Economic Affairs Officer, P-3
Economic Affairs Officer, P-3
United Nations
Nairobi, Kenya
Org. Setting and Reporting
Created in December 1999, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) is the designated focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of efforts to reduce disasters and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities of the United Nations and regional organizations and activities in both developed and less developed countries. Led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG), UNDRR has over 150 staff located in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and in regional offices. Specifically, UNDRR guides, monitors, analyses and reports on progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, supports regional and national implementation of the Framework and catalyzes action and increases global awareness to reduce disaster risk working with UN Member States and a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians and the science and technology community. Under the 2022-2025 Strategic Framework, UNDRR is scaling-up its support to Member States, in close cooperation with financial sector partners and development banks, to fast-track financing for disaster risk reduction (DRR) and ensure investments across sectors, including in infrastructure, are de-risked by providing technical and policy support, fostering strategic engagements, advocacy and generating guidance with evidence. This temporary position is located in the UNDRR Regional Office for Africa (ROA) in Nairobi. The Economic Affairs Officer will report to the Deputy Chief of Office under the overall supervision of the Chief of Office.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties and responsibilities:
Technical cooperation
- Coordinates the implementation of Disaster Risk Reduction financing and de-risking initiatives, including on resilient infrastructure, in the region and at national level, working in cooperation with HQ colleagues and external partners.
- Carries out development of integrated national financing frameworks, risk sensitive budget reviews and cost-benefit analyses in support of UN partners and national authorities at the country level, and facilitates related training and/or capacity-building events.
- Provides technical assistance and policy guidance to Member States to develop national DRR financing strategies, to develop sector-specific DRR financing strategies and to integrate DRR into development finance and economic policy.
- Participates in missions on development issues, usually as a member of a team, including to support the implementation of technical cooperation projects at the national level.
- Organizes training seminars for national experts, including on the use of risk information in economic and financial decision-making.
- Prepares documentation for technical cooperation programmes and projects on topics of DRR financing and resilient infrastructure.
- 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.
Partner support
- Provides substantive support on economic issues related to Disaster Risk Reduction to UNDRR partners including Member States, private sector, UN agencies and others.
- Attends, and assists in the organizing of regional and national meetings on the economic impacts of disasters and DRR financing issues and prepares inputs to statements and presentations.
- Assists in the organization of panels, round tables etc. on development issues for intergovernmental processes.
- Identifies opportunities for partnerships with other organizations and entities, including regional and global development banks and financial institutions, infrastructure providers and institutional investors in Africa, to advance DRR financing priorities.
Economic or sector analysis
- Develops socio-economic databases and qualitative information necessary for specified recurrent or ad hoc assignments on topics of DRR financing and resilient infrastructure.
- 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, country-support methodologies, and analytical studies on selected global, regional, national or sector aspects of economic development.
- Identifies and analyses policy proposals made elsewhere relating to assigned topics.
- Attends international, regional, and national meetings to collect information, present UNDRR knowledge products and hold discussions with colleagues in other institutions.
- Prepares speeches and other inputs for presentations by senior staff.
- Performs other related duties as required.
Competencies
- Professionalism: Ability to apply economic theories and concepts in different sectors of economic and sustainable development. Ability to support Member States in developing financing strategies and policies. Ability to conduct independent research on economic topics, determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources. Ability to build partnerships and advocate with partners in the finance sector. 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 & 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.
- 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.
Education
- An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in economics or related field is required. A first-level university degree in the above-mentioned areas in combination with two additional 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 a related area is required. Work experience in development finance is required. Work experience in disaster risk reduction, resilient infrastructure, or climate finance is desirable.
Languages
- English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.
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