​Requisition ID: 7137 
Grade: ISA-NOA 
Country: Colombia 
Duty Station: Bogota 
Category: National Consultant 
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: Non-staff Regular
Contract Duration: 3 months (with the possibility of extension)
Application deadline: 31-Mar-2026, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Only nationals or permanent residents of the country of the duty station are considered eligible. 
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.
 UNIDO welcomes applications from qualified persons with disabilities. Reasonable accommodation will be provided to applicants and employees with disabilities to support full participation in the recruitment process and in the performance of their duties.

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 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 to a greater or lesser extent to all SDGs.

The medium-term programme framework (MTPF) is UNIDO’s core strategic document. As the Organization moves from the 2022–2025 cycle to the 2026–2029 MTPF, it sets a renewed vision to support Member States shape their industries for development. The new priorities include renewable and clean energy, sustainable access and climate action, ending hunger through innovation and local value addition, and fair and sustainable global and regional supply chains. Cross-cutting priorities focus on industrial and economic policy advice, skills development, fostering digitalization and artificial intelligence, gender equality and the empowerment of women, supporting youth, promoting cleaner production and circular economy, and leveraging private sector investment and development finance.

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, Sub-regional Offices 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); MSMEs, Competitiveness and Job Creation (TCS/MSME); 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).

This position is located under the Competitiveness, Quality and Compliance Unit (TCS/MSME/CQC) which builds national and regional production and quality infrastructure systems, with an emphasis on providing internationally recognized services, facilitating MSME 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 MSMEs.

PROJECT CONTEXT

In order to consolidate UNIDO/SECO interventions on trade standards compliance within one tool, adding the benefit of a global component facilitating synergies and enhancing coherence among the interventions, UNIDO and SECO have developed a coherent programmatic approach: the Global Quality and Standards Programme (GQSP). The GQSP supports selected countries to align the demand for and supply of quality services required to prove and verify the quality of products. It will have two components (1) Global Knowledge Management (C1) and (2) Country Projects.

The project “Strengthening of quality and standards in the phytotherapeutic value chain” is the second phase of the country project in Colombia of the GQSP whose first phase was developed between 2019 and 2023. It has been developed to be considered under component 2, to be developed between 2023 and 2027 and its overall objective is to promote Colombia's integration into subnational, regional and multilateral trade systems by strengthening the National Quality Subsystem (SICAL by its acronym in Spanish) within the framework of priorities of the phytotherapeutic value chain, and will seek to increase and improve the capacities of MSMEs to comply with technical requirements, international quality standards, private and sustainability standards necessary for trade facilitation. The project includes three complementary outcomes that are aligned to the Global Quality and Standards Programme (GQSP), to be implemented over a period of three to four years according to the modular approach introduced for the second phase of the programme:

Outcome 1: The technical competence of the SICAL National Quality Subsystem and its sustainability are improved in areas applicable to the phytotherapeutic value chain to foster access to new markets and increase its competitiveness.

Outcome 2: The capacity of MSMEs, enterprises or other productive units in the phytotherapeutic products value chain to comply with technical requirements, international quality standards, private and sustainability standards is improved.

Outcome 3: Quality culture in Colombia is promoted to improve national quality and the economic competitiveness.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

The National Project and Delivery Consultant (NPDC) will support the Project Management Unit in the day-to-day managerial, operational and institutional aspects of project implementation. The position contributes to ensuring effective planning, coordination, monitoring, stakeholder engagement and reporting across all project components.

The results of the consultancy will cover activities in all outcomes outcomes, in particular those related to overview of technical assistance to SMEs and CABS, follow-up and organization of trainings and awareness events, engagement in public-private dialogue and policy activities and the support of the execution of technical strenghtening programmes aimed at enterprises, institutions, consultants, trainers and related stakeholders in order to enhance the Phytotherapeutic Value Chain compliance with quality standards, technical regulations and sustainability matters.

