Research Assistant

Result of Service The incumbent will be responsible to deliver a substantive support for the conduct of research and provision of programmed activities under the project “Climate Resilience through Regional Cooperation for Inclusive Sustainable Development”.

Work Location UN-House ESCWA

Expected duration 6 Months

Duties and Responsibilities Background

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) is implementing a project entitled “Climate Resilience through Regional Cooperation for Inclusive Sustainable Development” with the support of the Government of Sweden. The project supports Arab States engagement in support of global and regional processes to achieve the sustainable development through building climate resilience in the areas of water resources management, food security and systems as they relate to climate change.

Tasks - duties and responsibilities

The individual contractor would provide substantive support to the Climate Change and Natural Resource Sustainability Cluster at ESCWA in Beirut, Lebanon, including through the following tasks:

• Researches, compiles, analyses, summarizes, and presents basic information/data on climate change, water and land resources, food systems and food security, biodiversity, renewable energy and related topics;
• Assists in the preparation of presentations and background material for related deliverables;
• Systematically tracks, follows through, retrieves, compiles and disseminates information related to climate change, food systems and food security, water resources, land and related issues in preparation for global and regional meetings.
• Assembles and catalogues original statistical material, tables and geospatial datasets; adjusts reported data from different sources, and loads data into computerized database system, online platforms and geospatial databases in English and Arabic.
• Supports the preparation of workshops, events and meetings including contributing logistically and substantively in relation to the project;
• Assists in the evaluation and examination of indicators and data sets for accuracy, clarity and validity;
• Drafts a variety of reports, presentations, tables, lists, graphs, charts, maps and/or diagrams for information and review by senior officers and provides Arabic-English language translations and summaries of document needed for preparing reports and implementing meetings;
• Drafts and reviews abstracts/bibliographic descriptions, listings and geospatial indicators for inclusion in presentations, publications, policy briefs and online platforms;
• Reviews, stores, classifies and maintains relevant computerized databases, including in geospatial platforms;
• Respond to or draft responses to a range of correspondence and other meeting-related communications in Arabic or English;
• Maintains up-to-date work unit files (both electronic and paper);

• Performs other related tasks and duties as assigned.

  Qualifications/special skills Master’s degree in food security, agriculture or land use planning or a related field is required.

All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. A minimum of six years of experience in the field of research and analysis is required. Experience working in the area of food security, agriculture and natural resource sustainability is required. At least two years of experience working in the Arab region is required.

Languages Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA.

For this position, fluency in English and Arabic is required. Knowledge of French is an advantage.

Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas.

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.