Candidates are invited for YPP positions
Org. Setting and Reporting
These positions are located primarily in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and the Regional Commissions. DESA is a vital interface between global policies in the economic, social and environmental spheres and national action. Its work is guided by the universal, integrated and transformative 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, along with a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 associated targets adopted by the UN General Assembly on 25 September 2015. Incumbents typically report to the Head of a Branch or Section or to a Senior Officer. The typical job in this area is Associate Social Affairs Officer, and may also be Associate Population Affairs Officer.
Applicants with expertise in Demography who are interested in positions as Associate Population Affairs Officers are encouraged to apply for the YPP examinations either in Statistics or Social Affairs.
The YPP examination in Social Affairs covers a wide range of cross-cutting social, economic and demographic topics, including matters related to poverty eradication, employment, inequality, social integration and social inclusion, indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, youth, population dynamics, aging and migration, as well as other related areas covered by the social affairs arms of the United Nations. Successful candidates could be assigned to a job in any or a combination of these areas.
Successful candidates will be considered for YPP positions as they become available throughout the Secretariat, including field offices. Initial appointments will be for two years and subject to review for a continuing appointment. The Organization promotes mobility within and across duty stations and job families.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority and depending on location, the Associate Social Affairs Officer may be responsible for the following duties:
Analysis
•Carries out basic research on selected aspects of critical areas of concern related to socio-economic issues, social development programmes, population and demography, sustainable development issues etc., including collecting, analysing and presenting statistical data and other information gathered from different sources, and participating in the analysis of national experiences in social planning and policy development.
•Contributes to the preparation of various written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, sections of research reports and studies, technical studies, summary reports, etc.
•Develops and maintains reference/resource information on specific topics, policy-related issues, recent developments and emerging trends, etc.
•Liaises with NGOs, researchers, academia, etc., as appropriate, to obtain and provide data and information; responds to various inquiries and information requests internally and externally.
•Provides administrative and substantive support to expert group meetings, panel discussions, conferences, seminars, round tables, etc., including proposing agenda topics and experts, handling logistics, etc.
•Analyses progress and developments in the implementation of specific programmes; contributes to the development of mechanisms for monitoring programme implementation.
•Undertakes outreach activity in assigned areas, providing presentations and other inputs (e.g. articles, publications), and attending professional and NGO meetings.
•Maintains awareness of current social affairs and related issues, to include relevant political, policy, gender issues/considerations or other developments in specific sector, country or region concerned.
Intergovernmental Support
•Provides support to intergovernmental processes dealing with social development or population or sustainable development issues by preparing inputs for reports to intergovernmental bodies; following intergovernmental meetings and preparing summary reports and similar material; preparing inputs to statements by members of the Bureau and Secretariat staff to such meetings; assisting in the organization of panels, round tables, etc.
Technical Cooperation
•Compiles and analyses the data and other information necessary for the preparation of technical cooperation project proposals in the area of social development or population affairs or sustainable development.
•Prepares documentation for technical cooperation programmes and projects.
•Contributes to the preparation of material for the approval of regional, country or sectoral technical cooperation projects.
•Monitors, backstops and assesses the implementation of technical cooperation programmes and projects.
•Participates in fact-finding and advisory missions to government and other activities in support of work programme.
•Performs other duties as required.
The duties above are generic and may not be performed by all Associate Social Affairs / Associate Population Affairs Officers.
Competencies
Professionalism:
•Shows pride in work and in achievements
•Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter
•Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results
•Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns
•Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges
•Remains calm in stressful situations
•Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work
Teamwork:
•Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals
•Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others
•Places team agenda before personal agenda
•Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position
•Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings
Planning & Organizing:
•Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies
•Identifies priority activities and assignments
•Adjusts priorities as required
•Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work
•Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning
•Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary
•Uses time efficiently
Education
At least a first-level university degree (i.e., Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent degree of at least three years) in one of the following fields of study:
1.Fields of study: Sociology, Economics, Demography, Peace & Conflict Studies, Political Science, Human Rights, Gender Studies, Geography, Development Studies, Family Studies, Anthropology, International Relations, International Economics, International Studies. (These fields of study can be found under the main course of study “Social & Behavioural Science”).
