ECONOMIC AFFAIRS OFFICER

Org. Setting and Reporting

These positions are located in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the regional commissions and, occasionally, other Departments in the Secretariat. Each position is usually focused on a sub-specialty such as macroeconomics, development economics, international economics (trade, finance and investment), public economics, environmental economics, gender economics or a specific economic sector or sectors. The Economics Affairs Officer usually reports to the Chief of Service, or to the Chief of Section or to a Senior Economics Affairs Officer.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the duties of an Economic Affairs Officer are likely to fall mainly into one of the three functional areas identified below but all are also likely to embrace a number of programme support responsibilities. ECONOMIC AND/OR SECTOR ANALYSIS:

• Monitors economic developments in a defined area and identifies recurrent and emerging issues of concern to the United Nations.
• Designs and conducts studies of selected issues in economic development and draft resulting reports.
• Interprets and applies results of econometric modelling to analysis of economic prospects and policies.
• Develops draft policy recommendations pertaining to area of work.
• Formulates proposals for development strategies, policies and measures for presentation to intergovernmental bodies and others.
• Attends international, regional, and national meetings to hold discussions with representatives of other institutions.
• Organizes expert group meetings, seminars, etc. on development issues.
• Prepares speeches and other inputs for presentations by senior staff. INTERGOVERNMENTAL SUPPORT:
• Provides substantive support on economic issues to intergovernmental bodies (such as the General Assembly, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Economic and Social Council, the Trade and Development Board, the regional commissions and the subsidiary bodies of each).
• Represents organizational unit at international, regional and national meetings. TECHNICAL COOPERATION:
• Designs, implements and monitors technical cooperation projects.
• Undertakes missions to member states, either alone or as a participant in a diverse team, as part of the Organization’s technical cooperation activities.
• Prepares global, regional, national or sector analyses that provide a basis for advising national governments on economic development issues.
• Conducts capacity building activities, including training seminars and workshops for government officials and others.
• Formulates technical modalities for the evaluation of individual technical cooperation projects. GENERAL:
• Supports junior staff, reviewing their work and providing feedback.
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