Result of Service• The total number of pages of the report prepared should be at maximum 50 pages, in Arabic or English. • A 2 to 4-page executive summary of the report; and • A PowerPoint presentation on the prepared report. The completed parts should be edited and saved in MS-Word (*.docx file) or an alternate compatible format. Note that PDF format will not be accepted. It should include a table of contents to be automatically updated followed by a list of all tables and figures. The various parts should be submitted in electronic form and sent to the email of the designated focal point. Attention is kindly drawn to the need to ensure that the final draft of the outputs be thoroughly reviewed prior to submission and to indicate the sources of tables and diagrams. References to reports and other substantive material should be clearly indicated within the text and noted at the end. It is also essential to send, with the completed output, photocopies or scans of at least the first page of books, reports and bulletins, used as reference material as well as copies of the pages quoted. The content of the generated document shall be the sole property of ESCWA. Their contents cannot and must not be presented, discussed or published without the express authorization of ESCWA The consultant shall keep in mind that UN-ESCWA routinely checks all deliverables for plagiarism using readily available electronic tools. All previously published content, even if written by the selected consultant, must be clearly referenced where required within the text and end-noted at the end of the study. The report submitted by the consultant must not contain quoted, previously published text equalling more than 20 per cent of the total number of pages. The consultant shall not publish or announce or reveal the content of the report, partly or entirely, on social media or any other public channel, without ESCWA permission. Work LocationRemote Expected duration16 weeks Duties and ResponsibilitiesBackground and objective Digital inclusion is a key enabler of equitable digital transformation, ensuring that all individuals—including persons with disabilities, older persons, women, refugees, and marginalized communities—can access, afford, and effectively use digital technologies and services. A comprehensive digital inclusion policy is essential to close digital divides and promote inclusive access to infrastructure, affordable services, digital skills, and accessible content. Since 2020, ESCWA has supported Arab countries in fostering inclusive digital environments through the Arab Digital Inclusion Platform (ADIP), initially focused on e-accessibility for persons with disabilities and later expanded to include older persons. ESCWA has developed policy templates, technical guidelines, and interactive toolkits to aid national adaptation and implementation. template, technical guidelines, and interactive tools to support national adaptation and implementation. In 2023, ESCWA broadened the scope of work by designing an additional policy template aimed at helping policymakers in Arab countries formulate national e-accessibility strategies for older persons. This sustained engagement has led to tangible outcomes: the developed templates have been applied in eight Arab countries under the ADIP national roll-out track, with several resulting policies formally endorsed by national councils of ministers. These developments underscore the growing regional commitment to advancing digital inclusion within national plans. In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in regional demand for technical support and policy guidance on digital inclusion. Member States are seeking practical tools to address growing digital disparities and ensure that no one is left behind. This highlights the urgency of moving toward more comprehensive and integrated policy frameworks. In response, ESCWA is launching a regional study to assess the current landscape of digital inclusion across Arab countries and to develop a Digital Inclusion Policy Support Template. This template will serve as a practical guide for policymakers in designing inclusive national digital strategies aligned with regional priorities and global best practices. Duties and responsibilities Under the supervision of the ADIP Project Coordinator and in close cooperation with project team members, the consultant will be responsible for the following: • Review best practices of digital inclusion strategies, legislation, and institutional frameworks globally and in the Arab region, with attention to equity, accessibility, and the needs of vulnerable groups (e.g. persons with disabilities, older persons, women, youth, refugees, rural populations). • Analyze the roles of key national stakeholders, including ICT regulators, relevant ministries, and institutions working on inclusion and human rights. • Suggest a practical policy support template as well as the content of an interactive tool, for integration into the ADIP platform, covering among other main pillars, the following: o ICT access and infrastructure o Accessibility and affordability of services o Inclusive digital skills o Governance and institutional arrangements o Stakeholder cooperation o Inclusive innovation and emerging tech o Monitoring and evaluation o Risk management • Present draft template of digital inclusion to selected stakeholders and experts for feedback. • Contribute to regional workshop (physically or remotely) and capture the main comments and discussions. • Revise and finalize the draft template based on inputs received. • Prepare a short presentation and briefing note summarizing key elements. ESCWA promotes gender equality, disability inclusion, and integration of youth through its publications and therefore the consultant should pay attention, with the help of ESCWA staff, to the inclusion of gender, disability, and integration of the youth dimension throughout the research work to ensure that it gives equal attention to the needs of both men and women, and girls and boys. Writing should use gender-sensitive and inclusive language. Qualifications/special skillsA master's degree in ICT or a related field is required; A Ph.D. is desirable. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. At least 10 years of professional experience including 5 years in the area of research formulation of development policies, or a related field is required. Experience in research on digital inclusion and digital technologies is required. Excellent communication and writing skills are 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 Arabic and English are 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.