Overview
The Head of the Subregional Office for North and Central Asia (SONCA) acts as the representative of ESCAP in the subregion, promoting development cooperation and connectivity. The role involves formulating, leading, and implementing the office's programme of work and advising senior leadership on emerging issues.
Key Responsibilities
- Acts as the representative of ESCAP in the North and Central Asian subregion.
- Formulates, leads and implements the programme of work of the Subregional Office.
- Supports the implementation of the Special Programme for Economies of Central Asia (SPECA).
- Advises the Executive Secretary and Deputy Executive Secretary on emerging issues and concerns in the subregion.
- Provides inputs to ESCAP Headquarters entities on the work programme related to the subregion.
- Ensures that the outputs produced by the Subregional Office maintain high-quality standards.
- Participates in meetings and provides policy advice and technical assistance.
- Promotes partnership and knowledge sharing among member countries and development partners.
- Undertakes or oversees programmatic, administrative, and managerial tasks for the Subregional Office.
Required Experience
- A minimum of fifteen years of progressively responsible experience, including several years at the international level, in economic and social analysis, policy formulation and implementation, and/or programme management is required.
- Demonstrated experience in representing a relevant institution at the regional or subregional level, including engagement with government officials, UN entities, and development partners, is required.
- Extensive experience in advising senior leadership on socio-economic issues, and in providing policy guidance within complex environments is required.
- Demonstrated experience in establishing and maintaining professional networks as well as partnerships with academia, civil society, governments as well as subregional organizations, and the private sector is required.
- Experience in leading and managing administrative functions, including budgeting, recruitment, staff development, and performance evaluation of a diverse international team is required.
- Experience working in the Asia-Pacific region, preferably having been based in the region outside of the home country, is desirable.
- Experience with regional cooperation frameworks and sustainable development agendas of the North and Central Asia region is desirable.
- Experience with the United Nations programmes, policies, rules and regulations is desirable.
- Experience of working with economies that are landlocked and/or have undergone a transition to market economies, outside of the home country, is desirable.
Qualifications
Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in economics, social sciences, or related areas is required. A relevant first-level university degree in the above fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
