Senior International Investment and Finance Expert

​​Requisition ID: 1840 
Grade: ISA-Senior Specialist 
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: 75 days (over period)
Application Deadline: 14-Mar-2023  

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Female candidates are particularly 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 of UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted 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 in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions.

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 Departments/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

The Directorate of Digitalization, Technology and Agri-Business (DTA), headed by a Managing Director, coordinates and mainstreams the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) in its technical cooperation, strategic, normative activities aiming at fostering the inclusive and sustainable development in the era of 4IR. The Directorate creates new and innovative technical cooperation deliverables in the areas of trade, investment, technology innovation and agro-industry and agri-business. The Directorate comprises the Department of Digitalization, Technology and Innovation (DTI) and the Department of Agri-Business (AGR).

Responding to the growing demand for supporting inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in the era of the new industrial revolution, the Department of Digitalization, Technology and Innovation (DTA/DTI) leads the way in addressing opportunities, challenges and risks stemming from the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) and its contribution to sustainable socio-economic progress. The Department is responsible for the strategic coordination of 4IR-related matters with designated focal points in other technical Departments and organizational entities of UNIDO, as appropriate. In consultation with public and private partners, DTI designs and implements holistic interventions that are tailored to specific country needs.

The Department’s interventions actively identify and combine complementary services from across three Divisions, namely:

• Innovation and Digitalization Division (DTA/DTI/IDD)

• Investment and Technology Promotion Division (DTA/DTI/ITP)

• Quality Infrastructure and Smart Production Division (DTA/DTI/QIS)

This position is located under the Industrial Resource Efficiency Division (EAE/ENV/IRE) which is responsible for supporting the capacity development of industry, government, environmental service providers, IGOs and NGOs to scale up and mainstream the production of greener products and adoption of resource-efficient and cleaner patterns of production and circular economy policies and practices that improve the profitability of industries while creating social and environmental benefits. Greening of products and industrial processes and introduction of new business models along supply and value chains, as well as the promotion of Eco-Industrial Parks are core activities.

This position also contributes to the Investment and Technology Promotion Division (DTA/DTI/ITP), which harnesses different types of partnerships at corporate, institutional and political level to support developing countries in their endeavor to become attractive investment locations resulting in increased levels of investments (foreign direct investment, impact investments, domestic investments) as well as technology exchange and adoption. The Division expands its Investment and Technology Promotion Network by closely interlinking UNIDO’s Investment and Technology Promotion Offices (ITPOs) with investment promotion agencies (IPAs) and international corporate partners.

PROJECT CONTEXT

Project ID 170049 “Supporting business-friendly and inclusive national and regional policies, and strengthening productive capabilities and value chains”

The Project (No. 170049) represents the meso-level component of a larger Programme “Supporting business-friendly and inclusive national and regional policies, and strengthening productive capabilities and value chains”. The meso-level is being implemented by UNIDO in close synergy and coordination with two other implementing partners, the World Bank Group and the International Trade Centre (ITC). The World Bank Group will address the policy and investment climate reform dimensions of the Programme (the macro-level) whereas ITC will work at the micro-level to upgrade small-call private sector actors in defined value chains. The meso-level component will both feed into and receive information from the macro and the micro-levels thereby augmenting the overall impact of the intervention compared to a stand-alone intervention.

At the meso-level, the Project focuses on institutional capacity building of investment promotion institutions (IPAs) and, more specifically, national-level Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs). Capacity building will aim at strengthening investment promotion capabilities, business support programmes, marketing, monitoring, and partnerships for better coordinated and more encompassing investment promotion efforts. Based on a robust empirical foundation of FDI firm-level investor data, which will be collected/updated through the Project, IPIs will be able to better monitor FDI and its various impact channels necessary to achieve country- and regional-level Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Investment project profiles will be collected for global dissemination to potential foreign direct investors leveraging UNIDO’s Networks such as the Investment and Technology Promotion Office (ITPO) Networks and the Network of Subcontracting and Partnership Exchange (SPX) Centres.

