IRA - ECONOMIC AFFAIRS OFFICER

Contract

This is a P-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 171,387 USD and 220,969 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

Org. Setting and Reporting This position is located in the United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat (UNFF), Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). The Inter-regional Adviser (IRA) will work under the direct supervision of the Chief of Policy Development and Implementation Section and the overall guidance of the Director of the UNFF.

The Division is mandated to provide leadership and is an authoritative source of policy advice and expertise within the Unite Nations System on forests and all forest-related issues including sustainable forest management (SFM). It provides substantive secretariat support to the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) which was established by the ECOSOC to promote sustainable forest management worldwide and to strengthen long-term political commitment to this end. It is composed of all Member States of the United Nations and specialized agencies. For more information on UNFF can be found on www.un.org/esa/forest/.

The services of the IRA aim to ensure the provision of high-level technical expertise, the transfer of knowledge from global entities to Governments on policy-related issues and development strategies and the formulation, assessment or evaluation of projects and programmes.

The IRA is a member of DESA’s IRA Network. The services of the IRA need to comply with intergovernmental guidance on the use of the Regular Programme on Technical Cooperation (RPTC), when appropriate, and with strategies and guidance concerning capacity development activities endorsed by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and supported by the Capacity Development Programme Management Office (CDPMO).

Responsibilities - Provides policy advice online and/or through short-term field missions to Governments and other relevant stakeholders in developing countries and countries with economies in transition upon their request on aspects of the United Nations Forest Instrument and United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests (UNSPF) and achievement of the Global Forest Goals (GFGs) and forest-related sustainable development goals (SDGs) and targets, with the focus on halting deforestation and forest degradation, as well as mitigating climate change and biodiversity loss. - Monitors, studies and analyzes the trends and best practices on halting deforestation, reducing the risks of forest fires, and coherent policies to address climate change, biodiversity loss and deforestation. - Collaborates with Member States, members of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests, and other partners in organizing expert meetings and workshops on forest related issues to develop action plans, and initiate partnerships to promote forest restoration readiness program to promote implementation of UNSPF. - Contributes to the design/redesign of national policies and strategies upon requests from developing countries for coherent implementation of the UNSPF, 2030 Agenda, post-2020 global biodiversity framework, Paris Agreement, and Glasgow Leaders Declaration on Forests and Land Use, to promote the UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration. and for the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and/or other relevant international norms and standards. - Provides technical support in the design and development of the E-learning courses on forest landscape restoration readiness programmes, Sustainable Forests Management, forest financing and other major focus areas of the office. - Contributes to assisting countries, upon request, in mobilizing, accessing and enhancing effective use of domestic resources for forests, including through advising on development and application of fiscal policies and green bonds. - Participates in the design and development of capacity development programmes, projects and activities at national, regional and global levels and contributes to implementation, monitoring and evaluation as well as reporting on these initiatives. - Ensures implementation of gender mainstreaming guidelines by assessing the implications for men and women of any planned action, including legislation, policies or programmes, in all areas and at all levels. - Makes substantive contributions to global/regional/sub-regional/national workshops, seminars, colloquia, and other training events, including proposals concerning agenda topics, possible participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc.. - Contributes to the Department’s resource mobilization strategies, notably as far as extra-budgetary funding is concerned. - Assumes other tasks in the area of expertise and in line with capacity development guidance as requested by the supervisor.

Work implies frequent interaction with the following:

Counterparts, senior officers and technical staff in relevant UN Secretariat entities and in UN funds, programmes and specialized agencies.

Representatives and officials in national governments, international organizations, and consultants.

Expected outputs:

• Written outputs (mission reports, policy papers, technical notes etc.) of sound and innovative advice to Governments and other relevant stakeholders in developing countries.
• The advisory services provided will cover a wide range of issues, including developing strategies for issues on a long-term and large-scale basis in the best interest of clients and/or, as appropriate of the organization.

• Other expected outputs include, as appropriate, policy recommendations, complex papers, analytical reports, toolkits, guidance notes, project proposals, and, upon request, substantive sections of reports and studies, publications, etc.

  Competencies - Professionalism: In general: a) Shows pride in work and achievements; b) demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter related to ecosystem restoration, including forest landscape restoration, coherent implementation of the climate change, biodiversity and forest agendas, , the Forest Instrument, and the UNSPF and GFGs; c) is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results; d) is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; e) shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; d) remains calm in stressful situations. In particular, DESA is looking for staff with the following technical competence: 1) a strong commitment to high-level technical expertise with capacity building in the relevant specialty of ecosystem restoration; 2) proven ability in preparing robust project proposals; 3) familiarity with the policies, programmes and activities of potential donors, including member states, UN funds and programmes, global funds, International Financial Institutions etc.; 4) familiarity with concepts and approaches related to capacity development and conversant with Result-based Budgeting/Result-based Management (RBB/RBM) approaches and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) approaches; 5) proven ability to be a broker of knowledge and brokering issues close to DESA normative analytical mandates; 6) proven ability in building partnerships with national institutions and other organizations involved in the development process; 7) proven ability in mobilizing resources; 8) taking responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

• Planning and Organizing: a) Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; b) identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; c) allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; d) foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; e) monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; f) uses time efficiently.

• Creativity: a) Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; b) offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; c) promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; d) takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks “outside the box”; e) takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; f) is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.

  Education A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience within the UN development system and/or related to operational activities for the development of the UN system in the area of ecosystem restoration, including forest landscape restoration and sustainable forest management, is required.

  Work Experience A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience within the UN development system and/or related to operational activities for the development of the UN system in the area of ecosystem restoration, including forest landscape restoration and sustainable forest management, is required.

  At least four (4) years of professional experience should be advisory work in ecosystem restoration is required.

  Experience in working in developing countries, including transition countries, preferably in more than one region is desirable.

  Experience in international technical cooperation and capacity development is desirable.

  Languages English and French are the working languages of the UN secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

  Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

  Special Notice This JO refers to a specialised interregional adviser position. The initial appointment is for one year. Annual renewal of appointment is subject to endorsement by an internal Departmental Panel on the continued need for the technical specialty depending on updates to DESA's priorities in the area of capacity development, and availability of funds. The functional requirements will be reassessed after five years.

  United Nations Considerations 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, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, 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. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

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.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

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.

No Fee 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.