Title: Associate Technical Expert

​Requisition ID: 4400
Grade: L2
Country: Austria
Duty Station: Vienna
Category: Project-funded Professional and higher
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: Staff-Full-time
Appointment Type: Fixed Term - 200 series
Indicative Minimum Net Annual Salary: 80,200 USD
Application Deadline: 27-Aug-2024, 11:59 PM (CEST)

Vacancy Announcement
THE APPOINTMENT IS LIMITED TO THE SPECIFIED PROJECT(S) ONLY AND DOES NOT CARRY ANY EXPECTATION OF RENEWAL.
Female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.
Detailed information on the project can be found at UNIDO’s Open Data Platform: https://open.unido.org/

Organizational Context

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions.

Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

The Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS) under the overall direction of the Director General, and in close collaboration with all relevant organizational entities within UNIDO, headed by a Managing Director, oversees the Organization's development of capacities for industrial development as well as industrial policy advice, statistics and research activities and the Organization's normative contribution to Member States and global development community in achieving the SDGs. The Directorate also ensures the application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development related to Environment, Energy, SMEs, Competitiveness and Job creation, as well as Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence. Through coordination in-house and with Member States and industry stakeholders, it ensures that the services provided in these areas contribute toward effective and appropriate technical, business and policy solutions and are focused on results and on realizing any potential for scaling up and positioning UNIDO as a leading platform for industrial development in developing countries and global fora.

The Directorate houses the technical Divisions of Capacity Development, Industrial Policy Advice and Statistics (TCS/CPS); Circular Economy and Green Industry (TCS/CEG); Energy and Climate Action (TCS/ECA), Climate Innovation and Montreal Protocol (TCS/CMP); SMEs, Competitiveness and Job Creation (TCS/SME); Digital Transformation and AI Strategies (TCS/DAS); and the Montreal Protocol Division. The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the Divisions as well as with relevant entities in the Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations (GLO) and the Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation (IET).

The Climate Innovation and Montreal Protocol Division (TCS/CMP) mandated to work in close coordination with other organizational entities within UNIDO, assists Member States in emergence, deployment, and large-scale up-take of innovative climate solutions for low-carbon and climate resilient industrialization. The division promotes systems innovation approach to achieve transformational change in climate change by innovating across key levers of change that include technology, finance, policy, and regulation. In particular, the Division is responsible for the dual mandate of a) accelerating innovation and building climate technology innovation ecosystems to promote low-carbon and climate-resilient development pathways and b) planning, developing and implementing interventions to facilitate compliance with the Montreal Protocol and, in particular, its Kigali Amendment and to support countries in achieving their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). In addition, the Division is responsible, in close collaboration with other relevant entities of the Organization, for facilitating the transfer of low-carbon and climate-resilient solutions and building markets to ensure their widespread use by industry and local communities, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and building resilience in recipient countries.

The position is located under the Climate Technology Innovation Unit is responsible for supporting Member States in fostering innovation across technologies, finance, policy and regulation to promote the emergence, deployment and large-scale up-take of low-carbon and climate adaptation solutions and business practices. In addition, the Unit is responsible, in close collaboration with other relevant entities in the Organization, for facilitating the transfer of and establishing markets for low-carbon and climate adaptation solutions, ensuring wide use by industry and local communities, thereby contributing to climate mitigation, adaptation and building resilience in recipient countries. The Unit positions UNIDO strategically in the global discourse on climate technology innovation support and acts as the focal point in UNIDO for partnership with the technology mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

At the L2 level, the incumbent is expected to deliver: (a) work that is analytical in contributing to results achieved by the Division; (b) in creating an enabling environment for collaborative work which is catalytic to achieving results; (c) in building relationships which contributes to counterparts’ engagement and (d) in achieving results that provide baselines for a service. The measure of success is timely, consistent and appropriate delivery of results.

The UNIDO Staff Performance Management System reinforces the collaboration within formal units as well as among cross-functional teams. In this context, the incumbent collaborates with his/her supervisor and colleagues, within as well as outside the unit. Within the formal teams, the incumbent may be expected to backstop other team members as required.

