Job Description

International Expert on SME Competitiveness & Accelerating SDGs Investments

Post Level: ISA-Specialist

Vacancy Announcement

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL

INTERNAL/EXTERNAL

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

Vacancy Announcement No:

VA2021_ISA_EXT_180

Duty Station:

Indonesia

Date of Issuance:

08 December 2021

Type of Appointment:

Individual Service Agreement

Employment Fraction:

NonStaff-Regular

Closing Date:

04 January 2022

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 Digitalization, Technology and Agri-Business (DTA), headed by a Managing Director, coordinates and mainstreams the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) in its technical cooperation, strategic, normative activities aiming at fostering the inclusive and sustainable development in the era of 4IR. The Directorate creates new and innovative technical cooperation deliverables in the areas of trade, investment, technology innovation and agro-industry and agri- business. The Directorate comprises the Department of Digitalization, Technology and Innovation (DTI) and the Department of Agri-Business (AGR).

Responding to the growing demand for supporting inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in the era of the new industrial revolution, the Department of Digitalization, Technology and Innovation (DTA/DTI) leads the way in addressing opportunities, challenges and risks stemming from the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) and its contribution to sustainable socio-economic progress.

The Department is responsible for the strategic coordination of 4IR-related matters with designated focal points in other technical Departments and organizational entities of UNIDO, as appropriate. In consultation with public and private partners, DTI designs and implements holistic interventions that are tailored to specific country needs.

This position is located under the Innovation and Digitalization Division (DTA/DTI/IDD) promotes digital transformation and innovation ecosystems building, to advance the economic competitiveness of developing countries by helping them to benefit from the rapid progress of digital and convergent technologies associated to the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and ensuring a smooth transition towards cyber-physical industrial systems and a smart society.

PROJECT CONTEXT

Driving capital towards SDGs: Enhancing SMEs’ resilience, competitiveness and access to domestic, foreign and blended capital in the lagging regions of Indonesia (SAP ID 200077)

UNDP, UNIDO, UNICEF and UNEP developed the concept note on Innovative Financing Component 2, titled 'Driving Capital Towards Green and Social Infrastructure in Indonesia'. The Joint Programme (JP) responds inter alia to SDG 9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation; TARGET 9.1 Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all. UNIDO will lead the JP’s engagement with SMEs to provide support of blended finance instruments suited to industries that enhance the sustainability of blue economy. Specifically, it will focus on contributing to sustained productivity and competitiveness improvement in targeted industries/SMEs thereby helping to attract additional international/domestic investment and technology. UNIDO technical assistance projects’ primary priority consists in enhancing SMEs’ resilience and market access by modernizing and positioning them at the right stage of local and global value chains, which allows them to benefit from a wider range of investment opportunities, attract diversified capital, essential technology and know-how.

Building on a robust global network aimed at fostering investment, technology and other partnership opportunities, UNIDO seeks to enable SMEs to network into the clusters/consortia, capitalize on their flexibility by strengthening synergies among enterprises and with support institutions, while providing the necessary advisory services to improve the business and policy environment for the private sector. In Indonesian context, UNIDO can assist in improving investment climate that will produce incentives for productive investment, job creation, new technologies that can serve to increase the productivity and sustainability of other factors of production thereby unlocking opportunities of the blue economy and addressing the most pressing environmental problems.

The project foresees the following outputs:

Output 1: Market intelligence and market positioning study for mapping of existing originative and traditional industries conducted for identification of potential online and export markets market niches (especially with linkages with tourism industry) and industrial modernization competitiveness improvement and access to finance for selected pilot SMEs and their groups supported.

Output 2: Institutional capacities of technical support facilities to penetrate new markets and mobilize local finance towards serving the originative and traditional industries strengthened.

The International Specialist in Accelerating SDGs Investments in SMEs in Indonesia will work under direct supervision of the UNIDO Project Manager at UNIDO HQ (Vienna) and in liaison with National project Coordinator (NPC) on industrial modernization, as well as the national and international experts for the selected industries. His/her duties shall be performed in accordance with applicable rules and regulations of UNIDO and this job description.

Duty Station: Jakarta, Indonesia

Approximate duration: 1 year (with the possibility of extension)

Main Functions

1. Provision of strategic inputs for design and implementation of the Joint UN Programme (JP) for Indonesia (Component 2; Component 3):

1.1. Provide strategic recommendations for the development of relevant interventions in line with UNIDO’s role in Component 2 (implement SDG-linked pilot loans with trained SMEs) and in Component 3 (technical advisor/upgrader to startups; acompany the partnership campaign and provide support in negotiating impact/joint ventures) of the JP.

1.2. Support the interventions formulation exercise by facilitating engagement with Participating UN Organizations (PUNOs), stakeholders, gather inputs from relevant advisors and consultants, and prepare relevant documents in line with UNIDO's procedures, rules and regulations.

1.3. Guide development of detailed workplans of activities within the JP, regularly monitor and report on progress, and propose adjustments when necessary.

1.4. Prepare Semi-Annual progress reports in coordination with other PUNOs.


2. Facilitate SAP ID 200077 project activities on the Lombok island (West Nusa Tenggara region):

2.1. Support, guide and participate in raising awareness among the key stakeholders of the project on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats facing the originative and traditional industries with the objective to build consensus for development of a common vision and strategy to address and achieve common objectives.

2.2. Develop action plans with a results monitoring framework in collaboration with agri-food and textile/design experts and in consultation with key project beneficiaries and stakeholders, help to identify the key initiatives for development of Lombok originative and traditional industries and promoting their linkages with external markets and tourism sector.

2.3. Missions to project sites to gather technical information for assessment of the progress; hold consultations with key stakeholders to identify project activities, identify project partners; consult and assess potential service providers and partners; participate in interview panels for selection of project staff.

2.4. Monitor and support PM in day-to-day implementation of project activities and deliverables; report to Project Manager on the overall progress of the project and inform of any deviation from the workplan and suggest corrective measures for PM’s consideration when necessary.

2.5. Draft reports, according to the UNIDO Format, upon completion of the assignment, including recommendations / suggestions for future project activities.

Core Competencies

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.

Minimum Requirements

Education

Advanced university degree in international relations, public administration, economics, development studies or related field is required.

Languages

Fluency in written and spoken English is required.

Field of Expertise

• At least five years of professional experience in the field of sustainable development, project management, tourism and agrifood SMEs development, or other related areas, including experience at the international level involving technical cooperation in developing countries, is required;
• Experience in working with other UN agencies, development partners, government institutions is required;
• Experience in evaluating the needs, conditions and problems in developing countries is desirable;
• Experience working in the Asia-Pacific region, especially in Indonesia, is highly desirable.

This appointment is limited to the specified project(s) only and does not carry any expectation of renewal.

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 dependants, under the procedures established by the Director General.



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