Industrial Development Expert

Requisition ID: 2118 
Grade : L3 
Country: Italy 
Duty Station : Rome 
Category: Project-funded Professional and higher 
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: Staff-Full-time
Minimum Annual Salary: USD 84,640 
Application deadline: 18-May-2023  

Vacancy Announcement
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 Global Partnerships and External Relations (GLO) 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; and supports the implementation of particularly complex projects, programmes and special assignments, thus also fulfilling an important role in safeguarding their quality and the reputation of the Organization.

The Directorate houses the Divisions of Policymaking Organs (GLO/PMO), Regional Bureaus and Field Offices (GLO/RFO), Field and Liaison Strategy (GLO/FLS), Member States and Funding Relations (GLO/MSR), Special Operations (GLO/SOP), and Investment and Technology Promotion Offices and Institutional Partnerships (GLO/ITP). The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the Divisions as well as with relevant entities in the Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation (IET) and the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS).

The position is located in ITPO Italy, under the Division of Investment and Technology Promotion Offices and Institutional Partnerships (GLO/ITP). The Division links UNIDO’s Investment and Technology Promotion Offices (ITPOs) with international corporate partners and use the ITP network to forge, in collaboration with IET/PPP and GLO/FLS, partnerships with development partners. It engages in match-making and partnership development at corporate, institutional and political levels to support developing countries and countries with economies in transition in becoming attractive investment locations resulting in increased levels of investments and, through investors and partners that the ITPOs bring to the table, engage in technology exchange partnerships that enable them to adopt new technologies for sustainable industrial development.

The main purpose of the UNIDO ITPO Italy project (ID 180276) is to contribute to the industrial development and economic growth of developing countries and countries with economies in transition by identifying and mobilizing the technical, financial, managerial, and other resources from Italy for the implementation of industrial investment and technology partnerships for the benefit of these countries. The project will respond to demands raising in sectors such as agro-food, leather and footwear, textiles and clothing, as well as energy and environment, where Italian industry excels. In providing this technical assistance, ITPO Italy will apply, in close cooperation with UNIDO Headquarters, the best practices developed by SMEs in Italy to overcome size constraints, namely districts, clusters and consortia. The objective will also be pursued through the sensitisation of Italian business partners to pursue developing country investment and technology transfer opportunities to developing country, as well as through training and capacity-building of local stakeholders in developing countries, hence complementing the efforts of national Italian organizations involved in financial or technical cooperation between Italian industries and foreign partners.

The Industrial Development Expert (L3) is expected to deliver: (a) work that contains in-depth analyses contributing to results achieved by the Department; (b) in creating an enabling environment for team work which is catalytic to achieving results; (c) in building relationships which contributes to partnerships resulting in strategic collaborations and (d) in achieving results within a professional team.

The UNIDO Staff Performance Management System reinforces the collaboration within formal units as well as among cross-functional teams. In this context, the incumbent collaborates with his/her team in the office/country as well as in the region and in headquarters.

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Director-General and in this context all staff are expected to serve in any assignment and duty station as determined by the needs of the Organization.

Project Context

The aim of the Project “Investment promotion for Iraq – Phase II” (ID 160203) funded by the Italian Development Cooperation is to promote existing and potential investments in Iraq to expand the share of the private sector contribution to the country’s GDP, to create employment opportunities for poverty alleviation and accelerated economic growth of Iraq. A dual focus will be on increasing foreign direct investment flows on one hand (the volume dimension) and, on the other hand, to elevate the impact of existing foreign direct investment (the quality dimension) in Iraq through re-investments, skills upgrading and increased local supply chain linkages.

In order to build permanent local enterprise development and business support services, UNIDO established Enterprise Development Centers (EDCs) jointly with host institutions such as the Ministry of Industry and Minerals (MIM) Baghdad, KRG Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI), Nassiriyah Chamber of Commerce, and the Basra Chamber of Industry which offer services including, but not limited to, trainings, counselling, distance learning, workshops, study tours, ISO certifications, participation to international fairs, BtoB meetings, matchmaking facilitation with foreign companies, and facilitating access to finance.

This Phase II builds upon these previous achievements and propose a range of activities into three major outcomes: 1) Increased capacities of local investment promotion & enterprise development bodies to provide qualitative services to international and domestic companies for joint initiatives; 2) Vibrant Industrial Zones in the country attracting investors both local and international to establish their manufacturing base in Iraq; 3) Improving institutional infrastructure for adequate business support services and promote business matchmaking, investment promotion and technology transfer activities for facilitating international partnerships.

Responsibilities

The Industrial Development Expert works under the direct supervision of the Head of ITPO Italy and in close collaboration with the colleagues to support the mandate of the Division. She/he will be responsible for providing technical support to the smooth and timely execution of projects and be accountable for the achievement of project results as/if assigned. Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Execute and monitor projects/ programme implementation activities and services, ensuring that assigned inputs are high quality, delivered on time and within the allocated budget.

• Coordinate the execution of the project, including as/if needed:
  • Supervising and coordinating the work of project consultants, partners and sub-contractors.
  • Preparing necessary inputs (work plans, consultant job descriptions, terms of reference, training arrangements, equipment specifications, etc.).
  • Monitoring progress and expenditures, preparing financial forecasts and budget revisions, including missions to project sites.
  • Participating in oversight meetings in the field and at headquarters and assists the Evaluation Group in its evaluations of projects/programmes.
  • Coordinate project communication and knowledge management activities.
• Manage external relations by maintaining close relationships with all stakeholders involved in the project, including government institutions and international entities, locally-based donor institutions, international financial institutions and regional development banks, the private sector, civil society and academia to establish collaborations and synergies.
• Support advocacy, communication and global forum activities related to the programme/project and aimed at strengthening public relations, including the preparation of promotional materials, organization of media events, dissemination of information on the project activities through UNIDO/project website and network of UNIDO offices.
• In line with the guidelines and procedures governing the technical cooperation activities of UNIDO, contribute to planning funds mobilization strategies and cooperate with other units in-house in mobilizing the funds necessary for a follow up project and programme.
• Perform other related duties and assignments as required.

Minimum Requirements and Desirable Criteria

Education: Advanced university degree (Master's degree) in economics, international relations, engineering or in a closely related field with specialization in development economics and/or a related discipline relevant to investment promotion, technology transfer and capacity-building activities is required.

Experience, technical knowledge and functional expertise:

A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible working experience, including some at the international level, in project execution or coordination, particularly in the areas of investment promotion and technology transfer is required.   

Experience evaluating needs, conditions and problems in developing countries, and in technical cooperation projects related to UNIDO’s and ITPO’s mandate in MENA countries is desirable.

Language Skills: Fluency in written and oral English is required. Fluency in or working knowledge of Italian is required. Basic knowledge of another UN official language, in particular of Arabic, is desirable.

Core Values and 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 our 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.

NOTE: UNIDO professional level applicants are required to have served at least one year in their current position, if applying for a higher-level position. However, the seniority-in-grade requirements for applying for higher level positions, as per paragraphs 18 and 78 of the HRMF, have been waived.

UNIDO General Service applicants are required to be at least at the GS-5 level; to have served in their current position for at least two years; and to have served in UNIDO for at least five years.

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 web site 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