Sustainable Development Officer, Regional Liaison, Europe and Central Asia
Organizational Context
The Development Coordination Office (DCO) within the UN Secretariat manages the Resident Coordinator System (RCS) to accelerate the 2030 Agenda and embody the UN 2.0 shift. This role is part of the Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, performing liaison functions from New York. The position reports to the Senior Programme Management Officer and the Chief of the Inter-governmental Section.
Job Purpose
This role supports the acceleration of the 2030 Agenda and the UN 2.0 shift by providing substantive analysis, briefings, and support to senior leadership. It involves monitoring intergovernmental and inter-agency processes, conducting horizon scanning for emerging risks and opportunities in the Europe and Central Asia region, and maintaining situational awareness. The position also facilitates crucial two-way information flow between Headquarters and the Regional Office, supports the implementation of the Regional Office's work plan, and assists Resident Coordinator Offices and UN country teams with strategic planning and knowledge sharing. The aim is to ensure optimal configuration of the RC system and effective support for sustainable development initiatives.
Responsibilities
Key responsibilities include preparing briefing notes, key messages, and meeting readouts for senior leadership, particularly in complex development and crisis settings. The role involves collecting, analyzing, and visualizing quantitative and qualitative data on regional sustainable development trends, cross-border dynamics, and emerging risks to support evidence-informed planning and decision-making. It also entails preparing inputs for reports to intergovernmental bodies like the High-level Political Forum. Furthermore, the position conducts horizon scanning to identify regional risks and opportunities, monitors intergovernmental processes, and provides substantive support for senior leadership engagements. A critical function is facilitating communication between Headquarters and the Regional Office, supporting work plan implementation, assisting country teams, and contributing to knowledge management and best practice sharing.
Work Experience
A minimum of five years of progressive experience in sustainable development, public policy, or development cooperation is required. Experience with inter-agency/intergovernmental collaboration and developing partnerships is necessary. Experience in the Europe and Central Asia region, integrating gender equality, and within the UN system or a comparable international organization is desirable.
Skills
Professionalism in applying sustainable development theories, conducting research and analysis, and interpreting data. Strong teamwork and collaboration skills. Effective communication, both written and verbal, with the ability to tailor messages to different audiences. Proficiency in data visualization and UN 2.0 approaches is beneficial.