Strategic Partnerships Research Specialist

​​Requisition ID: 7952 
Grade: ISA-P4 
Country: Home Based 
Duty Station: Home Based 
Category: International Consultant 
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff-When Act. Employed
Contract Duration: 12 October to 11 December/ WAE 40 days
Application Deadline: 04-Sep-2026, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL

Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

UNIDO welcomes applications from qualified persons with disabilities. Reasonable accommodation will be provided to applicants and employees with disabilities to support full participation in the recruitment process and in the performance of their duties.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty and hunger reduction, inclusive and fair globalization and environmental sustainability.  The mission UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declarationadopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013, the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019 as well as the Riyadh Declarationadopted at the twenty-first session of UNIDO General Conference in 2025, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial developmentin Member States. The relevance of this mission 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 inclusive and sustainable industrial development, however, applies to all SDGs.

The medium-term programme framework (MTPF) 2026 - 2029 is UNIDO’s core strategic document and it is in line with UNIDO’s Vision 2050. It sets a renewed vision to support Member States and shape their industries for development. The priorities include fair and sustainable global and regional supply chains, ending hunger through innovation and local value addition, renewable and clean energy, sustainable energy access and climate action. 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-related activities; and (iv) convening and fostering partnerships for knowledge and technology transfer, investment mobilization, 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 Global Partnerships and External Relations (GLO), headed by a Managing Director, is responsible for UNIDO's relations with Member States and all external partners, including through the policymaking organs. It plays a central role for interaction and collaboration with traditional and non-traditional donors; oversees the regional bureaus as well as the network of established field offices, liaison offices and Investment and Technology Promotion Offices.  

Under the supervision of the Managing Director of the Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations (GLO), the Division of Regional Bureaus and Field Coordination (GLO/RFO) coordinates the field representation and interventions of UNIDO in Member States and regions. Within this context, the Division is responsible for determining programmatic priorities for UNIDO's services and ensuring that UNIDO responds to the specific needs and requirements of Member States and development partners at the country and regional levels. 

The Division encompasses all the UNIDO field offices and the five Regional Bureaus: Africa (GLO/RFO/AFR), also hosting the IDDA III Secretariat; the Arab Region (GLO/RFO/ARB); Asia and the Pacific (GLO/RFO/ASP); Europe and Central Asia (GLO/RFO/EUR); and Latin American and the Caribbean (GLO/RFO/LAC). GLO/RFO provides strategic guidance on the setup, operation and performance of the field structure with a view to further optimize UNIDO's field operations, outreach to development partners and Member States, global networks and overall coherence of its service delivery in the context of the reform of the United Nations development system (UNDS) and related reform efforts. The Division also contributes to the development of regional strategies and country programmes, ensuring alignment with key strategic documents of the Organization and the priorities of the Director General, as well as related results-oriented implementation plans.

This position is located in the Regional Bureau for Europe and Central Asia (GLO/RFO/EUR), while Strategic Partnerships Research Specialist will also closely cooperate with other relevant organizational entities, including the Division of Funding Partner Relations (GLO/FPR) and the Brussels Liaison Office (GLO/BRO).

Since 2020, under the project “Reinvigorating a business model of strategic engagement with emerging donors” (ID 200046), UNIDO has systematically strengthened its partnership with nine so-called emerging donor Member States in the European Union (EU) – Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Romania and Slovenia. Through three editions of a dedicated regional conference, tailored priority alignment documents, bilateral consultations, cooperation seminars and structured private sector engagement, these countries have become well-integrated and actively engaged development partners of the Organization.

The EU and its Member States collectively constitute one of UNIDO's most significant funding and strategic partners. UNIDO and the EU have cooperated globally in over 120 countries, and cooperation under the Global Gateway framework and the Team Europe approach continues to grow. To consolidate and further expand this partnership, and as one of the outcomes of the project, UNIDO intends to prepare a strategic evidence-based and forward- looking publication on UNIDO’s value proposition for the European Union and its Member States vis-à-vis the region of Europe and Central Asia.

The publication will serve as a strategic positioning and partnership-development instrument aimed to support future cooperation and resource mobilization. It is intended to guide UNIDO’s engagement with the institutions of the European Union and EU Member States by clearly presenting the Organization’s mandate, comparative advantages, delivery capacities, partnership modalities and demonstrated results achieved in the Europe and Central Asia region. The publication should also identify and map concrete areas in which UNIDO can contribute to the implementation of current and emerging EU external action, industrial, climate, enlargement and investment priorities in the Europe and Central Asia region.The final paper will be designed into a high-quality publication for external dissemination.

The Strategic Partnerships Research Specialist, under the supervision of the project manager of project ID 200046 and in close cooperation with other relevant organizational entities, will be responsible for conducting the underlying research and preparing the narrative of the overview paper on UNIDO's value proposition for the European Union and its Member States vis-à-vis the region of Europe and Central Asia. Specifically, the Strategic Partnerships Research Specialist will perform the following tasks:

Education:

Advanced university degree in economics, international relations, political science, European studies, public policy or a related field, is required. Alternatively, a first level university degree or an advanced technical college diploma may be acceptable provided it is combined with additional 7 years of professional hand-on experience that is directly relevant to the expertise required by the specific assignment.

Technical and Functional Experience:

• A minimum of seven (7) years of professional experience in research, policy analysis, international development cooperation or a related area, including at the international level, is required.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the institutions, policies and funding instruments of the European Union, is required.
• Proven experience in drafting analytical papers, policy documents or publications for high-level or external audiences, is required.
• Working experience in the United Nations system or other international organizations, is desirable.
• Experience in coordinating research or publication processes involving multiple stakeholders, is desirable.

Languages:
Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

CORE VALUES AND BEHAVIORS 

Core Values

EXCELLENCE – Deliver high-quality results; continuously improve performance. 

INTEGRITY – Uphold ethical standards; act transparently and responsibly. 

INCLUSION – Promote respect, diversity, and fairness. 

HUMILITY – Show self-awareness; value others’ contributions. 

HUMANITY – Act with compassion; align work with sustainable development.

Core Behaviors 

CONNECT & COLLABORATE – Build trust through effective communication and teamwork; share knowledge and embrace diversity. 

ANALYSE & PLAN – Use data and evidence to inform decision-making; plan proactively and prioritize effectively. 

DELIVER RESULTS WITH POSITIVE IMPACT – Take ownership and deliver high-quality outputs; align work with UNIDO’s mission and objectives. 

LEARN AND DEVELOP – Continuously develop skills and capabilities; seek feedback and share knowledge with others. 

ADAPT AND INNOVATE – Respond flexibly to change; embrace innovation and new approaches.

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