Result of Service

The ultimate result of service for this assignment will be to collect primary data needed to draft the national strategy of older persons for Oman.

Work Location

Oman

Expected duration

3 Months

Duties and Responsibilities

Background:

The Arab region has one of the fastest growing populations in the world, which has more than tripled from 123 million in 1970 to over 400 million in 2017. This remarkable increase in population, coupled with complex socio-economic developments left the majority of Arab countries struggling to ensure a dignified life for their populations.

The recent demographic changes witnessed in the region are adding additional pressures to countries. While the Arab region has been characterized by its youthful population, recent demographic shifts are resulting in a persisting youth bulge and a significant increase in the numbers and proportions of older persons, forcing governments to address often competing priorities for their different age groups. Population ageing, that is projected for the near future in most Arab countries, will happen at a much faster rate in the region compared to other regions. The share of older persons as a proportion of the total population in the region is projected to increase to 15 per cent by 2050, and their number will exceed 100 million. This accelerated shift leaves a very tight window for countries to address the needs and priorities of their older persons today and of future cohorts. Large groups of older persons risk increased vulnerability and exclusion.

Despite some promising policy developments witnessed across Arab countries, repeated regional reviews of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA), and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development highlighted that older persons are a growing vulnerable group that is facing an increasing risk of being left behind. Large groups of older persons are excluded from social protection platforms, heightening their risk of disease and poverty. Changing social norms as a result of migration, urbanization, and modernization are impacting intergenerational support. Policy making relating to older persons remains fragmented in most Arab countries and do not respond to the needs of older persons today nor prepare for the quickly increasing numbers and proportions of older persons in the near future. The COVID-19 pandemic has further threatened the wellbeing of older persons, especially those in vulnerable situations, and highlighted the urgency of the need for coherent policies that address older persons needs, priorities and specificities.

In response, ESCWA has intensified its efforts to support its Member States to develop cohesive older persons policies through building necessary knowledge, strengthening policy makers capacities, and providing technical expertise and support at the national level to Member States that intend to develop or reform existing policies and strategies.
Oman, like the rest of the world, has witnessed an increase in the number of older persons as a result of the decline in death and birth rates, in addition to the increase in the average of life expectancy at birth. All these changes came as a result of the improvement in health, social and economic services, as well as the growing manifestations of urbanization in the Sultanate.
According to the National Centre for Statistics and information in Oman, the number of older persons in reached 154,405 persons in 2021, of whom 70,341 were males and 84,064 were females and the life expectancy at birth according to the Ministry of Health has increased to 75.1 years in 2021.

Oman has paid great attention to older persons, by working to improve their quality of life. The future vision, Oman 2040, has prioritized the care for older persons, based on the development of national competencies and the sustainable development goals as a cornerstone for the development of older persons’ interventions and strategies which led to the preparation of health and care programs and policies that aim to improve their health by implementing plans and programs on the national level.

Recognizing the importance of coordination between the various actors in the governmental and non-governmental sectors and the need to integrate older persons priorities into the policy-making process across social and economic sectors, the Ministry of Social Development has requested a technical support from ESCWA to develop the older persons strategy. The strategy will build on previous efforts such as the report of older persons in Oman in addition to the Social work strategy (2016-2025) which considered the welfare of the older persons in Oman as top of social policy priority.

Objectives:

In the context of the “Technical Cooperation Framework on Developing Strategic Directions for Older persons in Oman between ESCWA and the Ministry of Social Development in Oman, ESCWA will recruit a national consultant to support the drafting of the older persons strategy.

Tasks of the consultant:

To support the drafting of the older persons strategy, the consultant is expected to:
• Conduct in depth interviews with relevant actors to collect primary data including but not limited the representatives of relevant ministries and governmental bodies such as, Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Labour Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Education Ministry of Health, Ministry of Information Ministry Justice and Legal Affairs, Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth, Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, Ministry of High Education, Research, and Innovation, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, Ministry of Heritage and Tourism.
• Conduct focus groups with related stakeholders including but not limited civil society organizations working in the field of older persons, trade unions, public and private elderly care institution, older persons care facilities and older persons themselves.
• Compile the findings of the interviews and focus groups and send them to ESCWA and the Ministry of Social Development.

Qualifications/special skills

A Master’s degree in Social Sciences 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 5 years of relevant experience in conducting qualitative research on social issues in Oman is required.
An in-depth knowledge of key ageing and population issues in Oman and in the Arab region, and experience in conducting surveys and focus groups are 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 Arabic is required, and fluency in English 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.