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Director-General and in this context all staff are expected to serve in any assignment and duty station as determined by the needs of the Organization.

Project/Programme Context

Adaptation SMEs Innovation Facility (ASIF)

The Adaptation SMEs Innovation Facility (ASIF) is a UNIDO initiative launched with support from the Adaptation Fund, under the framework of the Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA). The initiative aims to enhance the resilience and adaptive capacity of vulnerable communities by facilitating the deployment of innovative climate adaptation technologies and solutions. The support provided to SMEs in developing countries is a strategic approach employed to achieve this overarching goal. By providing comprehensive support and resources, ASIF aims to empower adaptation SMEs to scale up their operations and deploy effective adaptation solutions in diverse local vulnerable communities.

ASIF consists of three components: Ignite, Propel, and the Knowledge and Learning mechanism.

• Ignite (Component 1) supports adaptation SMEs at TRLs 3-4/BRLs 2-4. It provides business growth to support companies at these early stages develop impactful and viable products and business models.
  • Propel (Component 2) provides milestone-based grant financing and technical support to adaptation SMEs at TRLs 5-7/BRLs 5-7. This component aims to support SMEs in deploying their solutions to vulnerable communities. The grants are performance-based and tied to the achievement of specific milestones.
    • Strengthening the ecosystem of knowledge, funding, and talent for early-stage climate adaptation & resilience SMEs in emerging markets (Component 3) will capture and create knowledge and expand and share evidence-based learnings for climate adaptation, component 3 will compile and provide analysis of insights gained from working with adaptation SMEs under components 1 and 2.

      Responsibilities

      📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

      ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

      The Associate Technical Expert works under the overall guidance of the Chief, Division of Climate Innovation and Montreal Protocol Division, and the direct supervision of the Head, Climate Technology Innovation Unit and in close collaboration with the colleagues to support the mandate of the Division. She/he will be responsible for providing technical support to the smooth and timely execution of projects and be accountable for the achievement of project results as/if assigned. In particular, the Associate Technical Expert is tasked with efficient and effective execution of component 3 of ASIF, and will be responsible for capturing, organizing, and disseminating insights and lessons learned from supporting adaptation SMEs under components 1 and 2. By generating an evidence base on the enabling conditions for successful development and deployment of adaptation innovations, the Associate Technical Expert for ASIF will play a pivotal role in accelerating progress and promoting better solutions globally. Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to:

      • In line with the guidelines and procedures governing the technical cooperation activities of UNIDO, formulate and execute technical cooperation projects/ programme related to the interest of the potential donors and within the mandate of the Division/Department.

      • Execute and monitor projects/ programme implementation activities and services, ensuring that assigned inputs are delivered on time at the right level of quality and within the allocated budget.

      • Prepare necessary inputs (consultant job descriptions, terms of reference, training arrangements, equipment specifications, etc.), monitoring progress in implementation, including if required missions to project site(s), as well as take part in oversight meetings in the field and at headquarters, and assist the Evaluation Group in its evaluations of projects/ programmes.

      • Support advocacy, communication and global forum activities related to the progamme/project and aimed at strengthening public relations, including the preparation of promotional materials, organization of media events, dissemination of information on the project activities through UNIDO/project website and network of UNIDO offices.

      • Support progamme/project specific fund mobilization activities.

      • Perform other related duties and assignments as required.

        Minimum requirements and desirable criteria

        Education:

        Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in economics, international relations, engineering, or environmental sciences, or in a closely related field with specialization in climate adaptation and resilience is required.

        Experience, technical knowledge and functional expertise:

        A minimum of three (3) years of working experience, including some at the international level, in project execution or coordination, particularly in the areas of climate finance, innovative solutions business models for climate, private sector engagement for sustainable and climate resilient development, knowledge creation and sharing in adaptation innovation, is required.
        Experience evaluating needs, conditions and problems in developing countries, and in technical cooperation projects in least developed countries (LDCs) is desirable.

        Language Skills:

        Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Fluency in or working knowledge of another official language of the United Nations is desirable.

        Core Values and Competencies

        Core Values

        WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.

        WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.