Result of Service

The consultant will produce 3 deliverables in a timely manner:

Deliverable 1: By 15 September 2026 -- completion of an annotated outline setting out the conceptual framework, key research questions, proposed empirical methodology, data sources and structure of the paper.
Deliverable 2: By 30 October 2026 -- completion of the first full draft of the paper, including the conceptual analysis, quantitative and empirical results, assessment of key constraints, policy implications and preliminary recommendations.
Deliverable 3: By 30 November 2026 -- finalization of the full paper by refining results, taking into account review comments, and including complete data and methodological documentation.

Work Location

Remote

Expected duration

4 months

Duties and Responsibilities

Background International migration has long played an important role in the economic and social development of the Arab region. The cross-border movement of people facilitates the circulation of labour, skills, knowledge, capital and ideas and can influence labour-market outcomes, investment, economic diversification, innovation and incomes. These effects extend across both origin and destination countries through employment, remittances, investment, entrepreneurship, diaspora networks, return migration and knowledge transfer. At the same time, patterns of international migration are evolving in response to climate change, conflict, economic crises and changing labour-market needs. Differences in labour-market institutions, migration policies, skills recognition, social protection and governance also affect the economic and social outcomes associated with migration. Understanding these changing patterns and their implications is important for developing policies that can better harness human mobility for economic transformation, resilience and shared prosperity. Against this background, ESCWA proposes an analytical paper on International Migration, Economic Transformation and Policy Frameworks in the Arab Region. The paper will examine patterns and channels of international migration across the region, assess their implications for origin and destination countries, and identify policy priorities for strengthening their contribution to productivity, diversification, resilience and sustainable economic transformation. Duties and Responsibilities The objective of the consultancy is to prepare an analytical paper on International Migration, Economic Transformation and Policy Frameworks in the Arab Region. The paper will assess how international migration influences labour markets and incomes, productivity and economic transformation, and the circulation of skills, knowledge and capital, while examining emerging trends and the policy conditions required to strengthen these outcomes. Under the overall guidance of ESCWA, the consultant will undertake the following tasks:

Develop a conceptual and methodological framework examining the channels through which international migration affects origin and destination economies, including labour markets, incomes, productivity, skills, knowledge and innovation.
Examine datasets, identify trends relating to workers movement, remittances, investments and economic diversification. Undertake an empirical assessment of migration flows and stocks across the Arab region, including intra-Arab and extra-regional movements, and assess their implications for labour markets, remittances, investment and economic diversification.
Examine how climate change, conflict, economic crises are reshaping international migration patterns and assess their implications for economic transformation and resilience.
Develop a policy framework for facilitating the movement and circulation of people, skills and knowledge, including talent mobility, recognition of qualifications, portable social protection, labour-market information systems, diaspora engagement and return migration.
Prepare and finalize the analytical paper, incorporating quantitative evidence, regional and international experiences, policy recommendations and comments received from ESCWA.

Qualifications/special skills

A PhD in economics or related field is required. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. A minimum of 15 years of professional work experience in the field of research on regional development issues focusing on migration issues is required. Publications on international migration issues in peer reviewed journals or reputed publications in international agencies is required. Undertaking high-level initiatives from international organizations is desirable. Demonstration of quantitative analysis and interpretation is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariate; and Arabic is a working language of UNESCWA. For this position, fluency in English is required. 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.

No Fee

THE 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.

Consultancy on International Migration, Economic Transformation and Policy Frameworks in the Arab Region