Representative, Regional Hub at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

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.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Representative, Regional Hub

Location: Abuja
Employment Type: Full-time

Job Description

• The Field Offices fall under the overall responsibility of the Division of Regional Bureaus and Field Offices (GLO/RFO), of the Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations (GLO).
• The Field Offices are responsible for representing UNIDO in their countries/regions of coverage and for maintaining close relations with all relevant stakeholders. They are responsible for identifying development priorities and donors’ thematic and funding priorities in the countries/regions of coverage, and for supporting, and/or leading when requested, the formulation, implementation and monitoring of technical cooperation projects and programmes, including the Programmes for Country Partnership (PCPs) and the Country Programmes (CPs). The Field Offices are also responsible for coordinating and reporting on UNIDO’s activities in their countries/region of coverage, and for leading/contributing to the development of regional strategies and policies to ensure the strategic and programmatic consistency of UNIDO’s work.
• The Field Offices also cooperate with and contribute to the joint work of the UN System at country level, through collaboration with the United Nations Resident Coordinator Offices (UNRCs) and United Nations Country Teams (UNCTs) and the participation in Common Country Assessments (CCAs) and United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCFs).
• The UNIDO Regional Hub, headed by the UNIDO Representative in Nigeria covers the UNIDO Programmes in Nigeria and countries of coverage[1].The UR is responsible for representing UNIDO in the host country and countries of coverage as well as in relevant regional intergovernmental institutions, to promote the Organization as an effective partner for development, and to maintain close contacts with local stakeholders at the country level as appropriate, including government institutions and international entities.
• The UR works under the policy direction of the Director General, the Managing Director of the Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations (GLO), the overall guidance of the Director, Division of Regional Bureaus, and Field Offices (GLO/RFO), and under the direct supervision of the Chief, Africa Regional Bureau.
• The UR is expected to: (a) contribute to results achieved by the UNIDO in the host country and countries of coverage; (b) manage relationships of the Organization with key stakeholders of industrial development with a view to achieving results; (c) build partnerships which result in strategic collaborations and (d) coordinate the cooperation from different thematic areas of UNIDO to address country needs in an integral manner.
• The UR shall collaborate and support UNCT members in the countries of coverage to drive joint results in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework.
• The UNIDO Staff Performance Appraisal and management System reinforces the collaboration within formal units as well as among cross-functional teams. In this context, the incumbent collaborates with his/her team and colleagues, in the country as well as in the region and in headquarters.
• 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.

Functional Responsibilities

• Specific roles and responsibilities of the UNIDO Representative (UR) are to lead the UNIDO Field Office in line with the terms of reference for Field Offices[2]. Key aspects of the UR responsibilities include:
• Representation, communication and engagement with Governments and partners
• Represent UNIDO at the country/regional level as appropriate, and maintain close relations with stakeholders and development partners to promote the Organization’s mandate of inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) and serve as the principal conduit for communication for all strategic and programmatic operations.
• Identify and assess local needs and donor priorities to enable an effective alignment of UNIDO’s resource mobilization and partnership development.
• Ensure the alignment of UNIDO initiatives to national strategies and development plans, donor priorities and UNSDCFs.
• Work closely with the UNRC and the UNCT and ensure the integration of ISID, in close contact with relevant entities, into the work of the UNDS, including into the CCA and the UNSDCF, as well as in joint programmes.

Delivery of technical assistance:

• Continuously monitor and analyze the industrial performance of the countries/region of coverage, including preparing
• and updating country/region and industry profiles, in cooperation with the Division of Capacity Development,
• Industrial Policy Advice and Statistics (TCS/CPS).
• Contribute, support, and/or lead as required, the development and implementation of UNIDO’s regional/country
• grouping strategies, including for least developed countries, middle-income countries and Small Island Developing
• States, among others.
• Promote, contribute to, and/or lead as required, the implementation of projects/programmes (including the
• Programmes for Country Partnership and the Country Programmes), which normally involve: project identification, preparation of project concept, appraisal, preparation of detailed project documents, project approval and start-up, project supervision, project completion, monitoring and evaluation;
• Carry out selected technical cooperation activities, including acting as the Executing Entity for projects, upon approval by the Office of the Managing Director of GLO; and for Global Environment Facility projects, following approval in line with DGB/2022/19.

Monitoring and reporting:

• Monitor UNIDO’s activities, including through field visits, and draw/share lessons to ensure a coherent and systematic approach to UNIDO’s service delivery.
• Prepare and submit annual business plans, and annual reports to the respective Regional Bureau for the countries/region of coverage.

Resource management:

• Manage the financial and human resources of the Field Office and ensure compliance with requirements related to the security and safety of employees and their eligible dependents, as well as the protection of UNIDO assets, property, and information.

Additional roles of Regional Offices:

• Coordinate with UNIDO Headquarters, programmatic and technical guidance that support common and trans-border emerging priorities related to ISID.
• Provide support to Country Offices in the region.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of, as requested, regional or sub-regional strategies, programmes and projects.

Minimum Organizational Requirements
Education:

• Advanced University Degree (Master's or equivalent) in Economics, Business Administration, International Relations, Public Administration, or other relevant field with specialization in Development Economics, is required.

Experience:

• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible professional work experience, including at international level (outside  own country) in the field of economic development, involving, technical cooperation at senior level, is required.
• Experience in evaluating, the needs, conditions and problems of developing countries is required.
• Experience in supervising/managing both technical and non-technical teams in aspects of the project cycle (project formulation, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation) is required.
• Experience in representational functions (outside own country) and experience in the UN system are required.
• Experience in working with intergovernmental bodies, leading with results on strategic partnerships, resource mobilization is desirable.

Application Closing Date
8th March, 2024.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online