Sustainable Development Officer - Regional Policy Specialist

In its Resolution A/RES/72/279, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed the transformation of the Development Coordination Office (DCO) as a stand-alone coordination office within the United Nations Secretariat. DCO exercises managerial and oversight functions of the resident coordinator system under the oversight of the Chair of United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG). In 2026, DCO undertook a recalibration to ensure the RC system remains optimally configured to support the acceleration of the 2030 Agenda and embodies the UN 2.0 shift, anchored in data, digital, innovation, behavioral science, strategic foresight, and a mission-driven organizational culture. The position is located in the United Nations Development Coordination Office (UNDCO) Regional Office for Arab States in Amman and reports to the Regional Team Leader/Senior Programme Management Officer as First Reporting Officer, with the Regional Director as Second Reporting Officer. The Chief of Policy and SDG Financing serves as an additional reporting officer to enable matrixed collaboration.

Within delegated authority, the Sustainable Development Officer (Regional Policy Specialist) will be responsible for the following duties: • Monitors and analyzes regional and sub-regional SDG acceleration bottlenecks, identifies emerging policy, financing and implementation risks, and initiates or supports corrective and follow-up actions in coordination with relevant stakeholders. • Performs policy advisory assignments in collaboration with Regional Offices, UN Country Teams, Member States and external partners by facilitating strategic policy dialogue and supporting the development of integrated and actionable responses to sustainable development and SDG-related challenges. • Researches and analyzes sustainable development issues, including integrated policy, cross-border and political economy dimensions, and prepares strategic assessments and analysis informed by regional and country-level realities. • Contributes to the development of DCO policy recommendations and analytical products through reviews of regional and sub-regional trends, institutional frameworks, financing dynamics and policy developments affecting SDG implementation and economic transformation. • Supports Resident Coordinators, UN Country Teams and Member States in the development and implementation of Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs), SDG financing strategies, fiscal space analysis and financing prioritization aligned with Cooperation Frameworks and SDG acceleration pathways. • Engages and coordinates with International Financial Institutions (IFIs), Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), regional financing institutions and development partners on issues related to SDG financing, debt vulnerabilities, financing reform, economic resilience and innovative financing mechanisms. • Provides analytical and advisory support to RCs, RCOs and UNCTs in identifying SDG priorities, sequencing policy interventions and assessing financing trade-offs under constrained fiscal and development environments. • Provides analytical support to countries in special situations, including SIDS, LLDCs and MICs, as relevant, in coordination with relevant UN entities and partners. • Designs and undertakes surveys, analytical scans and data collection exercises; reviews and interprets findings; and prepares evidence-based conclusions and recommendations to support data-driven planning and decision-making. • Prepares high-quality written outputs on sustainable development and SDG financing issues, including policy briefs, thematic analysis, reports, speeches, presentations, background papers and inputs to regional and corporate analytical products. • Provides substantive support to regional consultative processes, inter-agency coordination mechanisms, Regional Platform for Integration and other policy and financing-related fora, including through agenda development, preparation of analytical materials and stakeholder engagement. • Provides analytical inputs to Common Country Analyses, Cooperation Frameworks and regional horizon scans, and supports integrated policy approaches, strategic foresight and anticipatory analysis in line with the UN 2.0 agenda. • Participates in and contributes to inter-agency task forces, expert groups, policy networks and communities of practice at regional and global levels, including support to the regional community of practice of RC economists. • Develops and sustains engagement with regional organizations, development partners, academia, think tanks, private sector actors and financing coalitions to strengthen regional policy dialogue, partnerships and SDG financing cooperation. • Initiates and coordinates outreach, training workshops, seminars and knowledge-sharing activities, and contributes to the strategic communication and positioning of regional policy and SDG financing priorities. • Leads and/or participates in complex field missions, including the provision of guidance to consultants, government counterparts, RCOs and UN Country Teams, and prepares related mission reports and recommendations. • Collects and analyzes data to identify trends and generate insights through data visualization and analytical tools to support evidence-based planning, decision-making and reporting. • Initiates and coordinates outreach activities, conducts training, seminars, and presents on assigned topics. • Prepares speeches and other inputs for presentations by senior staff on sustainable development and other issues within UN working streams, including cross-pillar, as relevant. • Performs other duties as required.

PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to apply sustainable development theories, concepts and approaches. Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to conduct data collection using various methods. Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic resources on the internet, intranet and other databases. 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. Able to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. PLANNING AND 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. COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in sustainable development, political science, economics, public policy, public administration, finance, social sciences or related field. A first level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Not available.

A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience programme or project management, sustainable development, public policy, development cooperation or a related area is required. Experience producing policy analysis and advising senior stakeholders on complex development issues is required. Experience supporting countries on SDG acceleration, Integrated National Financing Frameworks, fiscal space, innovative financing or related financing reforms is desirable. Experience in international or multi-country settings and work relevant to the Arab States region is desirable.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. Arabic is desirable. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult

https://languages.un.org

for details).

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Required Languages

Language

Reading

Writing

Listening

Speaking

English

UN Level II

UN Level II

UN Level II

UN Level II

Desirable Languages

Language

Reading

Writing

Listening

Speaking

Arabic

UN Level I

UN Level I

UN Level I

UN Level I

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise, which may be followed by competency-based interview.

This recruitment and any subsequent appointment remain subject to budgetary, classification, and intergovernmental approvals, including General Assembly approval, as applicable. Appointment against this post is open for an initial period of one year and may be subject to extension, subject to legislative body funding availability. 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. 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. 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. Individual contractors and consultants (Non-Staff Personnel) who have worked within the UN Secretariat in the last six months, irrespective of the administering entity, are ineligible to apply for professional and higher temporary or fixed-term positions and their applications will not be considered. 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. All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. Online applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an email acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please resubmit the application, if necessary. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira "Need Help?" link.

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. 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. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

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