• The United Nations is Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. • For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 June 2017, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belarus, Belize, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Comoros, Cyprus, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Viet Nam.
• Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

Org. Setting and Reporting

The post is located in the Sub-regional Office for Central Africa (SRO-CA) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in Yaoundé Cameroon. The Economic Affairs Officer reports to the Chief of the Sub-regional Initiatives Cluster.

Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Director of the Sub-regional Office for Central Africa, and the direct supervision of the Chief of the Sub-regional Initiatives Cluster, the incumbent is responsible for the following duties:

ECONOMIC AND/OR SECTOR ANALYSIS: •Develops socio-economic databases and qualitative information as they relate to regional integration, industrial policy and/or trade-related issues. Assists Member States and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in Central Africa on issues related to regional integration, industrial policy and/or trade-related issues. •Interprets, applies and, as necessary, adapts econometric models to determine trends, patterns and relationships and to analyse the effects of alternative policies and assumptions on regional integration, industrial policy and/or trade-related issues. •Drafts specified inputs for technical papers and analytical studies on selected global, regional, national or sector aspects of regional integration, industrial policy and/or trade-related issues. •Identifies and analyses policy proposals made elsewhere relating to assigned topics. •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, seminars, etc. on development issues. •Prepares speeches and other inputs for presentations by senior staff.

INTERGOVERNMENTAL SUPPORT: •Prepares inputs for reports to intergovernmental bodies. •Follows intergovernmental meetings and prepares summary reports. •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.

TECHNICAL COOPERATION: •Participates in missions on development issues, usually as a member of a team. •Organizes training seminars for national experts. •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 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 with a focus on regional integration, industrial policy and/or trade-related issues. Ability to conduct independent research on regional integration, industrial policy and/or trade-related issues, determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources. Knowledge of regional integration, industrial policy and/or trade-related issues. 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 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.

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.

Education

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

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 related area.

Languages

Fluency in one of the working languages of the UN Secretariat, English or French, (both oral and written) is required; knowledge of the other is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Assessment

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

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, including but not limited to, respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to, whether they have committed or are alleged to have committed criminal offences or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

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.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the At-a-Glance on « The Application Process » and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The screening and 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, including but not limited to, their education, work experience, and language skills, according to the instructions provided on inspira. Applicants will be disqualified from consideration if they do not demonstrate in their application that they meet the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations. Applicants are solely responsible for providing complete and accurate information at the time of application: 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 a reference-checking process to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at midnight (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.