Consultant on social protection and climate change

Organizational Context

The consultant, supervised by the project manager and Chief of Sustainable Socioeconomic Transformation Section, supports the ESCAP CRISP initiative in Fiji. This involves developing country-specific knowledge products, assessing climate vulnerabilities, and evaluating social protection system performance. The role aims to provide evidence-based pathways for strengthening climate-responsive social protection, informing national decision-making and regional knowledge.

Job Purpose

The role's purpose is to strengthen the interlinkages between social protection and climate change, addressing critical capacity gaps in policy integration, sectoral coordination, data, and financing mechanisms. Climate change and socio-economic inequality disproportionately affect marginalized households, making social protection vital for regional resilience. This consultancy supports ESCAP's pioneering project in the Asia-Pacific, which aims to build capacity in beneficiary countries. The role contributes to increasing recognition of social protection measures that mitigate climate risks, developing national capacities to quantify climate change impacts on vulnerable groups, and enhancing regional cooperation for effective social protection strategies. Ultimately, the consultant will help countries adapt and respond to climate change policies and events through robust social protection frameworks.

Responsibilities

The consultant's responsibilities are integral to implementing the CRISP initiative in Fiji. Key duties include supporting the development of a coherent set of country-specific knowledge products for Fiji, which involves contributing to a comprehensive national mapping exercise. This mapping aims to promote institutional capacity for policy and programme development, facilitate the creation of appropriate social protection measures, and strengthen the evidence base for climate action through data tool development. The role also entails identifying needs and potential avenues for financing these initiatives and their implementation. A primary responsibility is to conduct thorough assessments of climate-related risks to livelihoods and income security, providing critical insights. Leveraging this analysis, the consultant will support the development of evidence-based and implementable country pathways for strengthening climate-resilient and inclusive social protection. This entails delivering analytically robust, policy-relevant, and action-oriented outputs that clearly identify system-level gaps, propose practical reform options, and define institutional roles, ultimately supporting national decision-making. The consultant will work in close coordination with ESCAP and national stakeholders, providing specialized climate change expertise and conducting essential on-the-ground research to ensure the effective execution of the CRISP initiative in Fiji.

Work Experience

A minimum of 10 years of experience in a development context is required, specifically involving authoring reports and publications related to climate change, social protection, employment, or shock-responsive social protection in Fiji. Demonstrated expertise in research methodology is essential. Desirable experience includes advising Pacific governments on climate change and/or social protection, particularly within international organizations.

Skills

Climate change expertise, on-the-ground research capacity, and demonstrated expertise in research methodology are required. Excellent speaking and drafting skills in English are essential. Experience advising governments on climate change and/or social protection is desirable.

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