Result of Service

ADA_1.0 Deployment: investment and partnerships (I): • Draft contributions selected research/background papers as a contribution to the series of JTC/CRTCM meetings. • Produce a study including recommendations to transform ADA’s digital development gaps into lucrative investment opportunities by prioritizing key ADA Goals needing investment and utilizing various funding mechanisms to attract investors. • Design of MoUs with partners, donors, and specialized agencies for supporting the implementation of selected initiatives, projects, programs within ADA clusters. • Contribute to the production of outreach material (brochures, leaflets, promotional video) to secure fundraising & partnership for effective implementation. 2. ADA_1.0 Deployment: ADA_1.0 CPF (III): • Set robust criteria to categorize enrolled initiatives, projects and programs (Based on the second batch of the Collaboration and Partnership Framework’s) and establish an appropriate proposal to group/cluster them under regional programmes for better coordination, knowledge-sharing, building synergy and optimization of results. • Engage partners and donors on mobilizing funds to the enrolled initiatives, projects and programs in support of the implementation of ADA_1.0, as well as contribute to conduct a series of one-to-one and regional meetings to formalize cooperation and sign agreements . 3. ADA_2.0 Extended scope (II): • Draft selected research/background papers on digital technologies for Climate Change mitigation and adaptation, e-waste, digital transformation of the agri-food sector, e-agriculture, geospatial technologies and environment, the peaceful use of outer space, etc.), as input to the Consultative Experts Meeting on Digital Technologies and Pressing Issues. • Contribute to the initiation of ADA2.0 reflecting the new additions and related log frame (goals/baselines/targets/indicators/proposed actions/existing and new initiatives, programs and projects). 4. Digital Cooperation and Development Portals and Forums milestones (VI and IV): • Contribute to building and operating a set of online web assets (three initiatives and 4 Portals). • Draft substantive documentation/Synopsis/mini-Infonote and contribute to the convening of several preparatory workshops as part of the 2nd “Arab Digital Cooperation and Development Conference”, DCDF2024 (or the 4th “Arab WSIS” & the 7th “Arab IGF”). 5. National Digital Development Reviews, Agendas and MMM Observatories (IV): • Contribute to developing the concept for a National DD-Observatory necessary to produce the NDDRs and the NDDAs. • Contribute to the production of NDDA for selected countries (UAE, Oman, Egypt, Jordan) • Help initiate national digital development observatories in 2 pilot countries and create evidence-based policies to accelerate achieving the SDGs nationally and regionally. 6. ESCWA’s Enhanced Methodology and Upgraded Process ADD_FPM3.0 milestones (V): • Contribute to drafting the ADD_FPM3.0 “Digital Development Reviews for 2024: Guiding Manual” for NDDRs3.0/ADDR3.0, incorporating the latest developments and feedback from ADA_1.0.

