Consultant for the development of a policy paper and a roadmap for the promotion of an integrated and resilient care economy in Morocco - Home based

Background:

UN Women, rooted in the vision of equality enshrined in the United Nations Charter, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls, the empowerment of women and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development. In Morocco, UN Women's mission is to support the acceleration of progress towards gender equality and the promotion of women's rights.

The main mission of the Ministry of Solidarity, Social Insertion and the Family (MSISF) is to develop and implement the government's policy in the areas of solidarity, women, the family and social development. Within this framework, UN Women and the MSISF work together to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women.

Care work, both paid and unpaid, is essential to our societies and economies. It includes the day-to-day tasks involved in managing and sustaining life, such as maintaining domestic spaces and possessions, personal care, educating/training people, maintaining social relationships or providing psychological support for family members. It therefore covers a wide range of aspects, including health care, home care, care for dependents and carers, and personal care. In most societies, the responsibility for providing care lies primarily with families. Within families, the implications of the division of care between different categories of people are also significant and fall mainly on women and girls, limiting their opportunities for paid employment, education and leisure.

In light of the changes that societies are undergoing today, such as demographic growth, the changing needs of ageing populations, transformations in family structures and the status of women in the labour market, new issues are emerging to which public policies must respond. Imperative and structural action on the part of governments, workers, employers and citizens to reorganize care work in response to these societal changes is now more than ever necessary.

The COVID-19 pandemic has particularly underlined the urgent need for a public response to this demand, which is often critical. In many countries, public health systems have been severely challenged and their capacity to respond to the increased demand for care work has been limited. In addition, due to the closure of schools and disruption of services during the pandemic containment measures (restaurant closures, restrictions on access to home care services, etc.), there has been an unprecedented increase in demand for household production and unpaid care activities.

According to the 2020 HCP survey on the impact of COVID-19 on Moroccan households, women felt 3 times more overburdened than men by household chores during the period of confinement, increasing their already disproportionate share of unpaid work[1]. In addition, and despite the many efforts made by the public authorities, the effects of the crises have affected women disproportionately and differently from men, and have especially accentuated the already existing weaknesses in Moroccan women's access to decent jobs and economic opportunities.

Despite the repercussions and challenges of the multiple crises, the gender dimension has been given a special place in the government's policies and programmes, as shown by the generalization of social protection, which has enabled a gradual increase in the proportion of women benefiting from social insurance and protection schemes, and the Royal Speech on the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of Throne Celebration calling for the full participation of women in all areas.

As countries embark on programmes to mitigate the effects of successive crises, it is of strategic importance to coordinate actions between the various sectors involved in the care economy to ensure a synergistic and effective approach. The complex nature of the care economy, which encompasses - but is not limited to - healthcare, education and social services, requires integrated efforts to avoid duplication, to rationalize resources and to address interdependent challenges. By aligning strategies, sharing data and collaborating, sectors can maximize impact, fill gaps and create holistic policies that empower women and enhance their well-being, improve their participation in the labour market, improve family resilience by helping to conciliate work and family life, ensure decent working conditions for care workers, and promote sustainable economic and social development. 

 This mission is part of a national reflection on the construction of an integrated care economy system of in Morocco. It follows on from three conferences on the care economy: (i) the first, organized by the MSISF in November 2022, represented a first milestone in building a national understanding of the care economy; (ii) the second, organized by UN Women in partnership with the MSISF in December 2023 focused on the convergence of public policies for the development of an integrated care economy system; and (iii) and the International Congress organized in June 2024 by the MSISF around the theme “The care economy and social protection: A lever for empowering women, promoting employment, well-being and family resilience”.  Finally, since the end of 2024, support for the development of an integrated care economy system has been part of a concerted effort by the United Nations Development System agencies on the one hand, and the ministerial departments concerned on the other, in particular the Ministry of Solidarity, Social Insertion and the Family, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection and the Ministry of Economic Inclusion, Small Businesses, Employment and Skills. The aim is to develop a national strategy for the promotion of the care economy.

In this context, and as a first step in this strategic process, UN Women Morocco, in partnership with the MSISF, and in collaboration with the ILO, is recruiting an international expert for the elaboration of a policy paper and a roadmap for the promotion of an integrated and resilient care system (care economy) in Morocco, including (1) recommendations resulting from an analysis of the Moroccan context on care work and (2) a roadmap declining the strategic axes for the development of an integrated and resilient care system in Morocco. 

Objectives

The main objective of the assignment is to produce a document comprising two distinct parts:

1.The first part will be devoted to the elaboration of a policy paper providing a synthetic analysis of the Moroccan context on care work, based on the exploitation of studies elaborated at national and international levels. This analysis will include the stakes and challenges as well as recommendations and strategic axes for the development of an integrated and resilient care system in Morocco, promoting the economic empowerment of women, access to quality care services, the creation of decent jobs and the resilience of families.

2. A second part devoted to the formulation of a roadmap, setting out an operational proposal for the strategic axes and recommendations of the policy paper, which will inform the development of a national strategy for the care economy. 

The consultant will be reporting to the Programme Management Specialist, and will be supported by the HR focal point, who will be the point of contact on the contract and payment issues.

