Programme Officer, P4 job in #Incheon City, #Korea, Republic Of/ #UnitedNations

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.

The Asian and Pacific Training Centre for Information and Communications Technology (APCICT) was inaugurated on 16 June 2006 as a regional institute of ESCAP and is located in Incheon, Republic of Korea. The Centre’s mission is to strengthen the efforts of the member countries of ESCAP to use ICT in their sustainable development through human and institutional capacity building. To meet this objective, APCICT’s work is focused on three inter-related pillars – Training, Advisory Services, and multi-stakeholder dialogue and partnership. Together they form an integrated approach to ICT human capacity building.

This position is located in APCICT, Incheon, Republic of Korea. The incumbent reports to the Head of APCICT.

Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Head of APCICT, the incumbent is required to perform the following functions:

(1) Develops, implements and evaluates assigned programmes/projects in the area of capacity-building on ICT for development (ICTD), particularly on the Centre’s training activities (module development, roll-out, and evaluation), research and knowledge-sharing, and advisory services; monitors and analyzes programme/project development and implementation; identifies problems and issues to be addressed and initiates corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; ensures follow-up actions.

(2) Provides substantive backstopping to inter-governmental meetings, expert group meetings, conferences, technical workshops, and capacity-building workshops, etc, to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations; makes presentations on assigned topics/ activities; organizes high-level policy consultations, including identifying and recruiting pertinent speakers, promoting the consultations, and preparing summary documentation of results/findings.

(3) Researches, analyzes, and presents information related to ICTD capacity-building in Asia and the Pacific; strengthen knowledge-sharing and learning processes in the area of ICTD capacity-building; liaises with other ICTD networks, institutions, and stakeholders to maintain up-to-date information on complementary initiatives; leads efforts to capture, use and showcase innovations and best practices for broad dissemination; initiates and manages website-based e-discussions on pertinent issues, including in relation to research activities and trainings and conferences; develops and manages the content of a webpage including information related to partner projects, events, innovations, best practices, and other related content.

(4) Drafts and/or reviews relevant documents and reports, and generates and disseminates information covering substantive meetings, research findings, project insights, upcoming events, and pertinent developments related to the project; coordinates the development and implementation of a strategy for knowledge transfer in close coordination with project stakeholders; organizes and prepares written outputs, e.g. drafts background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc.

(5) Provides APCICT with a more supportive knowledge-sharing and learning environment; contributes to the formulation of overall policies, procedures, objectives, and guidelines affecting the development and maintenance of APCICT’s databases and archives; manages publications programme; produces materials for print/electronic/voice/visual media; coordinates activities related to budget funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc) and prepares related documents; carries out managerial responsibilities relating to compliance with administrative requirements, planning, policy and procedure recommendations, human resources and facilities management.

(6) Performs other duties as required.

Competencies

Professionalism: Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of ICTD institutional and human capacity-building as well as practical experience in this area; Ability to plan, develop, implement, and evaluate ICTD human and institutional capacity development programmes/projects for member states and economies in transition; Knowledge and understanding of current practices, emerging trends, and approaches relevant to ICTD capacity-building; Demonstrates competence in undertaking knowledge-sharing initiatives, establishing and supporting networks and communities to exchange practices and experiences on ICTD, and providing advisory services to member states; Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent ICTD research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other databases; Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities; 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.

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.

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.

Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in science, information communication and technology, public administration, business administration, management, economics or a related field.

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.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in programme or project planning in the field of development in an International Organization is required.

At least three years of hands-on experience in developing and implementing capacity-building programmes or projects on ICT for development (ICTD) in an International Organization is required.

Experience in ICTD related strategy formulation, resource mobilization, project management, monitoring & evaluation, partnership management and managing functional team is required.

Experience in promoting knowledge sharing and providing advisory services or technical assistance in the field of ICTD is desirable.

Experience supporting cross-cutting issues, including gender and diversity initiatives is desirable.

Experience servicing intergovernmental meetings is desirable.

At least three years of experience with the United Nations system or a comparable international organization is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, 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.

This post is funded from extra-budgetary resources. The initial appointment is for a period of one year. Extension of the appointment is subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funds.

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.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side 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.