Notes:
• This temporary position is available through 31 March 2017.
• 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 position is located in the Economic Governance and Planning Section (EGPS) of the Economic Development and Integration Division (EDID) of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). The Economic Affairs Officer reports directly to the Chief, EGPS, under the overall supervision of the Director, EDID.
The Economic Affairs Officer will be responsible for carrying out the following:
1- Monitors economic developments in a defined area and identifies recurrent and emerging issues of concern to the United Nations;
2- Designs and conducts studies of selected issues in economic planning and economic governance and draft resulting reports;
3- Interprets and applies results of econometric modelling to analysis of economic prospects and policies;
4- Formulates proposals for development strategies, policies and measures for presentation to intergovernmental bodies and others;
5- Suggests policies and programs to enhance the status of economic governance and economic planning for ESCWA member states and link them to the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
6- Attends international, regional, and national meetings to hold discussions with representatives of other institutions;
7- Organizes expert group meetings, seminars, etc. on development and economic governance issues;
8- Prepares speeches and other inputs for presentations by senior staff;
9- Represents organizational unit at international, regional and national meetings;
10- Designs and monitors technical cooperation 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;
11- Prepares global, regional, national or sector analyses that provide a basis for advising national governments on economic development issues;
12- Conducts training seminars and workshops for government officials and others;
13- Formulates technical modalities for the evaluation of individual technical cooperation projects;
14- Supports junior staff, reviewing their work and providing feedback;
15- Participates in intra- and inter-Departmental undertakings of broader concern to represent the views or interests of the organizational unit;
16- Performs other related duties as required, including a variety of administrative tasks necessary for the final delivery of the work unit’s service;
17- Undertakes on-the-job and other training activities, both internally and externally.
• 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 identify and develop sources for data collection. 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;
• ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in socio-economic research and analysis on development issues, applied quantitative analysis, application of macroeconomic and microeconomics principles in development, applied policy analysis and formulation particularly in the area of economic planning. Work experience in developing countries is desirable.
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Arabic is also a working language of ESCWA. For the position advertised, fluency in written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of Arabic is desirable.
The shortlisted candidates may undergo a substantive assessment related to the functions of the post followed by 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.
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.