Functional title: Regional Advisor on Social Policy
Grade: P-5
Office: Social Development Division (SDD)
employment-escwa@un.org no later than 5 December 2012. This temporary position is available for a
maximum period of 364 days from entry on duty.
ESCWA reserves the right to hire at a level below that of the post.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Under the general guidance of the Executive Secretary, the direct supervision of the Director of the Social
Development (SDD) and in close cooperation with the Director of the Programme Planning and Technical
Cooperation Division (PPTCD), the Regional Advisor will carry out the following tasks:
1. Provides, at the request of the member countries, technical and substantive assistance in the areas of social
policy, social protection and youth development;
2. Contributes to the development of medium term strategic and integrated policy and programme interventions
in ESCWA member countries;
3. Provides advice on the development and transfer of knowledge in the areas of successful country case
studies in the above areas and other relevant areas depending on the requests and contexts of the countries
involved;
4. Provides advice on the organization and conducting of capacity-building activities for national stakeholders
involved in the above areas and other relevant areas depending on the requests and contexts of the
countries involved;
5. Provides technical assistance in promoting cooperation between ESCWA and other United Nations
organizations in member countries concerned with social development issues;
6. Provides the necessary advice to the Social Development Division on emerging matters that are deemed
relevant.
COMPETENCIES:
Professionalism - Excellent command of social policy analysis techniques and other qualitative and
quantitative skills, sound analytical skills; ability to work in an inter-disciplinary setting where economic, social,
political, environmental, gender and other challenges are considered collectively and coherently; ability to apply
social policy understanding, theory and concepts to issues of concern to the UN; ability to determine suitability,
validity and accuracy of data provided by others of research and studies undertaken by others; experience in
social policy analysis at the national and regional level; posses a solid knowledge of the broad range of key
social development issues, including social protection and/or youth development.
Planning and Organizing - Proven ability to plan and organize work, requiring an in-depth understanding of its
strategic direction and ability to integrate his/her work into the Division’s work programme.
Client Orientation - Ability to identify clients’ needs and propose solutions as well as establish and maintain
effective relationships with outside collaborators and other contacts, including representatives of Member States and the public.
QUALIFICATIONS:
EDUCATION - Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in a field of social science or in a related
field with strong relevant experience in social development. A Ph.D. is preferable.
WORK EXPERIENCE - A minimum of ten (10) years of experience in the social development field with particular
emphasis on public policy making, and management; familiarity with global and regional social development
issues, as well as previous policy advisory experience to governments.
LANGUAGES - English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Arabic is also
a working language of ESCWA. For the post advertised fluency in oral and written Arabic and English is
required.
Applications will only be accepted when they correspond to specific vacancy announcements.
ESCWA is a smoke-free environment.
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