Regional Adviser on Connectivity

The Regional Adviser on Connectivity supports the United Nations Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) by providing policy advice, monitoring regional economic cooperation trends, contributing to capacity development, and supporting resource mobilization efforts. The role involves working closely with governments and stakeholders in North and Central Asia to promote sustainable and inclusive development and regional connectivity.

Responsibilities

• Provides policy advice online and/or through short-term field missions to governments of the SPECA participating states and other relevant stakeholders in the subregion upon their request on aspects of connectivity, particularly in the areas of trade and transport, in support of the United Nations Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA), including its related priorities.
• Monitors, studies, and analyzes the trends and best practices on connectivity and regional economic cooperation, including emerging regional cooperation opportunities relevant to SPECA participating states, and prepares policy advisory notes to inform governments as well as feed into the intergovernmental process.
• Contributes to the design/redesign of national policies and strategies upon requests from the SPECA participating states for regional economic cooperation and for the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and/or other relevant international norms and standards.
• Participates in the design and development of capacity development programmes, projects and activities under the SPECA framework at national and regional levels, supporting monitoring, evaluation and reporting processes to ensure alignment with SPECA priorities and effective achievement of programme outcomes.
• Monitors implementation of gender mainstreaming guidelines by assessing the implications for men and women of any planned action, including legislation, policies, or programmes, in all areas and at all levels.
• Makes substantive contributions to SPECA-related workshops, seminars, and capacity-building events at national and regional levels, including development of training materials and knowledge products and agendas aligned with SPECA priorities; identification of key stakeholders and participants from participating states; and preparation of background documents and presentations supporting SPECA implementation.
• Supports resource mobilization efforts for SPECA by contributing to the development of project proposals and engagement with partners and donors, particularly to secure extra budgetary funding aligned with SPECA programme priorities.
• Assumes additional assignments in support of the implementation of the SPECA Programme of work, in line with capacity development guidance as requested by the supervisor.

Requirements

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics, business administration, or related fields is required.
• A relevant first-level university degree in the above fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience within the UN development system and/or related to operational activities for the development of the UN system in the area of connectivity, project or programme management, administration, or a related area is required.
• A minimum of four (4) years of professional experience of advisory work in developing countries (including transition countries), preferably in more than one region, is required.
• Experience in international technical cooperation and capacity development is required.
• Experience in preparing policy advisory notes, reports, and knowledge products for governments and international stakeholders is required.
• Demonstrated experience in providing policy advice to governments or intergovernmental organizations, preferably within the context of Central Asia or other transition economies, is desirable.
• Experience working with multilateral organizations, regional institutions, or international development agencies is desirable.
• English is required at UN Level II proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
• Russian and French are desirable languages with specified proficiency levels.

Skills

• Economic Policy Advice
• Project Management
• Programme Management
• International Technical Cooperation
• Capacity Development
• Policy Advisory Note Preparation
• Report Writing
• Knowledge Product Development
• Regional Economic Cooperation
• Resource Mobilization
• Advisory Work in Developing Countries
• Multilateral Engagement
• Stakeholder Engagement
• UN Development System Experience

Languages

English, Russian, French