Regional Advisor on Sustainable Transport

Org. Setting and ReportingThe Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA unescwa.org) 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. This position is in Cluster 3: 'Shared Economic Prosperity'. Cluster 3 acts as a pioneer and multi-stakeholder regional platform for deliberation, consensus-building, peer learning, and policy solutions on regional connectivity 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. ResponsibilitiesThe Regional Advisor is expected to contribute and to strengthening ESCWA's technical assistance. The Regional Advisor will be under the general guidance of the Executive Secretary and report directly to the Shared Economic Prosperity Cluster Leader (C3) and in cooperation with the Secretary of the Commission (SoC). Within delegated authority, the Regional Advisor will be responsible for the following duties: Economic or sectoral analysis: • Provide technical leadership and managerial support in the field of sustainable transport, including road safety; and support ESCWA efforts towards the development of a long-term strategic vision for a multimodal transport system operating as a backbone for regional connectivity and integration and supporting shared economic growth and prosperity. • Provide technical support to member States to strengthen their national capacity in developing and implementing long-term visions, national policies, strategies, and action plans for the development of sustainable transport networks and facilities, and for achieving increased road safety, taking into consideration the megatrends in the field of transport at the global and regional levels. • Leads or participates in the formulation, organization and management of mandated programmes related to sustainable transport. • Conceives, plans and manages expert group meetings, seminars and similar consultations that contribute to the finalization of the ESCWA’s work on transport. Intergovernmental support: • Provide substantive support to the ESCWA Committee on Transport and Logistics • Provide support to ESCWA and to national Governments to prepare their participation and interventions to the High-Level Meetings of the UN General Assembly on sustainable transport. • Represents ESCWA at international, regional and national meetings on development issues related to transportation and road matters. Technical cooperation: • Provide support to ESCWA member States to access and implement ESCWA and other transport-related United Nations legal instruments to enhance national, regional and global connectivity in a harmonized and coordinated approach. • Develops and maintains relations with senior officials of member governments and ensures a response to requests for advice and/or assistance on sustainable transport issues and policies. • Negotiates with donor and recipient governments on technical assistance programmes and projects. • Organizes and coordinates cooperation among Member States on economic programmes or issues. • Leads or participates in technical cooperation missions related to sustainable transport and road safety. Competencies• Professionalism: Ability to demonstrate experience in sustainable transport planning and policy, at the at the national and regional level; Ability to analyze sustainable transport issues in the context of international development, including cross-border connectivity and regional integration, as well as deep familiarity with international standards and best practices in transport infrastructure development, sustainable transport and road safety, particularly in developing countries. Proven ability to offer practical policy advice on these issues based on local contexts and ability to advocate on behalf of ESCWA to senior level government officials in their capacity as an expert in transport issues. 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. Able to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. • 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. • 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 informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client. Managerial Competencies • Vision: Identifies strategic issues, opportunities and risks; clearly communicates links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals; generates and communicates broad and compelling organizational direction, inspiring others to pursue that same direction; conveys enthusiasm about future possibilities. EducationAdvanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in transport engineering, transport planning, transport policy and management, transport economics or related field. 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 and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is an advantage. Good computer skills, including proficiency in computer applications relevant to the field of specialization including special packages and software for database management. Job - Specific QualificationSuccessful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable. Work ExperienceA minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in building technical leadership and managerial support in the area of sustainable transport, including: - Working on sustainable transport at the level of national government or in transport related national agencies, or - Providing consultancy advice to national ministries in developing sustainable transport policies and programmes, or - experience in leveraging the intersections across member State ministries of transport, planning and other national agencies linked to sustainable transport, as well as cities and local government, in terms of sustainable transport planning, policies and strategies is required. A minimum of five years of experience in regional and/or international organizations working on sustainable transport related issues is desirable. Knowledge of United Nations technical cooperation activities is desirable. LanguagesEnglish 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 and Arabic are required. 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 AssessmentEvaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise 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 Candidate Profile form, 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 unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 31 August 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 Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu. 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.