Notes:
• This temporary position is available for 3 months, subject to extension based on the availability of funds.
• 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 with the Economic Development and Integration Division (EDID) of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). The Regional Advisor will be under the general guidance of the Executive Secretary and report directly to the Director of the Economic Development and Integration Division (EDID) and in close cooperation with the Director of the Programme Planning and Technical Cooperation Division (PPTC).
The Regional Advisor will perform wide-ranging tasks to promote regional integration and cooperation among ESCWA member countries through the development of the transport sector.
1) Provide technical assistance and advisory services to public officials involved in transport issues, including the formulation and the implementation of integrated systems, technical standards, rehabilitation of ports, border crossing logistics, etc. Particular focus will be placed on the continued development, financing, implementation and expansion of the various components of the Integrated Transport System in the Arab Mashreq (ITSAM) including but not limited to multimodal transport and trade facilitation, customs, logistics and road traffic safety.
2) Carry out short-term advisory missions to governments and relevant stakeholders to advise senior decision makers on issues associated with transport related policies, through:
a) Monitoring and follow up on the ratification and implementation by the member countries of the three transport UN conventions adopted under the auspices of ESCWA including the provision of secretariat services to the parties of these conventions;
b) Examining institutional capacities to undertake integrated transport policymaking, public-private initiatives, and the role of the development policies in achieving integration with neighboring countries, at the sub regional level, and at the regional level;
c) Examining the impact of the implementation of international agreements mainly Agreement on International Roads in the Arab Mashreq on enhancing intra-regional trade and border crossing facilitation. Establishing quantitative tools, indexes and indicators is the a core requirement of this assignment;
d) Proposing and discussing ideas in building capacity for policymaking, planning, financing transport infrastructure that support the implementation of the transport infrastructure projects mainly those related to the international agreements falling under ITSAM framework;
e) Identifying ways in which states and their policymaking institutions can enhance processes and systems that combine technocratic top-down policies and spontaneous local innovation with public platforms and quasi-public and private institutions that make up the public-private-financial sector more involved in transport infrastructure projects;
f) Cooperation and coordination with relevant national, regional and international organization, agencies and consulting firms as necessary and appropriate in the provision of technical assistance and advisory services to member countries, Arab region and neighboring regions in relevant projects and issues;
g) Provision of responses to pending requests by member countries on relevant issues (e.g. transport and trade facilitation in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Iraq, Egypt, Sudan and others), propose capacity building programs;
h) Representation of ESCWA at international, regional and national meetings on relevant issues;
3) Promote the interest of funding agencies to financially support national, sub-regional and regional transport related project by:
a) Undertaking consultations with other divisions within ESCWA and within the framework of ESCWA’s programme of work of Technical Cooperation Strategy;
b) Collaborating with other relevant internal stakeholders on developing resource mobilization strategies;
c) Consulting and meeting with funding agencies on a regular basis to understand their priorities and plans;
4) Provide technical support and capacity building on financing and implementing transport planning by:
a) Formulating national, sub-regional and regional projects or programmes;
b) Implementing capacity-building projects and orientation workshops;
5) Ensure policy lessons are documented and reflected in the Division’s programme of work and outputs, by:
a) Reporting regularly on activities;
b) Contributing towards the development of the division’s prgramme of work and outputs;
6) Perform other duties requested by the Director of the division.
Professionalism - Ability to apply economic theories and concepts in different sectors of economic and sustainable development. Ability to conduct independent research on economic topics, determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources. Ability to develop economic policies and make recommendations on their implementation. 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.
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.
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.
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent, preferably PhD) in transport planning, financing or any other closely related discipline. 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 ten years of experience in the area of transport particularly on planning and financing transport infrastructure at the national/international level; extensive experience in technical cooperation and advisory services for governments required experience in coordination, addressing media, and networking at the regional and international level, is also required.
English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. Arabic is also a working language of ESCWA. For the post, fluency in oral and written English and Arabic is required and French is an asset.
The shortlisted candidates may undergo a written assessment and a competency-based interview. Only shortlisted 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.
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, TRAINING OR ANY OTHER FEES). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON BANK ACCOUNTS.