Economic Affairs Officer, P3, Nairobi

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Org. Setting and Reporting

Created in December 1999, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) is the designated focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of efforts to reduce disasters and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities of the United Nations and regional organizations and activities in both developed and less developed countries. Led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG), UNDRR has over 140 staff located in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and in regional offices. Specifically, UNDRR guides, monitors, analyses and reports on progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, supports regional and national implementation of the Framework and catalyzes action and increases global awareness to reduce disaster risk working with UN Member States and a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians and the science and technology community. 

Under the 2022-2025 strategic Framework, UNDRR intends to accelerate its support to member states and in close cooperation with financial sector partners, support fast-track financing for DRR and ensure investments (including on infrastructure) are de-risked by fostering strategic engagements, advocacy and generating guidance with evidence. 

This project position is located in the UNDRR Regional Office for Africa (ROA) in Nairobi. The Economic Affairs Officer will report to the Deputy Chief of the UNDRR Regional Office for Africa under the overall supervision of the Chief of the Regional Office.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties and responsibilities: 

Economic or sector analysis 

• Develops socio-economic databases and qualitative information necessary for specified recurrent or ad hoc assignments on topics of DRR financing and resilient infrastructure. •
• Interprets, applies and, as necessary, adapts econometric models to determine trends, patterns and relationships and to analyse the effects of alternative policies and assumptions. 
• Drafts specified inputs for technical papers, country-support methodologies, and analytical studies on selected global, regional, national or sector aspects of economic development. 
• Identifies and analyses policy proposals made elsewhere relating to assigned topics. 
• Attends international, regional, and national meetings to collect information, present UNDRR knowledge products and hold discussions with colleagues in other institutions. 
• Assists in the organization and servicing of expert group meetings, seminars, etc. on development issues. •
• Prepares speeches and other inputs for presentations by senior staff. 

Partner support 

• Provides substantive support on economic issues related to Disaster Risk Reduction to UNDRR partners including intergovernmental bodies, member states, local governments, private sector, UN agencies and others.
• Attends international, regional and national meetings, and 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 development issues for intergovernmental processes. 
• Identifies opportunities for partnerships with other organizations and entities to advance DRR priorities. 

Technical cooperation 

• Coordinates the implementation of Disaster Risk Reduction financing and de-risking initiatives, including on resilient infrastructure, in the region and at national level, working in cooperation with HQ colleagues and external partners. 
• Carries out development of integrated national financing frameworks, risk sensitive budget reviews and cost-benefit analyses in support of UN partners and national authorities at the country level, and facilitates related training and/or capacity-building events. 
• Participates in missions on development issues, usually as a member of a team, including to support the implementation of technical cooperation projects at the national level. 
• Organizes training seminars for national experts. 
• Prepares documentation for technical cooperation programmes and projects on topics of DRR financing and resilient infrastructure. 
• Contributes to the preparation of material for the approval of regional, country or sector technical cooperation projects. 
• Monitors, backstops and assesses the implementation of technical cooperation programmes and projects. 
• Collaborates with relevant UNDRR staff and units to support and coordinate the planning, implementation and evaluation of UNDRR policies and programming on risk-informed investment across various global and regional initiatives, such as Regional Risk Assessment Report, UNDRR’s Private Sector Network (ARISE), Making Cities Resilient Programme (MCR2030), Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and others. 

General 

• Performs other related duties as required, including a variety of administrative tasks necessary for the final delivery of the work unit’s services. 
• Undertakes on-the-job and other training activities, both internally and externally.

Competencies

Professionalism: Ability to apply economic theories and concepts in different sectors of economic 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. 

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. 

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.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in economics or related field is required. A first-level university degree in the above-mentioned areas in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in economic research and analysis, policy formulation, application of economic principles in development programmes or a related area is required. 

Work experience in development finance and/or resilient infrastructure is required. 

Work experience in disaster risk reduction is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

This is a project position. Appointment or assignment against this position is for an initial period of one year. The appointment or assignment and renewal thereofare subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate. 

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 and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

In line with the overall United Nations policy, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction encourages a positive workplace culture which embraces inclusivity and leverages diversity within its workforce. Measures are applied to enable all staff members to contribute equally and fully to the work and development of the organization, including flexible working arrangements, family-friendly policies and standards of conduct. 

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 professional and higher, temporary or fixed-term positions and their applications will not be considered. 

Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position.

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. 

Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. 

By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. 

Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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.

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