2.Fields of study: General Law, International Law (These fields of study can be found under the main course of study “Law”).
Important: when preparing your application in Inspira, please choose the field of study that is closest to your degree, from the “Field of Study” dropdown menu, and write the exact title of the degree (both in its original language and its translation in English or French). Do not select “other” for main course of study or field of study.
Work Experience
No work experience is required.
Languages
Fluency (speaking, reading, listening, and writing) in one of the working languages of the UN Secretariat, English or French, is required; knowledge of the other is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.
Assessment
The assessment process is divided into 3 stages:
1)Screening of applications
2)Written examination taken online
3)Oral examination.
Knowledge of UN languages may be tested at any of these stages.
1.Applications will be screened on the basis of the eligibility criteria in this Job Opening.
2.The written examination is planned to be conducted via an online testing platform. Candidates convoked for the written examination will be responsible for identifying and securing a location suitable for them to complete the examination (i.e., a computer with a reliable internet connection). Further information regarding the online testing platform and suggestions for a suitable testing environment will be provided to those convoked for the examination. The written examination is planned to be offered in two parts with the following tentative timeframe: Part I in October 2018 and Part II in December 2018 (exact date to be announced on the UN Careers YPP Page).
The written examination shall consist of:
•General Paper, which assesses drafting skills in an international affairs context.
•Specialized Paper, which assesses knowledge and abilities related to responsibilities listed in the job opening.
3.Only examinees who are successful in the overall written examination will be invited to the oral examination. The oral examination will be conducted via online video conference. The oral examination will assess the key competencies for the job family, as described in the Job Opening. Part of the final assessment stage, either before, during or after the oral examination may include an element to verify the candidate’s answers given in the Specialized Paper as well as the information in the Personal History Profile submitted. The anticipated timeframe for the oral examinations is sometime in Spring 2019.
Special Notice
•The purpose of the present Job Opening is to invite applications from external candidates who wish to take the 2018 Young Professionals Programme (YPP) examination in the job family of Social Affairs. UN Secretariat staff members who are eligible to apply through the “G to P” or “G to N” track must not apply through this Job Opening.
•The eligibility requirements of the examination are:
1.At least a three-year first level university degree in the field of study listed in the Education Section of this Job Opening;
2.Born on or after 1 January 1986;
3.Fluent in either English or French; and
4.A national of a participating member state. The participating member states for the 2018 YPP are:
Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belarus, Belize, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mozambique, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Viet Nam.
•Submitting applications for more than one job family (YPP exam area) will result in automatic disqualification in all job families, e.g., applying to both Statistics and Social Affairs will result in disqualification in both areas.
•Success in the YPP examination process will result in placement on a roster of eligible candidates for selection into specific vacancies which may arise over the course of a three-year period (beginning from when the roster is established).
•Upon selection, all candidates successful in the YPP examinations will be initially appointed at the P-1 or P-2 level depending on their qualifications. Those appointed at the P-1 level shall be promoted to a position at the P-2 level following a minimum of two years of satisfactory performance and depending on the availability of posts.
•Incomplete applications and applications that are received after the above deadline (11:59 pm New York HQ local time) will not be accepted under any circumstances. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their applications early to avoid problems due to heavy last-minute internet traffic.
•Applicants should monitor the UN Careers YPP Page (careers.un.org/ypp) frequently. All the important notifications and updates will be posted there.
United Nations Considerations
According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation or sexual abuse, or crimes other than minor traffic offences, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions.
Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. 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.
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.
The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification 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.
Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.
No Fee
For more information click "LINK TO ORIGINAL" below.
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