Economic Affairs Officer, P4

Created in December 1999, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) is the designated focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of efforts to reduce disasters and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities of the United Nations and regional organisations and activities in both developed and less developed countries. Led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG), UNDRR has over 160 staff located in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and in regional offices.

Specifically, UNDRR guides, monitors, analyses and reports on progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction , supports regional and national implementation of the Framework and catalyzes action and increases global awareness to reduce disaster risk working with UN Member States and a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians and the science and technology community.

Under the  strategic Framework, UNDRR intends to accelerate its support to member states and in close cooperation with financial sector partners, support fast‑track financing for disaster risk reduction (DRR) and ensure investments are de‑risked by fostering strategic engagements, advocacy and generating guidance with evidence. This project position is located in the Inter‑governmental processes, Inter‑agency cooperation and Partnerships Branch in Geneva.

The incumbent reports to the Deputy Chief of the Branch under the overall authority of the Chief of Branch.

Within delegated authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:
Economic 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.
• Develops draft policy recommendations pertaining to area of work.
• Formulates proposals for development strategies, policies and measures for presentation to intergovernmental bodies and others.
• In coordination with regional offices, engages in supporting United Nations Country Teams (UNCTs), National governments and other partners in accelerating access to financing and risk‑informed investment.
• 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 Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Financing for Development (FFD), and relevant regional subsidiary bodies.
• Represents organizational unit at international, regional and national meetings. Technical cooperation:
• Coordinates the delivery of the financing for disaster risk reduction catalytic area of focus, working in cooperation with regional offices and external partners.
• Engages the private financial sector in supporting the delivery of Sendai Framework targets.
• 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 training seminars and workshops for government officials and others.
• Supports and coordinates the planning, implementation and evaluation of UNDRR policies and programming on risk‑informed investment across various global and regional initiatives.
• Supports junior staff, reviewing their work and providing feedback.
• Participates in intra- and inter‑branch undertakings of broader concern to…