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Title:  Senior Expert on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Development

​​Requisition ID: 6294 
Grade: P5 (Senior Specialist) 
Country: Home Based 
Duty Station: Home Based 
Category: International Consultant 
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: Non-staff WAE
Contract Duration: 30 working days over a period
Application Deadline: 18-Sep-2025, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)

 

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
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 Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS) ensures the Organization's application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development related to environment, energy, Micro, Small and Medium-Enterprises (MSMEs), and digitalization. The Directorate also oversees the Organization's normative contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through industrial policy advice and capacity development. Through coordination in-house and with Member States and industry stakeholders, it ensures that the services provided in these areas contribute to effective and appropriate technical, business and policy solutions and are focused on results, scaling up and positioning UNIDO as a leading platform for industrial development in developing countries and global fora. 

 

The Division of MSME 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 MSMEs engaged in manufacturing and creating jobs therein. It aims at increasing competitiveness among MSMEs 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 MSME 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 MSME Development and Job Creation Unit (TCS/SME/MDJ), supports micro, small and medium manufacturing enterprises (MSMEs) in Member States to take advantage of new technologies, business and organizational support, investment promotion, cluster development and partnerships to improve their businesses for advancing the overall economic competitiveness. 

 

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

 

Development of conceptual framework “Enhancing MSME Competitiveness and Sustainability: UNIDO’s Strategic Framework” that elaborates UNIDO's role in enhancing MSME competitiveness and sustainability through an integrated and modular approach, and provides a comprehensive framework for action, with its contribution supporting sustainable supply chains, limiting climate breakdown and ending hunger.

 

The document shall include, but not be limited to, the following elements:

 

  1. Acknowledgements (to be prepared by UNIDO)
  2. Foreword (to be prepared by UNIDO)
  3. Abbreviations
  4. Figures
  5. Executive Summary
  6. Introduction
  7. Global Context and Challenges
  • MSME competitiveness and sustainability development principles and opportunities (and alignment to UNIDO priorities and mandate)
  • Key sectors and value chains
  • Emerging Trends 
  • Challenges to MSMEs' development and sustainability of results
  1. UNIDO's Framework for enhancing MSME competitiveness and sustainability (supporting documents will be shared by UNIDO)
  • Theory of Change
  • Working principles
  • UNIDO’s comparative advantage
  • UNIDO’s partnerships
  • Selected projects in MSME development
  1. Proven methodologies and approaches (all examples to be provided by UNIDO)
  2. The way forward
  • Recommendations for UNIDO’s future MSME Development Programmatic Framework / Strategy.

 

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES 

 

Under the overall supervision of the Project Manager and working in close coordination with the project team, the expert will perform the following duties, thereby playing a critical role in the strategic development and enhancement of UNIDO’s MSME Framework:

 
MAIN DUTIES:

 

Development of conceptual framework “Enhancing MSME Competitiveness and Sustainability: UNIDO’s Strategic Framework”

 

  1. Develop the 1st draft of the document (MSME conceptual framework), including literature review, annotated summary of global trends and relevance to SDGs, portfolio matrix with flagship projects and initiatives, summary of existing tools and proven methodologies, etc., in line with the proposed structure.
    (Note: UNIDO MSME coordination team and MSME Task Force will support with collecting information regarding flagship programmes, tools and methodologies, and partnerships to be incorporated into the final draft of the MSME conceptual framework.)
  2. Develop the final draft of the document (MSME conceptual framework), based on the feedback collected from the UNIDO MSME Task Force and UNIDO General Conference (GC) in line with the proposed structure, and support the layout process.
  3. Develop an information note on the MSME conceptual framework (or related document recommended by UNIDO PMO) for the UNIDO General Conference
    (Note: Submission of the finalised draft to UNIDO PMO and collection of feedback will be supported by the UNIDO MSME coordination team.)
    (Note: Information note (or related document) will be based on the information collected for the 1st draft of the MSME conceptual framework.)
  4. Support the conceptualisation of the EGM on the MSME comprehensive framework to ensure that the right information is available for the revision of the methodology thereafter.

 

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 Economics, International Development, International Relations, Development Economics or another relevant discipline, with a specialisation in clusters development is required.

 

Technical and Functional Experience:

  • At least of ten (10) years of practical experience in the field of MSME policy analysis and capacity building, including experience at the international level involving technical cooperation in developing countries, is required.
  • Experience in working with complex documents and data, synthesize information, and producing well-structured reports is required.
  • Experience in producing complex strategic and programmatic documents is required.
  • Experience in evaluating the needs, conditions and problems in developing countries is required.
  • Experience in working with the United Nations System is required.

 

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Fluency and/or working knowledge of another official UN language 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

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