Historique

The Economic, Social and Development Unit (DU) at the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG) serves as the substantive hub for all development matters within EOSG. The DU monitors and reviews trends and activities in development in order to raise political attention to issues of concern and expediently advise Senior Managers at the EOSG. As appropriate, it also communicates and amplifies to the UN system views and policy directions from the EOSG, in areas of concern. In its day to day work the DU organizes its work addressing four different areas: (i) economic affairs; (ii) social affairs); (iii) environmental affairs; (iv) inter-governmental processes on development.

The Senior Policy Specialist works directly with the Economic, Social and Development Unit and contributes to the advisory service of the DU to the Senior Managers at the EOSG.

Devoirs et responsabilités

The Senior Economic and Development Officer will contribute to the work of the DU by independently addressing cross-cutting issues associated to economic development overall and to development operational activities of the United Nations system. S/he will perform the following key functions:

  • Advises on economic and aid development issues addressing both global and relevant regional/country issues as deemed appropriate
  • Provides appropriate substantive support to the work of the SG/DSG within the framework of development operational activities of the United Nations system,
  • Focal point at the EOSG for reform initiatives within the UN development system, with particular attention to their implications on the field.
  • Focal point at the EOSG for G20, financing for development, aid effectiveness processes and for the relationships with financial multilateral institutions.
  • Coordinates analysis and interpretation of economic trends and reports for the Senior Management in the EOSG, with particular emphasis on their impact on the achievement of the MDGs.
  • Monitors progress in the follow up of major UN conferences in the areas of economic development and aid effectiveness and provides support to the work of the Unit in these areas.
  • Facilitation of EOSG dialogue on economic and aid effectiveness issues with other UN agencies, Member States, civil society, private sector.

Compétences

Corporate:

  • Demonstrates integrity and fairness, by modeling the UN/UNDP`s values and ethical standards;
  • Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UN/UNDP;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Functional:

  • Advocacy/Advancing a Policy Oriented Area
  • Creates effective advocacy strategies
  • Performs analysis of external environment and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses
  • Ability to apply various practice/thematic area related development theories to the specific context
  • Substantive knowledge practice area and ability to link knowledge to UN/UNDP global policies and frameworks

Building Strategic Partnerships

  • Ability to interact with high level officials/senior policy experts and credibly influence senior decision makers

Leadership

  • Ability to conceptualize and convey strategic vision from the spectrum of development experience;
  • Knowledge and expertise in UN/UNDP`s programming processes

Managing Relationships

  • Demonstrated well developed people management and organizational skills;
  • Strong ability to work and influence the teams, creating enabling environment;
  • Excellent negotiating and networking skills
  • Strong resource mobilization and partnering skills

Managing Complexity

  • Ability to address global development issues
  • Demonstrated substantive knowledge and ability to integrate knowledge with broader strategic, policy and operational objectives;

Knowledge Management and Learning

  • Demonstrated ability to collaborate with others in own unit and across boundaries, acknowledge others` contributions, promote collaboration and facilitate teamwork across organizational boundaries;
  • Open to new ideas; shares own knowledge; applies knowledge in the daily work
  • Seeks and applies knowledge, information and best practices from within and outside UN/UNDP .

Judgment/Decision Making

  • Mature judgment and initiative
  • Independent judgment and discretion in advising on handling major policy issues and challenges


Qualifications et expériences requises

Education:
  • Master’s Degree in Economics, Public Policy or Development or other relevant field.
Experience:
  • At least 7 years of relevant experience at the national or international level; experience on development issues at country level highly desirable.
  • Experience in policy-level analysis;
  • Experiences in resource mobilization, involvement in partnership building and other relevant strategic initiatives are asset
Language Requirements:
  • Fluency in English;
  • Knowledge of other UN official languages is an added advantage.