Position description
Org. Setting and Reporting
The position is located in the International Tax and Development Cooperation Branch (ITDCB) of the Financing for Sustainable Development Office of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs. The incumbent reports to the Senior Economic Affairs Officer in ITDCB. The FSDO works to advance policy and action on financing for sustainable development to support Member States and other stakeholders in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development: by providing thought leadership and agenda-shaping, promoting multi-stakeholder dialogue, identifying policy options and best practices, and offering strategic advice and support for capacity development in key areas; this includes the work of the branch in delivering the UNDESA capacity building programme in tax and domestic resource mobilization, which is a particular focus of this post.
Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Senior Economic Affairs Officer in ITDCB, FSDO, the Economic Affairs Officer will provide support to the programme of capacity development in the area of financing for sustainable development in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda) and the Addis Agenda, with emphasis on issues related to international tax cooperation, domestic resource mobilization and fiscal policies aligned with the 2030 Agenda and Addis Agenda. This will include the following duties:
Economic or sector analysis
- Drafts specified inputs for technical papers and analytical studies on selected global, regional, national or sector aspects of economic development that provide a basis for advising national tax authorities or ministries of finance on issues related to domestic resource mobilization and (e.g. tax treaties, transfer pricing, tax consequences of the digitalized, extractive industries taxation, indirect taxation), and fiscal policies aimed to promote behaviours aligned with the 2030 Agenda, (e.g. carbon taxation and other environmental taxation, tax and inequalities, tax and health);
- Identifies and analyses policy proposals made elsewhere relating to the above issues;
- Attends international, regional, and national meetings to collect information and to hold discussions with colleagues in other institutions and support uptake of UN intergovernmentally and expert-driven guidance on the above issues;
- Assists in the organization and servicing of expert group meetings, seminars, etc. on development issues;
- Prepares speeches and other inputs for presentations by senior staff. Intergovernmental support;
- Prepares inputs for reports to intergovernmental bodies on a broad range of issues related to financing for sustainable development, including issues related to domestic resource mobilization and fiscal policies aligned with the 2030 Agenda and Addis Agenda;
- Support substantive and organizational preparations for and follow up to the ECOSOC Special Meeting on International Cooperation in Tax Matters;
- Follows relevant intergovernmental meetings and prepares summary reports;
- Prepares inputs to statements by Secretariat staff to such meetings;
- Assists in the organization of panels, round tables etc. on sustainable development issues for intergovernmental processes.
Technical cooperation
- Participates in missions on development issues, usually as a member of a team;
- Organizes and contributes to training seminars and other learning events (including online events) for national experts including officials of national authorities and relevant ministries of developing countries, including communication and outreach aspects;
- Prepares documentation for technical cooperation programmes and projects;
- Contributes to the preparation of material for the approval of regional, country or sector technical cooperation projects in the area of financing for sustainable development in support of the 2023 Agenda and Addis Agenda;
- Monitors, backstops and assesses the implementation of technical cooperation programmes and projects.
General
- Performs other related duties as required, including a variety of administrative tasks necessary for the final delivery of the branch or office’s services;
- Undertakes on-the-job and other training activities, both internally and externally.
Competencies
- Professionalism: Ability to apply economic theories and concepts in different sectors of economic and sustainable development. Ability to conduct independent research on economic topics, determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources. Shows skill in developing sources for data collection. 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;
- Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed;
- Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
Education
- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in economics or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
- A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in economic research and analysis, policy formulation, application of economic principles in development programmes or related area is required;
- Experience in delivering capacity development programmes or projects is required;
- Experience on issues related to tax and domestic resource mobilization and fiscal policies aimed to promote sustainable development is required;
- Experience in designing or implementing capacity development programmes or projects focused on international tax cooperation and domestic resource mobilization for sustainable development is required;
- Experience in coordinating activities related to budget funding, programme/project preparation, monitoring and working directly with project beneficiaries is desirable;
- Experience in project management is desirable.
Languages
- English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of the other is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.
Application instructions
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