Notes:
•This temporary position is available through 31 December 2016, subject to extension based on the availability of the post.
• A current staff member who holds a fixed-term, permanent or continuing appointment may apply for temporary positions no more than one level above his or her current grade. However, a current staff member who holds an appointment at the G-6 or G-7 level may also apply to temporary positions in the Professional category up to and including the P-3 level, subject to meeting all eligibility and other requirements for the position. A staff member holding a temporary appointment shall be regarded as an external candidate when applying for other positions, and may apply for other temporary positions at any level, subject to section 5.7 below and staff rule 4.16 (b) (ii). Therefore, a staff member holding a temporary appointment in the General Service or related categories may only apply to positions within those categories. For full information on eligibility requirements, please refer to section 5 of ST/AI/2010/4Rev.1 on Temporary Appointments. In its resolution 66/234, the General Assembly further “stressed that the Secretary-General should not recur to the practice of temporarily filling posts in the Professional and higher categories with General Service staff members who have not passed the General Service to Professional category examination other than on an exceptional basis, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that temporary occupation of such posts by the General Service staff shall not exceed a period of one year, effective 1 January 2013…” Consequently, eligible candidates in the General Service or related categories for temporary job openings in the Professional category that have not passed the competitive examination may be selected only on an exceptional basis endorsed by the Office of Human Resources Management where no other suitable candidate could be identified.
• Upon separation from service, including, but not limited to, expiration or termination of, or resignation from, a fixed-term, continuing or permanent appointment, a former staff member will be ineligible for re-employment on the basis of a temporary appointment for a period of 31 days following the separation. In the case of separation from service on retirement, a former staff member will be ineligible for re-employment for a period of three months following the separation. This equally applies, mutatis mutandis, with respect to a former or current staff member who has held or holds an appointment in another entity applying the United Nations Staff Regulations and Rules and who applies for a temporary position with the Secretariat.
• Subject to the funding source of the position, this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.
• 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. An external candidate selected for this position is bound by the prevailing condition of the staff selection system under ST/AI/2010/3, as amended, and ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1. A staff member holding a temporary appointment who is recruited in the Professional and above categories on a temporary appointment, and placed on a position authorized for one year or longer may not apply for or be reappointed to his/her current position within six months of the end of his/her current service. This provision does not apply to staff members holding temporary appointments and placed on positions authorized for one year or more in duty stations authorized for peacekeeping operations or special political missions.
• The expression “Internal candidates”, shall mean staff members who have been recruited after a competitive examination under staff rule 4.16 or after the advice of a central review body under staff rule 4.15.
• Please note that candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
• For information on special post allowance, please refer to ST/AI/1999/17. For more details on the administration of temporary appointments please refer to ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1.
• The Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and administrative issuances governing staff appointments can be viewed at: http://www.un.org/hr_handbook/English
• 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.
This post is located within the Conflict, Occupation and Development Section (CODS), in the Emerging and Conflict Related Issues Division (ECRI) of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). The Economic Affairs Officer reports directly to the Chief, CODS and will be under the overall supervision of the Director of ECRI.
The Economic Affairs Officer will be responsible for carrying out the following:
Political Economic analysis
1. Develops governance, political, socio-economic databases and qualitative information necessary for specified recurrent or ad hoc assignments on risk assessment, the ramifications of conflict in the Middle East and their spill over effects.
2. Interprets, applies and, as necessary, adapts advanced quantitative analysis methods, including econometric models to determine trends, patterns and relationships and to analyse the effects of conflict in alternative policies and assumptions.
3. Drafts specified inputs for technical papers and analytical studies on selected global, regional, national or sector aspects of economic development, governance and conflict mitigation.
4. Identifies and analyses policy proposals made elsewhere relating to assigned topics, including resilience building of conflict affected countries.
5. Attends international, regional, and national meetings to collect information and to hold discussions with colleagues in other institutions.
6. Assists in the organization and servicing of expert group meetings, seminars, etc. on development issues.
7. Prepares speeches and other inputs for presentations by senior staff.
Intergovernmental support
8. Prepares inputs for reports to intergovernmental bodies.
9. Follows intergovernmental meetings and prepares summary reports.
10. Prepares inputs to statements by members of the Bureau and Secretariat staff to such meetings.
11. Assists in the organization of panels, round tables etc. on development issues for intergovernmental processes.
Technical cooperation
12. Participates in missions on development issues, usually as a member of a team.
13. Organizes training seminars for national experts.
14. Prepares documentation for technical cooperation programmes and projects related to conflict mitigation and resilience building.
15. Contributes to the preparation of material for the approval of regional, country or sector technical cooperation projects.
16. Monitors, backstops and assesses the implementation of technical cooperation programmes and projects.
General
17. Performs other related duties as required, including a variety of administrative tasks necessary for the final delivery of the work unit’s services.
18. Undertakes on-the-job and other training activities, both internally and externally
Professionalism: Ability to apply political and economic theories and concepts in different sectors of economic and sustainable development within conflict afflicted contexts of the Middle East. Ability to conduct independent research on politico-economic topics, determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources. Shows skill in developing sources for data collection in addition to the utilization of advanced quantitative tools. 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.
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics, political economy, political science governance or related field. 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 five years of progressively responsible experience in research and analysis, policy formulation, in political economy, governance or related area. Experience in utilizing advanced quantitative tools, including modeling is desirable.
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Arabic is also a working language of ESCWA. For this post, fluency in written and spoken English is
required.
The shortlisted candidates may undergo a substantive assessment related to the functions of the post in addition to a competency-based interview. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
The United Nations shall place 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. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.
Candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
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.