Economic Affairs Officer

Org. Setting and ReportingThe position is located in the International Tax and Development Cooperation Branch (ITDCB) of the Financing for Sustainable Development Office of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs. The FSDO works to advance policy and action on financing for sustainable development to support Member States and other stakeholders in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development: by providing thought leadership and agenda shaping, promoting multistakeholder dialogue, identifying policy options and best practices, and offering strategic advice and support for capacity development in key areas. The incumbent reports to the Senior Economic Affairs Officer in ITDCB. More information can be found at: https://financing.desa.un.org/. ResponsibilitiesUnder the supervision of the Senior Economic Affairs Officer in ITDCB, FSDO, the Economic Affairs Officer will provide support to the branch work programme, with emphasis on issues related to international tax cooperation, domestic resource mobilization and fiscal policies aimed to promote behaviours aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development. This will include the following duties: Economic or sector analysis: - Monitors economic developments in a defined area and identifies recurrent and emerging issues of concern to the United Nations. - Designs and conducts studies of selected issues in the area of tax and domestic resource mobilization; engages in analysis; and drafts inputs to reports of and to UN bodies. - Monitors and assesses developments in the tax area and identifies recurrent and emerging issues, including emerging tax issues relevant to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). - Develops draft policy recommendations pertaining on issues relating to domestic resource mobilization, and international tax policy and administration for sustainable development. - Formulates proposals for development strategies, policies and measures for presentation to intergovernmental bodies and others. - Attends international, regional, and national meetings to hold discussions with representatives of other institutions. - Organizes expert group meetings, seminars, etc. on development issues. - Prepares speeches and other inputs for presentations by senior staff. Intergovernmental support - Provides substantive support to intergovernmental bodies (such as the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, and the expert bodies (e.g., Tax Committee and Subcommittees). - Represents organizational unit at international, regional and national meetings. Technical cooperation: - Designs and monitors technical cooperation projects and capacity building activities. - Undertakes missions to member states, either alone or as a participant in a diverse team, as part of the Organization’s technical cooperation activities. - Prepares global, regional, national or sector analyses that provide a basis for advising national governments on economic development issues. - Conducts training seminars and workshops for government officials and others. - Formulates technical modalities for the evaluation of individual technical cooperation projects. General - Supports junior staff, reviewing their work and providing feedback. - Participates in intra- and inter-Departmental undertakings of broader concern. - Performs other related duties as required, including a variety of administrative tasks necessary for the final delivery of the work unit’s service. - Undertakes on-the-job and other training activities, both internally and externally. - Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. - Initiates and helps coordinate strategic communications, outreach, and resource mobilization activities. CompetenciesProfessionalism: 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. Able to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. 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. Planning & 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. EducationAdvanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in economics or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with additional two years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Job - Specific QualificationNot available. Work ExperienceA minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in economic research and analysis, policy formulation, application of economic principles in development programmes or related area is required. Experience in international taxation is required. Experience in at least one of the following areas: taxation of globalized and digitalized economy; taxation of the extractives industry; tax treaties; or transfer pricing is required. Experience in both tax policy and administration is required. Experience in servicing intergovernmental processes is desirable. Experience with the work of the UN Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters is desirable. Experience in tax issues and broader fiscal policies for sustainable development is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position(s) advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage. AssessmentEvaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview. Special NoticeThis position is funded by the extra budgetary Account. The appointment or assignment against this post is for an initial period of one year. The appointment or assignment and renewal therefore subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate. 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. United Nations ConsiderationsAccording 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 FeeTHE 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.