ECONOMIC AFFAIRS OFFICER

This position is located in the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), New York Office. The incumbent will focus on international economics (trade, finance and investment), development economics and sustainable development economics. The Economics Affairs Officer reports to the Chief, UNCTAD New York Office and overall guidance by the Chief of Office of the Secretary-General of UNCTAD.

Within delegated authority, the duties of the Economic Affairs Officer in UNCTAD New York Office are the following:

Economic or sector analysis:
• Monitors and tracks inter-governmental discussions and negotiations related to trade and development, including investment, technology, and finance, and identifies recurrent and emerging issues of concern to the United Nations.
• Drafts technical papers, analytical studies and briefing papers on trade related issues and the development dimension of the international trading system.
• Develops draft policy recommendations pertaining to area of work.
• Formulates proposals for development strategies, policies and measures to include in advocacy and fundraising strategies with member States.
• Builds and maintains professional relationships with Member States, and engages in constructive and substantive policy dialogue with regard to the role of UNCTAD in key UN processes, including the UN reform, and UNCTAD quadrennial Conferences.
• Develops partnerships with UN entities and outside partners to better deliver on UNCTAD mandate.
• Prepares speeches and other inputs for presentations by senior staff.

Intergovernmental support:
• Provides substantive support on economic issues to intergovernmental bodies (such as the General Assembly, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Economic and Social Council, including its Financing for Development, Science and Technology, and High Level Political Forums, among others, the Trade and Development Board, the regional commissions and the subsidiary bodies of each).
• Represents organizational unit at international, regional and national meetings.

Technical cooperation:
• Raises awareness of and helps fundraise for UNCTAD technical cooperation projects with member States, taking into account the reform of the UN system.
• Informs and advises member States on global, regional, national or sector analyses that provide a basis for advising national governments on economic development issues.
• Organizes training seminars and workshops for government officials and others.

General:
• Supports junior staff, reviewing their work and providing feedback.
• Participates in and supports intra- and inter-agency processes and task forces, and coordinates with UN and other partners, expert group meetings, side events, briefing, seminars, etc. on trade and development issues.
• Performs other related duties as required, including fund raising and a variety of administrative tasks necessary for the final delivery of the work unit’s service.
• Undertakes on-the-job and other training activities, both internally and externally.

• Professionalism: Ability to interpret, draw policy recommendations and build advocacy strategies from independent research on economic topics. Ability to apply economic theories and concepts, especially on how trade, investment, finance and technology can provide means of implementation and integrated policies advice to achieve Agenda 2030 and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda. Shows skills in explaining macroeconomic concepts to government and into intergovernmental processes in a clear and diplomatic way. Excellent interpersonal and group communication (both oral and written) skills. 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.

• 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.

• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

• Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics, preferably with specialization in international or development economics, or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in economic research and analysis, policy formulation, application of economic principles in development programmes or related area is required, preferably in relation with development and international trade or related area. At least three years of experience within the UN common system is desirable. Experience in intergovernmental processes is desirable.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language, in particular Spanish or Arabic, is an advantage.

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

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.

For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 November 2018, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belarus, Belize, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Montenegro, Mozambique, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

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 or sexual abuse, or crimes other than minor traffic offences, 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.

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.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side 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.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

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.