The Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), headed by a Managing Director, oversees the Organization's development of capacities for industrial development as well as industrial policy advice, statistics and research activities and the Organization's normative contribution to Member States and global development community in achieving the SDGs. The Directorate also ensures the application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development related to Environment, Energy, SMEs, Competitiveness and Job creation, as well as Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence. Through coordination in-house and with Member States and industry stakeholders, it ensures that the services provided in these areas contribute toward effective and appropriate technical, business and policy solutions and are focused on results and on realizing any potential for scaling up and positioning UNIDO as a leading platform for industrial development in developing countries and global fora.

The Division of SME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation (TCS/SME) works towards increasing the competitiveness of industries in developing countries and countries in transition, especially emphasizing business development of SMEs engaged in manufacturing and creating jobs therein. It aims at increasing competitiveness among SMEs in two interconnected ways: first, by modernizing businesses through the transfer of advanced technologies adapted to local conditions, product innovation, productivity improvement and upgrading, developing market and value chain readiness as well as improved access to finance; and second, by improving the quality of SME manufactured products and their compliance with market requirements through capacity building for the development of industrial production and trade-related quality infrastructure including for standardization, metrology, accreditation and of conformity assessment service institutions (testing, certification, inspection and calibration) and the strengthening of their capacities.

This position is located under the Competitiveness, Quality and Compliance Unit (TCS/SME/CQC). This Unit builds national and regional production and quality infrastructure systems, with an emphasis on providing internationally recognized services, facilitating SME participation in regional and global value chains; strengthening institutional quality infrastructure capacities (i.e. standardization, metrology, and accreditation); building conformity assessment capacities (testing, inspection, certification, calibration, etc.); and supporting trade facilitation and quality awareness with the public sector, economic operators and consumers, placing a special emphasis on capacitating SMEs.

PROJECT CONTEXT  

The project "Support to the Improvement of MSME Competitiveness and Business Environment in Paraguay”, is an initiative financed by the European Union (EU). It aims to contribute to inclusive and sustainable economic growth and job creation, through the improvement of micro, small and medium enterprises’ (MSMEs) competitiveness and the business environment in Paraguay.

UNIDO role aims at strengthening the institutional capacity of the two Business Intermediary Organizations (BIOs), the Paraguayan Industrial Union (UIP – Unión Industrial Paraguaya) and the Federation of Production Cooperatives (FECOPROD – Federación de Cooperativas de Producción), to deliver high quality business development services to improve MSMEs’ competitiveness. A specific emphasis is given on technology and innovation services/ mechanisms, as well as on promoting integration of MSMEs into larger value chains (VC).

The overall objective is the institutional strengthening of UIP and FECOPROD; and associated entities to improve and develop specialized business development services, promote technological development and innovation, and support a better articulation of MSMEs in global value chains.

The project has the following outputs:

• Output 1. Strengthening the institutional capacity of UIP and FECOPROD for the development of specialized business services;
• Output 2. Improving MSMEs' access to technologies and promoting innovation processes;
• Output 3. Strengthen the capacity of institutions that provide services to MSMEs so that they can meet market requirements and better integrate into value chains.                                     

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 is required.

Technical and Functional Experience:

At least three (3) years of professional experience at the international level involving technical coordination and implementation of technical cooperation programmes and projects in developing countries, is required.

Experience evaluating the needs, conditions and problems in developing countries of Latin America and the Caribbean Region, in particular on challenges related to business development of SMEs, is desirable.

Experience in the areas of quality infrastructure, SMEs development, circular economy and/or innovation is desirable.

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