Gulf Sustain Researcher - the United Arab Emirates the UAE

ShortTerm Consultancy: Request for Proposals

The Institute of Human Rights and Business (IHRB) is the leading international think tank on business and human rights. IHRBs mission is to shape policy advance practice and strengthen accountability in order to make respect for human rights part of everyday business.

Background

The Institute for Human Rights and Businesss (IHRB) Gulf Sustain programme seeks an individual or expert organisation to prepare a country analysis on sustainable development and economic diversification with a particular focus on the quality of jobs needed and the protection of vulnerable workers throughout the green transition in the UAE.

The ideal candidate/organisation will have a strong background in qualitative and quantitative research; comprehensive knowledge of labour standards and labour economics; familiarity with just transition framework; an excellent understanding of the national context in the UAE and/or Gulf Cooperation Council region; and a proven ability to transform complex topics and research inputs into compelling accessible and solutionsoriented recommendations and communications materials targeted at government and business audiences. Exact deliverables linked to the consultancy are listed below.

The research is expected to be undertaken over a 3month period with a total of 35 working days. The researcher(s) will work closely with the Gulf Sustain team as well as other strategic partners.

Gulf Sustain is an initiative funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) aiming to promote worker welfare and migrant rights in the context of the green transition in Gulf Council Cooperation (GCC) countries. The programme works at multiple levels (regional local and global) and involves engagement with government agencies businesses research institutions and civil society. It fosters opportunities for knowledge exchange coalition building policy strengthening and promotion of international human rights and labour standards.

The research will aim to examine the benefits and implications of prioritizing job quality in economic diversification and green (just) transition processes in the UAE. It will also explore how if managed well economic diversification could present economic social and environmental cobenefits for all including vulnerable workers.

Deliverables

• A research outline including key research questions potential interview questions and methodology. The outline and key research questions will then be finalized in collaboration with the Gulf Sustain team within 7 days following the initiation of the consultancy.
• An indepth report targeted at government and the private sector on the links between sustainable development and economic diversification with a particular focus on the quality of jobs needed to support the ongoing green (just) transition in the UAE. The opportunities and risks for vulnerable worker groups should be addressed. The research should explore in particular the implications and potential benefits of placing an emphasis on job quality and access to decent work in the four national priorities outlined in the countrys We the UAE 2031 and wider green (just) transition plans. The analysis is expected to cover:
• A brief overview of the UAEs economic diversification plans including an overview of the key national priorities.
• Labour market characteristics of the national priorities including workforce composition skill and education compositions alongside different job quality and decent work measures with a focus on vulnerable worker groups.
• Demandside considerations for each of the eight priority sectors including key obstacles or pain points for growth and expansion (particularly among vulnerable groups) as identified in desk research and through key informant interviews (see point 2 below) in order to gauge the potential for growth over the coming decade.
• Recommendations for relevant government departments and the private sector for considering and addressing job quality shortfalls with the expansion of the key priority sectors while also providing recommendations to enhance enforcement and accountability of existing legislation and policy.
• A summary brief (5 pages max) highlighting key findings recommendations and policy priorities for the UAE government and the private sector.

Requirements

Experience & Knowledge

• Ability to commit up to 30 days between 11 March and 11 June 2024
• At least 10 years of experience in quantitative and qualitative research in labour economics labour standards job quality decent work just transitions or a related field.
• Excellent understanding of the regional geopolitical economic and policy landscape in the GCC as well as a high degree of diplomacy and political awareness.
• Proven track record in analysing complex issues and presenting datadriven analysis in a clear accessible and concise manner.
• Fluency in written and spoken English with excellent research and writing skills; an articulate confident and credible communicator that is able to draw connections between different overlapping topics.
  

Skills & Abilities

• Familiarity with key challenges and opportunities in the context of the green transition in the GCC and the ability to connect these issues to job creation job quality and workers rights.
• Knowledge of key international Business and Human Rights frameworks in particular UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
• Familiarity with the concepts of just transition and social equity and an understanding of their significance in the context of sustainable development and workers rights.
• Experience/ examples of working with project teams to turn complex subjects into engaging communications materials.
• Arabic language skills are a plus.

Location & Travel

• Remote with a preference for candidates based in the Gulf Cooperation Council
• No travel is required for this role

Application Process

Click on Apply to submit the following:

A brief proposal summarising your approach work plan and suitability for this work (strictly no more than 2 pages).

• Links to any relevant research previously completed on similar projects or with a similar approach
• Name and contact details for two references.
• Please indicate your proposed day rate number of working days per year and whether VAT is included/applicable.

Deadline for applications: 9am GMT on 25 February 2024

Interviews: will be invited to an initial 3045min video interview on 28or 29February 2024.

Expected start date:11 March2024.