Work Location

Remote

Expected duration

6 Months

Duties and Responsibilities

Background ESCWA is implementing the second phase of the project on “Advancing Digital Cooperation and Development – Arab States Action Programme” (ADCD-ASAP phase 2). The project aims at enhancing national and regional capacity for pursuing digital development in a continuously evolving global digital era context, by strengthening national and regional knowledge base, capacity development, boosting inclusive digital transformation and digital economy, as well as coordinated policy design and greater regional cooperation, through the development and implementation of national and regional digital development agendas and programme, so to reap the benefits of digital development and maximize its contribution to the national and regional economies in the Arab region. The project has five immediate results of which, the first aims at availing access to updated digital cooperation and development toolkits for assessments of digital development status and formulating digital development agendas (regional public goods); the second looks into sharing an understanding of the latest status of digital development at the national & regional levels & build consensus on prioritized changes to policies, required to stimulate digital development in the region (NDDRs/ADDRs/ADA/NDDAs); the third revolves around establishing forums for policy-advocacy, dialogue, peer-learning & capacity building; convened on Information Society, Internet Governance, Digital Transformation & Digital Economy issues (DCDF/AIGF…etc.) informing and enabling communities to be more digital secure and resilient; the fourth aims to develop a dedicated online hub/knowledge repository on information society, digital development and digital cooperation (Digital Cooperation & Development Online Platform “DCD-OP”) accessible to stakeholders in member states; and the fifth to help member states benefit from improved coordination and coherence of efforts undertaken at the national level, with those at the regional and global levels – pertaining to information society, digital cooperation and development. (liaison/advocacy). In this context, a series of activities are planned to take place in 2024 to achieve the below 4 immediate results: 1. Avail updated digital cooperation and development toolkits for assessments of digital development status and formulating digital development agendas for use by Civil servants (as part of Immediate Result 1). 2. Help Member States share an understanding of the latest status of digital development at the national & regional levels; & build consensus on prioritized changes to policies, required to stimulate digital development in the region (As part of Immediate Result 2). 3. Enable and facilitate policy-advocacy, dialogue, peer-learning & capacity building on Information Society, Internet Governance, Digital Transformation & Digital Economy issues and inform and enable communities to be more digital secure and resilient (As part of Immediate Result 3). 4. Provide stakeholders in member states with access to dedicated online hub/knowledge repository on information society, digital development and digital cooperation (As part of Immediate Result 4). These activities include providing assistance to: – ADA_1.0 deployment and investment related activities. – ADA_2.0 extended scope. – ADA_1.0 Collaboration and Partnership Framework (CPF). – ESCWA’s Enhanced Methodology and Upgraded Process ADD_FPM3.0 milestones. – Digital Cooperation and Development Forum (DCDF) 2024 (7th ArabIGF+4th AHLF). Scope and methodology of work The objective of the consultancy is to provide sustained senior-level substantive contribution to ESCWA Arab States Action Programme on Digital Cooperation & Digital Development (ADCD.ASAP), and to the implementation of selected activities of phase 2 of the ADCD-ASAP project; by drafting technical reports or contributing substantive inputs to selected products and channels and researching and analysing cross cutting issues affecting the acceleration of digital development and digital cooperation in the Arab region as identified by the Arab Digital Agenda, which was adopted by ATICM in January 2023, and aiming at its staged implementation at the country and the Arab region levels, including through the development of national digital agendas, strategies and plans driving digital transformation and the optimal use of ICTs for inclusive sustainable development and the achievement of SDGs in the Arab region. The work will largely consist of thorough analysis and research of available information and reports on digital development and digital cooperation at national, regional and global levels, in addition to substantive contributions to support drafting technical papers, policy recommendations, action plans and implementation guidelines, to inform digital development and cooperation and cross sectoral policies for a digitally resilient and developed Arab region. Main Tasks The following tasks would be carried out under the below-mentioned tracks of work: I. ADA_1.0 deployment and investment related activities: • Draft and submit to ESCWA -ADA core team a study including recommendations to transform ADA’s digital development gaps into lucrative investment opportunities by prioritizing key ADA Goals needing investment and utilizing various funding mechanisms to attract investors. The consultant will work on: • converting digital development gaps in the Arab region into lucrative investment opportunities. This involves conducting comprehensive market analysis to identify and assess unmet needs, highlighting specific investment opportunities in infrastructure and tech adoption, and developing compelling value propositions with clear ROI potential. • leveraging the CPF online platform to develop project pipelines, prioritizing sectors needing investment while fostering strategic partnerships with related stakeholders. • preparing a plan to leverage various funding mechanisms, including venture capital, PPPs, and grants, to attract investors. It is expected that such measures can help attract and retain investment in the realization of ADA’s goals and targets, thus bridging the development gap in the Arab region. • Design of MoUs with partners and specialized agencies for taking the lead on a given ADA cluster, and or MoUs with donors for supporting the implementation of selected initiatives/projects/programs within ADA clusters. • Contribute to the production of outreach material (brochures, leaflets, promotional video) to secure fundraising & partnership for effective implementation. II. ADA_2.0 extended scope • Draft and submit to ESCWA -ADA core team contributions to selected research/background papers as a contribution to the series of JTC/CRTCM meetings in support of widening the scope of ADA_1.0. • Draft and submit to ESCWA -ADA core team contributions of selected research/background papers on digital technologies for Climate Change mitigation and adaptation, e-waste, digital transformation of the agri-food sector, e-agriculture, geospatial technologies and environment, the peaceful use of outer space, etc.), as input to the Consultative Experts Meeting on Digital Technologies and Pressing Issues. • Prepare/contribute to the initiation of a first draft of ADA2.0 reflecting the new additions and related logframe (goals/baselines/targets/indicators/proposed actions/existing and new initiatives, programs and projects). III. ADA_1.0 CPF • Collaboration and Partnership Framework: Develop a complete second edition of the Collaboration and Partnership Framework, by a deep dive into, and studying and analyzing of, batch 1 and batch 2 including the intersections between the initiatives, projects and programs enrolled as part of the CPF, setting criteria to categorize them and establishing an appropriate mechanism to cluster them for better coordination and optimization of results. Partnership Schemes and Funding of ADA_1.0: Contribute to ESCWA work on engaging partners and donors on mobilizing funds in support of the implementation of ADA_1.0, as well as contribute to conduct a series of one-to-one and regional meetings with them to formalize cooperation and sign agreements whenever possible. (Prepare templates for such expected MoUs / agreements between LAS, ESCWA and potential custodian agencies of a given cluster or initiatives, defining roles, responsibilities and mechanism for reporting on progress made). IV. National Digital Development Agendas and Digital Development Observatories • Contribute to developing the concept to establish a National DD-Observatory as a prerequisite to produce the NDDA. • Contribute to the production of NDDA for UAE and/or Oman and/or Egypt and/or Jordan (Product 2.G1.5A&2.G1.6A) • Contribute to establishing/initiating the establishment of national digital development observatories in 2 pilot countries) to help governments better assess the digital development situation in their countries and devise evidence-based policies to accelerate achieving the SDGs at the national level and contribute to their achievement at the regional level. V. ESCWA’s Enhanced Methodology and Upgraded Process ADD_FPM3.0 milestones • Contribute to initiating a first draft of the ADD_FPM3.0 “National digital development reviews for 2021: Guiding manual” to be used to prepare NDDRs3.0/ADDR3.0 in accordance with the latest developments and comments received during the elaboration of the ADA_1.0. VI. Digital Cooperation and Development Forum (DCDF) milestones • Draft and submit substantive documentation and contribute to the convening of several preparatory workshops as part of the 2nd “Arab Digital Cooperation and Development Conference”, DCDF2024 (or the 4th “Arab WSIS” & the 7th “Arab IGF”).

Qualifications/special skills

An advanced university degree in ICT or related fields is required. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree or proof of work experience. Incomplete applications will not be considered. 15 years of extensive experience, proven research and prior writings in the areas of ICT for development, Internet governance, WSIS process, ICT policies and strategies, and other related fields of research is required.

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.

Additional Information

Not available.

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.