​​Requisition ID: 5888 
Grade: P2 (Junior Specialist) 
Country: Austria 
Duty Station: Vienna 
Category: International Consultant 
Type of Job Posting: External Private Posting
Employment Type: NonStaff-Regular
Contract Duration: 6 months
Application Deadline: 14-Jul-2025  

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL

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 Departments/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

The Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation (IET), headed by a Managing Director, is responsible for the development of innovative UNIDO services in the areas of agroindustry and agribusiness, sustainability standards and fair production, and climate-relevant or climate-improving technologies. It is also, in collaboration with ODG, responsible for developing innovative technical cooperation concepts, identifying new sources and means of finance and entering into new partnerships with a broad range of relevant stakeholders. 

PROJECT CONTEXT  

The IFETAA programme aims to mobilize Islamic and Arab finance towards SME competitiveness and resilience across Africa and the Arab region and beyond. With an estimated $2.9 trillion in Islamic financial assets, this comprehensive programme seeks to support bridging the financing gap for SMEs and corporates by leveraging Sharia-compliant and other Islamic financial instruments including risk-sharing mechanisms as well as delivering tailored capacity-building training and activities.

The programme also aims to establish the foundation for a systemic change in UNIDO’s approach to supporting industrial development and economic transformation through enhanced partnerships with Islamic and Arab financial institutions as well as those offering Islamic financial products. Combining financial and non-financial instruments to de-risk investments and mobilize capital towards SMEs and corporates resilience and competitiveness, thereby, accelerating economic transformation and the SDGs.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of the Project Manager, administers elements of technical cooperation programme focused on Islamic Finance and Arab financing agencies, SME development, and investment de-risking mechanisms, by identifying challenges and utilizing data as an input to corrective actions. The goal is to promote effective project delivery aligned with UNIDO’s strategic objectives on economic transformation and SDGs. The incumbent shall carry out following main duties.

• Select, organize and summarize background information to describe the overall context and background relevant of Islamic Finance initiatives, technical cooperation activities, and SME engagement within target countries or regions (e.g., ACP, MENA, ASIA and Latin America). Assess the local financial and policy environment relevant to individual project planning and execution.
• Analyze and interpret project background history and documentation particularly those aligned with the five programme pillars (e.g., capacity building to Islamic financial institutions, pipeline development, technical assistance to SMEs, policy advisory, and financial de-risking mechanisms). Reconstruct and document significant decisions, milestones, or deviations for accurate monitoring and evaluation.
• Draft sections of project documents such as project background, justification, stakeholder mapping, and expected impact — particularly in the context of SDG- and ESG-linked financing using UNIDO platforms such as Invest-in-ACP Portal, COMFAR, and EDIP.
• Draft policy briefs, communication materials related to the programme, legal documents and any other materials which contribute to the programme.
• Coordinate and inform experts, consultants and financial institution representatives (e.g., AAOIFI, UAB members, guarantee agencies, Member States of UNIDO) of internal procedures for project delivery, monitoring, and reporting. Ensure that programme activities align with Islamic and conventional finance standards and multilateral coordination frameworks.
• Monitor specific aspects of project execution including SME technical assistance activities and investment appraisal support. Identify challenges in delivery and recommend actions to accelerate implementation, with a focus on high-impact sectors in priority countries.
• Draft comments on designated aspects of project progress including technical input on activities such as policy advisory work with recipient governments or financial risk-sharing mechanisms. Contribute to programme-level monitoring and knowledge-sharing.
• Provide support to UNIDO project managers across the organization, coordinating activities and engaging with external partners to ensure alignment with strategic objectives. For example, assist the Head of IET/PST/SEF with Silatech organization on results-based financing, including drafting legal agreement materials and supporting fund mobilization efforts.
• Draft project revisions, including adjusting individual project budgets, based on changed work plans.

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education: Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in economics, business administration, international relations or other relevant discipline with specialization in international management is required.

Technical and Functional Experience:

• At least three (3) years of work experience in supporting programme and project implementation and coordination in areas of technical cooperation or development finance is required.
• Ability to research, analyse information and provide recommendations and feedback is required.
• Experience in SME development, Islamic and Arab finance, or investment facilitation is required.
• Experience supporting public-private partnerships, pipeline development, or impact-oriented SME technical assistance is an asset.

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

REQUIRED VALUES AND 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.

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