Programme Assistant

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

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. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions.

Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Departments/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

The Directorate of Strategic Planning, Programming and Policy (SPP) is responsible and accountable for UNIDO’s strategic planning and programming through the provision of coordinated and cohesive frameworks and policy advice. It plays the central role for UNIDO regarding the engagement in South-South and Triangular Cooperation matters, the strategic positioning of UNIDO within the United Nation system, strategic engagement in multilateral fora including BRICS, G20 and G7. It also leads the promotion of Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women through mainstreaming gender considerations at the institutional and programmatic level. In addition, the Directorate oversees the Organization’s industrial policy research, statistics and SDG 9 reporting activities, and normative function, and ensures a cohesive and consistent approach to Knowledge Management (KM) in UNIDO.

Within the Directorate, the Division of Industrial Policy Research and Statistics (SPP/IPS) is responsible for delivering the Organization’s research and statistics programme on industrial development. It is responsible for analysing trends in industrial development and trade, and producing UNIDO’s flagship publication, the Industrial Development Report; for the compilation, storage and dissemination of worldwide industrial statistics; and for reporting on the industrial statistics indicators of SDG 9. In collaboration with other organizational entities, the Division ensures that policy advice provided, statistical data collected and analysed, and research conducted and disseminated, contributing to the Organization’s strategic planning, programming and policy approaches. The outputs of the Division in the form of policy briefs and other publications are disseminated and promoted to Member States and the wider industrial development community, complying with the Organization’s industrial development normative function. The Division comprises of two units: Industrial Statistics and SDG 9 Reporting (ISR) and Industrial Policy Research (IPR).

This position is located under the Industrial Statistics and SDG 9 Reporting Unit (SPP/IPS/ISR), responsible for the compilation, storage and dissemination of worldwide industrial statistics and reporting on SDG 9. It provides analyses of such data to other organizational entities, taking into account observed trends, requests from Member States and demand from the Organization’s technical entities. In doing so, it also facilitates that statistical data collected are fed into the Organization’s work.

The duties of this post include the collection and processing of official data from national statistical offices (NSOs) and other sources; validating the received data and ensuring alignment with international methods and standards; and compiling statistics and indicators based on these data for inclusion in the Unit’s statistical products. Furthermore, the duties include a continuous communication with representatives from NSOs, international organizations and other institutions in areas of relevance to UNIDO’s mandate on ISID. Finally, the tasks also include an overall contribution to the implementation of the different activities of the Unit, including statistical analysis, production of statistical reports and communications material, collaboration with other sections of UNIDO, participation in international statistical activities such as taskforces and working groups, dissemination activities, as well as the implementation of technical cooperation projects aimed at improving statistical capacities in UNIDO Member States.

The incumbent will perform the assigned tasks under the direct supervision of the Chief Statistician of UNIDO (first reporting officer). The Division Director will act as second reporting officer, overseeing the overall progress achieved by the incumbent against the Unit’s programme. The incumbent closely interacts with all the Unit’s staff members when implementing activities related to data production, validation and dissemination, as well as during the production of reports and databases. Finally, the post also requires frequent interaction with focal points from NSOs, international organizations, other sections of UNIDO and other partners.

Main Functions

Data collection and data production

• Collection of data from NSOs of countries and territories assigned by the Chief Statistician, through UNIDO General Industrial Statistics Questionnaires and additional data sources.
• Validation of received data, including ensuring alignment with international methods and standards.
• Consolidation of reported metadata and its organization in accordance with current metadata system.
• Frequent correspondence with NSOs for data and metadata query; maintaining a register of NSOs focal points and contact addresses for regular correspondence on data exchange related matters.
• Preparation of tables and indicators for their inclusion and dissemination in UNIDO databases and statistical publications.

Support in statistical activities

• Assisting in the implementation of the Unit’s activities, including technical cooperation (TC) projects; this includes, inter alia, budget revisions, obligation reviews, re-phasing, extension or completion of projects, issuance of new project allotment documents/due sub-allotments, monitoring-related exercises, observing financial procedures, TC guidelines and other tasks.
• Supporting with the recruitment of experts, training and study tours, purchase of equipment, travel authorizations requests/claims and other related inquiries.
• Drafting inputs for the Unit’s publications and reports.
• Responding to requests received by other sections of UNIDO and external partners, as assigned by the Chief Statistician.

Communication activities

• Suggesting dissemination activities, in accordance with the Division’s and UNIDO’s communication strategy.
• Preparation of communication material, including press releases, social media posts, web pages, blogs, articles and others.
• Liaising with other Departments across UNIDO to enhance the Unit’s communication activities.
• Proofreading and editing reports and publications.
• Responding to user requests through official communication channels.

Other tasks

Self-development and training: the incumbent should maintain continuous learning of techniques and skills related to statistical and computational methods through the study of manuals, documents and courses as well as through formal training.

Minimum Organizational Requirements

Education:

• Completed secondary education is required. Education or training in statistics, data science or related field would be an advantage. Education or training in communication or marketing would also be an advantage.

Experience:

• A minimum of eight (8) years of experience in providing support for the execution of project and programme development and implementation of work is required. Experience in office procedures and practices, including using SAP or other ERP software, preferably within the UN system or in a multicultural environment, is required. Experience with data analysis and summarizing quantitative information is also required. Experience in implementing a communication strategy and preparing communication material would be desirable.
• Credit towards total working experience may be considered on a year by-year- basis, up to maximum of four years, for a higher degree education (including first university degree or equivalent diploma and/or master’s degree), in a relevant field to the post.

Language Skills: 

• Fluency in English required. Fluency in another official UN language, particularly French or Spanish, would be desirable.

Source: https://careers.unido.org/job/Vienna-Programme-Assistant/1137219455/