Individual Contractor to Support a Project on the Economic Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and Youth in Jordan

Result of Service

Project activities are effectively implemented, resulting in youth and persons with disabilities being better prepared for employment and actively connected to inclusive opportunities, thereby contributing to greater economic participation, autonomy, and independence.

Work Location

UN ESCWA/ Remotely

Expected duration

6 months

Duties and Responsibilities

Background Youth inequality in Jordan has been rising since 2015 and now exceeds global and regional averages. Young people, particularly those with disabilities, face high levels of underemployment and exclusion from social and economic life. Despite legal frameworks that guarantee equality, persons with disabilities remain marginalized, with employment rates at only 21 per cent compared to 39 per cent for persons without disabilities. This exclusion is not only a social challenge but also an economic burden, costing the national economy an estimated $328 million annually. The barriers are both cultural—persistent misconceptions about productivity and cost—and structural, including inaccessible transport, unsuitable urban environments, and limited workplace accommodations.

ESCWA has long been engaged in advancing disability inclusion and youth empowerment across the Arab region. Through its convening power, technical expertise, and regional mandate, ESCWA has supported national strategies, strengthened policy frameworks, and enhanced labour market statistics to promote inclusive development. In Jordan, ESCWA has produced policy briefs analyzing the challenges and opportunities for persons with disabilities.

In 2025 the Government of Jordan formally requested ESCWA’s assistance in developing a national strategy for the economic empowerment of persons with disabilities, alongside technical support for programs aimed at connecting social assistance beneficiaries—including youth and persons with disabilities—to the labour market.

In response, ESCWA is implementing the project “From Dependence to Dignity: Economic Empowerment for Persons with Disabilities and Youth in Jordan.” The project combines high-level policy reform with practical, demand-driven interventions. It focuses on three main areas: launching a national strategy for the economic empowerment of persons with disabilities; enacting reforms to bridge the national skills mismatch; and upgrading the skills of youth and persons with disabilities while connecting them to inclusive employment opportunities. Central to this effort is the enhancement of the Josour Initiative, which strengthens skills, employability, and job-matching opportunities for persons with disabilities and youth. By integrating these tools with Jordan’s national systems, the project aims to reduce inequalities, promote decent work, and empower marginalized groups to transition from dependence to dignity.

Objective ESCWA seeks to hire an individual contractor to support the project “From Dependence to Dignity: Economic Empowerment for Persons with Disabilities and Youth in Jordan,” contributing to skills development, labour market access, and inclusive employment opportunities through the Josour platform, awareness campaigns, training, and private sector partnerships.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The individual contractor is requested to:

General Project Support

• Provide administrative and logistical support for project implementation, including meetings, workshops, and policy dialogues.
• Draft and respond to routine correspondence and communications.
• Compile, organize, and edit information for reports, work plans, presentations, and other project documents.
• Proofread and edit texts for accuracy, clarity, and adherence to standards.
• Prepare presentation and communication materials using appropriate technology and software. Josour Platform and Skills Development
• Support the maintenance and enhancement of the Josour platform by ensuring regular updates on announcements, opportunities, and skills analysis, while providing ongoing user support.
• Support awareness raising campaigns to increase enrollment of users, including persons with disabilities.
• Support the mapping and engagement of potential partners across Arab countries.
• Support in the collection and analysis of data on training participation, platform usage, and employment outcomes.
• Assist in the preparation of agendas, info notes, presentations, and background material for meetings and activities.
• Coordinate with partners and stakeholders on matters related to the Josour’s national chapters.
• Contribute to evaluations to ensure activities remain inclusive, demand-driven, and responsive to beneficiary needs
• Perform other related tasks as required.

Qualifications/special skills

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in one of the following fields is required: Social Sciences, International Relations, Public Administration, Project Management, Social Policy, Social Development, or another relevant field. Eight years of progressively responsive experience in general office support or related area is required. Experience working in similar development projects is desirable. Background/familiarity with e-platforms management is desirable. Previous UN Experience is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA.

For this position, fluency in English and Arabic 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.

Additional Information

Not available.

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.