• Country: Kyiv, Ukraine
• No of vacancies: N/A
  
• Salary: N/A 
• Organization: UNIDO
• Gender: Both
• Deadline: 2024-02-01

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions.

Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

The Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), headed by a Managing Director, oversees the Organization’s development of capacities for industrial development as well as industrial policy advice, statistics and research activities and the Organization’s normative contribution to Member States and global development community in achieving the SDGs. The Directorate also ensures the application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development related to Environment, Energy, SMEs, Competitiveness and Job creation, as well as Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence. Through coordination in-house and with Member States and industry stakeholders, it ensures that the services provided in these areas contribute toward effective and appropriate technical, business and policy solutions and are focused on results and on realizing any potential for scaling up and positioning UNIDO as a leading platform for industrial development in developing countries and global fora.

The Directorate houses the technical Divisions of Capacity Development and Industrial Policy Advice (TCS/CAP); Circular Economy and Environmental Protection (TCS/CEP); Decarbonization and Sustainable Energy (TCS/DSE); SMEs, Competitiveness and Job Creation (TCS/SME); and Digital Transformation and AI Strategies (TCS/DAS). The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the Divisions as well as with relevant entities in the Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations (GLO) and the Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation (IET).

The Division of SME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation (TCS/SME) works towards increasing the competitiveness of industries in developing countries and countries in transition, especially emphasizing business development of SMEs engaged in manufacturing and creating jobs therein. It aims at increasing competitiveness among SMEs in two interconnected ways: first, by modernizing businesses through the transfer of advanced technologies adapted to local conditions, product innovation, productivity improvement and upgrading, developing market and value chain readiness as well as improved access to finance; and second, by improving the quality of SME manufactured products and their compliance with market requirements through capacity building for the development of industrial production and trade-related quality infrastructure including for standardization, metrology, accreditation and of conformity assessment service institutions (testing, certification, inspection and calibration) and the strengthening of their capacities.

This position is located under the Competitiveness, Quality and Compliance Unit (TCS/SME/CQC) which builds national and regional production and quality infrastructure systems, with an emphasis on providing internationally recognized services, facilitating SME participation in regional and global value chains; strengthening institutional quality infrastructure capacities (i.e. standardization, metrology, and accreditation); building conformity assessment capacities (testing, inspection, certification, calibration, etc.); and supporting trade facilitation and quality awareness with the public sector, economic operators and consumers, placing a special emphasis on capacitating SMEs.

PROJECT CONTEXT

ID 230271 – “Strengthening the resilience and competitiveness of Ukraine’s quality infrastructure”

Ukraine has recently accelerated its orientation towards the integration into EU market. As part of this effort, Ukraine is committed to aligning the Quality Infrastructure (QI) system to the requirements of the European Union (EU).  Against this background, the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine is carrying out technical and legal work to prepare for the Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products (ACAA). As part of these efforts, the Government is actively cooperating with UNIDO and GIZ to strengthen the QI and has conducted a needs assessment of the main quality infrastructure institutions resulting in a list of necessary activities to strengthen national capacities.

In line with the Government’s efforts, the overall objective of the project is to provide support to strengthen Ukraine’s QI system, particularly to (i) improving resilience of the quality infrastructure (including to recover from the impact of the war) and (ii) supporting the preparation of the ACAA. This will be achieved through procurement of innovative technologies for QI institutions, and related capacity-building actions to assure QI institutions have the necessary skilled personnel for the actual functioning of the procured equipment.

At present, UNIDO is implementing several actions in Ukraine associated with strengthening Ukrainian QI system, including promoting green recovery of the country.

• UNIDO’s Global Quality and Standards Programme in Ukraine (GQSP), funded by Switzerland through its State Secretariat for Economic Affairs has been supporting sustainable QI development since 2018, including in the areas of standardization, metrology, accreditation, and conformity assessment.
• UNIDO’s project Industrial capacity-building, policy advice and diagnostics for the green recovery of Ukraine, funded by Germany, supports the development of a guiding framework to further promote the use of standards and technical regulations for reconstruction, at the same time advocating for strengthening national QI capacities in support of implementing the framework.
• The GIZ project Utilization and implementation of the Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine in the field of trade supports the responsible authorities with technical and legal preparation for the Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products (ACAA). The Agreement will result in a visa-free regime for Ukrainian goods on the European market.

To align their actions in promoting trade and sustainable recovery of Ukraine, UNIDO and the GIZ have decided to join efforts and partner in support of strengthening the country’s quality infrastructure system. Against this background, the present project will complement the above-mentioned interventions in support of Ukraine’s national Quality Infrastructure, ultimately promoting the Country’s socio-economic development.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the overall supervision of the Project Manager and the team at UNIDO HQ and in the field, particularly in close collaboration with the National Technical Advisor, the National Expert is expected to support the Department of Technical Regulations of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine in strengthening QI institutions through innovative technologies and technical competence. This is realized particularly by carrying out the following tasks:

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education: Advanced university degree in the field of Engineering, Science, Economics, International Trade, Law, International Relations, Business Administration, Policy or Development, or any other relevant field for this position.

Technical and Functional Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of practical experience in the field of quality infrastructure and trade facilitation is required;
• Experience in procurement of equipment for QI institutions is desirable;
• Knowledge of EU single market and related principles is desirable;
• Experience in project management is desirable;
• Computer literacy is required;
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to interact effectively with groups of diverse individuals are desirable.

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English and Ukrainian is required.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Core Values

WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.

WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.

WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective.

Key Competencies

WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential –and this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity.

WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world.

WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work.

WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: To stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another.

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