Org. Setting and ReportingThe Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia forms part of the United Nations Secretariat and, like the other regional commissions, operates under the supervision of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. ESCWA comprises 21 Arab countries in Western Asia and North Africa. ESCWA provides a framework for the formulation and harmonization of sectoral policies for member countries, a platform for congress and coordination, a home for expertise and knowledge, and an information observatory. ESCWA activities are coordinated with the divisions and main offices of the Headquarters of the United Nations, specialized agencies, and international and regional organizations, including the League of Arab States and its subsidiary bodies, and the Gulf Cooperation Council. This position is the Climate Change and Natural Resource Sustainability Cluster of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA – uneswa.org). The incumbent will be under the overall supervision of the Cluster Lead and reports directly to a Senior Economic Affairs Officer. ResponsibilitiesWithin delegated authority, the duties of an Economic Affairs Officer are likely to fall mainly into one of the three functional areas below. Economic or sector analysis • Monitors sustainable energy data and issues in the region and track progress on energy related targets and indicators for specified recurrent or ad hoc assignments. • Prepare energy policy papers, analytical studies and reports required to keep abreast of energy issues in the area of conventional and non-conventional sources of energy, energy interconnection and trade, clean production of fossil fuels, energy management and climate change. • Drafts technical papers, analytical studies on selected global, regional, national or sector aspects on the transformation of energy systems and climate change. • Develops draft policy recommendations pertaining to energy related SDGs and their interlinkage with other SDGs, including water, energy, food and climate change nexus. • Identifies and analyses policy proposals made elsewhere relating to assigned topics and support regional and sub-regional cooperation in the field of sustainable energy systems. • Attends international, regional, and national meetings to collect information and to hold discussions with representatives of other institutions on energy and climate change. • Assists in the organization and servicing of expert group meetings, seminars, etc. on energy and sustainable development issues. • Prepares speeches and other inputs for presentations by senior staff. Intergovernmental support • Provides substantive support on sustainable energy and sustainability issues to intergovernmental regional bodies. • Prepares inputs for reports to intergovernmental bodies. • 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 • Undertake missions to member states, either alone or as a participant in a diverse team as part of the Organization’s technical cooperation activities. • Prepares regional, national or sector analyses that provide a basis for advising national governments on sustainable energy issues in the region. • Monitors, backstops and assesses the implementation of technical cooperation programmes and projects. GENERAL: • Participates in intra- and inter-Departmental undertakings of broader concern to represent the views or interests of the organizational unit. • Supports junior staff, reviewing their work and providing feedback • 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. Competencies• Professionalism: Ability to apply technical knowledge and concepts in different sectors of energy and sustainable development. Ability to conduct independent research on energy topics, determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources. Shows skill in drafting sustainable energy policies and technical reports. 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. • 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. EducationAdvanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in one or more of the following disciplines: mechanical or electromechanical engineering, petroleum engineering, sustainable energy, economics or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Job - Specific QualificationNot available. Work ExperienceA minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in research and analysis, policy formulation, application of sustainable energy technologies and principles in development programmes or related area is required. Proven experience in energy at the regional and/or international levels is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. In addition, Arabic is a working language at ESCWA. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Arabic is desirable. Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas. AssessmentEvaluation of qualified candidates may include assessment(s) which may be followed by an interview. Special Notice• This position is temporarily available until 31 October 2025. Extension of the appointment is subject to availability of funds, extension of the mandate, continued need for services, and satisfactory performance. • If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. • A current staff member who holds a fixed-term, permanent or continuing appointment may apply for temporary positions no more than one level above his or her current grade. • Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position. • While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. An external candidate selected for this position is bound by the prevailing condition of the staff selection system under ST/AI/2010/3, as amended, and ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1. A staff member holding a temporary appointment who is recruited in the Professional and above categories on a temporary appointment, and placed on a position authorized for one year or longer may not apply for or be reappointed to his/her current position within six months of the end of his/her current service. • Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. • Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as \"retirement.\" Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service. • Upon separation from service, including, but not limited to, expiration or termination of, or resignation from, a fixed-term, continuing or permanent appointment, a former staff member will be ineligible for re-employment on the basis of a temporary appointment for a period of 31 days following the separation. In the case of separation from service on retirement, a former staff member will be ineligible for re-employment for a period of three months following the separation. This equally applies, mutatis mutandis, with respect to a former or current staff member who has held or holds an appointment in another entity applying the United Nations Staff Regulations and Rules and who applies for a temporary position with the Secretariat. • 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. • 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. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. United Nations ConsiderationsAccording 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. 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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 FeeTHE 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.