Date:  National Investment Promotion Expert, Rome/Italy

​Requisition ID: 5216 
Grade: SB5 - Local Professional (Mid-Level & Senior) 
Country: Home Based 
Duty Station: Home Based 
Category: National Consultant 
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff-When Act. Employed
Contract Duration: 75 working days over a period of 5months
Application deadline: 07-Mar-2025, 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.
 

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 Global Partnerships and External Relations (GLO), headed by a Managing Director, is responsible for UNIDO’s relations with Member States and all external partners, including through the Policymaking Organs. It plays a central role for interaction and collaboration with traditional and non-traditional donors; oversees the regional bureaus as well as the network of established field offices, liaison offices and Investment and Technology Promotion Offices; and supports the implementation of particularly complex projects, programmes and special assignments, thus also fulfilling an important role in safeguarding their quality and the reputation of the Organization.

The Division of ITPOs and Institutional Partnerships (GLO/ITP) will link UNIDO’s Investment and Technology Promotion Offices (ITPOs) with international corporate partners and use the ITP network to forge, in collaboration with IET/PPP and GLO/FLS, partnerships with development partners. It will engage in matchmaking and partnership development at corporate, institutional, and political levels to support developing countries and countries with economies in transition in becoming attractive investment locations resulting in increased levels of investments and, through investors and partners that the ITPOs bring to the table, engage in technology exchange partnerships that enable them to adopt new technologies for sustainable industrial development.

This Division harnesses different types of partnerships at corporate, institutional, and political level to support developing countries in their endeavor to become attractive investment locations resulting in increased levels of investments (foreign direct investment, impact investments, domestic investments) as well as technology exchange and adoption.

UNIDO’s international Network of Investment and Technology Promotion Offices (ITPOs) counts nine offices that are located in Tokyo, Japan; Rome, Italy; Shanghai and Beijing, China; Seoul, the Republic of Korea; Moscow, the Russian Federation; Manama, Bahrain; Lagos, Nigeria; and Bonn, Germany. The Italian Investment and Technology Promotion Office (ITPO Italy) based in Rome has the mandate to enhance the competitiveness of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries, through the mobilization of investments as well as the transfer of technology, and management skills together with capacity building activities required for the implementation of industrial projects and SMEs upgrading in developing and emerging countries.

PROJECT CONTEXT

Project 230098: Establishing a platform for innovative ideas and technologies for local industrial sectors in Iraq

The initiative has the goal to contribute to promote the development of the private sector in Iraq, strengthening the role of investment, technology, knowledge, and innovation in selected local sectors, including agribusiness, for creating employment opportunities and accelerating economic growth.

The proposed project consists in the establishment of an ad hoc platform – in collaboration with the Iraqi Federation of Industries Business Center in Baghdad – serving as an ad hoc center of excellence for technological innovation and investment matchmaking, with the aim to train, incubate, mentor, and support a number of selected locally scouted innovative and impactful ideas and technologies to be applied in the Iraqi context with a focus on agribusiness and other sectors.

The intervention – implemented by UNIDO ITPO Italy – will target the entire country, with a particular focus on Baghdad, in consideration of its potential in some selected sectors crucial for the strategic growth of the country. As part of the activities funded by the Italian Government, the initiative intends to provide transversal support to ongoing and planned initiatives, triggering the integration with the private sector as a development actor.

Under the overall guidance of the Head of UNIDO ITPO Italy, and in close collaboration with the project coordinator and the colleagues in field to support the efficient implementation of the project, the Investment Promotion Expert is expected to perform the following tasks of technical advisory:

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.

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education

Advanced university degree in International Relations, Economics or similar, with specialization or previous professional experience in business development, event organization and SMEs Internationalization in emerging countries is required. Specialization and experience in development economics, investment promotion, technology transfer and capacity-building activities is highly desirable.

Technical and Functional Experience

• A minimum of 7 years of relevant professional experience, including some at the international level, involving technical cooperation in developing countries in the fields of development and management of relationships with key stakeholders is required.
• Familiarity with the business, investment and industrial climate in Italy and a proven track record of co-operation with Italian institutions of international development cooperation and trade and investment promotion with focus on developing countries and countries in transition are key requirement for this position is required.
• Specific focus on support services for private sector development, technology transfer, investment promotion, entrepreneurship and capacity building activities at an international level is highly desirable.
• Experience in technical assistance programmes, business promotion and entrepreneurial advisory services is desirable.

Languages

Fluency in written and spoken English and Italian is required. Basic knowledge of Arabic is desirable.

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