The NPDC will conduct his/her activities under the supervision of UNIDO’s TCS/SME/CQC Project Manager and the Regional Chief Technical Advisor (RCTA), and under the coordination of the National Technical Coordinator (NTC). In addition, the NPDC should collaborate with other consultants to ensure secure, integrated, and coherent activities contemplated in the production of other related outputs.

The final version of the documents must be organized following the instructions and template provided by the PMU. Finally, the NPDC will contribute in the review of final reports of documents that will be edited by PMU, taking into consideration the technical inputs developed by other consultants within the framework of this project. This review is an ongoing process throughout the duration of the ISA and will not require extra days.

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS 

Education: Advance university degree in Sciences, or Engineering (e.g. Chemistry, Industrial, Agroindustry), Economy, Management or Administration with solid knowledge in quality infrastructure and trade systems, competitiveness and productivity, green transition and sustainable production, agroindustrial and biodiversity-based value chains. Knowledge in green finance and climate resilience programmes will be desirable.

Technical and Functional Experience: A minimum of three (3) years of professional experience in project management within international cooperation, development programmes or public-sector initiatives. Demonstrated experience in at least two of the following areas:

• Technical cooperation project implementation
• Supervision of implementing teams or partners
• Public policy formulation or coordination
• Quality infrastructure systems
• Green finance or climate change programmes
• Biodiversity-based value chains or sustainable production

Very good understanding of trade and SMTQ related issues in developing countries and proven experience supporting multi-stakeholder processes and institutional coordination. Demonstrated experience and solid track record in comparable assignments will be added advantage. Computer literacy (MS Office, data base management) is required. Exposure to the needs, conditions and problems in developing countries. Experience working with government counterparts and development partners is an asset.

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken Spanish and English are required. Fluency and/or working

knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.

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.

Managerial and Leadership Competencies

• WE ARE STRATEGIC, DECISIVE, PRINCIPLED AND INSPIRATIONAL: As managers, we are strategic and fair in driving our team’s performance. As leaders, we are a source of inspiration, stand for norms and standards established in the UN Charter and duty bound to defend these ideals with a principled approach.
• WE ARE INCLUSIVE AND ACCOUNTABLE: As managers, we are inclusive in our approach and maintain constructive engagement with all our stakeholders. As leaders, we embrace all personnel and stakeholders and are accountable mutually within UNIDO, within the system, to beneficiaries and the public and beyond.
• WE ARE MULTI-DIMENSIONAL AND TRANSFORMATIONAL: As managers, we go beyond conventional methods to help our organizational units strengthen their own agility and adaptability to change. As leaders in the UN system, we have a vision which is integrated and engaged across the pillars of Peace and Security, Human Rights and Development.
• WE ARE COLLABORATIVE AND CO-CREATIVE: As managers, we foster a team spirit and create meaningful opportunities to hear the voices of those around us, while realizing that only by working together can we accomplish our mission. As leaders we see the inter-dependency of imperatives of the UN Charter and personally champion a collaborative inter-agency, multi-stakeholders and cross-thinking approach.

This appointment is limited to the specified project(s) only and does not carry any expectation of renewal.
Employees of UNIDO are expected at all times to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for jobs at UNIDO.

All applications must be submitted online through the Online Recruitment System. Correspondence will be undertaken only with candidates who are being considered at an advanced phase of the selection process. Selected candidate(s) may be required to disclose to the Director General the nature and scope of financial and other personal interests and assets in respect of themselves, their spouses and dependents, under the procedures established by the Director General.

Visit the UNIDO website for details on how to apply: www.unido.org

NOTE: The Director General retains the discretion to make an appointment to this post at a lower level.

Notice to applicants:
UNIDO does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. If you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Vacant positions within UNIDO are advertised on the official UNIDO website. Should you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of UNIDO and requesting payment of a fee, please contact: recruitment@unido.org