Common Country Analysis (CCA) Kuwait Consultant

Result of ServiceExpected outputs and deliverables Under the guidance of the RC and supervision of the Senior Economist, the consultant will be responsible for undertaking all necessary activities to support the successful completion of the CCA process. Specifically, the consultant will: • Prepare and submit an Inception Report that outlines a clear work plan, methodology, and contextualized tools and approaches aligned with the CCA objectives and priorities of the SCF. • Conduct consultations where necessary with key stakeholders including government counterparts, civil society actors, private sector representatives, and development partners, in close coordination with the RCO and relevant UNCT focal points. • Prepare a high-quality, data-informed and policy-relevant CCA report that incorporates evidence, perspectives, and findings across all thematic areas. • Ensure that the analysis integrates core UN guiding principles, including: the commitment to Leave No One Behind; a gender mainstreaming approach that promotes gender equality and women's empowerment; the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD); and broader frameworks such as the UN Pact for the Future, UN 2.0, and the UN80 reform agenda. • Apply a human rights-based approach, and embed principles of resilience, accountability, sustainability, and just transitions throughout the research and analytical processes. • Work closely with RCO technical leads and specialized consultants (where applicable) to ensure alignment across data streams, thematic areas, and stakeholder inputs, contributing to a unified and coherent narrative. • Respond to feedback from the RCO and stakeholders during the drafting phase and contribute to the validation and finalization of the CCA report. Work LocationRemotely Expected duration3 Months Duties and ResponsibilitiesBackground: The UN Resident Coordinator Office (RCO) leads the coordination and strategic alignment of the UN system’s support to Kuwait in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UN mandates, and Kuwait Vision 2035. The RCO forges partnerships with the Government of Kuwait and serves as the Secretariat for inter-agency coordination among 11 Resident and 15 Non-Resident UN entities. The RCO is launching the 2025 Common Country Analysis (CCA), the UN’s independent and forward-looking assessment of Kuwait’s development context. This year’s CCA aims to be a transformative, data-driven and highly visual product that informs both internal programming and external engagement. It will move beyond traditional reporting to provide actionable insights on Kuwait’s post-oil economic transition, regional instability and national development goals. The analysis will reflect national and regional priorities, including the SDGs, Kuwait Vision 2035, and the voices of government, civil society, private sector (particularly given their central role in Kuwait’s economic diversification strategy), youth and groups exposed to higher vulnerability, particularly women and persons with disabilities. It will also embody the essence of UN 2.0 and UN80 reforms, promoting agility, transparency and impact. The CCA will serve as a live analytical reference for updating the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (SCF), ensuring both documents remain adaptive tools that guide the UN’s strategic focus in a rapidly evolving global and national landscape. Scope of work 1. Collaborate with the UNCT and national counterparts to identify structural vulnerabilities and assess risks across priority areas, including economic dependency on oil, climate exposure, social disparities, food security vulnerabilities, and institutional bottlenecks. This will include drawing from national policy documents, development plans, and insights gathered through consultations. 2. Conduct desk research and stakeholder interviews with government, private sector, civil society, and academic actors to explore Kuwait’s potential for economic diversification and long-term resilience. Emphasis will be placed on labour market trends, SME development, and private sector expansion. 3. Liaise with relevant UN agencies and data officers to identify and consolidate disaggregated datasets related to youth, women, and persons with disabilities. The consultant will assess who is at risk of being left behind and ensure that equity and inclusion are reflected across all analytical dimensions. 4. Collaborate with specialised consultants and UNCT thematic leads (where applicable) to support thematic analysis across sectors such as governance, food systems, environmental sustainability, and innovation. This includes integrating and cross-referencing inputs into the final report. 5. Engage with key stakeholders to assess the multidimensional nature of food security in Kuwait, which includes domestic production capabilities and strategic reserves to regional import corridors and external investments. The consultant will also explore how emerging food technologies are being leveraged to enhance resilience. 6. Support an analytical review of national climate policies, commitments, and readiness, with particular attention to climate vulnerability among marginalised groups. This will include collaboration with relevant agencies to understand national priorities on climate resilience, adaptation, and low-carbon transition. 7. Contribute to an assessment of the institutional landscape and governance architecture, including the effectiveness, responsiveness, and transparency of public service delivery and policymaking. The consultant will explore trends in civic trust, accountability, and institutional reform, drawing on both local insights and comparative practices. 8. Work with UNCT entities to review Kuwait’s evolving multilateral partnerships, international cooperation initiatives, and regional role in diplomacy, development, and humanitarian action. This will include identification of entry points to strengthen the alignment of global positioning with domestic resilience. 9. Participate in coordination efforts to align the CCA with current UN programming priorities in Kuwait, including Vision 2035, the SCF, the UN80 reforms, and the Pact for the Future. This includes identifying how the CCA can inform both programmatic decisions and future updates to the SCF. 10. The consultant will remain responsive to any changes in the SCF's technical annex that may occur before finalisation. Upon signing of the SCF, the CCA must be adjusted accordingly to ensure full consistency. Methodology The consultant will develop a technically sound methodology in accordance with human rights approach to data, international data protection standards and the UN Principles on Personal Data Protection and Privacy. The methodology will amongst others: • Review key national plans and strategies, including Kuwait Vision 2035, development policies, SDG-related reports, and relevant sectoral documents. This will help establish a baseline understanding of the current development context. • Draw on both primary and secondary data sources, including existing UNCT materials, national data, and global and regional studies. Special attention will be given to identifying cross-border risks and regional dynamics affecting Kuwait. • A national survey will be designed to capture insights from stakeholders such as government, civil society, youth, persons with disabilities, private sector, and development partners. The survey will be digital-first, building on Kuwait’s high internet and mobile usage. • The consultant will work with the RCO Data Specialist to analyse disaggregated data. Particular focus will be placed on identifying who is at risk of being left behind and why, and by using (as much as possible) disaggregation by gender, age, nationality, disability, and location. • Gather input through interviews and consultations with UNCT thematic leads, external experts, and national partners. The consultant will triangulate these inputs with survey results and document reviews to build a coherent analysis. • Introduce foresight elements to anticipate future risks and opportunities. This will include basic scenario building linked to the economic, environmental, and social outlook of Kuwait. • The final report will include visual tools such as charts, infographics, and summary dashboards to communicate key messages clearly. Drafts will be shared with stakeholders for feedback and validation. • The methodology will remain flexible and adaptive, allowing adjustments to reflect new developments or insights during the course of the assignment. Qualifications/special skillsAn advanced university degree (Master’s and above) in development studies, economics, social sciences, international relations or any other related field is required. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. At least 15 years’ experience of conducting country/national level situational analysis is required. Suitable candidates with lower years of experience would be considered at a lower level. Programming processes, some of which must be related to 2030 Agenda for sustainable development/SDGs; and SDG nationalisation and reporting processes is required. Substantial professional application of human rights, gender equality, women’s empowerment, environmental sustainability, finance, results-based management, resilience, and capacity development in research; with excellent understanding of inclusive economic growth, decent work, development risks, hazards, vulnerabilities and challenges of upper-middle and high-income countries, including those linked to climate change is required. Experience in the discourse around UN development system reforms and related trainings/workshops of the UN System Staff College and other UN entities is required. Ability to deliver a high-analytical report in a very short time and work effectively and constructively in a multi-agency setting is required. Previous experience of conducting UN Common Country Analysis is desirable. Experience in Kuwait and/or Gulf countries is desirable. LanguagesEnglish 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. 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 InformationNot available. No FeeTHE 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.