Org. Setting and Reporting

The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA unescwa.org) forms part of the United Nations Secretariat and, like the other regional commissions, operates under the supervision of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. ESCWA comprises 20 Arab countries in Western Asia and North Africa. ESCWA provides a framework for the formulation and harmonization of sectoral policies for member countries, a platform for congress and coordination, a home for expertise and knowledge, and an information observatory. ESCWA activities are coordinated with the divisions and main offices of the Headquarters of the United Nations, This position is in Cluster 3: ‘Shared Economic Prosperity’ of the Economic and Social Commission specialized agencies, and international and regional organizations, including the League of Arab States and its subsidiary bodies, and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

This position is in Cluster 3: ‘Shared Economic Prosperity’. Cluster 3 acts as a pioneer and multi-stakeholder regional platform for deliberation, consensus-building, peer learning, and policy solutions on regional connectivity to achieve a basic standard of living for all people in the Arab region through sustained and integrated economic development. Cluster 3 also supports member States in complying with the commitments made in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda.

The Regional Advisor is expected to contribute and to strengthening ESCWA’s technical assistance. The Regional Advisor will be under the general guidance of the Executive Secretary and report directly to the Shared Economic Prosperity Cluster Leader (C3) and in cooperation with the Secretary of the Commission (SoC).

Responsibilities

• Provide technical assistance and advisory services to public officials involved in transport issues, including the formulation and the implementation of integrated systems, technical standards, rehabilitation of ports, border crossing logistics, etc. Focus will be placed on the continued development, implementation and expansion of the various components of the Integrated Transport System in the Arab Mashreq (ITSAM) including but not limited to multimodal transport, transport and trade facilitation, customs, logistics and road traffic safety.
• Carry out short-term advisory missions to governments and relevant stakeholders to advise senior decision makers on issues associated with transport related Policies, through:
• Monitoring and follow up on the ratification and implementation by the member countries of the three transport UN conventions adopted under the auspices of ESCWA including the provision of secretariat services to the parties of these conventions;
• Examining institutional capacities to undertake integrated transport policymaking, public-private initiatives, and the role of the development policies in achieving integration with neighboring countries, at the sub regional level, and at the regional level;
• Examining the impact of the implementation of international agreements mainly Agreement on International Roads in the Arab Mashreq on enhancing intra-regional trade and border crossing facilitation. Establishing quantitative tools, indexes and indicators is a core requirement of this assignment;
– Proposing and discussing ideas in building capacity for policymaking, planning and operating transport infrastructure that support the implementation of the transport infrastructure projects mainly those related to the international agreements falling under ITSAM framework;
– Identifying ways in which states and their policymaking institutions can enhance processes and systems that combine technocratic top-down policies and spontaneous local innovation with public platforms and quasi-public and private institutions that make up the public-private-financial sector more involved in transport infrastructure projects;
– Disseminating information on the mega trends in global transport and their potential effects on the Arab region, like those related to the digitization and automation, climate change, Belt and Road initiatives, et;
– Supporting ESCWA member States in improving road safety within the second UN Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 and in implementing the recommendations of the UNGA resolution on road safety A74/299;
– Assisting Member States in implementing the road safety projects funded by the United Nation Road Safety Fund (UNRSF) and supporting other countries in the formulation of their project suggestions for the UNRSF future call for proposals;
– Cooperation and coordination with relevant national, regional and international organizations, agencies and consulting firms as necessary and appropriate in the provision of technical assistance and advisory services to member countries, Arab region and neighboring regions in relevant projects and issues;
– Representation of ESCWA at international, regional and national meetings on relevant issues related to transport and logistics and road safety;
– Provision of responses to pending requests by member countries on relevant issues (e.g. transport and road safety in Iraq, Palestine, Qatar, Sudan, Yemen and others), propose capacity building programs;

• Develop and update training materials for the areas covered in capacity development activities for the use by different stakeholders;
• Undertake survey initiatives; guide the design of data collection instruments; review, analyze and interpret responses, identify problems/issues and prepare conclusions;
• Liaise with relevant professional networks and make relevant external capacity development resources available to ESCWA;
• Establish and nurture close relationships with various stakeholders in view of creating partnerships and an active network on transport related policies;
• Provide inputs for the normative and advocacy functions of the Division based on the capacity development expertise.
• Performing other duties requested by the Director of the division.

Competencies

• Professionalism: The Advisor is expected to be experienced in transport financing and planning at the national and regional level; He/she must possess proven ability to analyze from a global and regional perspectives, with the ability to offer practical policy advise on economic development issues based on local realities, a solid knowledge of the broad range of regional and international transport subject matter areas, and be able to advocate on behalf of ESCWA to senior level government officials. 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.
• Communication: Excellent drafting ability and communication skills, both oral and written; ability to defend and explain difficult issues with respect to key decisions and positions to senior officials and members of intergovernmental bodies; proven ability to communicate complex concepts orally; ability to prepare written reports that are clear, concise and meaningful using logical framework.
• Client orientation: Ability to identify clients’ needs and propose appropriate solutions as well as establish and maintain effective relationships with outside collaborators and other contacts, including representatives of Member States and the public.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in transport planning, financing or any other closely related discipline is required. A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job – Specific Qualification

A PhD in a relevant field is desirable.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten years of experience in the area of transport particularly on planning and financing transport infrastructure at the national, regional or international levels is required.

A minimum of five years of experience in technical cooperation and advisory services for governments and public officials on the transport and logistics sector is required.

Experience in coordination, addressing media, and networking at the regional and international level is required.

At least two years of experience in promoting regional integration and cooperation among countries through the development of the transport sector is desirable.

Two years of experience in providing advisory services to governments and senior decision makers on issues associated with transport related policies at the regional and sub-regional level is desirable.

Experience in leading and supporting national, sub-regional and regional transport related project is desirable.

Two years of experience in technical support and capacity building on financing and implementing transport planning is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. In addition, Arabic is a working language at ESCWA.

For this position, fluency in English is required. Fluency in Arabic is also required. Knowledge of French is desirable.

Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which will be followed by a competency based interview. interview. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Special Notice

• This temporary position is available until 30 June 2024 and is subject to extension based on the availability of funds/post. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.

• While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.

• Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.

• This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15.

• Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.

• For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 June 2023, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu.

• Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as “retirement.” Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

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. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

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.

Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

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

The 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 according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. 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 reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (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.