Economic Affairs Officer

Org. Setting and Reporting This position is located in the Economic Unit within the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). The Economic Affairs Officer (P‑4) reports directly to the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (DSRSG/RC) and function as Head of the Unit. The incumbent works in close collaboration with UNSMIL substantive components, including Political Affairs Service (PAS) and Joint Analysis & Reporting Section (JARS), the United Nations Country Team (UNCT), the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, international financial institutions, as well as Libyan national stakeholders and international community. The position supports the Mission’s mandate by providing economic analysis and policy advisory services in support of peacebuilding, governance, and development efforts in Libya, with a particular focus on oil and gas sector governance, fiscal management, financial oversight, illicit financial flows, and economic recovery and reconstruction. Responsibilities Within delegated authority, the Economic Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties: Economic Analysis and Research: • Lead monitoring and analysis of political economy and the formulation of economic strategies, policies and practical actions relating to the work of the mission. • Identify and assess implications of new or emerging economic developments of potential concern to the mission, including those of a regional or global nature, and designs and develops approaches and programmes to address them. • Identify opportunities for economic confidence-building measures and reforms that can support broader political objectives. • Lead preparation of strategic assessments, policy options, and recommendations related to political economy and economic governance for Mission leadership. • Prepares speeches for Mission leadership and other senior staff and makes presentations on economic issues for specialist or nonspecialist audiences. Support to Political Process: • Lead the economic track of the Mission's political engagement and facilitate dialogue among Libyan stakeholders and international partners on economic governance issues. • Advise Mission leadership on economic governance priorities, including budget unification, public financial management, monetary and banking reform, resource management, oversight institutions, transparency, and anti-corruption measures. • Develop policy options and recommendations arising from dialogue processes and stakeholder consultations. • Support Mission leadership on integration of economic governance issues into broader political and mediation efforts. • Provide strategic inputs to Mission reporting, Security Council products, leadership briefings, and special assessments. Strategic Engagement and Partnerships: • Serve as the Mission's lead interlocutor on economic governance issues with Libyan institutions, international financial institutions, donors, and relevant international partners. • Maintain senior-level engagement with key national and international stakeholders to advance dialogue, reforms, and confidence-building measures. • Represents the organizational unit at international, regional and national meetings, consultations, and technical discussions related to economic governance issues. • Advises and coordinates cooperation on cross border economic issues in accordance with the mandate of the mission. • Identifies and negotiates with governments and international partners on technical assistance programmes and projects. Coordination and Leadership • Lead and manage the work of the Integrated Economic Unit. • Lead the formulation of the unit’s work plan and the budget and participates in the formulation of the Mission's overall work plan and other similar endeavors. • Supervise international and national professional officers, consultants, and short-term experts supporting the Unit. • Establish analytical priorities, workplans, and outputs for the Unit. • Ensure quality control of analytical products and policy advice produced by the Unit. • Prepares and/or reviews documents, and revises them as required. • Performs other related duties as required. Competencies Professionalism: Demonstrates authoritative knowledge of economics, political economy and public policy, and applies this expertise to provide strategic advice in complex and politically sensitive environments. Produces and oversees high-quality, evidence-based analysis that integrates economic, institutional, political, governance, and conflict dynamics to support senior leadership decision-making. Exercises sound professional judgment by critically assessing information from multiple sources, ensuring analytical rigor, contextual accuracy, and practical relevance of policy recommendations. Anticipates emerging risks and opportunities, identifies strategic entry points for engagement, and translates complex technical analysis into clear and actionable advice for senior decision-makers and external stakeholders. Ensures that analytical products are aligned with United Nations principles, agreed messaging, and organizational priorities while maintaining the highest standards of integrity, impartiality, and professionalism. Demonstrates accountability for results, exercises appropriate quality assurance, mentors and develops team members, promotes collaboration across multidisciplinary teams and institutions, and remains receptive to new evidence and perspectives to continuously strengthen the quality and impact of the Unit's work. Shows persistence when faced with complex challenges, remains calm under pressure, and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and promoting the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. 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 audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients" and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; Identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client. Education Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics, political economy, public administration or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. PhD in economics, political economy or a related field is desirable. Job - Specific Qualification Not available. Work Experience A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible relevant experience in economics, public finance, political economy, economic governance, economic policy analysis and formulation, or related area is required. Experience conducting economic and political economy analysis in fragile, conflict-affected, transition, or post-conflict settings is required. Demonstrated ability to translate complex economic analysis into practical strategies and policy recommendations for senior decision-makers is required. Strong drafting skills, including preparation of policy papers, briefing notes, speeches, and strategic assessments for senior leadership is required. Experience supporting political processes, peacebuilding, mediation, confidence-building measures, or governance reform initiatives is desirable. Experience engaging with international financial institutions, including the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, regional development banks, or similar organizations is desirable. Experience in peace and security issues related to the Middle East and North African region is desirable. Experience within a United Nations peace operation, special political mission, or comparable international organization is desirable. Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. Arabic is desirable. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details). .headtable { font-family: arial, sans-serif; border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; border: 1px solid gray; border-radius: 10px; overflow: hidden; } .headTitle { font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; /*color: rgb(65, 98, 145);*/ color:black; } .headtable tr td, .headtable tr th { text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; padding: 6px; } .headtable th{ background-color: #F4F4F4; color: #002d62; font-weight: bold; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; padding: 12px; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; } .headtable td { text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; background-color: white; border-top: 1px solid #ccc; border-right: 1px solid #ccc; } .headtable th:last-child, .headtable td:last-child { border-right: none; } .headtable tr:last-child td { border-bottom: none; } .rounded-table-wrapper { border-radius: 12px; border: 1px solid #ccc; overflow: hidden; } Required LanguagesLanguageReadingWritingListeningSpeakingEnglishUN Level IIIUN Level IIIUN Level IIIUN Level IIIDesirable LanguagesLanguageReadingWritingListeningSpeakingArabicUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level II Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview. Special Notice • This position is temporarily available through 31 December 2026. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. • While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. • Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station. • This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15. • Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. • Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Please note that pursuant to the Staff selection system policy (ST/AI/2025/2): (1) Applicants for positions in the Field Service category cannot be of the nationality of the country where the position is located, and (2) Applicants for positions in the Professional and higher categories in a mission, field operation, or resident coordinator’s office cannot be of the nationality of the country where the position is located. For currently serving staff of a United Nations Common System organization, only the UN-recognized nationality will be considered for the purposes of these restrictions. United Nations Considerations According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places 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. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date. No Fee