Posting Title: Economic Affairs Officer, P4

Job Code Title: ECONOMIC AFFAIRS OFFICER

Department/Office: Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

Duty Station: NEW DELHI

Posting Period: 18 March 2021 - 16 April 2021

Job Opening Number: 21-Economic Affairs-ESCAP-151955-R- (X)

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Organisational Setting and Reporting

The mandate of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is to promote sustainable and inclusive development and regional connectivity in the Asian and Pacific region. ESCAP's role as a regional development arm of the United Nations Secretariat is to support its membership with policy oriented research and analysis, normative support and technical assistance and capacity building, to respond to the development priorities and changing needs of the Asian and Pacific region.

The Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT) is an ESCAP regional institute. The objectives of the Centre are to assist Members and Associate Members of ESCAP through strengthening their capabilities to develop and manage national innovation systems; develop, transfer, adapt and apply technology; improve the terms of transfer of technology; and identify and promote the development and transfer of technologies relevant to the region. The mission of the Centre will be reoriented to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with a focus on the transfer of technologies for sustainable development which are relevant to the Asian and Pacific region.

This position is located in the Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT). The incumbent reports to the Head, APCTT.

Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Head, APCTT, the incumbent is required to perform the following functions: Economic or sector analysis:

  • Monitors socio-economic developments in the mandated thematic area of APCTT and identifies recurrent and emerging issues of concern to the APCTT. They are: Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) policy, technology transfer and commercialization, technology-based Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs), trends on environmentally sound technologies and technologies related to the fourth industrial revolution.
  • Designs and conducts studies on the above issues in the context of economic development and drafts reports, including support to the production of Centre's publications. Identifies and supervises the work of consultants for the Centre's publications.
  • Interprets and applies results of the above research results to analyse policies of member States.
  • Develops draft policy recommendations pertaining to the thematic area of APCTT's mandate.
  • Formulates proposals for Centre's 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.
  • Organizes expert group meetings, seminars, and conferences at international level on development issues under the Centre's mandate. Drafts concept notes and secures resource persons.
  • Prepares speeches and other inputs for presentations by senior staff.

Intergovernmental support:

  • Provides substantive support to intergovernmental bodies (such as the Governing Council sessions of APCTT, Committee on Information and Communication Technology and STI, and ESCAP annual Commission sessions).
  • Represents organizational unit at international, regional and national meetings.

Technical cooperation:

  • Designs, implements and monitors technical cooperation projects at international level under the mandate of APCTT, which include issues related to STI policy, technology transfer and commercialization, online technology database, creation of technology networks, support to technology-based SMEs and promotion of regional cooperation. Develops and fosters partnerships with public and private sector institutions for project fund-raising purposes.
  • Undertakes missions to member States, including Russian and Chinese speaking countries, either alone or as a participant in a diverse team, as part of APCTT's technical cooperation activities.
  • Prepares global, regional, national or sector analyses on thematic issues covered by APCTT mandate that provide a basis for advising national governments on economic development issues.
  • Conducts regional training seminars and workshops for government officials and others. Drafts concept notes, programmes and secures resource persons.
  • Formulates technical modalities for the evaluation of individual technical cooperation projects and for external evaluations, including the preparation of reports.

General:

  • Supports and supervises junior staff and consultants, reviewing their work and providing feedback.
  • Participates in intra- and inter-Departmental undertakings, including the participation to UN Country Team meetings of broader concern to represent the views or interests of the APCTT.
  • Performs other related duties as required, including a variety of administrative tasks, Centre's website and social media, which are necessary for the final delivery of APCTT's service.
  • Undertakes on-the-job and other training activities, both internally and externally.

Competencies

Professionalism: Ability to apply economic theories and concepts to prepare Centre's publications and technical cooperation project activities related to STI policy, technology transfer and commercialization, support to technology-based SMEs, trends on environmentally sound technologies and technologies related to the fourth industrial revolution. Ability to conduct independent research on economic topics, determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources. Ability to identify and develop sources for data collection. Ability to develops and fosters partnerships with public and private sector institutions on fundraising purposes. 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 & 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.

Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in economics, engineering, science, technology or related field.

A relevant first-level university degree in the above fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

A combination of advanced degrees in economics, and science degrees such as engineering, science and technology, is desirable.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in economic research and analysis, policy formulation on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) and technology transfer and commercialization, is required.

A minimum of five years of experience in design, implementation and monitoring international technical cooperation project is required.

A minimum of two years of experience in formal supervision of other staff reviewing their work and providing feedback is required.

Experience in organizing international expert group meetings, seminars, and conferences is required.

Experience in resource mobilization is required.

International experience working in the Asia-Pacific region is highly desirable.

Policy formation experience in support to technology-based SMEs, environmentally sound technologies and technologies related to the fourth industrial revolution is desirable.

Research and analysis in the above fields as demonstrated through authored publications is desirable.

Experience in developing partnership with other organizations, including the government institutions and private sector is desirable.

Experience in the United Nations Common System or international organizations is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required.

Knowledge of Chinese or Russian is desirable.

Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Assessment

Qualified applicants may be evaluated through a competency-based interview and/or other assessment methods.

Special Notice

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

ESCAP is committed to promoting diversity and gender equality within the Secretariat. Women candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

This post is funded from extra budgetary resources. The initial appointment is for a period of one year. Extension of appointment is subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funds.

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.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on "Manuals" hyper-link on the upper right side 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

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS' BANK ACCOUNTS.

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This vacancy is archived.

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