Exciting Opportunity at ESCWA: Research Assistant (Social Affairs)
Exciting Opportunity at ESCWA: Research Assistant (Social Affairs)
Job Vacancy: Research Assistant
Job Opening ID: 235829
Job Network: Economic, Social, and Development
Job Family: Social Affairs
Category and Level: General Service and Related Categories, G-5
Duty Station: Beirut
Department/Office: Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)
Date Posted: May 30, 2024
Deadline: June 28, 2024
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Organizational Setting and Reporting
The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) is an integral part of the United Nations Secretariat, functioning under the United Nations Economic and Social Council’s supervision. ESCWA encompasses 21 Arab countries in Western Asia and North Africa, providing a platform for policy formulation and harmonization, a hub for expertise and knowledge, and an information observatory. ESCWA coordinates its activities with various UN divisions, specialized agencies, and regional organizations such as the League of Arab States and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
This position is within Cluster 4, which focuses on Statistics, the Information Society, and Technology. Cluster 4 serves as a regional platform for deliberation, consensus-building, peer learning, and policy solutions. Its objectives include strengthening the institutional framework for official statistics in the Arab region, enhancing the production and use of harmonized, timely, and reliable statistics for evidence-based policymaking, measuring progress towards the 2030 Agenda, and promoting the integration of technology and innovation for sustainable development.
Exciting Opportunity at ESCWA: Research Assistant (Social Affairs)
The Research Assistant will report directly to the Cluster Lead.
Responsibilities
As a Research Assistant, your key responsibilities will include:
- Project Contribution: Contributing substantively to Cluster 4 projects, particularly in assessing countries’ performance in digital transformation and SDG statistics.
- Data Collection and Validation: Collecting and validating data from countries in specific domains, preparing country analyses, summarizing results, and preparing briefs and presentations for reports related to data availability and performance.
- Data Management: Sorting, consolidating, extracting, and processing data for entry into relevant databases.
- Monitoring Developments: Assisting in monitoring developments by collecting, selecting, analyzing, and compiling materials from various sources such as databases, libraries, and the Internet.
- Statistical Material Assembly: Assembling original statistical material, adjusting reported data from different sources, and loading data into a computerized database system.
- Data Evaluation: Assisting in evaluating and examining data sets for accuracy, clarity, and validity.
- Report Preparation: Preparing reports, presentations, tables, lists, graphs, charts, and diagrams for senior officers’ review.
- Abstracts and Bibliographic Descriptions: Preparing abstracts and bibliographic descriptions for documents, articles, books, and publications.
- Database Management: Reviewing, storing, classifying, and maintaining relevant computerized databases.
- Meeting Documentation: Taking notes and drafting executive summaries of meetings.
- Information Dissemination: Collecting, organizing, and disseminating relevant UN and media information.
- Public Awareness Coordination: Coordinating and setting up press briefings, statements, pamphlets, or other campaigns to educate the public on specific issues.
- Guidance and Training: Providing guidance and training to new or junior staff.
- Data Analysis and Presentation: Assisting with data collection, analysis, and preparation of data presentations and reports for information sharing, planning, and decision-making.
- Visualizations and Information Material Updates: Assisting with visualizations and updating information materials such as web pages or brochures.
- Additional Duties: Performing other related work as required.
Competencies
- Professionalism: Ability to research, interpret, and analyze diverse data. Understanding the functions and organization of the work unit and related units. Knowledge of internal policies, processes, and procedures. Initiative and appropriate linkages in work requirements. Pride in work and achievements, professional competence, and mastery of the subject matter. Conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results. Motivated by professional rather than personal concerns, persistent in facing difficult problems, and calm in stressful situations. Incorporates gender perspectives and ensures equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
- Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. Values others’ ideas and expertise, learns from others, places team agenda before personal agenda, supports group decisions, shares credit for team accomplishments, and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
- Technological Awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology. Understands the applicability and limitations of technology to the office’s work. Actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks and is willing to learn new technology.
Education
- Required: High school diploma or equivalent.
- Desirable: A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in technology, computer science, engineering, statistics, economics, or a related field.
Work Experience
- Required: A minimum of 5 years of experience in collecting and researching data across various areas of social, economic, and digital development, and SDGs or related areas. For candidates with a first-level university degree or higher, the minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to 3 years.
- Desirable: Experience in research and analysis in the Arab region, proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, and experience working with the United Nations or similar organizations.
Languages
- Required: Fluency in English and Arabic.
- Note: Fluency equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand). Knowledge of equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas.
Assessment
Qualified applicants may undergo one or more assessments, followed by a competency-based interview.
Special Notice
- Contract Duration: This position is available for one year from the date of appointment/assignment. Extension of the appointment/assignment is subject to post or funds availability, budgetary approval, mandate extension, continued need for services, and satisfactory performance.
- Recruitment Principles: The United Nations is committed to securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. Employment decisions are based on qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds, or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support their participation in the recruitment process.
- Local Recruitment: This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. Applicants for positions in the General Service and related categories must be authorized to work for the United Nations in the duty station where the position is located. Eligible applicants selected from outside the duty station are responsible for any expenses in connection with their relocation. Staff members subject to local recruitment are not eligible for allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment.
- Travel and Relocation Costs: Candidates are responsible for all arrangements and costs for attending assessments and interviews. Candidates are also responsible for all costs related to travel and relocation (including visas and permits) to the duty station and continued employment at ESCWA.
- Authority of the Secretary-General: Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any task or function in the organization. All staff are expected to move periodically to new functions during their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.
- Gender Balance and Diversity: The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
United Nations Considerations
The highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity are essential in the employment of staff. Candidates will not be considered if they have committed violations of international human rights or humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe they have been involved in such acts. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request.
By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any activities or offices of the United Nations. Staff members in the Professional and higher categories are normally required to move periodically to different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility. This condition applies to all position-specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions.
Applicants must follow all instructions in the online recruitment platform, Inspira. The evaluation of applicants will be based on the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and applicable internal legislations of the United Nations. No amendments, additions, deletions, revisions, or modifications shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.
No Fee
The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, or training). The United Nations does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.
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Keywords
Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, ESCWA, United Nations, Secretariat, Cluster 4, Statistics, Information Society, Technology, digital transformation, SDG statistics, data collection, data validation, data management, statistical material, data evaluation, report preparation, abstracts, bibliographic descriptions, database management, meeting documentation, information dissemination, public awareness, guidance, training, data analysis, data presentation, visualizations, high school diploma, university degree, social development, economic development, digital development, Arab region, research, analysis, Microsoft Office, United Nations employment, local recruitment, Beirut, English, Arabic.
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