​​Requisition ID: 6869 
Grade: ISA-NOB 
Country: Home Based 
Duty Station: Home Based 
Category: National Consultant 
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff-WAE
Application Deadline: 27-Jan-2026, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability.  The mission UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declarationadopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies to a greater or lesser extent to all SDGs.

The medium-term programme framework (MTPF) is UNIDO’s core strategic document. As the Organization moves from the 2022–2025 cycle to the 2026–2029 MTPF, it sets a renewed vision to support Member States shape their industries for development. The new priorities include renewable and clean energy, sustainable access and climate action, ending hunger through innovation and local value addition, and fair and sustainable global and regional supply chains. Cross-cutting priorities focus on industrial and economic policy advice, skills development, fostering digitalization and artificial intelligence, gender equality and the empowerment of women, supporting youth, promoting cleaner production and circular economy, and leveraging private sector investment and development finance.

Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Sub-regional Offices and Country Offices.

The Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), headed by a Managing Director, ensures the Organization's application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development related to environment, energy, Micro, Small and Medium-Enterprises (MSMEs), and digitalization. The Directorate also oversees the Organization's normative contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through industrial policy advice and capacity development. Through coordination in-house and with Member States and industry stakeholders, it ensures that the services provided in these areas contribute to effective and appropriate technical, business and policy solutions and are focused on results, scaling up and positioning UNIDO as a leading platform for industrial development in developing countries and global fora. The Directorate is responsible for the Division of Industrial Policy Advice and Capacity Development (TCS/IPC), and technical Divisions of Circular Economy and Green Industry (TCS/CEG), Energy and Climate Action (TCS/ECA), Climate Innovation and Montreal Protocol (TCS/CMP); MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation (TCS/SME); and Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence (TCS/DAI). Leveraging the diverse skill sets of UNIDO personnel and the services provided by the two TC directorates, TCS collaborates closely with IET to develop and implement programmes and projects, aiming at enhancing synergy and complementarity and maximizing UNIDO corporate performance and impacts on the ground. The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the Divisions as well as with relevant entities in all Directorates across the Organization.

The position is located under the Division of Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence (TCS/DAI) promotes digital transformation and Artificial Intelligence as well as associated technologies as part of innovation ecosystems consisting of productive capacities in manufacturing, services and digital firms, with the purpose to advance the competitiveness of industries and manufacturing firms in Member States. It helps industries to benefit from the rapid progress in digital and convergent technologies associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), ensuring a smooth transition towards safe and secured cyber- physical industrial systems and a smart society and mitigating any negative adverse effects on employment and quality of work. Through the Division's services, the productive transformation is the key, by integrating industrial businesses, dynamic entrepreneurship, and acceleration services, and by applying technological innovation to smart manufacturing, smart energy, smart agribusiness and others, in developing countries, transition and emerging economies, with emphasis in developing countries to provide the opportunity to technologically catch up instead of falling behind industries in more advanced countries.

PROJECT CONTEXT

ID 230121: Establishing a single window system for the facilitation of economic activity in free economic zones in Tajikistan

The project aims to establish a Single Window Platform integrating Tajikistan's government ministries and other relevant public bodies to better streamline free economic zones (FEZs) investment processes, enhancing transparency and efficiency to attract and support FEZ residents in alignment with the Mid-Term Program for the Development of the Digital Economy and the 2030 National Development Strategy. The implementation of the Single Window Free Economic Zones is expected to significantly improve administrative efficiency and transparency by reducing processing times and bureaucratic procedures for businesses. This streamlined approach is further expected to attract additional investments in the FEZs, fostering increased economic activity through foreign and domestic capital, and generating new jobs. By facilitating import and export processes, the trade competitiveness would be boosted, thus contributing to revenue growth, driving infrastructure development, encouraging innovation, and strengthening public-private partnerships, which would position the FEZs as a strong instrument of economic growth and regional economic integration in Tajikistan.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of the Project Manager and in close collaboration with the International Lead Expert, the National Expert will:

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s or above) in Information Systems, Digital Governance, Industrial Engineering, Public Administration, Trade Facilitation, or related fields.

Technical and Functional Experience:

• At least 3 years of practical experience in the design, implementation, or assessment of Single Window systems, trade facilitation platforms, e-government systems, or digital public infrastructure is required.

• Demonstrated experience in business process re-engineering, interoperability frameworks, or digital transformation of public-sector procedures is required.

• Strong analytical and technical writing skills, with the ability to translate complex digital governance frameworks into practical tools and documentation is required.

• Proven track record working with special economic/free economic zones, customs administrations, investment authorities, or regulatory agencies is desirable.

• Strong analytical, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills; demonstrated ability to work in multicultural and multi-stakeholder environments is desirable.

Languages:

-Fluency in written and spoken English and Russian is required.

-Fluency in or working knowledge of other United Nationslanguage(s), is desirable.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Core Values

-WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.

-WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.

-WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of differences in culture and perspective.

Key Competencies

• WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential –and this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity.
• WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer, and healthier world.
• WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work.
• WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: To stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another.

Managerial and Leadership competencies (as applicable):

• WE ARE STRATEGIC, DECISIVE, PRINCIPLED AND INSPIRATIONAL: We are a source of inspiration, stand for norms and standards established in the UN Charter and duty-bound to defend these ideals with a principled approach.

This appointment is limited to the specified project(s) only and does not carry any expectation of renewal.
Employees of UNIDO are expected at all times to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for jobs at UNIDO.

All applications must be submitted online through the Online Recruitment System. Correspondence will be undertaken only with candidates who are being considered at an advanced phase of the selection process. Selected candidate(s) may be required to disclose to the Director General the nature and scope of financial and other personal interests and assets in respect of themselves, their spouses and dependents, under the procedures established by the Director General.

Visit the UNIDO website for details on how to apply: www.unido.org

NOTE: The Director General retains the discretion to make an appointment to this post at a lower level. 

Notice to applicants:
UNIDO does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. If you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Vacant positions within UNIDO are advertised on the official UNIDO website. Should you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of UNIDO and requesting payment of a fee, please contact: recruitment@unido.org