Result of Service

The below documents will result from this consultancy:

• First draft report of around 40-50 pages (22,000 words) in English, on “The role of emerging technologies and innovation in enhancing effectiveness and decision-making in Arab public Institutions”. This covers items 1 to 5 described under Duties and Responsibilities.
• Second and final draft of the report of around 40-50 pages. This covers items 1 to 7 described under Duties and Responsibilities.
• Executive summary of 2-3 pages.
• PowerPoint presentation that is based on the report and includes its key information, and with focus on the results of the report, outcomes and recommendations.

Work Location

Remotely

Expected duration

5 months

Duties and Responsibilities

Background and objective:

Governments in the Arab region are increasingly under pressure to improve the performance public sector for more service delivery effectiveness. Despite the fact that a number of Arab governments have engaged in some institutional reforms, the empirical evidence of their impact on effectiveness and efficiency is so far limited due to different factors. Several key institutional drivers can contribute to improve public sector effectiveness and efficiency. While there is no size-fits-all roadmap for enhancing public sector efficiency and effectiveness, Arab countries have been trying diverse approaches to reforming key institutional arrangements, with divergent results and relative success here and there.

Technological capacity as the ability to explore, develop and/or adapt new technological solutions in the design, delivery, and evaluation of public services and internal public sector operations, is a promising area for the enhancement of effectiveness. Innovation in the public sector has the potential to enhance the performance of the public sector. Investing more in innovation and technologies can foster new ideas on ways to enhance effectiveness, efficiency and decision-making processes in Arab public institutions, supporting thus the achievement of SDG 16. The growing availability and functionality of emerging technologies can result in more efficient government services, cost reduction, better customer satisfaction and better development, therefore more effectively addressing the needs of citizens. Emerging technologies offer new possibilities for enhancing governments services.

The objective of this technical paper is to explore the potential of emerging technologies and innovation to increase the performance, effectiveness, and efficiency of public institutions in the Arab region. It will also analyse the current trends and needs of Arab public institutions and discuss to which extent emerging technologies can or have been able to address those needs. A focus will be made on data related technologies and data sharing among government agencies as of their significant role in enhancing effectiveness of government and the offered services. Based on best practices from developed countries and from the Arab region, the report will offer recommendations to foster technology and innovation in public institutions for increased effectiveness and efficiency.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Under the general supervision of the Chief of Innovation section (focal point), the Consultant is required to prepare a report, and proactively collaborate with ESCWA team during the preparation and completion of the report and afterwards to review, with comments and recommendations, the final content that incorporates the final version of the report.

The Consultant will undertake in-depth research and carry out the following:
(1) Define and explain what is meant by effectiveness in the public sector and its importance for decision-making.
(2) Depict and analyse the situation of Arab countries and identify the key challenges that face effectiveness and decision-making in the public sector.
(3) Describe and analyse how emerging technologies, especially data related technologies, contribute to effectiveness and decision making in public institutions.
(4) Summarize selected case studies on the use of emerging technologies for enhancing effectiveness and efficiency in public sector.
(5) Develop outputs and recommendations, based on the research and analysis, to serve as a guide on the use of emerging technologies and innovation for enhancing effectiveness and decision-making of the public sector.
(6) Proactively collaborate with ESCWA team during the preparation of the report and review the first draft report based on the ESCWA’s feedback and comments.
(7) Prepare and deliver one presentation that conveys the key content, results, and recommendations of the report.

Qualifications/special skills

A Master’s degree in public policies, digital government, information and communication technologies, public administration, governance or equivalent field is required.

All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
A minimum of ten years of professional research experience in the domains of digital government, technology and innovation, governance, and public administration is required.
Knowledge of emerging technologies and their deployment in the public sector, government or institutions is required.
Previous experience in working with international organizations is desirable.
Experience in sustainable development is desirable.

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 English is required. Knowledge of 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.

No Fee

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.