Result of Service
To moderate session 4 of the Arab Forum for equality: “But social mobility also requires decent employment opportunities”. Session 4 engages regional experts and high-level officials on inequality among youth in the Arab region with a special focus on employment and economic inclusion. The consultant is expected moderate the session, ensuring that questions remain short, targeted, and interesting to all, that speakers aren’t engaged on contentious topics, and that speakers answer the questions fully, but concisely. It is expected that the moderator will achieve a rich deliberation in the different ways that public policies can reduce inequality among generations in all its forms.
Duties and Responsibilities
I. Background Intergenerational inequality is a fundamental issue in the Arab region, significantly influencing broader societal inequality. This concept illustrates how advantages and disadvantages—such as wealth, housing, education, employment, and access to essential services—are transferred from one generation to the next. If left unaddressed, it not only impacts current generations but will also affect future ones. The Arab region has one of the youngest populations worldwide, yet many young people are experiencing stalled transitions into adulthood. They face increasing barriers to decent employment, home ownership, and political engagement, resulting in widespread frustration, migration, diminished trust, and social unrest. Concurrently, rising life expectancy coupled with inadequate pension systems leaves many older individuals without income security or adequate care. The challenges we face today will shape the trajectory of inequality for generations to come. Issues such as climate change, natural resource management, debt management, and investments in human capital have the potential to either reinforce existing inequalities or pave the way for a more equitable and sustainable future. The Pact for the Future emphasizes a renewed commitment to long-term thinking, solidarity across generations, and the safeguarding of future well-being. By advocating for sustainable urban development, equitable resource access, and climate resilience, the Pact directly addresses intergenerational inequality. It aims to ensure that current decisions do not undermine the rights, opportunities, and living conditions of future generations. Governments are encouraged to adopt evidence-based, forward-looking planning frameworks and policies, such as Oman’s Vision 2040, which prioritize natural resource protection, inclusive infrastructure investment, and social justice for both present and future communities. Decisions made today will determine whether the next generation inherits opportunities or crises. It is crucial to focus on long-term solutions that address the root causes of inequality, rather than merely implementing short-term fixes. In this context, ESCWA will host the Fifth Arab Forum for Equality in Muscat, Oman, from June 10-11, 2026. This forum will explore the transmission of inequality across generations in the Arab region and identify actionable strategies to break this cycle. It will build upon the discussions initiated during previous forums: the 2022 AFE in Amman focused on youth employment inequality, the 2023 AFE in Beirut on food security inequality, the 2024 AFE in Cairo on inequality during polycrisis, and the 2025 AFE in Algeria on social protection inequality. Stakeholders will engage in dialogue aimed at practical solutions for tackling inequalities. The forum will showcase effective policies that have successfully addressed intergenerational inequality, both within the Arab region and globally. Notable examples include Oman’s universal lifecycle social protection, its national framework for future skills, and initiatives for digital inclusion among older individuals. Additionally, Oman’s urban development strategy serves as a model for reducing intergenerational inequality by aligning long-term planning with social equity and sustainability goals. Through its National Spatial Strategy and Vision 2040, Oman promotes balanced urban growth, affordable housing, and infrastructure investment, ensuring equitable access to opportunities and services for both current and future generations. Experiences from other Arab and non-Arab nations will also be highlighted for peer learning and exchange. The forum will facilitate the inclusion of diverse voices and perspectives across generations, contributing to the development of equitable and sustainable long-term policies. The event will be convened by UNESCWA in partnership with the Ministry of Social Development of the Sultanate of Oman and in collaboration with key partners, including UN Women, UN Habitat, United Nations office for Disaster Risk Reduction, United Nations Research Institute for Social Development, Southern Center for Inequality Studies, International Growth Center, Pathfinders Initiative hosted by University of New York, House of Fiscal Wisdom hosted by the Katiba Institute, Institute for Middle East Studies at the George Washington University, Save the Children, and Habitat for Humanity I. Tasks and Deliverables The consultant is will be requested to: - Engage with the speakers of the session ahead of the forum. Gain an in-depth understanding of which topics the speakers can and can’t be engaged on for the benefit of the forum. - Develop some initial questions to the speakers in case of insufficient questions from the audience. - Develop a basic understanding of youth unemployment in the Arab region and beyond - Moderate session 4 of the Arab Forum for Equality. - Provide at least one interview with the ESCWA media team for the use of ESCWA’s inequality team.
Qualifications/special skills
A bachelor's degree or equivalent in political science and/or social studies and/or development studies and/or media and/or related areas is required. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. A minimum of 10 years’ experience in the media sector is required. Excellent communication and moderation abilities to engage with diverse stakeholders, including global and Arab leaders and experts is required. Familiarity with addressing issues of inequality and exclusion, particularly within the Arab region is required. Previous experience in presenting high-level forum 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 English and Arabic 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 area
