Org. Setting and Reporting
The mandate of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is to promote inclusive economic, social and environmental development and support regional cooperation and integration in the Asian and Pacific region. ESCAP’s role as a regional development arm of the United Nations Secretariat, is to support its membership, through its analytical, normative and technical cooperation, to respond to the development priorities and changing needs of the Asian and Pacific region.
The Subregional Office for North and Central Asia (SONCA) is based in Almaty, Kazakhstan and covers Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as Afghanistan as member of the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA).
The Economic Affairs Officer is under the direct supervision of the Chief, Financing for Development Section and the overall supervision of the Director of Macroeconomic Policy and Financing for Development Division. Since the position is based in Almaty, the incumbent will also work closely with the Head of the Subregional Office for North and Central Asia.
Responsibilities
This position provides support to the implementation of financing for development and regional economic cooperation policies in North and Central Asia. The position also contributes to activities under SPECA, a joint programme of ESCAP and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) covering Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, as well as Afghanistan and Azerbaijan. The Economic Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following functions:
Economic or sector analysis
？Monitors, conducts research and identifies emerging issues in financing for development in North and Central Asia.
？Conducts analyses based on quantitative data, develops databases and compiles qualitative information necessary for specified recurrent or ad-hoc assignments, including the preparation
of the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific, the Asia-Pacific Countries with Special Needs Development Report, and the Financing for Development in Asia and the Pacific book series.
？Drafts specified inputs for technical papers, analytical studies and documents for intergovernmental and expert meetings on selected global, regional, national or sector aspects of economic development, especially on financing for development.
？Identifies and analyses policy proposals for the financing of regional connectivity among the countries of North and Central Asia.
？Attends international, regional, and national meetings to collect information and to hold discussions with colleagues in other institutions.
？Prepares speeches and other inputs for presentations by senior staff.
Intergovernmental support
？Follows intergovernmental meetings, including the SPECA Governing Board and Economic Forum, 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 economic development issues for intergovernmental processes.
Technical cooperation
？Participates in missions on development issues, usually as a member of a team.
？Organizes training seminars for national experts.
？Contributes to the preparation of material for the approval of regional, country or sector technical cooperation projects as well as contributes to activities related to financing for development, as well as regional economic cooperation under SPECA.
？Monitors, backstops and assesses the implementation of technical cooperation programmes and projects in the landlocked countries of the subregion.
General
？Performs other related duties as required, including a variety of administrative and programmatic tasks necessary for the final delivery of divisional and subregional office’s services.
？Undertakes on-the-job and other training activities, both internally and externally, including through remote learning.
Competencies
？Professionalism: Ability to apply economic theories and concepts to analyze issues related to financing for development, regional economic cooperation and sustainable development. Ability to conduct independent research on economic topics, determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources. Shows skill in developing 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.
？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.
？Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
Education
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 qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in economic or finance research and analysis, policy formulation, or the application of economic principles in sustainable development programmes or related area. Experience in statistical data analysis, and data management is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Fluency in Russian is desirable.
Assessment
Qualified applicants may be evaluated through a competency-based interview and/or other assessment methods.
Special Notice
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.
For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 September 2018, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belarus, Belize, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, 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.
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.