SMEP Portfolio Researcher

Result of Service

The consultant will contribute to the successful implementation of scheduled activities of the SMEP and Oceans Economy programmes. Specifically, the provision of targeted economic and environmental research will support and enhance the quality and impacts of events, webinars, and the associated visual communication materials developed to enhance outreach, dissemination and policy influencing efforts on sustainable manufacturing and plastic pollution mitigation agendas.

Work Location

Home-based

Expected duration

01.11.24 - 31.10.25

Duties and Responsibilities

UNCTAD is entrusted with the role of informing policy fora at national regional and multilateral levels based on evidence arising from SMEPs portfolio, this involves a significant need for targeted research, especially on economic, trade, environmental and development aspects of the SMEP Programme sectors, which need to be framed into concise and informative substantive materials to support events, capacity building, internal and external communication. Under the supervision of the project officer - Trade, Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development (TED) Branch of the Division on International Trade and Commodities of UNCTAD, to facilitate the production of short, targeted research, the consultant will: Prepare and disseminate analytical outputs from SMEP Project portfolio, related UNCTAD research, into suitable policy fora where such information can yield transformative impact Organize webinars and physical events to disseminate SMEP and Oceans Economy research outputs of relevance to international trade practitioners, regional and national authorities, as well as to civil society. Prepare UNCTAD contributions to the World Circular Economy Forum 2025, to the UN Oceans Forum and to the UN Oceans Conference 2025, including leading technical submissions to UNOC Action Panel on Preventing and significantly reducing marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities. Those activities will involve review of analytical outputs, derivation of trade-related short analysis, with special attention to context of beneficiaries and national aspects of relevance in liaison with SMEP contributors, other UNCTAD consultants, designers and partners. The consultant is also expected to help in the development and dissemination of policy briefs, research notes and commentaries derived from commissioned research under SMEP in coordination with the project officer

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree, Master, in Environmental Sciences, Economics, Social Sciences or related field is required At least 3 years of work experience in research on trade issues is required. Experience with research related to environmental issues and harmonized system codes of trade for environmental goods is required Experience in the Ocean Economy programmes is required Experience in the organization of webinars and physical events is desirable Experience in supporting projects on trade and sustainable development in Africa, South Asia or the Indo-Pacific region is desirable

Languages

Fluency oral and written in English is required.

Additional Information

Not available.

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.