This position is located in the Social Development Division, Economic Commission for Latin America and Caribbean (ECLAC), Santiago. The Social Affairs Officer reports to a senior Social Affairs Officer.
The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean is one of the five regional Commissions of the United Nations. It was founded in 1948 with the purpose of contributing to the region's economic and social development. Its mission includes the design, monitoring and evaluation of public policies and the provision of advisory services, expertise and training to Governments, as well as support for regional and international cooperation and coordination activities. Please visit our website at www.eclac.org for further information.
Within delegated authority, the Social Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
Social Analysis
· Participates in the analysis of social development issues in selected areas at the global, regional and national levels; undertakes empirical research and analysis of trends and developments and related policy issues relevant to the social development division, projects and initiatives (e.g., poverty, income distribution and other dimensions of inequality, social institutional frameworks and social policies with a life cycle approach); recommends proposals for inclusion in reports to intergovernmental bodies, member states, etc.
· Develops indicators and methodologies for review and evaluation of specific topics.
· Liaises with officials of governments, representatives of national, regional and global organizations, organizations of the UN system, etc. on selected social policy issues related to the implementation of specific programmes, action plans or other initiatives, and provides advice on a range of related matters.
· Assists in the planning, organizing and servicing of technical and ad hoc expert group meeting; drafting reports and preparing summaries of meetings, etc.
· Represents the work unit at international and other meetings; organize and participate in working groups, meetings, conferences, consultations with other agencies and partners on social and economic development related matters.
· Prepares/contributes to the preparation of various written reports, documents and communications, e.g. drafts reports or sections of analytical reports, studies, background papers, parliamentary documents, briefings, correspondence, etc.
Intergovernmental support
· Provides support to intergovernmental processes dealing with social development issues by: preparing inputs for reports to intergovernmental bodies (such as the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, the Commission for Social Development) at global and regional level, including the Regional Conference on Social Development in Latin America and the Caribbean); following intergovernmental meetings and preparing summary reports; preparing inputs to statements by members of the bureau and Secretariat staff to such meetings; assisting in the organization of panels, round tables, etc. on social development issues for intergovernmental processes.
Technical Cooperation
· Organizes training seminars for national experts.
· Prepares documentation for technical cooperation programmes and projects.
· Contributes to the preparation of material for the approval of regional, country or sectoral technical cooperation projects.
· Monitors, backstops and assesses the implementation of technical cooperation programmes and projects.
· Participates in fact-finding and advisory missions to government and other activities in support of work programme.
General
· Provides guidance to, and may supervise, new/junior staff.
· Performs other related duties as required, including a variety of administrative tasks necessary for the final delivery of the work unit’s services.
· Undertakes on-the-job and other training activities, both internally and externally.
• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge and practical application of theories and concepts related to social development and social policy, including ability to use approaches and techniques to address difficult problems. Strong analytical capacity and the ability to identify, analyze and articulate difficult issues/problems. Ability to use sound judgment. 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 on the social development and policy issues. Good knowledge of Latin American and the Caribbean countries, including the political, economic and social dimensions. 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 & 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.
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in sociology, economics, other social science or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in socio economic development, policy analysis, sociological research or related area is required.
Experience in research and policy advisory in social policies and social protection issues, poverty and multiple dimensions of inequality are desirable.
One (1) year or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.
Publications in social development issues and social policies in the Latin American and Caribbean regions are desirable.
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Spanish is a working language of ECLAC. For the position advertised, fluency in English and fluency in Spanish is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
• This position is temporarily available for 4 months. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.
• While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.
• Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.
• This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15.
• Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.
• Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.
• Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professional's 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.
Aux termes du paragraphe 3 de l’Article 101 de la Charte des Nations Unies, la considération dominante dans le recrutement du personnel doit être la nécessité d’assurer à l’Organisation les services de personnes possédant les plus hautes qualités de travail, de compétence et d’intégrité. Ne seront pas retenues les candidatures des personnes qui ont commis des violations du droit international des droits de l’homme, des violations du droit international humanitaire, des actes d’exploitation, d’atteintes ou de harcèlement sexuels, ou au sujet desquelles il existe des raisons plausibles de croire qu’elles ont été impliquées dans la commission de tels actes. L’expression « exploitation sexuelle » désigne le fait d’abuser ou de tenter d’abuser d’un état de vulnérabilité, d’un rapport de force inégal ou de rapports de confiance à des fins sexuelles, y compris mais non exclusivement en vue d’en tirer un avantage pécuniaire, social ou politique. On entend par « atteinte sexuelle » toute atteinte physique de nature sexuelle commise par la force, sous la contrainte ou à la faveur d’un rapport inégal, ou la menace d’une telle atteinte. Le harcèlement sexuel s'entend de tout comportement déplacé à connotation sexuelle raisonnablement propre ou de nature à choquer ou humilier, lorsqu'il entrave la bonne marche du service, est présenté comme une condition d'emploi ou crée au lieu de travail un climat d'intimidation, d'hostilité ou de vexation, et lorsque ce comportement est assez grave pour justifier le licenciement de son auteur. La candidature de personnes qui ont commis des infractions autres que des infractions mineures au code de la route ne sera pas retenue.
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