[1] https://unsdg.un.org/resources/transforming-care-systems-un-system-policy-paper

Description of Responsibilities/ Scope of Work

The consultant will carry out the following tasks:

• By referring to the mapping of initiatives linked to the care economy in Morocco and to the UN strategic tool “Transforming care systems”[1], define the care sector in Morocco and the stakeholders and services it encompasses. 
• Provide an analysis and highlight best practices, innovative approaches and recommendations - including those issued at the International Congress on the Care Economy and Social Protection (25-26 June 2024) - while highlighting the main challenges, opportunities and trends related to the care economy in the context of the social protection reform. This analysis will highlight the opportunities offered by the care economy in terms of creating decent jobs, formalizing an activity and improving working conditions, as well as the potential for improving family resilience and organizing care more equitably, by encouraging social co-responsibility between the State, the private sector, families, communities and the social and solidarity economy.[2]
• Complement the above analysis with a summary of best practices and relevant policies in the area of the international care economy, focusing on the contributions of governments, businesses, workers' organizations and local stakeholders, taking into account the employment of women in Morocco and its specific features. 
• Exchange with stakeholders, in particular the MSISF, MIEPEEC, MSPS, MEF, MENPS and the MJCC, as well as other government stakeholders and social partners, civil society organizations, the private sector and workers' organizations, to validate the policy paper proposal and gather additional information and perspectives for the development of the roadmap.
• Elaborate a roadmap to operationalize the recommendations of the policy paper with a view to developing a national strategy establishing a resilient and integrated care economy system in Morocco.
• Present the final policy paper and roadmap to stakeholders at a dedicated meeting.

  Deliverables : Deliverables  Expected completion time (due date) Deliverable 1: A detailed outline of the policy paper, including a summary of the main ideas to be developed in each section; and a PPT presentation of the outline. By 13 June 2025 Deliverable 2: A draft policy paper presenting the main conclusions, recommendations and policy implications (20-30 pages) including an executive summary (5 pages) and a PPT presentation for partners delivered online. By 4 July 2025 Deliverable 3: A draft roadmap in the form of an operational plan for implementing the policy paper (10 pages), and a PPT presentation By 31 July 2025 Deliverable 4: A PowerPoint presentation summarizing the main conclusions and recommendations of the policy paper and roadmap to be presented at a face-to-face syndication meeting with key stakeholders By 1 Septembre 2025 Deliverable 5: A finalized policy paper and roadmap taking into account comments from MSISF, UN Women, ILO, and other partners. By 12 September 2025

  Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

  This is a home-based consultancy.

  As part of this assignment, there will be a maximum of 2 trips to Rabat. 

  📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

  ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

  [2] https://unsdg.un.org/resources/transforming-care-systems-un-system-policy-paper

  [3] Non-exhaustive list of resources available to the expert :

  • https://morocco.unwomen.org/fr/news-and-events/events/2023/12/conference-sur-leconomie-des-soins-au-maroc-vers-une-vision-commune-pour-un-impact-durable 
  • Mapping the sectors and stakeholders of the care economy in Morocco
  • Summary of the recommendations and overall report of the International Congress ‘The Caring Economy and Social Protection: A lever for empowering women, promoting employment, well-being and family resilience’ on 25 and 26 June 2024
  • Example of “white paper” https://asiafoundation.org(/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Towards-A-Resilient-Care-Ecosystem-in-Asia-and-the-Pacific.pdf
     

    Competencies :

    Core Values:

    • Integrity;
    • Professionalism;
    • Respect for Diversity.

      Core Competencies:

      • Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
      • Accountability;
      • Creative Problem Solving;
      • Effective Communication;
      • Inclusive Collaboration;
      • Stakeholder Engagement;
      • Leading by Example.

        Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Values and Competencies Framework: 

        Functional Competencies

        -Knowledge management and learning

        • Good research, analysis and report and study writing skills
        • Ability to gather and interpret data, draw logical conclusions and present results and recommendations.
        • Good analytical skills.
        • Good knowledge of the care sector or sub-sectors (ECCE, people with disabilities, elderly people or people losing their autonomy)
        • An understanding of the current challenges facing the Moroccan labour market and specifically women's employment. 
        • Good knowledge of women's economic empowerment policies and strategies.
        • In-depth knowledge of Morocco's socio-economic and cultural realities.
        • Skills in research, analysis and formulation of practical, achievable recommendations.
        • A positive, constructive attitude and the ability to approach work with energy.
        • Open and timely communication 

          -Leadership et self-management

          • Ability to focus on results and respond positively and effectively to partner feedback.

            -Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with a multidisciplinary team

            IV. Required Qualifications

            Education and Certification :

            • Master's degree in social and human sciences, human rights, gender, international development and/or economics, or equivalent. 
            • A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree

              Experience:

              • 5 years experience in public policy, development strategy, strategic research and advocacy or any related field is required. 
              • Experience in writing strategic documents such as policy documents, reform documents, advocacy documents and public policy analysis is required.
              • Experience related to gender equality and women's empowerment is required. 

                Langues:

                • Fluency in French.
                • Fluency in Arabic and English would be an asset

                  Statements :

                  In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.

                  Diversity and inclusion:

                  At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

                  If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

                  UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)

                  Note: Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form, including the sections on education and employment history, are completed. If all sections are not completed the application may be disqualified from the recruitment and selection process.