Org. Setting and Reporting

The mandate of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is to promote sustainable and inclusive development and regional connectivity in the Asian and Pacific region. ESCAP’s role as a regional development arm of the United Nations Secretariat is to support its membership with policy-oriented research and analysis, normative support and technical assistance and capacity building, to respond to the development priorities and changing needs of the Asian and Pacific region.

This position is located in the ESCAP Subregional Office for North and Central Asia (SONCA), Almaty, Kazakhstan.
SONCA covers Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

The incumbent reports to the Senior Economic Affairs Officer of SONCA.

Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Senior Economic Affairs Officer of SONCA, the Research Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:

• Follows up on communications with the UN Resident Coordinators’ offices in North and Central Asia and provide monthly updates on issues to the Office staff. Prepare draft inputs to the annual revision of the Common Country Assessments, soliciting necessary inputs from ESCAP substantive divisions.
• Assists in identifying and monitoring substantive aspect of the work of the Office in the subregion. Identifies, evaluates and stores a variety of documents, summarizes pertinent materials for the use of office. Collects and analyses data and prepares background materials for assessment papers, studies, briefs, and reports. Ensure appropriate formatting.
• Systematically follows through and retrieves, highlights and compiles information from a wide variety of information sources; prepares input for the electronic database and the internet and co-operate with research institutes and organizations in the collection of data.
• Assembles and examines original statistical material to ensure accuracy, clarity, and validity; makes appropriate adjustments.
• Designs, prepares, and maintains a country profile for each country assigned to the Office.
• Prepares a variety of reports, Power Point, and other presentation materials, with effective use of infographics, tables, lists, charts, data sets, and/or diagrams for information to facilitate the in-depth analysis of the retrieved information for the use of the supervisors and other users.
• Participates in the substantive and policy discussions of the Office.
• Maintains and expands contacts with other departments in the Secretariat, as well as the UN agencies and programmes and other public, private, and civil society organizations relevant to the region and co-ordinate the input of other departments in the collection of data for assignments received.
• Prepares, maintains, and updates files (electronic and paper) and internal databases; designs and generates a variety of periodic and ad hoc reports, statistical tables, charts, graphs, and other background materials/notes to facilitate inspection and other reviews.
• Drafts programme/project reports, co-ordinates review and clearance process and coordinates with editor, translation services, etc., on finalization and publication of reports in multiple languages.
• Identifies the organizational requirements for conferences and meetings and assists in the preparation of concept notes, background documentations, moderator’s briefs, and reports, which include analyses of evaluation questionnaires and list of participants for these meetings.
• Supports identification and securing of experts and speakers, drafts letters and other correspondences. Backstop the actual meetings and provide substantive and administrative supports.
• Attends a variety of meetings to follow discussions, takes notes and prepares summary report, notes for the file, correspondence, etc. Supports administrative arrangements of the meetings and fixing appointments.
• Assists with the recruitment of interns and consultants and supports monitoring their work and conducts substantive and related administrative tasks.
• Provides guidance and training to new/junior staff and interns.
• Provide partial substitution of the work when section staff is absent/on leave.
• Performs other related ad-hoc substantive and administrative work of the office as required.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Knowledge of economics and social research methodologies, data collection and maintenance. Ability to identify, extract, analyse and format data from a wide variety of standard and non-standard sources. Ability to draft documents in high-quality English and to effectively produce presentation materials utilizing latest feature of ICT software and infographics. 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.

• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

• 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

High school diploma or equivalent is required. A recognized first-level university degree may be accepted in lieu of two years of required experience. A university degree in Economics or Social Affairs is desirable.

Job – Specific Qualification

Passing the GGST is required for recruitment consideration in the General Service and related categories in the United Nations Secretariat. Successful passing of the United Nations Administrative Support Assessment Test (ASAT) in English or French or successful passing an equivalent locally-administered test at Offices Away from Headquarters, may be accepted in lieu of the GGST. Have you passed such a test? (If yes, please indicate the year and duty station where you passed the test.)

If you have not passed the test, please indicate if you are willing to take the GGST. Applicants who have not passed the GGST at the time of application may be invited for the test after submitting an application.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years (or five years if graduated with a bachelor’s degree) of experience in collecting and researching data across various areas of social and economic development, or related area, is required.

Experience in the United Nations Common System or international organizations is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of Russian is highly desirable. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

Assessment

Qualified applicants may be evaluated through a competency based interview and/or other assessment methods.

Special Notice

This post is funded from extra-budgetary resources and this temporary appointment is for an initial period of 364 days.
If selected, an internal candidate will be on temporary assignment to the post; an external candidate will initially be offered a temporary appointment. Any extension of appointment is subject to satisfactory performance and continued availability of the post.

This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. Applicants for positions in the General Service and related categories must be authorized to work for the United Nations in the duty station where the position is located. Eligible applicants selected from outside the duty station are responsible for any expenses in connection with their relocation to the duty station. Staff members subject to local recruitment are not eligible for allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment.

Applicants for GS and related positions may apply and be considered for locally recruited positions no matter where they are currently located (including the current serving staff members at other duty stations), provided they are locally available upon appointment. They must be authorized to work in the country regardless of where they live at the time of applying for the job opening.

At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse
and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

Must have passed the United Nations Global General Service Test (GGST) at Headquarters or an equivalent locally-administered test at Offices Away from Headquarters.

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.