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ECONOMIC AFFAIRS OFFICER

Geneva

  • Organization: UNCTAD - United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
  • Location: Geneva
  • Grade: Mid level - P-4, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Economics
    • Economic
    • Social and Development
    • Economic Affairs (and Sustainable Development)
  • Closing Date: Closed

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Small Island Developing States and Status Issues Section, in the Trade and Poverty Branch, Division for Africa, Least Developed Countries and Special Programmes, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Geneva. The Economics Affairs Officer reports to the Chief of Section and the Head of Branch.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Economic Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

Economic or sector analysis:
-Monitors economic developments in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Structurally Weak, Vulnerable and Small Economies (SWVSE), and identifies recurrent and emerging issues of concern to the United Nations.
-Designs and conducts studies on development issues of concern to countries graduating from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status and drafts resulting reports.
-Interprets and applies results of econometric modelling to analysis of economic prospects and policies.
-Develops draft policy recommendations pertaining to area of work.
-Formulates proposals for development strategies, policies and measures for presentation to intergovernmental bodies and others.
-Attends international, regional, and national meetings to hold discussions with representatives of other institutions.
-Organizes expert group meetings, seminars, etc. on development issues.
-Prepares speeches and other inputs for presentations by senior staff.

Intergovernmental support:
-Provides substantive support on economic issues to intergovernmental bodies (such as the General Assembly, UNCTAD, the Economic and Social Council, the Trade and Development Board, the regional commissions and the subsidiary bodies of each).
-Represents organizational unit at international, regional and national meetings.

Technical cooperation:
-Designs and monitors technical cooperation projects.
-Undertakes missions to member states, either alone or as a participant in a diverse team, as part of the Organization’s technical cooperation activities.
-Prepares global, regional, national or sector analyses that provide a basis for advising national governments on economic development issues affecting SIDS and LDCs.
-Conducts training seminars and workshops for government officials and others.
-Formulates technical modalities for the evaluation of individual technical cooperation projects.

General:
-Supports junior staff, reviewing their work and providing feedback.
-Participates in intra- and inter-Departmental undertakings of broader concern to represent the views or interests of the organizational unit.
-Performs other related duties as required, including a variety of administrative tasks necessary for the final delivery of the work unit’s service.;
-Undertakes on-the-job and other training activities, both internally and externally.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to apply economic theories and concepts in different sectors of economic and sustainable development. Ability to conduct independent research on emerging issues and challenges faced by vulnerable developing countries. Good knowledge of the development challenges of least developed and vulnerable countries. Familiarity with development issues of small island developing states. Familiarity with the UN recognition and graduation of the status of Least Developing Countries. Ability to determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources. Ability to identify and develop sources for data collection. Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work

COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honors commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in economics or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in economic research and analysis, policy formulation, application of economic principles in development programmes or related area is required.
Experience in the provision of technical assistance to vulnerable developing countries is desirable.
Record of relevant publications on development issues is desirable.
Previous experience drafting/contributing to strategies to address structural problems of small island developing states and least developing countries is desirable.
Experience participating in country assessments and developing country profiles is an asset.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required, knowledge of French is desirable.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which will be followed by a competency based interview.

Special Notice

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

· For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 31 July 2019, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Suriname, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

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.

This vacancy is now closed.
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