External Relations Officer (Green Climate Fund and Adaptation Fund)

Requisition ID: 3169 
Grade: P3 
Country: Austria 
Duty Station: Vienna 
Category: Professional and Higher 
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: Staff-Full-time
Appointment Type: Fixed Term - 100 series
Minimum Annual Salary: 93,809 USD 
Application Deadline: 12-Dec-2023, 11:59 PM (CEST)  

Vacancy Announcement
Female candidates from all Member States are particularly encouraged to apply.

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 Departments/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

The Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations (GLO) is responsible for UNIDO's relations with Member States and all external partners, including through the policymaking organs. It plays a central role in interaction and collaboration with traditional and non-traditional donors; oversees the regional bureaus as well as the network of established field offices, liaison offices and Investment and Technology Promotion Offices; and supports the implementation of particularly complex projects, programmes and special assignments, thus also fulfilling an important role in safeguarding their quality and the reputation of the Organization. 

The position is located under the Division of Funding Partner Relations (GLO/FPR). The Division and the (Global Environment Facility) GEF Focal Point in particular, serves as the main channel of communication and interaction between Member States, funding partners and UNIDO. It establishes, maintains, coordinates, oversees, and monitors the Organization's official contacts with Member States and establishes and maintains strategic and policy-level relations with funding partners.

In this capacity, GEF Focal Point acts as the focal point for the Organization's funding partners, including the Global Environment Facility, the Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund (GEF/GCF/AF), which entails negotiation and coordination of programming and consultative processes with GEF/GCF/AF in close cooperation with relevant organizational units, providing necessary guidance to such units to enable timely submissions to funding partners; the provision of practical advice to all organizational units to facilitate UNIDO’s compliance and alignment with funding partner requirements, policies and regulations, as well as with the terms of funding agreements and UNIDO policies and procedures governing voluntary contributions; among others. 

GLO/FPR/GEF leads the Organization’s efforts in terms of compliance. This includes, among others, project quality reviews and entails, inter alia, leading the engagement with the project management teams that play a critical role in the development of a solid GCF portfolio.

The External Relations Officer will focus on the operationalization and implementation of UNIDO’s Partnerships with the GCF as well as the AF. The GCF/AF project cycle policies and guidelines are complex and evolve continuously calling for a dedicated position to advise and train project management teams not only during project development but also during the implementation phase. 

The External Relations Officer works under the direct supervision of the GEF/GCF/AF Coordinator and the Chief of the Division (GLO/FPR); and in close collaboration with the colleagues to support the diverse mandate of the Division. 

At the P3 level, the incumbent is expected to deliver substantive inputs (a) in work that contains in-depth analysis; (b) in creating an enabling environment, which promote cross-functional and cross-sectoral networks; (c) in building partnerships, which result in advocating and championing UNIDO’s programmes and (d) in achieving results, which affect UNIDO Programmes and Teams.

The UNIDO Staff Performance Management System reinforces the collaboration within formal units as well as among cross-functional teams. In this context, the incumbent collaborates with his/her supervisor and colleagues, in the country as well as in the region and in headquarters. Within the formal teams, the incumbent may be expected to backstop other team members as required.

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

II.    Main Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the GEF/GCF/AF Coordinator and the Division Chief of GLO/FPR, and working closely with various technical departments and services in UNIDO, the incumbent will perform, among others, the following main duties: 

• Supports UNIDO’s timely submission of high quality GCF/AF project proposals, organizes and participates in project review meetings with the relevant technical departments, and provides substantial and compliance related inputs to project documents;
• Supports UNIDO compliance efforts with GCF/AF standards and policies, in particular the Minimum Fiduciary Standards and the Environmental and Social Safeguard Policy and Procedures (ESSPP) and related project screening and monitoring activities;  
• Leads the interactions with in-house services such as the financial services (FIN), procurement services (PRO), Office of  Legal Affairs and Compliance (LEG), Office of the Evaluation and Internal Oversight (EIO) on matters related to the implementation of the Accreditation Master Agreement (AMA) and coordinates required regular  inputs such as Annual Self Assessments, Mid-term Review, Annual Report on Direct Access Entity support, the Annual Performance Report, and Project Completion Reports; 
• Prepares and coordinates UNIDO’s re-accreditation and up-grading efforts in line with UNIDO’s GCF programming strategy;  
• Stays abreast of the evolving GCF/AF project cycle policies and guidelines, analyses relevance to UNIDO and reflects this during advise and training of project management teams not only during GCF/AF project development but also during the implementation phase; 
• Coordinates interaction between national partners, in-house teams and the GCF/AF Secretariats; 
• Develops respectively GCF/AF operational guidelines and manuals that help increase the quality, scale, effectiveness, transparency and accountability of UNIDO’s engagement with partners;
• Supports UNIDO’s global and regional forum activities and their organization, and serves as the main source of information on UNIDO’s experience with GCF/AF partnerships; and participates at GCF/AF Board meetings and related workshops as required; 
• Supports the development, design and maintenance of the Partnerships GCF/AF subsection of the UNIDO website and the information hub activities of the division;
• Performs other duties and assignments as required by the GEF/GCF/AF Coordinator and the Chief of the Division. 
• Global Forum Function: Assist in the preparation for UNIDO's global forum activities (conferences, seminars, expert group meetings, etc.) and in their running. Prepare technical papers or other inputs for external seminars, conferences, expert group meetings, etc. Prepare UNIDO publications and other information dissemination aids and tools. Keep abreast of technical and economic developments in the areas of the Division’s mandate through close contacts with specialized institutions and industry representatives, following the technical press, market developments and trends.

III.    Core Values and Competencies

Core Values
WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.
WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.
WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective.

Key Competencies
WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential –and this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity.
WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world.
WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work.
WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: To stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another.

IV.    Minimum Organizational Requirements

Education: 
Advanced university level degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Economics, Environmental Management, Engineering, or a field of direct relevance to the mandate of the Division is required.  

Experience: 
A minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in the areas of partnerships with multilateral funds or other international organizations, including financial institutions is required. Experience in environmental and social safeguards and systems, as well as in engaging with the private sector is desirable. Experience in all phases of the Project Cycle, in particular with the requirements of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and/or another key funding partner of UNIDO is desirable. Experience in evaluating the needs, conditions and challenges of Member States is desirable. 

Language Skills: 
Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Working knowledge of other official language(s) of the United Nations is desirable.
 

NOTE: UNIDO professional level applicants are required to have served at least one year in their current position, if applying for a higher-level position. However, the seniority-in-grade requirements for applying for higher level positions, as per paragraphs 18 and 78 of the HRMF, have been waived.

UNIDO General Service applicants are required to be at least at the GS-5 level; to have served in their current position for at least two years; and to have served in UNIDO for at least five years.

For further information on salaries, refer to the International Civil Service Commission website: https://icsc.un.org/

Employees of UNIDO are expected at all times to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for jobs at UNIDO.

All applications must be submitted online through the Online Recruitment System. Correspondence will be undertaken only with candidates who are being considered at an advanced phase of the selection process. Selected candidate(s) may be required to disclose to the Director General the nature and scope of financial and other personal interests and assets in respect of themselves, their spouses and dependents, under the procedures established by the Director General.

Visit the UNIDO careers site for details on how to apply: https://careers.unido.org/ 

NOTE: The Director General retains the discretion to make an appointment to this post at a lower level.

Notice to applicants:
UNIDO does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. If you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Vacant positions within UNIDO are advertised on the official UNIDO website. Should you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of UNIDO and requesting payment of a fee, please contact: recruitment@unido.org