Under the supervision of the Managing Director of the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), and in close coordination with other organizational entities within UNIDO, the Division of Circular Economy and Green Industry (TCS/CEG) contributes to greener and more circular industries and products by minimizing both resource use along value chains and the emission of pollutants to the environment. The Division promotes just transitions to circular economies, reduced release of pollutants into the environment and other green industrial and economic approaches to help Member States to grow economically while simultaneously addressing the three planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. It promotes circular economy policies, programmes and practices including circular business models that improve the profitability of industries while creating social and environmental benefits. It does so by supporting resource efficiency increases in the manufacturing and use of products along value chains and during the life cycle of the product; by reducing or eliminating the emission of non-fuel-related greenhouse gas emissions; and by assisting in achieving the objectives of and compliance with multilateral environmental agreements. In doing so, its activities further improve competitiveness, as well as the development of and access to markets, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. This contributes to climate-neutral, resilient, pollution-free industrial development, supporting co-existence that is in harmony with nature.

This position is located under the Circular Resource Efficiency Unit (TCS/CEG/CRE), which is responsible for supporting capacity development to promote the adoption of circular and resource-efficient consumption and production patterns across value chains. It fosters circular economy solutions including policies, programmes, practices, and business models that enhance industry profitability while generating social and environmental benefits. Furthermore, it facilitates design for circularity emphasizing reduced or alternative materials inputs, greater durability, reusability, reparability, and ultimately recyclability. The Unit promotes nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based approaches that support the coexistence of industries and nature.

At the L4 level, the incumbent is expected to deliver (a) work that is innovative and original; (b) in creating an enabling environment which expands across functions and sectors; (c) in building partnerships which result in advocating and championing UNIDO’s programmes and (d) in achieving results within Programme teams. The measure of success is systemic and catalytic delivery of results.

The UNIDO Staff Performance Management System reinforces the collaboration within formal units as well as among cross-functional teams. In this context, the incumbent collaborates with his/her supervisor and colleagues, within as well as outside the unit. Within the formal teams, the incumbent may be expected to backstop other team members as required.

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Director-General and in this context all staff are expected to serve in any assignment and duty station as determined by the needs of the Organization.

Project Context

“Support for small and medium-sized enterprises’ transition towards a green and circular economy” (Project ID: 230143), which is a project financed by the European Commission through the Directorate General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) under the umbrella of the “Regional package on Green and Circular Economy – Green Forward”.

The project’s overall objective is to create green jobs along targeted value chains, including to contribute to sustainable economic growth, decarbonized and climate resilient development, decent jobs creation, and a safer, healthier, and pollution-free environment. This action will be conducted in the eight countries of the Southern Mediterranean region previously supported by the SwitchMed II Programme (Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, and Tunisia) plus Libya.

The project will build on the achievements of the SwitchMed II programme and will focus on two outputs. Under Output 1, resource efficient and circular business models will be demonstrated, and capacities thereon will be built, including on access to finance, through the development of industrial pilots. Under Output 2, resource efficiency and circular economy knowledge will be disseminated at educational, Technical and Vocational Education and Training and policy levels, including regionally, to support regional cooperation and capacity building.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Technical Advisor works under the overall guidance of the Unit Chief of TCS/CEG/CRE; the direct supervision of the project manager and in close collaboration with the Project Management Unit of the Green Forward “Support for small and medium-sized enterprises’ transition towards a green and circular economy” project to support the mandate of the office. She/he will be responsible for providing technical support to the smooth and timely execution of the project and be accountable for the achievement of project results. Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Programme Development: Lead programme formulation missions as appropriate to develop and formulate technical cooperation activities focusing on resource efficient and cleaner production as well as circular economy, in line with the guidelines and procedures governing the delivery of UNIDO services and obtain internal approval. Propose new initiatives or changes to ensure that the Organization’s practices are current and reflect state-of-the-art approaches and up-to-date technical and management practices.

• Programme Management: Coordinate and manage all aspects of implementation, management and quality assurance of the project in cooperation with the UNIDO project manager and the Output Coordinators including reporting and ensuring that assigned inputs are delivered on time, at the required level of quality and within the allocated budget. This will entail all technical and administrative aspects of the delivery of the project (technical and financial planning and management; procurement; team management; and reporting, etc.); Provide guidance, and technical oversight to the project team and ensure the on-going effectiveness of the mechanisms and modalities of cooperation and coordination during implementation of the programme; Prepare the detailed input schedule for all resources required (financial, technical and personnel) to implement the project annually, as well as a detailed activity schedule based on the key tasks defined in the project document as adjusted for the nature of the pilot projects and their location. The schedules will be in accordance with the project budget and overall resource allocation.

• Resource Mobilization: Cooperate with other units in-house in the design and planning of resource mobilization strategies and collaborate with relevant internal and external partners to mobilize the funds necessary for project and programme implementation. Manage external relations by maintaining close relationships with all stakeholders involved in the project, including government institutions and international entities, locally based donor institutions, international financial institutions and regional development banks, the private sector, civil society and academia to establish collaborations and synergies.

• Global Forum Function: Design, plan and organize in cooperation with other units in-house UNIDO global forum activities (conferences, seminars, expert group meetings, etc). Prepare technical papers or other inputs for external seminars, conferences, expert group meetings, etc. Prepare UNIDO publications and other information dissemination aids and tools. Keep abreast of technical and economic developments related to productive sectors development in post-crisis and related to the development of special economic development zone, entrepreneurship and incubators programme, trend around financing development assistance, including the cross cutting effect that climate change has on this overall focused area, through close contacts with specialized institutions and industry representatives, following the technical press, market developments and trends.

• Advisory Services to Counterparts: Provide technical advisory services to counterparts. This includes, among others: commenting on, appraising or revising draft proposals submitted by requesting Governments; advising Governments on financing institutions, multilateral and bilateral organizations and other strategic partners; and provision of technical advice to strategic partners/donors.

• External Relations: Support advocacy, communication and global forum activities related to the progamme/project and aimed at strengthening public relations, including the preparation of promotional materials, organization of media events, dissemination of information on the project activities through UNIDO/project website and network of UNIDO offices.

• Performs other related duties and assignments as required.

REQUIREMENTS

Education:

Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in industrial or environmental engineering, sciences, economics, business administration, international relations, or related field with specialization in sustainability/development is required.

Technical and Functional Experience:

• A minimum of seven (7) years of relevant professional experience, including at least 5 at the international level, involving technical cooperation in developing countries, is required.
• Experience in all phases of the Project Cycle, is required.
• Experience with resource efficiency and cleaner production methods for industry in developing countries as well as prior knowledge of applications of circular economy in at least two value chains (preferably within ICT/electronics, bioeconomy, building materials and construction, packaging, automotives sectors) is required.
• Experience tracking progress against logical framework indicators, taking corrective actions if needed and reporting indicator values according to donor requirements, is required.
• Demonstrated knowledge of operational and financial management of EU-funded projects is desirable.
• Exposure to the needs, conditions and problems in developing countries and especially the Southern Mediterranean region, is desirable.

Language Skills:

Fluency in written and oral English is required. Working knowledge of French is required. Working knowledge of Arabic is an asset.How to Apply