Org. Setting and Reporting

This post is located in the Trade, Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainable Development Branch, within the Division on International Trade and Commodities (DITC) at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The Economic Affairs Officer will report to the Head of the Branch.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Economic Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
Economic or sector analysis:
• Designs, conducts and monitors studies on economic developments at the interface of trade/environment/climate and development (TED).
• Designs and conducts studies on selected trade and sustainable development issues, with a focus on high-impact sectors and value chains in developing countries; monitors and analyzes programme/project development and implementation; reviews relevant documents and reports; identifies problems and issues to be addressed and initiates corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; ensures follow-up actions.
• Coordinates the development of policy recommendations related to trade and sustainable development.
• Formulates proposals for trade, technology, and 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 in selected TED-related meetings, with a view, in particular, to strengthening the sustainable development perspective in the discussions and outcome of such meetings and identifying areas for collaboration.
• Organizes expert group meetings, seminars, etc. on TED issues.
• Prepares speeches and other inputs for presentations by senior staff.
• Contributes to strengthening the Branch’s communication strategy, including drafting briefing notes, materials for newsletters, press releases, inputs to the website, etc.
Intergovernmental support:
• Provides substantive support on TED and other related issues to intergovernmental bodies, such as the General Assembly, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Trade and Development Board, and Expert Meetings.
• Represents the Branch at international, regional, and national meetings.
Technical cooperation:
• Designs and implements technical cooperation projects, organizes and delivers workshops and seminars, and undertakes missions to beneficiary countries, 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 and training modules that provide a basis for advising national governments on TED issues.
• Conducts training seminars and workshops for government officials and others.
• Commissions and oversees technical studies, liaises with donors, deals with administrative and financial aspects, and collaborates effectively with relevant institutional partners, in particular UNEP, UNFCCC, and WTO.
• 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 TED.
• Performs other related duties as required, including a variety of administrative tasks necessary for the final delivery of the Branch’s service.
• Undertakes on-the-job and other training activities, both internally and externally.

Competencies

Professionalism: Very good knowledge of issues at the interface of trade, environment, climate, technology/energy and development including of challenges for implementation of related policies; Ability to apply economic theories and concepts in different sectors of economic and sustainable development; Ability to produce reports on such issues, both independently and as part of a drafting team; proven ability to provide technical cooperation on these issues. Ability to conduct independent research on economic topics, determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources. Ability to produce economic/environment modelling and for designing data collection tools. Capacity to review, analyze, and interpret information. Ability to identify problems and propose solutions. 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.
Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
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.
Creativity: Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks “outside the box”; takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.

Education

An 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.

Job – Specific Qualification

A specialization in trade, environment, climate, technology and development is desirable.

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 a related area is required.
Experience at the national or international level researching trade and development issues is required.
At least four years of work experience in specific areas such as trade, environment, climate, technology/energy policies, and development is desirable.
Experience in designing and managing technical cooperation projects in trade and development is desirable.
Experience in providing policy advice and/or supporting inter-governmental processes, and in coordinating inter-agency projects in these issues are desirable.
Experience in fundraising and developing partnerships is desirable.

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 and Spanish is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 Nov 2023, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu.
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The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

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.
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No Fee

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