ToR - External Collaborator Contract for the Just transition policy brief on decent work implications from desertification and land degradation

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 associated risks and 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. The Guidelines are both a policy framework and a practical tool to help countries at all levels of development manage the transition to carbon-neutral economies and can also help them achieve their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The framework promotes mechanisms for social dialogue among governments, workers and employers' organizations throughout policy making processes at all levels.

During the 111th Session of the International Labour Conference held in June 2023, the Resolution concerning a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all was adopted. This resolution emphasizes the imperative of a just transition and outlines guiding principles for achieving it, highlighting the roles of governments, employers' and workers' organizations, and the ILO. The Resolution calls for the development of a strategy and action plan on just transition; communication of the conclusions to relevant international and regional organizations; and taking into account the conclusions when preparing future programme and budget proposals and mobilizing extra-budgetary resources.

The objective of this policy brief is to provide further guidance to ILO constituents, governments, workers’, and employers’ organisations on the implications desertification and land degradation on decent work. The policy brief should position the just transition agenda within the political negotiations and process of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). Similarly, this policy brief aims to summarise the key findings and research on employment effects from desertification and land degradation, outline the key challenges and opportunities in addressing desertification and land degradation in a job rich manner. The policy brief will include cases and examples from the Arab States region and beyond.

Once completed, the length of the brief should be approximately around 5,000 to 6,000 words, using 1.5 spacing and 11 size font, and may include short box articles, photographs and other supporting information. The 5,000 to 6,000 words limit does not include the sections on references, resources or contacts at the end of the brief. Briefs may include footnotes at the bottom of the corresponding text.

Tasks and deliverables

The contractor is expected to carry out to delivery 1 policy brief in line with the following outlines and structures

1. Introduction and key messages
   1. Opening paragraphs: Introduction to the topic and linkages (for context) with the full set of policy areas that are specifically mentioned in the JT Guidelines (including enterprise development, skills policies etc.) as well as linkages to cross-cutting topics (e.g. labour standards, social dialogue, statistical measurement, non-discrimination, equality and inclusion e.g. gender equality, youth employment, indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, persons with HIV/AIDS, etc.) for which JT policy briefs have been (or will be) developed that, as a whole, comprise the full guidance on Just Transition. See other policy briefs for this standard section.
   2. Key messages: There should be a maximum of 5 key messages listed in the introduction. These serve to highlight the main messages that will emerge in the brief to support constituents in advancing the JT agenda and youth employment creation
2. Just transition in the context of desertification and land degradation
   1. What is meant by a just transition (JT) in the context of this thematic policy area?
      1. What is the UNCCCD
      2. How has employment, livelihood and labour market concerns been reflected in the UNCCD so-far.
      3. How does desertification and land degradation impact on decent work, livelihoods, the labour market, and enterprises.
      4. What are the social, economic, and technological changes desertification, and the efforts to combat desertification, give rise to?
   2. What measures/actions can operationalise the ILO Guidelines in this area?
3. The role of the world of work: How can Governments, workers’ and employers’ organisations support a just transition that address desertification and issues of land degradation.  
4. Outlined decent work challenges and examples: examples of policies, public and/or private sector, trade unions or NGO initiatives from different regions that have been particularly successful in supporting/encouraging decent work in the context of combatting desertification and land degradation.

 Examples may include;

1. 1. Agriculture and the shift to sustainable agricultural practices.
   2. Large scale land and watershed restoration activities
   3. Entrepreneurship and enterprise development in the ‘yellow’ economy.
   4. Water management and resource efficiency.
   5. Labour migration and policy responses to address climate migration.
2. Key recommendations

The recommendations provided should be specific and be listed by key stakeholder groups including the actions that can be taken jointly and separately by the social partners, broader stakeholders in civil society (e.g. consumer and other associations, NGOs, research organizations, etc.), international organizations (including other UN agencies, multilateral development banks, UN regional commissions, etc.) and the ILO.

1. References and resources
2. Contact information

The contractor is expected to work closely with the supervisor and share drafts and progress updates throughout. The contractor is expected to deliver a first, complete draft for the policy brief by 2^nd of September, 2024.

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 Priority Action Program for Just Transition as well as key technical specialists from ILO Headquarters in Geneva.

Timeline and contract duration

The contract is valid from upon signature, and until the completion and the assignment by not later than October 31^st, 2024. The contractor is expected to work closely with the supervisor and share drafts and progress updates throughout. The contractor is expected to deliver a first draft for the policy brief by 2nd of September, 2024, to allow for feedback and input from the Office. There may be more rounds of revision needed, depending on the progress made by the contractor.

Budget and payment schedule

The contractor is expected to outline a detailed budget for the delivery of the outputs as a part of their proposal.

The contractor will be paid in full upon delivery of a final brief at the satisfaction of the supervisor.

Eligibility

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

• Language: Excellent command of English language.
• Competencies and knowledge: Deep knowledge of climate and environmental change issues and proven track record of research and/or data analysis relation to labour, climate and environmental change is required. Knowledge and expertise from the UNCCD process or specifically with desertification and land degradation is an advantage.
• Residency: As the policy brief will be developed by desk/based research, the consultant will be home-based and there are no requirements for the residency.
• The ILO is welcoming individual applicants only, and firms will not be considered for this contract.