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 Financing for Development Section, Macroeconomic Policy and Financing for Development Division (MPFD). The Regional Adviser will work under the direct supervision of the Chief of Financing for Development Section and the overall guidance of the Director of the Division. The Division is mandated to provide leadership / strategic / policy support to Regional Adviser on Green Finance. More information on MPFD can be found on https://www.unescap.org/our-work/macroeconomic-policy-financing-development. The services of the Regional Adviser will aim to ensure the provision of high-level technical expertise, the transfer of knowledge from global entities to Governments on policy-related issues and development strategies and the formulation, assessment or evaluation of projects and programmes in the area of financing for development.

Responsibilities

The incumbent: Mandatory tasks: • Provides policy advice, policy recommendations on financing for development issues particularly related to green finance, financing the energy transition, nature-based solutions and financing related to Agenda 2030, • Monitors, studies, researches and analyzes economic developments, the trends and best practices on green, climate, nature-based and sustainable finance economic policies and identifies recurrent and emerging issues of concern to the United Nations and prepares policy advisory notes to inform governments as well as feed into the intergovernmental process. • Contributes to the design/redesign of national policies and strategies upon requests from developing countries for green, climate, nature-based and sustainable finance policies and regulations for the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). • Contributes to the Section’s publications and analytical products, including the Financing for Development Series, working papers, research and data analysis, ensuring the outputs are aligned with up-to-date market information and government priorities in light of the triple agenda of Agenda 2030, the Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. • Participates in the design and development of capacity development programmes, projects related to green financing particularly in support of green and sustainability bond issuance, sustainable finance in banking markets, debt-for-nature or climate swaps, greening financial regulators • Monitors implementation of gender mainstreaming guidelines by assessing the implications for men and women of any planned action, including legislation, policies or programmes, in all areas and at all levels. • Makes substantive contributions to and attend global/regional/sub-regional/national meetings, workshops, seminars, colloquia, and other training events, including proposals concerning agenda topics, possible participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc.to advance ESCAP’s financing for development agenda in the area of green finance and to coordinate with respective governments and development partners including holding discussions with representatives of governments, development partners and institutions. • Prepares speeches and other inputs on the topic of green finance for presentations by senior staff. Contributes to the Division’s resource mobilization strategies, notably as far as extra-budgetary funding is concerned, by designing technical cooperation programme and projects for developing countries in Asia and the Pacific focused on green finance, in alignment with country needs and requests. • Assumes other tasks in the area of expertise and in line with capacity development guidance as requested by the supervisor i.e., designing and undertaking capacity development activities requested by member States related to green finance. • Develops and conducts training seminars and workshops including the materials for the areas covered in capacity development activities for government officials and others to support them in adopting the relevant financing strategies, policies and financing mechanisms. • Undertakes survey initiatives; guides design of data collection instruments; reviews, analyzes and interprets responses, identifies problems/issues and prepares conclusions. • Liaises with relevant professional networks and makes relevant external capacity development resources available to ESCAP. • Establishes, engages, nurtures close relationships with governments, multilateral development banks (MDBs), public development banks, and the private sector in view of creating partnerships and an active network to mobilize efforts for better directing green finance in line with international agreements and national commitments. • Provides inputs for the normative and advocacy functions of the Division based on the capacity development expertise.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to apply economic theories and concepts in different sectors of economic and sustainable development. Ability to conduct independent research on economic topics, determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources. Ability to identify and develop 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. • 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. • 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

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics, development finances or related field is required. A relevant first-level university degree in the above fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A PhD is desirable.

Job – Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience within the UN development system and/or related to operational activities for the development of the UN system in the area of economic research and analysis, policy formulation, application of economic principles in sustainable development programmes is required. At least four (4) years of professional experience should be advisory work in developing countries (including transition countries), preferably in more than one region is required. Experience in green finance issues such as green bond issuance, carbon markets and related policy issues, climate-related assistance to financial regulators, and/or green project pipeline development is required. Experience in producing technical research papers in areas of green finance in Asia and the Pacific is required. Experience in international technical cooperation and capacity development, and preparation of reports for policy makers is desirable. Experience in working with financial regulators and/or the banking and finance sector is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the UN secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

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. ESCAP is committed to promoting diversity and gender equality within the Secretariat. Women candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. 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. Pursuant to section 6.9 of ST/AI/2010/3/Rev. 1, interns, consultants, individual contractors and gratis personnel may not apply for or be appointed to any vacancy in the Professional or higher categories within six months of the end of their current or most recent service. Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position. Applicants, who successfully go through a competitive recruitment process and are recommended for selection and/or inclusion in the roster of pre-approved candidates for subsequent job openings at the same level and with similar functions, may have their application information and roster status shared with other UN Organizations. Such applicants may be contacted by other UN Organizations for similar job openings, subject to the confirmation of their interest. Placement on the roster is no guarantee of a future selection. This job opening refers to a specialized Regional adviser position. The initial appointment is for one year. The annual renewal of the appointment is subject to endorsement by an internal departmental panel on the continued need for technical expertise, depending on updates to ESCAP’s priorities in the areas of capacity development, availability of funds, and satisfactory performance. The duration of the assignment as a Regional Adviser (RA) is normally three years. The post is funded under the resources of the Regular Programme of Technical Cooperation. The candidate selected will be granted a fixed-term appointment limited (“FTA-limited”) in accordance with section 2.2 (b) of administrative instruction ST/AI/2013/1 on the administration of fixed-term appointments. United Nations Secretariat staff members who meet the definition of “internal candidate” in staff rule 4.10 and are selected for a position subject to FTA-limited will be reassigned to the position without a lien to their parent position.

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.