External Collaborator Contract to analyze and further map green jobs and skills activities by donors, development actors and NGOs in Jordan At International Labour Organization

Introduction:

As a part of the project Just Transition Jordan, the ILO is developing and analyzing a stakeholder mapping of the level of support and projects relevant to just transition. There is an initial mapping of green jobs and skills activities across donors and implementing agencies. This initial mapping included outreach to 24 entities, of which 13 responded. The ILO is looking for a consultant to follow up on the mapping, expand the outreach, and finalize a summary of the findings through an analytical framework encompassing the 9 policy areas of the ILO Guidelines for a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all, the Jordan Economic Modernization Vision, National Climate Change strategies and the Nationally Determined Contributions.

1. Background

Decent work is a cornerstone for effective policies to green economies for achieving sustainable development. This implies that efforts to reduce adverse environmental impact must lead to socially just outcomes with employment opportunities for all, thus calling for a just transition to environmentally sustainable economies for all. Just transition involves maximizing the social and economic opportunities of climate and environmental action, including an enabling environment for sustainable enterprises, while minimizing and carefully managing challenges. It should be based on effective social dialogue, respect for fundamental principles and rights at work, and be in accordance with international labour standards.

The concept of just transition gained international attention as the Paris Agreement on climate change adopted in 2015 notes the imperatives of a just transition and the creation of decent jobs in national contexts and circumstances as essential aspects of responses to climate change. In the same year, ILO constituents adopted the Guidelines for a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all through consensus among representatives of governments, employers and workers. The Guidelines offer a unique policy framework and a practical tool to guide the transformation to low-carbon and climate-resilient economies taking into account the social and employment-related dimensions.

Delivering a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all is crucial to enabling climate ambition, while promoting social justice and supporting sustainable development and poverty eradication. A just transition promotes environmentally sustainable economies in a way that is inclusive by creating decent work opportunities, reducing inequality and by and leaving no one behind[1]. A just transition rests on robust policies across a range of policy fields and is supported by international cooperation.

A just transition in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is not just a shift to greener economies; it’s a comprehensive transformation of labour markets, economies and societal structures. On one hand, it is about climate change mitigating and decarbonizing. On the other hand, it is about adaptation and increasing the resilience of economies and societies to the impacts of climate change. ILO data suggests that 10 million jobs can be created in the region with ambitious climate change and industrial policies. It is climate change and in-action which pose the largest threat to the region’s economies and societies – not decarbonization or climate action.

2. Expected deliverables

• Objective

The mapping of green jobs and skills activities aims to map current areas of work, activities, and support for the Ministry of Labour and Ministry of Environment vis a vis the economic modernization vision and the ILO just transition guidelines. The purpose is for;

1. Government entities to understand the current level of activity and support on the topic, and what areas and priorities may currently be overlooked or overserved.
2. For donors and international partners to have a quick and easy overview of UN and CSO activities within green jobs and skills projects in Jordan to foster further synergies and collaboration.
3. Donors to understand the current level of activity and support on the topic, and what areas and priorities may need further support.

3. Tasks and deliverables

• Outputs

1. 1 questionnaire in line with the initial mapping and study prepared by the ILO including green jobs definition, actions taken, specific targets, availability of funds, current projects involved in green activities, key partners, official counterparts, target group, future plans, time frame, studies and analysis already conducted.
2. A full data-set with the raw data in excel with the results from the expanded survey
3. 1 report summarizing including policy review and literature review, a green jobs definition adapted to the Jordanian context, and the findings in the survey aligned with the policy themes in the ILO just transition guidelines. The findings should visually map the findings and the density of activity as well as gaps according to the policy themes, the target audiences, geographical area, and vis a vis the Economic Modernization Vision (EMV). The summary must include an overview of the green jobs and skills priorities from the EMV perspective.
4. 1 well-designed PowerPoint slide deck in the ILO brand identity, summarizing the findings.

In order to deliver the outputs, the consultant is expected to review the already gathered data, relaunch the survey and gather data from missing actors and stakeholders as per their stakeholder mapping. The consultant may need to conduct online interviews and/or conduct surveys from the relevant actors for any follow-up.

4. Contract duration

• Delivery and contract duration

Outputs and deliverable (as per section 2) must be completed by February 27, 2025. The workload is estimated to 13 workdays of 8 hours.

The consultant must deliver a first draft text for revision which allows for feedback from the ILO Regional Office and the ILO Headquarters by January 5th, 2025. The time for revision should be clearly outlined in the suggested time schedule proposed by the consultant to ensure timely delivery. Several revisions may be needed, the consultant can include this in their time schedule as well.

5. Supervision

The contractor will be supervised by the Just Transition Specialist, ILO Regional Office for Arab States/DWT Beirut. The contractor will have to incorporate feedback and input from the Decent Work Team Beirut, the Just Jordan staff, and Jordan country coordinators across, under the guidance of the Just Transition Specialist to ensure effective flow of communication and satisfactory delivery of the assignment.

6. Payment schedule and terms

• Payment schedule

In line with section 4. of this ToR, the consultant must have completed all work by satisfaction of the supervisor no later than February 27, 2025. The service provider will be paid in full upon satisfactory delivery of all the deliverables (1-4) as outlined in section 2 of this ToR.

Special terms and conditions

To be eligible for this consultancy, the applicant must meet all the following criteria:

• Independent consultants only, no businesses or group applications are accepted.
• Language: Excellent command of English in writing. Arabic may be an advantage.
• Competencies and knowledge: Deep knowledge of climate and environmental change issues in Jordan. Knowledge of specific climate change issues for the Arab States region will be an advantage. Experience with just transition issues may be an advantage.
• Residency: As the synthesis report will be developed by desk/based research, the consultant will be home-based and there are no requirements for the residency.