The mandate of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is to promote regional cooperation for inclusive economic and social development in the Asian and Pacific region. ESCAP's role as a regional development arm of the United Nations Secretariat is to support its membership, through its analytical, normative and technical cooperation, to respond to the development priorities and changing needs of the Asian and Pacific region.
This position is located in the Sustainable Socioeconomic Transformation Section of the Social Development Division. The incumbent reports to the Chief, Sustainable Socioeconomic Transformation Section.
Under the general direction of the Director, Social Development Division, and direct supervision of the Chief, Sustainable Socioeconomic Transformation Section, the Social Affairs Officer is responsible for the following duties:
Social Analysis
• Develops and designs research methodologies for advancing knowledge on social development at regional and national levels with a focus on reducing inequalities, leaving no one behind and broadening social protection.
• Together with colleagues, initiates, develops leads the drafting of the Divisional flagship publication, the Social Outlook for Asia and the Pacific.
• Initiates and implements research projects on a variety of cross-cutting socioeconomic issues, with a view to strengthening the evidence base of the social dimension of sustainable development.
• Collects, processes and analyzes data through the use of advanced quantitative methods and statistical tools.
• Assesses and evaluates existing policies, programmes and initiatives to reduce inequality and leave no one behind.
• Liaises with other Divisions and Sections within the organizations as well as intergovernmental organizations, academic institutions, government bodies and NGOs to exchange ideas and enlist support for research analysis and other initiatives.
• Ensures that lessons learned are disseminated and incorporated into development programmes and other social development initiatives and activities.
• Organizes and provides substantial servicing of legislative meetings, intergovernmental meetings, expert group meetings, conferences, seminars and workshops.
• Develops policy recommendations and formulates proposals for regional strategies to address key challenges related to inequality and social protection.
• Prepares a variety of studies, reports, background papers, parliamentary documentation, etc. on a wide range of social development and related issues.
Intergovernmental Support
• Provides substantive support on social development issues to intergovernmental bodies (such as the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, ESCAP Commission session and the Committee for Social Development).
• Represents the organizational unit at international, regional and national meetings.
• Organizes panels, roundtables and related forums on social development issues for intergovernmental processes.
Technical Cooperation
• Provides technical assistance to ESCAP members and associate members to enhance national capacity to develop and implement social development policies aiming at reducing inequalities.
• Conducts training seminars and workshops for government officials and other stakeholders.
• Designs, monitors, backstops and assesses the implementation of technical cooperation programmes and projects.
• Undertakes missions to member States, either alone or as a participant in a diverse team, as part of the Organization’s technical cooperation activities and/or in support of the work programme.
• Prepares global, regional, national or sectoral analyses that provide a basis for advising national governments on social development issues.
• Formulates technical modalities for the evaluation of individual technical cooperation projects.
General
• Participates in the planning and preparation of the Section’s budget and work programme and in the administration of its day-to-day operations.
• Provides leadership and work direction to assigned work team, and/or mentors and supervises the work of new/junior officers.
• Prepares statements on social and economic issues for senior management, as required.
• Performs other related duties as required.
• Professionalism: Strong knowledge and understanding of theories and concepts related to socioeconomic development with a focus on alleviating poverty and addressing inequality and leaving no one behind. A deep knowledge of and the ability to use quantitative and qualitative methods and techniques. Strong analytical capacity and the ability to identify, analyze and articulate complex issues. Strong research skills, including ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources using standard methodologies and analytical techniques, draw conclusions and assess impact of policies in the area of social development. Ability to provide guidance to new/junior staff. 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 or equivalent) in sociology, economics, development, or other social science related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in socioeconomic development, sociological research and policy analysis, or related field, is required.
Demonstrated experience from own quantitative research and the use of advanced statistical methodologies is required.
Experience from working in the Asia-Pacific region on issues relating to inequality, social protection and leaving no one behind, is desirable.
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.
Qualified applicants may be evaluated through a competency-based interview and/or other assessment methods.
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.
For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 November 2022, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malta, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu.
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.
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.
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.
The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.
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.
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