The ultimate result of the service is supporting the strategic planning process in Palestine for the years 2024 – 2030 by integrating the Sustainable Development Goals in the planning process.
Outputs
• Report on the priority SDGs and corresponding targets identified by the Government of Palestine for the national development strategy for 2024-2030
• Report on methodology and approach for integrating SDGs in the strategic planning processes of the Government of Palestine
Remotely
3 Months
1. Background
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) is mandated to support the Palestinian people and their institutions in mitigating the social and economic impact of Israeli practices and policies in the occupied Palestinian territory.
During its sixth meeting held in Marrakech, Morocco, on 15 and 16 June 2019, the ESCWA Executive Committee recommended to “develop a trust fund at ESCWA to support Palestine, aimed at increasing resources within the ESCWA secretariat to supporting the Palestinian people and institutions in achieving sustainable development, building their capacity and empowering them to realize their inalienable rights, and communicating with member States to urge them to finance the fund”.
Accordingly, the ESCWA secretariat established the Palestine Resource Platform within the ESCWA Trust Fund for Technical Cooperation. The platform will finance activities and programmes that support Palestinian institutions in enhancing service provision, attaining sustainable development, achieving economic disengagement from Israel, and mitigating the impact of Israeli policies and practices on the living conditions of Palestinians. In addition, the platform also seeks to support the efforts of the Palestinian people and their institutions to achieve their inalienable rights, including the right to development and the right to self-determination. The Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD) agreed to sponsor the project “Palestine Resource Platform within the ESCWA Trust Fund for Technical Cooperation”.
Along these lines, ESCWA seeks to hire a consultant to assist in the integration of the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 in the strategic planning process of the Government of Palestine.
Objectives of the assignment
ESCWA plans to contract a consultant to support Palestinian institutions in the strategic planning process for the years 2024-2030, particularly in the integration the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 and its goals in the process. The consultant will assist in identifying and articulating national priorities through dialogue with various stakeholders, reviewing previous plans and assessments. The expert will also assist Palestinian policy makers in identifying integration options and approaches that would address the particular nature of development in the occupied Palestinian territory. The consultant will also prepare a report documenting the integration process to be uses as lessons learned by other member States.
2. Duties and Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Cluster Leader of the Governance and Conflict Prevention Cluster and the project coordinator, and with the guidance of the Office of the Executive Secretary of ESWCA, the consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:
• Reviewing analyzing progress towards the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Palestine and identifying internal and external challenges and obstacles in this regard.
• Reviewing previous assessments of the alignment of the national development plans and strategies with the SDGs.
• Facilitating dialogue among the national sustainable development working groups to identify national priorities that and their alignment with the Agenda for Sustainable Development 2030.
• Drafting a report on the priority SDGs and corresponding targets identified by the Government of Palestine for the national development strategy for 2024-2030
• Identifying options, scope and methodology for enhancing integration of the Sustainable Development Goals in the strategic planning process and overcoming challenges and obstacles to that end.
• Provide technical and substantive assistance to Palestinian institutions as required during the planning process.
• Drafting a report documenting the methodological and institutional processes for integrating Sustainable Development Goals in the strategic planning processes of the Government of Palestine.
• Updating the report as per the comments and remarks of ESCWA team.
An advanced degree (or equivalent experience) in development, public policy, sociology, economics, 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 progressively responsible experience in economic and social development, economics, sustainable development, strategic planning, or other related social sciences is required.
Experience in the work related to Palestinian institutions, development, and the SDGs in the occupied Palestinian territory is required.
The following skills are desirable:
- Experience in strategic planning, and strategy development;
- Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities skills
- Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback
- Excellent presentation and facilitation skills
- Experience in assessing alignments of SDGs in development plans and strategies
Languages English 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 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.
THE 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.