experience working on issues related to climate change and natural resources is required. Experience working on issues related to 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. 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.