ECONOMIC AFFAIRS OFFICER (Competition and Consumer Protection)

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Division on International Trade and Commodities, within the Competition and Consumer Policies Branch at the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The Economics Affairs Officer will report to the Head of the Competition and Consumer Policies Branch.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the duties of the Economic Affairs Officer will be as follows: Economic or sector analysis • Monitors legal and economic developments in the fields of consumer protection and/or competition policies and identifies recurrent and emerging issues of concern to the United Nations, especially with regard to developing countries’ needs and interests. • Designs and conducts studies of selected issues related to consumer protection and/or competition policies especially with regard to developing countries’ needs and interests. • Develops draft policy recommendations pertaining to consumer protection and/or competition policies especially with regard to developing countries’ needs and interests. • Formulates proposals for development strategies, policies and measures on consumer protection and/or competition policies for presentation to intergovernmental bodies and others. • Attends international, regional, and national meetings to hold discussions with representatives of other institutions. • Organizes expert group meetings, seminars, etc. on development issues related to consumer protection and/or competition policies. • Prepares speeches and other inputs for presentations by senior staff. Intergovernmental support • Provides substantive support on economic issues to UNCTAD intergovernmental group of experts meetings on consumer protection and competition, UNCTAD Trade and Development Commission and Trade and Development Board. • Intervenes in international, regional and national meetings at the request of the Head of the Branch. Technical cooperation • Designs, implements and monitors technical cooperation projects on consumer protection and/or competition policies. • Undertakes missions to member states, either alone or as a participant in a diverse team, as part of the Organization’s technical cooperation activities. • Conducts training seminars and workshops for government officials and others. General • Supports junior staff, reviewing their work and providing feedback. • Participates in intra- and inter-Departmental undertakings of broader concern to contribute and represent the views or interests of the Branch, at the request of the Head of the Branch. • Assists in fundraising and donor relations management on behalf of the Branch. • Participates in communication and external relations initiatives, in coordination with the Head of the Branch and the Office of the Director to promote the work of the Branch. • Assists in the recruitment of staff for the Branch, taking due account of the geographical and gender balance and other institutional values. • Undertakes on-the-job and other training activities, both internally and externally.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of the competition and/or consumer policies at national, regional and international levels. Ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues relating to competition and/or consumer protection policies, and to review and edit the work of others, including consultants’ work. Ability to design, supervise, implement and monitor capacity building programmes on competition and consumer policies. 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. 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. 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

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

Job – Specific Qualification

An advanced degree in the areas of competition and/or consumer policies is desirable.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in economic research and analysis, policy formulation, application of economic principles in development programmes or related area is required. Experience as per the above assisting in the formulation of policies and legal instruments related to competition and/or consumer protection policies is required. A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in designing and leading technical and capacity building assistance in the fields of competition and/or consumer policies at country, regional and international levels is desirable. Experience conducting in-depth analysis in competition and/or consumer laws and policies fields, as evidenced by publications, is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working language 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

For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 April 2024, are strongly encouraged to apply: Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu. 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. 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.

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.