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 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, 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' of ESCWA. Cluster 3 acts as a pioneer and multi-stakeholder regional platform for deliberation, consensus-building, peer learning, and policy solutions on inclusive fiscal policy, public finance management, illicit financial flows, and trade development, 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 Team Assistant reports to the Senior Economic Affairs Officer under the overall direction of the Cluster Leader, Shared Economic Prosperity.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Team Assistant will be responsible for the following duties: • Performs a wide range of research and office functions. • Responds or drafts responses to routine correspondence and other communications with the relevant ministry in Saudi Arabia, Consultant and Trade experts use a standard word processing package to produce a wide variety of large, complex documents and reports on international trade issues. • Carries out consistent, accurate research for supporting Saudi Arabia on issues related to international trade and regional integration, compiles and organizes information and reference materials from various sources for reports, work plans, studies, briefings, meetings/conferences related to XB project, etc. Generates a variety of simulation exercises using trade simulations and economic modeling techniques, validates and interprets model outputs, and contributes to technical reports, assessment papers, and policy briefs on trade and economic issues. • Proofreads documents and policy briefs and edits texts for accuracy, grammar, punctuation, and style, and for adherence to established standards for format. • Provides administrative and logistics support to meetings, boards, committees, conferences, etc. • Assists in the maintenance of websites by scanning, converting, and posting a variety of documents onto the site. • Assists in the preparation of presentation materials using appropriate technology/software. • Performs data entry and extraction functions. • Reviews, records, distributes, and/or processes mail and other documents; follows up on impending actions. • Updates and maintains large distribution lists; monitors, prepares and distributes various materials, reports, where possible using electronic formats; handles arrangements for printing and translation as necessary; coordinates courier services, etc. • Performs general administrative tasks and arranges for meetings and other events, reservations, budget follow-up, monitoring, and spending plan etc., (e.g. requisitions, purchase orders, travel requests, contracts, expenditure authorizations, visa applications, etc.). • Maintains files (both paper and electronic) and databases for the work unit. • Assists in providing software support and coordinates with IT and modelling teams to test system robustness, resolve functional and data-related issues, implement enhancements to simulation tools, and improve performance of databases and interfaces • Provides guidance to less experienced staff on general office processes and procedures, computer applications, etc. • Assists with the collection and analysis of global trade and economic data from multiple sources (international databases, national statistics, GTAP…) to ensure accuracy and consistency of the model’s inputs, including the construction and updating of global and regional databases for calibrating the trade model, as well as the preparation of technical presentations and reports for information sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, planning, and decision-making. • Assists with visualizations and developing training materials such as user guides and methodological notes to support national teams in using the new trade simulators. • Performs other duties as assigned.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of general office and administrative support including administrative policies, processes and procedures. 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. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work. • 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. • CLIENT ORIENTATION: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education

A high school diploma or equivalent is required. A first-level university degree in economics, finance, or a related field is desirable. The minimum required years of relevant experience is reduced to one (1) for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher.

Job - Specific Qualification

A first-level university degree in economics, finance, or a related field is desirable.

Work Experience

At least three (3) years of experience in general office support or a related area is required. At least two (2) years of experience in global trade data analysis is required. At least one (1) year of experience in the use of GTAP and MacMap databases for global and regional trade analysis is desirable. At least two (2) years of experience with Global CGE modeling software (GAMS, GEMPACK) and statistical software such as Stata, R, or Python is desirable.

Languages

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include assessment(s) and a competency-based interview.

Special Notice

• This position is temporarily available for 3 months. Extension of the appointment is subject to availability of funding, continued need for the position, and the satisfactory performance of the incumbent. • 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. • 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. • Candidates are fully responsible for all arrangements and costs for attending all assessments and interviews. All candidates shall receive the same notice period for attending the assessments and interviews. • 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. • 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. • The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. • 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. • Limitation of General Service Category: This position falls under the General Service category. If selected and you wish to be considered for a future position in the Professional category, please note that you must first separate from the Organization and acquire the required professional skills through academic training or professional experience to be considered as an external candidate. Alternatively, you can apply for and succeed in the YPP General Service to Professional category (G-to-P) competitive examination.

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.