CHIEF OF SECTION, ECONOMIC AFFAIRS, P5

Overview

The Chief of Section, Economic Affairs, P5 will provide policy guidance and oversee the implementation of strategies related to natural resources governance and agri-food system transformation.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing policy guidance to the Director on conceptual strategy development and management of the implementation of overall strategies related to natural resources governance and agri-food system transformation and intra and inter-divisional/departmental policies and procedures.
• Overseeing planning and management of activities undertaken by the Section; ensuring that substantive work programmes and programmed activities are carried out in a timely fashion, coordinating diverse projects in the Section, and, in liaison with other organizations of the United Nations System, donors and agencies as appropriate.
• Carrying out, managing and supervising the work programme of the Section under his/her responsibility.
• Providing substantive input in the preparation of position papers and reports for presentation to intergovernmental bodies such as the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budget Questions, Committee for Programme Coordination, Economic and Social Council, the General Assembly and other policy-making organs, as appropriate.
• Contributing to the reporting to intergovernmental bodies on budget/programme performance or on programmatic/ substantive issues, as appropriate, particularly those presented in biannual and/or annual reports.
• Ensuring that the outputs produced by the Section maintain high-quality standards; that reports are clear, objective and based on comprehensive data. Ensures that all outputs produced by the Section under his/her supervision meet required standards before completion to ensure they comply with the relevant mandates.
• Preparing inputs for the work programme of the Division, determining priorities, and allocating resources for the completion of outputs and their timely delivery.
• Carrying out programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the Section, including preparation of budgets, assigning and monitoring of performance parameters and critical indicators, reporting on budget/programme performance, preparation of inputs for results-based budgeting, evaluation of staff performance (PAS), interviews of candidates for job openings and evaluation of candidates.
• Recruiting staff for the Section, taking due account geographical and gender balance and other institutional values.
• Managing, guiding, developing and training staff under his/her supervision.
• Fostering teamwork and communication among staff in the Unit/Section and across organizational boundaries.
• Representing the Organization at inter-agency meetings, seminars, etc. on substantive climate change-related issues.
• Participating in international, regional or national meetings and providing programmatic/substantive expertise on climate change or hold programmatic/ substantive and organizational discussions with representatives of other institutions. Supporting the Office of the Director in engaging with development partners to deliver on mutually agreed interventions.
• Providing support to the work of the division in formulating and implementing gender sensitive policies in the areas of climate change and climate resilience in support of the key drivers of Africa’s sustainable structural transformation, including strengthening human and institutional capacities of Member States.
• Establishing research programmes to improve capacities of policymakers in analyzing and managing policies to address issues of climate change.
• Overseeing research to support and promote policy, legal and regulatory frameworks to strengthen resilience to climate change, at the regional, national and sub-national level.

Required Experience

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in the field of natural resources governance and/or agri-food system transformation sustainable development, gained through research, policy, practice and the provision of related advisory services at national, regional and international levels, is required. Experience in a developing country is desirable. Two years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Qualifications

An advanced university degree (Master’s or Doctorate) in economics, natural resources management, food policy, law, international development/development studies, natural or social sciences is required. A Doctorate is an advantage. A first-level degree (bachelor’s or equivalent) in the specified fields with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

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