Overview : To apply, kindly read the procurement notice, attach the following documents and submit through the following email: ic.jo@undp.org - CV with at least three references;
- Technical proposal (to showcase requested experience and competencies); and
- Financial proposal as in the attached template.
no later than 8 July 2021 with subject: “ Individual consultant –Assessing the Digital Divide Consultant.". Any request for clarification must be sent by electronic communication to michelle-eline.de-clercq@undp.org Ms. Michelle de Clercq will respond by electronic email and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all applicants The world is at a critical point for accelerating the digital transformation process, made more urgent by the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. While the digital era has brought society many incredible benefits, it has also brought forth many challenges as growing digital divides, cyber threats, and online human rights violations. Digital transformation comes with the risk of increasing inequality, repression, and instability. Hence, it is important to increase efforts to better harness the potential of digital technologies in governance while mitigating the risks and the harm that they may cause. For digital technologies to benefit everyone everywhere closing the remaining digital divide, especially in internet access is essential. Globally, there are 327 million fewer women than men with a smartphone and access to the mobile internet2 . This gender gap has been growing rather than narrowing, including in the Arab States3 . Similar challenges affect migrants, refugees, internally displaced persons, older persons, young people, children, persons with disabilities, rural populations and indigenous peoples. However, when exploring the digital divide, we must look beyond mere access to internet and digital tools. The digital divide is an economic and social inequality regarding access to, use of and/or impact of information and communication technologies. A recent study exploring the digital gender divide in Jordan for instance indicated that usage of technology in Jordan is very much influenced by social and cultural norms that shape men and women perceptions towards its usage4 . Women consider entrenched conventional culture and gender discriminatory educational system as the two forces that hamper their equal access to ICT5 . Another vulnerable group is persons with disabilities (PWD). The exclusion and marginalization of persons with disabilities is a human rights issue as well as an economic one. An estimated 11 to 15 percent of Jordan’s population suffers from a disability, amounting to over 1,100,000 people6 . Research suggests that only three percent of children with disabilities receive proper education7 and a societal lack of awareness about disabled people results in their marginalization in the labour market. Data from 2014 suggests 82.2 percent of PWDs were not economically active, the employment rate of PWD in Jordan was 16.1 percent, whereas 1.7 percent were unemployed8 . This is where digital technologies can play a role, as they break traditional barriers to communication, interaction, and access to information for PWD. Finally, when exploring the digital divide in Jordan youth cannot be left behind. With 63% of its population under the age of 30, Jordan has one of the youngest populations in the world9 . As this large population of youth grows older and begins to enter the workforce, it is pivotal to address the mismatch present between the skills needed by the private sector and youth’s skills of. As a result, UNDP seeks to increase knowledge on how digital tools and interventions can support vulnerable groups to become more active and contribute to their societies through the use of ICT. By understanding how these groups connect and use the internet in Jordan, utilize (online) businesses or online platforms at their benefit, interventions and policies can become more specified and this targeted population, both in rural and urban areas. UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. All individuals including persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with strictest confidence and equally. Technical and financial proposals along with CV & 3 references should be submitted, and without such will not be considered). (Only Short Listed Candidates will be contacted) UNDP is an employer committed to gender equity and to providing equal opportunities to both males and females. |