This position is located in the Enterprise Branch of the Division on Investment and Enterprise of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The Economic Affairs Officer reports to the Chief of the Accounting and Corporate Governance Section.
Within delegated authority, the Economic Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
Economic or sector analysis
•Develops socio-economic databases and qualitative information in the area of accounting and enterprise reporting
•Drafts specified inputs for technical papers and analytical studies on enterprise reporting as means for sustainable and inclusive development.
•Attends international, regional, and national meetings to collect information and to hold discussions with colleagues in other institutions.
•Assists in the organization and servicing of expert group meetings, seminars, etc. on development issues.
•Prepares speeches and other inputs for presentations by senior staff.
Intergovernmental support
•Prepares inputs for reports for the ISAR group and other intergovernmental bodies.
•Follows intergovernmental meetings and prepares summary reports.
•Prepares inputs to statements by members of the Bureau and Secretariat staff to such meetings.
•Assists in the organization of panels, round tables etc. on development issues for intergovernmental processes.
Technical cooperation
•Drafts training material and handbooks pertaining to enterprise for development, including on accounting and enterprise reporting.
•Participates in missions on development issues, usually as a member of a team.
•Organises 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 sector technical cooperation projects.
•Monitors, backstops and assesses the implementation of technical cooperation programmes and projects related to enterprise development, with a particular focus on accounting and enterprise reporting.
General
•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:
Ability to apply economic theories and concepts in the area of enterprise development, including accounting and enterprise reporting. Ability to conduct independent research on accounting and enterprise reporting topics, determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources. Shows skills in developing sources for data collection on enterprise reporting. 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 degree) in economics, or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in economic research and analysis, policy formulation, application of economic principles in development programmes or related area is required. A minimum of two years of experience in research and policy analysis, and policy formulation in enterprise reporting is desirable and a minimum of one year experience in accounting for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) is desirable.
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which will be followed by competency-based interview.
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.
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.
For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 31 July 2017, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belarus, Belize, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Comoros, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Viet Nam.
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 or sexual abuse, or crimes other than minor traffic offences, 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.
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.
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.
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.