This post is located within the Information and Communication Technology Division (ICTD) of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)- The Research Assistant reports directly to the Chief, ICT Applications Section and will be under the overall supervision of the Director of ICTD.
The Research Assistant will be responsible for carrying out the following
- Assist in identifying and monitoring substantive aspects of the work of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division in various regions/countries and in selecting and evaluating a variety of documents as basis for substantive output being prepared by the Division;
- Summarize pertinent material related to the development of Information Society in the ESCWA region;
- Systematically follow through and retrieve, highlight and compile information from a wide variety of information sources in areas related to ICT sector and Information Society;
- Prepare input for the electronic database and the Internet web pages and co-operate with research institutes and organizations in the collection of data;
- Assist in preparing field project proposals for the enhancement of information society and in following up their implementation, according to the UN project management policies and regulation;
- Design, prepare and maintain information society profiles for ESCWA member countries;
- Prepare reports, presentations, tables, lists, charts, data sets, and/or diagrams for ICT related data in order to facilitate in-depth analysis of this substantive information by the Division as well as relevant presentations made by staff members;
- Participate in the substantive and policy discussions of the Division and assist in the formulation of the strategic framework;
- Assist in maintaining and expanding contacts with other departments in the Secretariat, as well as the UN agencies and programmes and other organizations relevant to the region, and co-ordinate the input of other departments in the collection of data for assignments received especially in the field of ICT for socio-economic development;
- Prepare, maintain and update files (electronic and paper) and internal databases; design and generate a variety of periodic and ad hoc reports, statistical tables, charts, graphs, and other background materials/notes to facilitate inspection and other reviews;
- Draft programme/project summaries, co-ordinate review and clearance process and co-ordinate with editor, translation services, etc., on finalization and publication of reports in the Arabic and English languages;
- Identify the organizational requirements for conferences and meetings and assist in the preparation of documentation and reports for these meetings;
- Contribute to the substantive preparation of publication, meetings and workshops of the ICT division on issues related to ICT for socio-economic development, ICT sector and Information Society;
- Attend a variety of meetings to follow discussions, take notes and prepare summary report, note for the file, correspondence, etc.;
- Assist in providing guidance and training to new/junior staff;
- Perform other related work as required.
Competencies
Professionalism – Very good understanding of the functions and organization of UNESCWA and the United Nations system; very good knowledge of information communication technology and information society; good research skills.
Communication – Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
Technological Awareness – Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitations of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology.
Education
Completion of high school diploma- First level university degree in information and communication technology or related fields is an advantage- Advanced University Degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) is also an advantage.
Work Experience
A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in collecting and researching data in scientific and technological fields, particularly the information and communication technology field.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations- Arabic is also a working language of ESCWA- For this post, fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic is required.
Assessment Method
Competency based interview- Selected applicant is required to pass the United Nations Administrative Support Assessment Test (ASAT) and a written assessment related to the functions of the post - Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Special Notice
This position is for local recruitment- External applicants will be considered only if no suitable internal candidates are found.
Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her- In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers In accordance with established rules and procedures.
United Nations Considerations
The United Nations shall place 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- (Charter of the United Nations – Chapter 3, article 8)- The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.
employment-escwa@un.org
