Special Assistant to the Executive Secretary

Result of ServiceThe consultancy will ensure seamless continuity and high-level strategic support to the Executive Secretary during a critical period of institutional engagement, policy dialogue, and international representation. The Special Assistant will strengthen the Executive Secretary’s capacity to deliver on her leadership and advocacy mandate by providing high-quality analytical input, ensuring timely and effective coordination across divisions and with key stakeholders, and maintaining the strategic integrity of the Executive Secretary’s engagements and communications. Through direct policy advisory support, meticulous meeting preparation and follow-up, and agile management of correspondence and stakeholder relations, the consultant will contribute to the visibility, coherence, and influence of ECA's voice across internal and external platforms. The ultimate outcome will be a well-supported Executive Office that is operationally responsive, substantively informed, and strategically aligned with ECA’s mandate and the priorities of the UN development system. Work LocationAddis Ababa Expected duration6 Months Duties and ResponsibilitiesWithin delegated authority, the Special Assistant will be responsible for the following duties: • Prepare policy notes, statements, and strategic proposals aimed at devising strategic positions on major development issues, in areas of social, economic, and sustainable development in Africa. • Advise the Executive Secretary on programme and policy issues and monitor new or emerging development issues of concern to the ECA in areas of social, economic, and sustainable development and in the UN intergovernmental processes. • Oversee the flow of correspondence addressed to and originating from the Executive Secretary. • Ensure effective preparations, support for and follow-up to meetings of the Executive Secretary with senior representatives of Member States, senior officials of the UN system, and representatives of the civil society, and in this regard, coordinate and consult with Directors and other senior staff of ECA divisions and offices, and other offices of the UN secretariat, as necessary. • Assist the Executive Secretary in coordinating substantive preparations for the relevant discussions of the General Assembly, Economic and Social Council, annual sessions of ECA, UN Sustainable Development Group, and for the support to committees and expert bodies and other major activities that require leadership or oversight of the Head of the Department. • Serve as ECA's key liaison person with officials at all levels inside and outside the organization; liaise on behalf of the Executive Secretary with delegations to the intergovernmental bodies and establish collaborative partnerships. Be an active member of the team of the Office of the Executive Secretary and perform other duties in support of senior management processes, as required. • Leads team members' efforts to collect and analyze data and provides insight to identify trends or patterns for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation, and reporting. Ensures that everyone can discover, access, integrate, and share the data they need. Qualifications/special skillsAdvanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in social development, economics, political science, public administration, communications, international relations, or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with additional two years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics, or data science programs is an advantage. A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in international relations, socioeconomic research, and analysis, policy formulation, and application of socioeconomic principles in development programmes, administration, and programme management, or related area is required. Experience in the areas of economic, social, and sustainable development at the international and national levels is required. Knowledge of the governance and intergovernmental processes of the UN system, or a comparable international or non-governmental organization is desirable. Experience supporting senior officials in an intergovernmental or diplomatic setting is desirable. Experience in data analytics or related areas is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE 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.