OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Social and Human Sciences Sector (SHS)

Duty Station: Remote

Job Family: Social and Human Sciences

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 7 to 11 months

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 25/03/2024

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Achieving the environmental goals of Agenda 2030, including combating climate change requires a transformation in economic systems and in societies. Climate change and the climate transition have an important social impact, including the exacerbation of inequalities. An equitable green growth and a greater resilience to climate change particularly among vulnerable groups, is a challenging paradox but needs to be factored ex ante in climate policies. Indeed, an important question is how social policies can contribute to make necessary adjustments for sustainability more socially acceptable.

It is against this background that the MOST Project is seeking a senior consultant to lead a research report on Climate Transition / Fair Transition– a project funded by La Caixa Foundation. MOST has established a new partnership with La Caixa Foundation (a UNESCO Category 2 center) to innovative research on social and human sciences with the objective to impact global agendas and policy making. Research is a core area of this partnership. The research priorities have been defined as: inequality and exclusion. An Annual Publication on Inclusive and Resilience Societies was published in 2023 under this partnership.

The research report on Climate Transition will include quantitative analysis using current data to show the distributional impact of climate change. The analysis should demonstrate the impact of climate policies on vulnerable groups, women and young people. Case studies (or text boxes) illustrating cases in different countries are essential. Distributional impacts between countries may also be explored. Research in the report should have the rigor expected for scientific and academic publications published by peer-reviewed journals.

Sub-topics to be explored (suggestions that be further refined by the coordinator in consultation with UNESCO) may include:

• Climate Change and Social Inequality
• Impacts of Climate Change on Vulnerable Communities
• Equity Efficiency Sustainability Framework applied to climate
• Economic Aspects of Fair Transition
• The Moral Imperative of Fair Transition
• Strategic Foresight and Future Scenarios
• Indigenous Communities’ Role/knowledge in Climate action
• Use of social policy to support climate policies.

A special chapter dedicated to gender and climate transition is required.

Long Description

ASSIGNMENT

Under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences Sector (ADG/SHS), guidance of the Director for Social Policies and supervision of the MOST’s Chief of Section, the incumbent is responsible for providing comprehensive intellectual, research and implementation support to produce the annual La Caixa report and support its launch and dissemination. To this end, the incumbent shall:

• Prepare an elaborated concept note with an outline of chapters.
• Identifying additional researchers/writers and ensuring the delivery of timely and high-quality analysis and case studies for the report.
• Provide overall coordination of the design of the structure and thematic content of the publication on climate transition and be responsible for the completion of the research report.

• Ensure that the substance and format of the publication meets the highest standards for such type of document.
• Ensure the quality of content and effective communication with policy making audiences. The document must be written to a good standard of English.
• Contribute to the development of a high-level event on Climate Transition where the report will also be launched.
• Seek and pursue relevant synergies with the key topics under MOST and the associated work streams, feeding all into the relevant pillar and thematic priority of the MOST Comprehensive Strategy for 2022-2029.
• Report internally and externally on the project, including its links to and delivery under MOST Strategy and the statutory workings of the Programme.

Deliverables

• Concept Note, 30th April
• Inception Report, 30th May
• First draft report, 15th July
• Second draft report, 30th September
• Final draft, 15th November

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

–

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Master or PhD degree in social sciences (PhD preferred) or areas relevant for the objective of this study.

Work experience

• A minimum of 10 years of work experience in the area of social sciences, with at least 5 years experience in the field of just climate transitions or sustainability.
• Experience in producing quantitative research projects in fields pertaining to the report in question.
• Record of high-quality scholarly research, including publications in peer-reviewed journals or of comparable quality.

Skills and Competencies

• Excellent knowledge of concepts and development related to knowledge-policy nexus, sustainability and inequalities.
• Familiarity with the UN system, especially with UNESCO, considered an advantage.
• Team player, able to work respectfully and cooperatively with colleagues or different national and cultural backgrounds. Understanding and adherence to the UN principles.

Languages

• Fluency in both written and spoken English. Knowledge of French is desirable.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates should complete the online application and submit as a single PDF document in the “Employment History Form” section the following documents:

• UNESCO Employment History Form.
• A Technical Proposal comprising 1) Statement indicating how the candidate’s qualifications and experience make them suitable for the assignment 2) Approach (methodology and detailed workplan) the candidate would adopt to carry out the assignment (maximum 4 pages)
• A Financial Proposal indicating the monthly rate in EUR to be charged for the assignment.

Applications submitted without all the requested documents will not be considered.

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Footer