ECONOMIC AFFAIRS OFFICER (Temporary Job Opening)

Org. Setting and ReportingThis position is located in the Trading Systems, Services and Creative Economy Branch of the Division on International Trade and Commodities, in the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The Economic Affairs Officer works under the supervision of the Chief of the Trading Systems Section. ResponsibilitiesWithin delegated authority, the Economic Affairs Officer will perform the following duties: Economic or sector analysis • Monitors, assesses and reports on persistent and emerging issues in international trade and South-South trade, particularly those among the members of the Global System of Trade Preferences among Developing Countries (GSTP), and their policy implications for sustainable development. • 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 and analytical studies on selected global, regional, national or sector aspects of international trade and South-South trade, and sustainable development. • Identifies and analyses policy proposals made elsewhere relating to South-South trade cooperation and trading systems, such as GSTP. • Attends international, regional, and national meetings to collect information and to hold discussions with colleagues in other institutions. • Assists in the organization and servicing of expert group meetings and, seminars, etc. on development issues. • Prepares speeches and other inputs for presentations by senior staff. Intergovernmental support • Prepares inputs for reports to intergovernmental bodies such as the GSTP Committee of Participants (COP). • Follows intergovernmental meetings and prepares summary reports. • Prepares inputs to statements by members of the GSTP COP and Secretariat staff to such meetings. • Assists in the organization of panels and round tables for such intergovernmental processes. Technical cooperation • Participates in technical cooperation activities and missions, usually as a member of a team, on issues pertaining to trading systems, especially South-South trade cooperation under the Global System of Trade Preferences among Developing Countries (GSTP). • Organizes training seminars for government officials and stakeholders. • Prepares documentation for technical cooperation programmes and projects. • 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. General • Performs other related duties as required, including a variety of administrative tasks necessary for the final delivery of the GSTP COP. • Undertakes on-the-job and other training activities, both internally and externally. Competencies• Professionalism: Ability to apply economic theories and concepts to the analysis of persistent and emerging issues of international and South-South trade in goods, services and creative economy from a sustainable development perspective. Ability to conduct independent research on economic topics, determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources. Shows skill in data collection and analysis. 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. • Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable. • 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. EducationAdvanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics or 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 QualificationNot available. Work ExperienceA minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in economic research and analysis, policy formulation, application of economic principles in development programmes or related area is required. A minimum of three years of experience in international and South-South trade for sustainable development is desirable. A minimum of three years of experience in monitoring and supporting the negotiation and implementation of trade agreements among developing countries within international organisations is desirable. A minimum of three years of experience in backstopping the management and delivery of trade-related technical cooperation project is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English and French are required. Either Arabic or Chinese (Mandarin) or Russian or Spanish is desirable. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).