ECONOMIC AFFAIRS OFFICER

at  United Nations

Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located in the Innovative Policies Development Section (IPDS) of the Economic Cooperation and Trade Division (ECTD) in the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), based in Geneva, Switzerland. The incumbent is under the direct supervision of the P5, Chief of IPDS and the general supervision of D1, ECTD. The Innovative Policies Development Section (IPDS) has the strategic goal to promote innovation for sustainable development. The Section supports member States through normative work, analytical work, thematic publications, and capacity-building. The incumbent’s primary responsibilities are to support the Chief, IPDS, by: serving as secretary of the Committee on Innovation Competitiveness and Public-Private Partnerships (CICPPP); contributing to the Section’s delivery of technical assistance and capacity-building activities; supervising and supporting the secretary of the Team of Specialists for Innovation and Competitiveness Policies (ToS ICP); representing UNECE’s innovation-related work in relevant national, regional and international processes and liaising with respective partners; and supporting the Chief of Section with the management of the Section and its contribution to Division- and UNECE-wide processes.
Responsibilities
Within the delegated authority, the incumbent: - Serves as secretary of the Committee on Innovation Competitiveness and Public-Private Partnerships (CICPPP) and ensures that the Committee’s substantive work programmes and programmed activities are carried out in a timely and high-quality fashion. Supports the CICPPP bureau, including regular and effective communications with the chairpersons/bureau. Services meetings and ensures the timely creation and publication of meeting agendas, documents, and reports. Supports policy dialogues by carrying out substantive policy research on relevant topics. - Serves as a central pillar for the delivery of technical assistance and capacity-building activities. Coordinates and engages in the writing and publication of the sub-regional Innovation Policy Outlooks (IPOs) and country-specific Innovation for Sustainable Development Reviews (I4SDRs). Provides programmatic and substantive reviews of drafts prepared by others. Supervises and ensures the follow-up implementation support for countries. Mobilizes extrabudgetary resources to meet technical assistance and capacity-needs expressed by member States. - Supervises and supports the P3, secretary of the Team of Specialists for Innovation and Competitiveness Policies (ToS ICP), to ensure that the Team’s substantive work programmes and programmed activities are carried out in a timely and high-quality fashion. Contributes substantive expertise, advises and guides the secretary and acts as the first reporting officer (FRO). - Represents UNECE’s innovation-related work in relevant national, regional and international processes and liaises with respective partners. Provides substantive input in the preparation of position papers and reports for presentation to inter-governmental bodies such as the Economic Commission for Europe, the Economic and Social Council, the General Assembly and other policy-making organs, as appropriate. Speaks at inter-agency, regional or national events, conferences and other meetings on matters related to the respective programme of work. - Supports the Chief of Section with the management of the Section and its contribution to Division and UNECE-wide processes. Responds to requests from the Office of the Director, participates in the ongoing information sharing and coordination activities of the Division. Provides policy guidance to the Chief of Section and Director on conceptual strategy development and management for the implementation of overall strategies and intra and interdivisional/departmental policies and procedures. Mobilizes extra-budgetary funds and fosters teamwork and communication among staff in the Division and across the Division. Serves as the Section’s Programme Budget focal point. - Carries out any other duties as required.
Competencies
PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of the role of innovation for achieving sustainable development, including as regards the specificities of UNECE member States and as regards frontier topics, such as transformative or disruptive innovation. Ability to conduct policy analysis and provide policy advice, to support inter-governmental deliberations, and to mobilize extra-budgetary resources and manage extra-budgetary projects on these issues. 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. PLANNING AND 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. CLIENT ORIENTATION: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view. Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect. Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions. Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems. Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects. Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client. COMMITMENT TO CONTINUOUS LEARNING: Keeps abreast of new developments in own occupation/profession. Actively seeks to develop oneself professionally and personally. Contributes to the learning of colleagues and subordinates. Shows willingness to learn from others. Seeks feedback to learn and improve. MANAGING PERFORMANCE: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority. Makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member. Accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills. Monitors progress against milestones and deadlines. Regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff. Encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative. Actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff. Appraises performance fairly.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics, finance, business or public administration, or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in the specified fields of study in combination with two additional years of relevant qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Job - Specific Qualification
Not available.
Work Experience
At least seven years of progressively responsible experience at the national or international level in areas related to the thematic coverage of the UNECE subprogramme on Economic Cooperation and Integration (e.g. innovation (including transformative innovation), infrastructure financing) is required. Relevant experience in the organization of expert meetings, capacity-building or other technical cooperation activities is required. Experience in reviewing and supervising the work of others is required. Relevant experience in countries with economies in transition in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat and Russian is a working language of ECE. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Russian or French is desirable.
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which will be followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. 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. For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 31st October 2024, are strongly encouraged to apply: Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu.
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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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

Please refer the Job description for details