Before applying for a vacancy at an organization, it is important to understand which staff profile it employs and looks for in its selection processes. This will help you to: understand if your professional profile fits with what the organization is looking for; to get ready, in order to have greater chances of success in future selection processes, and to prepare better curriculum and application documents required for your application.
Therefore, an overview of the UNCTAD staff profile will be presented in this section, so that you will be able to gain a better understanding of what this organization looks for in its human resources.
What are the fields of study required for jobs with UNICEF?
UNCTAD’s job opportunities have a diverse range of fields. It is crucial to always check the fields accepted by the specific job opportunity. However, these are some of the most common fields required:
- Finance
- Business
- Economics
- Communications
- Information Technology
- International Relations
- Other related areas
As there are many types of job opportunities within UNCTAD, they differ in terms of education, language and work experience required. Below is the example of the requirements of a vacancy to guide in your pursuit for a spot at the organization:
| Posting Title: |
ECONOMIC AFFAIRS OFFICER, P3 |
| Job Code Title: |
ECONOMIC AFFAIRS OFFICER |
| Department/Office: |
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development |
| Duty Station: |
GENEVA |
| Posting Period: |
20 September 2021 – 03 November 2021 |
| Job Opening Number: |
21-Economic Affairs-UNITED NAT-162844-R-Geneva (G) |
| Staffing Exercise |
N/A |
This position is located in the Investment Policies Branch, Division on Investment and Enterprise (DIAE), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The incumbent will report to the Chief of the Investment Policy Review Section in DIAE.
Under the general supervision of the Head of the Investment Policies Branch and the direct supervision of the Chief of the Investment Policy Review Section in DIAE, the Economic Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
Economic or sector analysis:
• Analyses foreign direct investment trends (FDI), patterns and relationships, as well as strategies of international investors.
• Identifies and prepares proposals for policy actions in the field of investment.
• Interprets, applies and, as necessary, adapts models to analyse the effects of alternative policies and assumptions.
• Drafts specified inputs for technical papers and analytical studies on selected global, regional, national or sector aspects of economic development.
• Identifies and analyses policy proposals made elsewhere relating to assigned topics.
• Attends international, regional, and national meetings to collect information and to hold discussions with colleagues in other institutions.
• Conducts policy discussions with policymakers, the private sector and civil society.
• Assists in the organization and servicing of expert group meetings, seminars, etc. on development issues.
• Prepares speeches and other inputs for presentations by senior staff.
Intergovernmental support:
• Prepares inputs for reports to intergovernmental bodies, including the Commission on Investment and Enterprise Development, expert group meetings and the Trade and Development Board.
• Follows intergovernmental meetings and prepares summary reports.
• Prepares inputs to statements by members of the Bureau and Secretariat staff to such meetings.
• Assists in the organization of panels, round tables etc. on development issues for intergovernmental processes.
Technical cooperation:
• Participates in missions on development issues, usually as a member of a team.
• Organizes training seminars for national experts.
• Prepares documentation for technical cooperation programmes and projects.
• Contributes to the preparation of material for the approval of regional, country or sector technical cooperation projects.
• Monitors, backstops and assesses the implementation of technical cooperation programmes and projects.
General
• Performs other related duties as required, including a variety of administrative tasks necessary for the final delivery of the work unit’s services.
• Undertakes on-the-job and other training activities, both internally and externally.
• PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to apply economic theories and concepts in different sectors of economic and sustainable development, especially ability to apply theories related to foreign direct investment and activities of multinational enterprises. Ability to conduct independent research on economic topics, including international investment, to determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources. Shows skill in developing 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 audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• PLANNING & ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in economics or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in economic research and analysis, policy formulation, application of economic principles in development programmes or related area is required.
Out of these, a minimum of two-year experience in economic research and analysis and policy formulation in international investment for development is desirable.
Experience in capacity-building is also desirable.
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Spanish is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which will be followed by a competency-based interview.
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 30 April 2021, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, China, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Suriname, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
