Senior Economic Affairs Officer (Water Resources)

Contract

This is a P-5 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 10 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 153,110 USD and 191,882 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 The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA unescwa.org) forms part of the United Nations Secretariat and, like the other regional commissions, operates under the supervision of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. ESCWA comprises 20 Arab countries in Western Asia and North Africa. ESCWA provides a framework for the formulation and harmonization of sectoral policies for member countries, a platform for congress and coordination, a home for expertise and knowledge, and an information observatory. ESCWA activities are coordinated with the divisions and main offices of the Headquarters of the United Nations, specialized agencies, and international and regional organizations, including the League of Arab States and its subsidiary bodies, and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The position is located in the Climate Change and Natural Resource Sustainability Cluster. The Senior Economic Affairs Officer reports directly to the Climate Change and Natural Resource Sustainability Cluster Leader.

Responsibilities Within delegated authority, the duties of the Senior Economic Affairs Officer fall mainly into the following functional areas and embrace a number of programme support responsibilities.

Sectoral Analysis 1. Leads or participates in the formulation, organization and management of mandated programmes on integrated water resources management and water sector analysis and the formulation of possible water security strategies, policies and actions for adoption by Arab States and the international community. 2. Leads or participates in the identification of new or emerging development issues of potential concern to Arab States and the international community, particularly those of a regional or transboundary nature that affects the management of water resources, and designs and develops programmes to address them. 3. Leads and contributes to the drafting and finalization of publications and technical reports that provide informed assessments and recommendations for addressing priority water issues facing the Arab region. 4. Supervises team(s) of diverse water and sustainable development experts undertaking this work. 5. Commissions water-related studies and analyses that cannot be undertaken internally and overseas the implementation of the work. 6. Conceives, plans and manages expert group meetings, seminars and similar consultations that contribute to the finalization of the work unit’s outputs. 7. Contributes to reports on sustainable development for issuance by the United Nations. 8. Prepares speeches for senior staff and makes presentations on water issues for specialist or non-specialist audiences.

Intergovernmental Support 1. Provides direct substantive support on water issues to intergovernmental bodies (such as the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, , the regional commissions and the subsidiary bodies of each, including the ESCWA Committee on Water Resources) and regional organizations serving Arab States by offering strategic advice, giving technical guidance and assisting in developing a consensus. 2. Contributes to the preparation and management of meetings of intergovernmental bodies. 3. Prepares and reviews intergovernmental parliamentary documents and reports to intergovernmental bodies. 4. Represents the organizational unit at international, regional and national meetings on water and sustainable development issues.

Technical Cooperation 1. Develops and maintains relations with senior officials of member governments and ensures a response to requests for advice and/or assistance on water issues and policies. 2. Coordinates with donor and recipient governments on the formulation and implementation of technical assistance programmes and projects. 3. Organizes and coordinates cooperation among Member States on water-related programmes or issues. 4. Leads or participates in technical cooperation missions.

Programme Support 1. Coordinates the preparation and implementation of water projects and contributes as a member of a team to the preparation and implementation of other water-related projects. 2. Contributes to the formulation of the medium-term plan and the programme of work of the cluster and participates in the formulation of the organization's overall programme of work and other similar endeavours. 3. Attends to various administrative matters concerning the cluster and larger organizational unit. 4. Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies - PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to apply theories and concepts on integrated water resources management at the national and transboundary levels as it relates to different sectors of economic and sustainable development. Ability to conduct independent research on integrated water resource management topics, determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources and at different scales of analysis. Ability to develop policies that advance the achievement of water-related goals in the region 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.

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

• MANAGING PERFORMANCE: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly.

• JUDGEMENT/DECISION-MAKING: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

  Education Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in water resources management, water sciences, civil engineering, international water law, natural resource economics, development economics or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A PhD is desirable.

  Work Experience A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in water-related research and analysis, policy formulation, application of water-related analysis in development programmes or related area is required.

  A minimum of two years of experience working on water issues facing the Arab region is desirable.

  A minimum of two years of experience working on the management of water resource in a transboundary context is desirable.

  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 is required; fluency in Arabic is required; and knowledge of French is desirable.

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.

Assessment Evaluation of qualified applicants may include one or more assessments which may be followed by a competency-based interview.

Special Notice - This position is available for one year from the date of appointment/assignment. Extension of the appointment/assignment is subject to availability of funds, extension of the mandate, continued need for services, and satisfactory performance.

• At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

• 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 January 2022, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, China, Comoros, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu, Vietnam.

• 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.

• Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat serving at the P4 level on a Permanent/ Continuing/ Fixed-term Appointment must fulfil the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this job opening. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover letter, and attach copies of Umoja personnel action or other proof of lateral moves in their application.

• Individual Contractors and Consultants who have worked within the UN Secretariat in the last six months, irrespective of the administering entity, are ineligible to apply for or be appointed to any professional and higher temporary or fixed-term positions, within six months of the end of their current or most recent service. For such positions, at least six months need to have elapsed between the end of a consultancy or individual contract and the time of application and consideration for an appointment as a staff member under the Staff Rules and Regulations of the United Nations.

  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.