The Secretariat of the United Nations presents its compliments to the Permanent Missions to the United Nations and has the honour to request the nomination of candidates for the position of Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).
Under the guidance of the Under-Secretary‑General for Economic and Social Affairs, the functions of the Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development include:
- Serving as the principal economic adviser to the Secretary-General in support of the Under-Secretary-General’s responsibilities for:
- The executive direction of the Department in the social and economic area;
- The provision of the economic advice to the Secretary-General and the relevant intergovernmental bodies.
- Coordinating the statistical, demographic and macroeconomic data gathering and analysis work of the Department;
- Leading and coordinating the research and analysis work of the Department, including its publication programmes;
- Supporting the Under-Secretary-General in ensuring policy coherence within the Department and in contributing to an integrated approach by the Department to economic, social, environmental and gender dimensions of development, as well as in identifying effective responses to emerging issues in the context of globalization and making proposals to the Under-Secretary-General for action accordingly;
- Promoting a better interface between the work of the Department and other UN Departments, Funds, Programmes and specialized agencies in social and economic fields, as well as in post-conflict development, peace-building and humanitarian activities.
Further information on DESA is available on the following website: http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/index.html
In order to ensure a wide pool of candidates for this position, the Secretariat would welcome any nominations to supplement the Secretary-General’s own search and consultations. The Secretariat would especially welcome nominations of female candidates.
The Secretary-General is seeking an individual with:
- Demonstrated management and leadership experience with strategic vision;
- Broad knowledge of sustainable development issues and ability to build consensus amongst stakeholders;
- Proven knowledge and expertise in research and analysis of economic development issues;
- Minimum of twenty years of experience in the field of social and economic affairs, combined with extensive and demonstrated experience in providing direction and leadership in intergovernmental processes, strategic and managerial experience in negotiation, change management, advocacy and stakeholder participation and managerial responsibility for large, multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams;
- A firm commitment to the work and objectives of the United Nations;
- Impeccable personal and professional integrity;
- A good understanding of the United Nations system, including, of current economic and development challenges.
In accordance with the policy for the nomination of candidates, the Secretariat wishes to outline that it is the responsibility of the nominating Government to ensure that each candidate it nominates has not been convicted of, or is not currently under investigation or being prosecuted for, any criminal offence, or any violation of international human rights law or international humanitarian law. In the case of nominees who have been investigated for, charged with or prosecuted for any criminal offence but were not convicted, the nominating Government is requested to provide information regarding the investigation(s) or prosecutions concerned. The nominating Government is also requested to certify that it is not aware of any allegations against its nominated candidates that they have been involved, by act or omission, in the commission of any acts that amount to violations of international human rights law or international humanitarian law.
Individuals who are either nominated by Member States or who seek to serve with the United Nations in any individual capacity will be required, if short‑listed, to complete a self attestation stating that they have not committed, been convicted of, nor prosecuted for, any criminal offence and have not been involved, by act or omission, in the commission of any violation of international human rights law or international humanitarian law.
All nominations should include the curriculum vitae of the candidates and must be received by 21 April 2014. Nominations may also be sent to: desa@un.org
The Secretariat of the United Nations avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Permanent Missions to the United Nations the assurances of its highest consideration.