Position description
Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located in the Integrated Policy Analysis Branch, Division for Sustainable Development Goals (DSDG), Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), based in New York. The incumbent reports to the Chief of the Integrated Policy Analysis Branch and works in close collaboration with other staff of the Branch and the Division. The Division contributes to the intergovernmental processes on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including those under the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the High-level Political Forum, with its substantive analytical work on thematic issues of the Sustainable Development Goals. More information on the Division for Sustainable Development Goals can be found on sdgs.un.org. The services of the Inter-regional Adviser (IRA) aim to ensure the provision of high-level technical expertise, the transfer of knowledge from global entities to Governments on policy-related issues and development strategies and the formulation, assessment or evaluation of projects and programmes, with a focus on the integration of concepts of sustainable energy and climate change into national development strategies. This will include the targets and indicators of SDG 7 and SDG 13, and other internationally agreed frameworks, such as the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and the monitoring and reporting on sustainable development initiatives and commitments around SDG 7 and SDG 13. The Inter-regional Adviser (IRA) is a member of DESA’s IRA Network. The services of the Senior Sustainable Development Officer/IRA need to comply with intergovernmental guidance on the use of the Regular Programme on Technical Cooperation (RPTC), when appropriate, and with strategies and guidance concerning capacity development activities endorsed by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and supported by the Capacity Development Programme Management Office (CDPMO).
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, under the direct supervision of the Chief of Branch and the overall guidance of the Director, the Inter-regional Advisor (IRA) will be responsible for the following duties:
- Provides high-level leadership in the design, implementation and evaluation of assigned capacity building programmes/projects on sustainable development issues, with a focus on sustainable energy and climate change.
- Leads review of relevant documents and reports; identifies priorities, problems and issues to be addressed and proposes corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; identifies and initiates follow-up actions.
- Monitors, studies and analyzes the trends and emerging sustainable development issues and prepares policy advisory notes to inform governments as well as feed into the intergovernmental process.
- Provides leadership in the design of national policies and strategies on SDG 7 and SDG 13, upon request from developing countries; reviews the assessments of sustainable development issues and trends, preparation of evaluations or research activities and studies. Undertakes survey initiatives; guides design of data collection instruments; reviews, analyzes and interprets responses, identifies problems/issues and prepares conclusions.
- Supervises preparation of various written outputs, including reports of the Secretary-General on Sustainable Energy and Climate Change, related background papers, and inputs to publications on sustainable development issues.
- Prepares speeches for senior staff, drafts policy and briefing notes for the Division, and makes presentations on sustainable development issues at various forums of intergovernmental, governmental, inter-agency, expert or multi-stakeholder nature, such as the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, the SDG 7 Technical Advisory Group and meetings on climate change as organized by UNFCCC.
- Manages outreach activities; designs, updates and conducts capacity building workshops, seminars, etc., gives lectures or presentations on assigned topics/activities on sustainable development issues.
- Provides policy advice and technical assistance through short-term field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties, including drafting mission summaries on sustainable development issues.
- Develops and maintains relations with senior officials of member governments and ensures a response to request for advice and/or capacity development on sustainable development issues and policies, including leading capacity development missions.
- Serves as an effective spokesperson and establishes collaboration and partnerships with key officials at all levels inside and outside the organization.
- Takes the lead in task forces, working groups, and inter-agency groups, such as UN Energy, as needed, on sustainable development issues with a focus on SDGs 7 and 13.
- Provides leadership in the implementation of gender mainstreaming, including in legislation, policies or programmes.
- Represents the Branch/Division at international, regional or national meetings and workshops on sustainable development issues.
- Provides leadership in the Department’s resource mobilization strategies, notably as far as extra-budgetary funding is concerned.
- Performs other related duties as required.
Competencies
Competencies:
- Professionalism: Proven knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to sustainable development. Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities and risks. Ability to generate and communicate broad and compelling organizational direction. Ability to communicate clearly links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals. Demonstrated ability to provide innovative technical leadership by performing and/or overseeing the planning, development, and management of operation. Demonstrated ability to negotiate and apply good judgment. Proven ability to analyze complex data and produce reports leading to sound policy recommendations for achieving sustainable development; Solid understanding of the political environment and the programmes and activities of the UN system in implementing the 2023 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement for Climate Change; Ability to think strategically, to identify key emerging sustainable development issues and related policy implications. 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. Able to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. In particular, DESA is looking for staff with the following technical competence:
- a strong commitment to high-level technical expertise in the relevant specialty in particular knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to sustainable development, sustainable energy and climate change including the Paris Agreement, the Sendai Framework and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals;
- proven ability in preparing robust project proposals and demonstrated ability to provide innovative technical leadership;
- familiarity with potential donors’ policies (member states, UN funds and programmes, global funds, International Financial Institutions, etc.);
- familiarity with concepts and approaches related to capacity development and conversant with RBB/RBM approaches and M&E approaches;
- proven ability to be a broker of knowledge (not only provider of knowledge, brokering issues close to DESA normative analytical mandates);
- proven ability in building partnerships with national institutions and other organizations involved in the development process;
- proven ability in mobilizing resources; 8) taking responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
- Planning and 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.
- 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. Managerial Competencies
- Building Trust: Provides an environment in which others can talk and act without fear of repercussion; manages in a deliberate and predictable way; operates with transparency; has no hidden agenda; places confidence in colleagues, staff members and clients; gives proper credit to others; follows through on agreed upon actions; treats sensitive or confidential information appropriately.
- Judgment/Decision-making: Identifies key issues in complex situations, 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 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 sustainable development, energy, climate change, economics, public policy, natural resources management, environmental science, engineering, social sciences or related field is required.
Work Experience
- A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management, policy-oriented work in a broad range of sustainable development issues is required. At least seven years of experience in analytical work and the formulation and implementation of projects/programmes on sustainable energy and climate change and the linkage of SDG13 with other SDGs at the international level is required. At least five years of professional experience in advisory work in developing countries (including transition countries), preferably in more than one region, on sustainable energy and climate change is required. Experience in writing proposals to secure funds for project/programme implementation is desirable. Experience in networking and undertaking activities in collaboration with a wide variety of actors, including entities of the UN system, as well as other external partners, is desirable. Experience in providing technical training to high-level decision-makers is desirable.
Languages
- English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.
Application instructions
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