​​Requisition ID: 1380 
Grade: ISA-Junior Specialist 
Country: Austria 
Duty Station: Vienna 
Category: International Consultant 
Type of Job Posting: External
Employment Type: NonStaff-Regular
Contract Duration: 6 months (with possibility of extension)
Application Deadline: 01-Dec-2022  

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions.

Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Departments/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

the Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation (IET), headed by a Managing Director, is responsible for the development of innovative UNIDO services in the areas of agro-industry and agribusiness, sustainability standards and fair production, and climate-relevant or climate-improving technologies. It is also, in collaboration with ODG, responsible for developing innovative technical cooperation concepts, identifying new sources and means of finance and entering into new partnerships with a broad range of relevant stakeholders.

The position is located in the Division of Innovative Finance and International Financial Institutions (IET/IFI), which conceptualizes, identifies, develops and deploys innovative finance instruments and programmatic partnerships with the private sector and international financial institutions (IFIs) to catalyze and leverage investments in sustainable industrial development in line with the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement. Targeted financial institutions include multilateral, regional and national development banks with international operations; international efforts (e.g. platforms) to improve the coordination of development finance flows as well as private financing initiatives (such as the Private Financing Advisory Network and others) engaged in innovative projects for sustainable industrial development and that bridge the gap between investors, entrepreneurs and project developers.

PROJECT CONTEXT  

Adaptation finance for agriculture in southern Africa requires significant scaling up and incentivization, particularly in the up-stream and mid-stream agricultural value chains, in order to build capacity and unlock private sector investment in climate-smart agriculture to promote climate adaptation and build climate resilience.

It is against that background that UNIDO and Camco – both accredited entities of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) - are joining hands to catalyse investment in climate adaptation SMEs active within agricultural value chains in target countries across the region. The   Resilient Investment in Southern Africa (RISA) support will focus on achieving greater climate resilience – positive climate adaptation impact – for SMEs and farms across all target countries.

The blended finance structure will focus on achieving greater climate resilience – positive climate adaptation impact – for SMEs and farms across the target countries (DRC, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zambia). RISA is envisaged as a USD 70 million innovative financing instrument consisting of two interlinked components, namely a Technical Assistance Facility managed by UNIDO, and an Investment Facility managed by Camco. UNIDO and Camco are co-designing the intervention, and jointly fundraising.

The position will be instrumental in conceptualising the specifics of the Technical Assistance Facility, including developing the funding proposals.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of the Project Manager, and working with the project team, administers elements of technical cooperation programme or specific project/s of limited complexity and execution of technical cooperation programmes and activities. Main duties are:

• Select, organize and summarize background information to describe the overall context and background relevant to a project or a sector of technical cooperation activities in a country, assess the local context for the planning and administration of individual technical cooperation projects;

• Analyze and interpret project background history and documentation; identify, reconstruct and document significant project events, decisions and deviations;

• Draft sections of project documents such as project background and justification;

• Inform experts, consultants and other project participants about logistical arrangements and internal procedures for monitoring and reporting in terms of the immediate objectives of specific projects;

• Monitor specific aspects of project execution and identify problems and proposing that actions be taken to expedite delivery of inputs;

• Draft comments on designated aspects of project progress as an input to programme monitoring;

• Draft project revisions, including adjusting individual project budgets, on the basis of changed work plans.

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education: Advanced university degree in engineering, sciences, economics, business administration, international relations or other relevant discipline with specialization in Financing for Sustainable Development, is required.

Technical and Functional Experience:

At least three (3) years of professional experience in Technical Assistance for Sustainable Finance, is required.

Experience in evaluating the needs, conditions and problems in developing countries, is desirable.

Exposure to Climate Finance, and investment facilitation for climate adaptation and resilience, is desirable.

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Fluency and/or working knowledge of another official UN language, particularly French is desirable.

REQUIRED VALUES AND COMPETENCIES

Core values:
WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.

WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.

WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective.

Key competencies:
WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential –and this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity.

WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world.

WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work.

WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: To stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another.

This appointment is limited to the specified project(s) only and does not carry any expectation of renewal.
Employees of UNIDO are expected at all times to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity, both at work and outside.
Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for jobs at UNIDO.

All applications must be submitted online through the Online Recruitment System. Correspondence will be undertaken only with candidates who are being considered at an advanced phase of the selection process. Selected candidate(s) may be required to disclose to the Director General the nature and scope of financial and other personal interests and assets in respect of themselves, their spouses and dependents, under the procedures established by the Director General.

Visit the UNIDO website for details on how to apply: www.unido.org
NOTE: The Director General retains the discretion to make an appointment to this post at a lower level.
 
Notice to applicants:
UNIDO does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. If you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Vacant positions within UNIDO are advertised on the official UNIDO website. Should you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of UNIDO and requesting payment of a fee, please contact: recruitment@unido.org