Org. Setting and Reporting

The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) 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 21 Arab countries in Western Asia, North Africa and the Horn of 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, its specialized agencies, and international and regional organizations serving Arab States. This position is located in the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) in the Climate Change and Natural Resource Sustainability Cluster at ESCWA. The Senior Sustainable Development Officer reports directly to the Climate Change and Natural Resource Sustainability Cluster Lead.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Senior Sustainable Development Officer will be responsible for the following duties: • Leads the development, implementation and evaluation of assigned projects on sustainable development issues as related to integrated water resource management; directs subordinates in project development, implementation, monitoring and assessment. • Leads review of relevant documents and reports; identifies priorities, problems and issues to be addressed and proposes corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; identifies and initiates follow-up actions. • Leads research on the identification of new and emerging issues affecting water security and water scarcity in the region and presents analysis of information gathered and reviewed from diverse sources, including geospatial information, with plausible recommendations. • Coordinates water-related policy development; reviews and contributes to the assessment of water resource management issues and trends, and the preparation of studies. • Supervises preparation of various written outputs, including background papers, analysis, substantial sections of reports and studies, and inputs to publications on sustainable development and the integrated management of water resources respect to agriculture, energy, climate change and water services. • Provides direct substantive support to consultative and intergovernmental meetings, including committees and conferences, by offering strategic advice, giving technical guidance and assisting in developing a consensus, including proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of parliamentary documents and presentations on water and sustainable development issues. • Prepares speeches for senior staff and makes presentations on water within the context of sustainable development at various forums of intergovernmental, governmental, inter-agency, expert or multi-stakeholder nature. • Manages outreach activities; designs and conducts training workshops, seminars, etc., gives presentations on water-related issues. • Oversees web contents and structure for the areas of his/her responsibilities. • Leads field missions; provides guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties. • Develops and maintains relations with senior officials of member governments and ensures a response to request for advice and/or capacity development on national, regional and global water issues, policies and intergovernmental processes, including leading capacity development missions. • Coordinates activities related to budget and funding (project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and ensures preparation of related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, project budgets, etc.) on integrated water resource management issues, including on water security, water scarcity, climate change and transboundary water resources management. • Serves as an effective spokesperson and establishes collaboration and partnerships with key officials at all levels inside and outside the organization. • Ensures effective utilization, supervision and development of staff; guides, evaluates and mentors staff. • Takes the lead in task forces, working groups, inter-agency groups and intergovernmental committees on sustainable development and water issues related to the management of water resources and water services, including water supply, sanitation, and non-conventional water resources. • Ensures gender mainstreaming, including in policies or projects. • Represents the Cluster at international, regional or national meetings on sustainable development and water-related issues. • Manages project teams both substantively and administratively, as appropriate. • 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 on water-related goals and indicators. Ensures that everyone can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need through various tools and platforms. • Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Proven knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to sustainable development and integrated water resources management as it relates to water security, water scarcity, climate change and transboundary water resources management. Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities and risks. Ability to generate and communicate broad and compelling organizational direction. Ability to communicate clearly links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals on water and sustainable development. Demonstrated ability to provide innovative technical leadership by performing and/or overseeing the planning, development, and management of regional projects and stakeholder engagements related to the integrated management of water resources across strategic sectors, including agriculture and energy. Demonstrated ability to negotiate and apply good judgment. Proven ability to analyze complex data and geospatial information to produce reports leading to sound policy recommendations for achieving water-related sustainable development goals; solid understanding of the political environment and the programmes and activities of the UN system in implementing Agenda 21 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; ability to think strategically, to identify key emerging sustainable development issues and related policy implications with respect to the integrated management of water resources and the delivery of water services. Able to analyze and interpret water-related data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. 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. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing. • 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. • Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. • Managing Performance: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly. • Judgment/Decision-making: Identifies key issues in complex situations, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in sustainable development, environmental economics, development finance, water resources management, water or civil engineering, international water law, natural sciences or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Successful completion of both degree or non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.

Job – Specific Qualification

A Ph.D. is desirable. Successful completion of both degree or non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in project management, policy-oriented work in water-related sustainable development issues is required. Experience using data analytics or geospatial information system tools is desirable. Experience working in the Arab region for a least five years is desirable. Demonstrated experience supporting intergovernmental mechanisms related to the water sector is desirable. Experience developing or updating regional knowledge platforms 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 desirable. 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 applicants will include one or more assessments which will be followed by a competency-based interview.

Special Notice

• This position is available for one year from the date of appointment/assignment. Extension of the appointment/assignment is subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval, extension of the mandate, continued need for services, and satisfactory performance. • 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. • The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. • 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. • Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat serving at the P4 level on a Permanent/ Continuing/ Fixed-term Appointment must fulfil the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this job opening. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Application Profile (AP) and cover letter, and attach copies of Umoja personnel action or other proof of lateral moves in their application. • Individual Contractors and Consultants who have worked within the UN Secretariat in the last six months, irrespective of the administering entity, are ineligible to apply for or be appointed to any professional and higher temporary or fixed-term positions, within six months of the end of their current or most recent service. For such positions, at least six months need to have elapsed between the end of a consultancy or individual contract and the time of application and consideration for an appointment as a staff member under the Staff Rules and Regulations of the United Nations. • Internal Applicants – when completing the PHP, ensure ALL fields, ALL professional experience and contact information are completed and up to date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you. • For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are un-represented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 31 Jan 2024, are strongly encouraged to apply: Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu

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. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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.