The project’s work plan focuses on interventions mainly tenable to Workstream 1.1, 2.1 and 2.2:  Collecting and analyzing firm-level data on FDI structure, performance, impact and perceptions, Investment facilitation, after-care and FDI-SME linkages and Investment opportunity development and targeting, respectively. Work plans are being co-implemented with and to the benefit of a number of investment promotion institutions in the targeted beneficiary organizations, including in Cameroon and Senegal.

Project ID 190261 – “Completion and financially sustainable operation of COMFAR 4”

For more than thirty years, the COMFAR (Computer Model for Feasibility Analysis and Reporting) software has been a flagship UNIDO product and a tool for investment project appraisal highly appreciated by public and private sectors. Together with UNIDO's Manual for Preparation of Industrial Feasibility Studies and other publications, the software has introduced the quality standards for project preparation and evaluation and is being recognized by banks as well as international development and financial institutions such as the World Bank, UNDP, OECD, etc.

The latest version of the software COMFAR III Expert was released in 1995 and since then the software has been applied by over 200 UNIDO TC projects and there are approximately 11,000 users of the software worldwide. The project 190261 is aiming for development of a new online version of the COMFAR software i.e. COMFAR 4. Having in mind the complexity of programming issues, including software security and copy rights protection, as well as scope of necessary updates of underlying methodology that originates in 1970s and 1980s, it was decided to implement the COMFAR 4 application development in stages.

A beta version of the application of COMFAR 4 now exists and needs to be tested for its reliability and to ensure that the financial reports that COMFAR 4 (Version 1) produces for specific COMFAR cases achieves identical results compared to the COMFAR III Expert software, whilst deploying relevant reporting standards, especially the IFRS. A staggered launch of COMFAR 4 is planned for Q2/2023.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the close supervision of the Project Manager (for #170049 also the Chief Technical Advisor the Senior International Investment and Finance Expert will perform the following tasks:

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent)  in Economics, Engineering, Sciences, Management or related discipline is required.

Technical and Functional Experience:

At least ten (10) years of relevant professional experience in the area of investment promotion in the context of technical cooperation activities. Exposure to the needs, conditions and problems in developing countries. Ability to research and analyse information. Ability to write in a clear and concise manner. Ability to work effectively in multi-cultural teams.

The certification as UNIDO Trainer on Project Appraisal with Application of COMFAR Software is a pre-requisite. Previous experience in design and implementation of capacity building in investment project preparation and appraisal as well as entrepreneurship development programs and pre-investment studies.

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken French is required. Fluency and/or working knowledge of another official UN language, is an asset.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Core values:
1. WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.

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

 manner.

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

Core competencies:
1. 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.

2. 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.

3. WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work.

4. 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

WE ARE STRATEGIC, DECISIVE, PRINCIPLED AND INSPIRATIONAL: As managers, we are strategic and fair in driving our team’s performance. As leaders, 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.

WE ARE INCLUSIVE AND ACCOUNTABLE: As managers, we are inclusive in our approach and maintain constructive engagement with all our stakeholders. As leaders, we embrace all personnel and stakeholders and are accountable mutually within UNIDO, within the system, to beneficiaries and the public and beyond.

WE ARE MULTI-DIMENSIONAL AND TRANSFORMATIONAL: As managers, we go beyond conventional methods to help our organizational units strengthen their own agility and adaptability to change. As leaders in the UN system, we have a vision which is integrated and engaged across the pillars of Peace and Security, Human Rights and Development.

WE ARE COLLABORATIVE AND CO-CREATIVE: As managers, we foster a team spirit and create meaningful opportunities to hear the voices of those around us, while realizing that only by working together can we accomplish our mission. As leaders we see the inter-dependency of imperatives of the UN Charter and personally champion a collaborative inter-agency, multi-stakeholders and cross-thinking 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