Consultant to conduct CRISP study in Thailand

Under the direct supervision of the project manager and the overall guidance of the Chief of the Sustainable Socioeconomic Transformation Section, the consultant will prepare an agenda and presentation materials for the workshop, as well as report of the meeting within 5 days of its conclusion. Under the direct supervision of the project manager and the overall guidance of the Chief of the Sustainable Socioeconomic Transformation Section, the consultant will deliver a coherent set of country-specific knowledge products for Sri Lanka under the CRISP initiative. These outputs will provide ESCAP and national counterparts with a clear and evidence-based assessment of climate-related vulnerabilities and social protection system performance, as well as actionable pathways for strengthening climate-responsive and shock-responsive social protection. The consultant will support the preparation and delivery of a validation workshop to share tentative findings of the study, as well as launch of the final report. The consultant will also support engagement of Thailand in the regional CRISP partner’s workshop to held 9-10 November 2026. The ultimate result of the service is to support national decision-making by delivering analytically robust, policy-relevant, and action-oriented outputs that identify system-level gaps, practical reform options, and clear institutional roles. The consultancy will also contribute to regional knowledge under CRISP by generating lessons and approaches that can inform similar efforts in other ESCAP member States.

Bangkok and/or remotely

10/07/26-02/04/27

There is emerging acknowledgement of the role of social protection to strengthen climate resilience in climate change and Agenda 2030 related intergovernmental processes, highlighted in ESCAP Resolution 82/1, Baku-Bangkok Declaration on Promoting Social Development for Advancing Societies for All Ages in Asia and the Pacific (2026), Doha Political Declaration on the World Summit for Social Development (2025), COP outcome documents, including the Belem Declaration (2025) and Baku Declaration (2024) as well as other global outcome documents such as the Pact of the Future (2024). Nevertheless, despite the recognition on the need to integrate social protection and climate change sectors, there remain key capacity gaps in terms of policy integration, sectoral coordination mechanisms, lack of data, lack of analysis and understanding of key affected populations and climate financing mechanisms, and normative consensus. To strengthen the interlinkages between social protection and climate change, further efforts are required to harness policy integration, cross-sectoral coordination mechanisms, data as well as address key affected populations and increase knowledge and awareness on the urgency to integrate social protection and climate change policy tools. Under the Climate-Resilient and Inclusive Social Protection (CRISP) initiative, ESCAP supports member States in integrating climate risk considerations into social protection systems, with particular attention to vulnerability, shock-responsiveness, and the needs of groups left furthest behind. Through CRISP, ESCAP aims to bridge climate, social, and economic policy domains and to support countries in translating analytical insights into practical system-level and programme-level reforms. ESCAP is conducting a project to pioneer action in this emerging area for the Asia-Pacific region. It will build capacity of five beneficiary countries (Cambodia, Fiji, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand) that have engaged, or will engage, with ESCAP in the implementation of the Action Plan. It will engage five additional countries (China, Mongolia, Pakistan, Philippines and Vietnam) to share findings and build knowledge as part of ESCAP’s capacity development efforts through the Action Plan. It adopts a three-pronged approach to: a) Increase capacity to recognize social protection measures that mitigate climate risks and strengthen resilience for groups in vulnerable situations; b) Develop national capacities to quantify the impact of climate change on people and identify furthest behind groups; c) Enhance regional cooperation for better social protection strategies to mitigate climate impacts and increase resilience of groups left furthest behind. In support of the above, ESCAP will collaborate with the Department of Climate Change and Environment (DCCE), Thailand, to conduct a study to strengthen national capacity to identify actions needed to strengthen the role of social protection to mitigate climate risks and strengthen people’s resilience to climate change policies and events. A regional conceptual framework has been developed to guide the country studies. In preparation for this study, ESCAP will conduct an inception meeting with relevant government focal points to provide input to the planned study. This consultancy will support the Sustainable Socioeconomic Transformation Section to prepare and conduct an inception meeting with relevant government focal points from DCCE, the Department of Women’s Affairs and Family Development, Ministry of Labour and the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council, Thailand. Inputs from the inception meeting will feed into further work planned. Amendment: Following the inception meeting, the consultant will conduct the CRISP country assessment for Thailand. The consultancy will support the following deliverables: 1. The preparation of a country mapping study that aims to: • promote institutional capacity for policy and programme development; • support the development of appropriate social protection measures; • strengthen the evidence base for climate action through the development of data tools; and also • highlight needs and identifying potential avenues for financing these areas as well as programme implementation. 2. A 2-day national workshop on climate resilient and inclusive social protection, which will: • share the preliminary findings and seek inputs to the country pathways identified • build capacity and understanding of climate resilient and inclusive social protection for both social protection and climate change stakeholders. 3. A 1-day national consultation to launch the CRISP country mapping in Thailand. • share the final report and identify next steps towards its implementation. The consultant will prepare a country assessment for Thailand national studies guided by a conceptual framework that sets out the scope of studies and four substantive areas to be addressed A. The climate context (analysis of the main climate challenges and policy responses: summary of i) main climate challenges, identifying the ways that climate change will affect income security, livelihoods and the populations affected and ii) national climate policy priorities and financing); B.Current social protection provision (an overview of existing social protection policy, programming, institutions, operational systems and financing); C. Social protection and climate integration (analysis of adequacy of existing social protection provision in relation to climate challenges and the extent of policy convergence between the climate and social protection sectors: discussion of i) the extent and adequacy of existing provision in relation to climate challenges identified in section A, ii) the extent of current climate and social protection policy convergence iii) identification of achievements and gaps (policy, programme and financing); and a review of the climate change and social protection discourse, in terms of how national actors including the government and other key players are approaching climate induced livelihood and income disruption); D. Country pathways (insights and opportunities to support discourse, policy and programme development). The consultant is expected to support the 2-day national workshop 1-day national consultation by providing inputs to the agenda, identifying relevant participants in close coordination with the Ministry, The consultant will also be expected to support delivery of these events through presentations and preparing reports of the workshops and consultation.

Graduate degree in economics, social development, social administration, labour studies or other related fields, or an equivalent 5-years work experience in social protection, development or other related fields. Demonstrated experience in research, data analysis, and coordination is required. The consultant should have proven professional experience in social protection. Proven experience working with government counterparts is required, preferably in Thailand or similar country contexts. Familiarity with the social protection system in Thailand, including policies, programmes, and institutional arrangements, is highly desirable. The consultant should also have experience conducting analytical or policy-oriented studies of a similar nature and supporting stakeholder consultations, workshops, and validation processes.

Excellent speaking and drafting skills in English. Speaking and drafting skills in Thai are desirable.

Not available.