​​Requisition ID: 6106 
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: 3months
Application Deadline: 18-Aug-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.

Under the overall direction of the Director General, and in close collaboration with all organizational entities within UNIDO, in particular the Office of Change Management (ODG/CHM), the Office of Legal Affairs and Compliance (ODG/LEG), the Strategic Planning and UN Engagement Division (ODG/SPU), and the Office of Evaluation and Internal Oversight (EIO), 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 agro-industry 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. 

The Directorate houses the Divisions of Coordination and Integration Support (IET/CIS), Quality, Impact and Accountability (IET/QUA), Agribusiness and Infrastructure Development (IET/AGR), Innovative Finance and International Financial Institutions (IET/IFI), Fair Production, Sustainability Standards and Trade (IET/PST), Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), and Climate and Technology Partnerships (CTP). The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the Divisions and relevant entities in the Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations (GLO) and the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS).

Under the overall guidance of the Director General, the direct supervision of the Managing Director, Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation (IET), and in close coordination with other organizational entities within UNIDO, the Division of Agribusiness and Infrastructure Development (IET/AGR) supports Member States in their efforts to pave the way to sustainable rural development and a structurally transformed and modernized agribusiness sector. Capitalizing on the experience gained by UNIDO in this field over decades and on tried-and-tested and to-be-developed service modules, the Division will explore innovative approaches to maximise the potential that exists in agribusiness development, addressing emerging global trends, in particular food security, poverty alleviation and climate change. It will explore new ways to contribute to global efforts to reduce hunger, accelerate food systems transition, and generate income and employment, especially among women and youth.

The Division provides technical cooperation services to assist the modernization of agriculture and agro-industry, especially in less-developed countries, ensuring that enterprises add value to primary agricultural production, substitute the imports of food and other value-added agricultural products, and participate effectively in local, regional and global value chains. Where needed, it will develop infrastructure and agro-industrial parks and capacities for agro-industrialization, value addition, quality assurance and food safety. It will also bring innovative approaches to Member States to fully benefit from carbon-neutral and biodiversity-enhancing agricultural and agro-industrial production and development opportunities in the green and blue bioeconomy.

The Food Security and Food Systems Unit (IET/AGR/FSS) promotes the development of food industries and food value chains and the production of local food products in less-developed countries to end hunger and ensure food and nutrition security while generating income and employment adhering to principles of sustainable industrial development. It provides a range of technical assistance services that allow food enterprises – including in the informal sector and especially SMEs – to extend their production, improve their products, comply with quality and other standards, become more competitive and deliver adequate and nutritious food to local populations and for export. Where opportune, it also promotes the development of food safety compliance infrastructure and building related food safety systems capacities.

PROJECT CONTEXT

1. The programme constitutes the successor phase of the Sida-funded “Markets and value chains in agriculture” (GROW Liberia, 2013-2022 – hereafter called GROW-1) and is named GROW-2. It aims at contributing to the increase in income and employment opportunities through MSME development in priority agro-based value chains in Liberia. More precisely, capitalizing on the results and lessons of GROW-1, the programme will focus on upscaling prior efforts and expanding sectoral and thematic outreach. The programme is aligned to Liberia’s strategic development priorities as well as to Sweden’s cooperation strategy with Liberia. 

GROW-2 programme focuses on three value chains and while support to addressing opportunities and challenges to seize international market opportunities concerns the cocoa value chain, support to enhancing the cassava and horticulture value chains aims at enhancing food security and increasing income of, in particular, rural farmers (men, women and youth).

Core principles include the search for country ownership, effective synergies with related programmes, projects and initiatives, the pursuit of a Market System Development (MSD) approach adapted to the local context, emphasis on national capacity building and results orientation as well as facilitation of regional linkages. The programme will also address cross-cutting issues, among which are gender equality, women and youth economic empowerment, and environmental protection including climate change and biodiversity concerns.

2. The Agri-food Systems Transformation Accelerator (ASTA) is a global systems-based program, co-led by UNIDO and FAO, to assist countries in transforming their agri-food systems by facilitating locally tailored systems-based solutions into high potential value chains. These systems-based solutions respond to global trends, are financed by SDG-linked investments and delivered by innovative partnerships among and within the value chain’ s actors. UNIDO and FAO facilitate their implementation through capacity building, technical assistance, policy dialogue and networking. ASTA is expanding to new countries, including under a cooperation with FAO One Country One Priority Product (OCOP), in Lesotho, Malawi, Georgia and Moldova.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of the Project Manager, and working with the project team, administers elements of technical cooperation programme or specific project/s of limited complexity and execution of technical cooperation programmes and activities. The incumbent shall carry out following main duties.

• GROW-2 (85%)
• Select, organize and summarize information related to project agronomic activities, and assess the local context for the planning and administration of related technical activities;
• Document and monitor progress against the agronomic workplan;
• Collect success stories from the field trials and from the implementation of the soil amendment programs, and contribute to the preparation of an agronomic newsletter and video-recorded training to be disseminated among project stakeholders;
• Create a database for the training activities to monitor the agriculture extension services provided in terms of coverage and outreach of advisory services aimed at the improvement and diversification of production and include this in related reports;
• Monitor specific aspects of project agronomic activities and identify problems and proposing that actions be taken to expedite delivery of inputs;
• Inform experts, consultants and other project participants about internal procedures for technical assistance, monitoring and reporting in terms of the immediate objectives of specific project agronomic activities;
• Draft comments on designated aspects of project progress as an input to programme monitoring;
• Draft reports, ad-hoc assignments and research activities, as required;
• Performs other duties as required.

• ASTA (15%)

• Support value chain and market systems analysis and design efforts under ASTA: contribute to data collection, data analysis and report writing;
• Contribute to ASTA communications Kit, and to communications on project developments, including writing articles, developing factsheets, providing content to ASTA engagement guide, updating related ASTA website pages, factsheets, etc...
• Draft comments on designated aspects of project progress as an input to programme monitoring;
• 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,  agricultural economics, engineering, environment, business, (agrifood) systems, international (rural) development, or a related discipline, is required.

Technical and Functional Experience

At least three (3) years of work experience in value chain/market systems analysis and development, (rural) finance, or agribusiness and market development, including practical application of the context of technical cooperation activities is required.  Experience in evaluating the needs, conditions and problems in developing countries, is desirable.

Languages

Fluency in written and spoken English required. Fluency and/or working knowledge of French is highly 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