Result of Service
1- Annotated outline based on discussion with ESCWA regarding structure and scope of the paper 2- First draft of analytical paper based on feedback received on annotated outline, including preliminary list of references 3- Final analytical paper based on feedback received on first draft, including footnotes and complete references
Duties and Responsibilities
Background Water is essential for sustainable development, particularly in the water-scarce Arab region. The freshwater scarcity situation is aggravated by several factors, such as dependency on shared water resources, pollution, climate change impacts and extreme events, non-revenue water losses, inefficient use and high population growth.
Water scarcity is a significant challenge for sustainable development, as it directly affects the ability to ensure access to water and sanitation for all, while also having important implications for energy and food security, economic development, as well as urban and rural livelihoods. Water security challenges caused by water scarcity also require national and regional security considerations.
Overcoming these challenges calls for a holistic approach that creates an effective enabling environment made possible through stronger governance, more effective financial strategies, innovation, data for decision-making and capacity development. The water security challenges must be addressed in coordinated regional, national and central approaches that enable the attainment of sustainable development and prosperity for all.
Objective To prepare an analytical paper on water security across the Arab region that elaborates on current challenges and offers insights on potential pathways for advancing the water agenda across the region. Duties and Responsibilities Under the overall guidance of the Climate Change and Natural Resource Sustainability Cluster Lead and the direct supervision of the Senior Sustainable Development Officer for water, the consultant will undertake the following tasks:
Provide a framing for water security in the Arab region, drawing on national processes and priorities, as well as regional water security strategy of the Arab Ministerial Water Council of the League of Arab states and global approaches such as the Water Action Decade.
Review the present landscape characterizing water security in Arab countries, providing examples of fruitful cooperation between multiple Arab countries.
Examine key drivers of water security vulnerability and resilience in the region, including climate change, economic development and conflict.
Assess the role of national and regional enablers for advancing in water security, including innovation and technology, finance, knowledge exchange, private sector engagement and identify opportunities for regional cooperation.
Offer insights and recommendations on priority areas for investment and cooperation to advance resilient water security across the region.
Qualifications/special skills
A master's degree or higher in water resources management, hydrology, hydrogeology, sustainable development, natural resources management or related field is required. A PhD is desirable. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. A minimum of 10 years of professional work experience in the field of water resources management, with demonstrated experience working on regional development issues related to the Arab region is required Demonstrated experience writing reports and papers for international organizations on water resources is required. Demonstrated experience conducting quantitative analysis and interpretation 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. Knowledge of French 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.