Programme Officer

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.

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty and hunger reduction, inclusive and fair 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, the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019 as well as the Riyadh Declaration adopted at the twenty-first session of UNIDO General Conference in 2025, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development in Member States. The relevance of this mission 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 inclusive and sustainable industrial development, however, applies to all SDGs.

The medium-term programme framework (MTPF) 2026 - 2029 is UNIDO’s core strategic document and it is in line with UNIDO’s Vision 2050. It sets a renewed vision to support Member States and shape their industries for development. The priorities include fair and sustainable global and regional supply chains, ending hunger through innovation and local value addition, renewable and clean energy, sustainable energy access and climate action. 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-related activities; and (iv) convening and fostering partnerships for knowledge and technology transfer, investment mobilization, 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 Global Partnerships and External Relations (GLO) 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 Regional Bureaus and Field Offices (GLO/RFO) coordinates the field representation and interventions of UNIDO in Member States and regions. Within this context, the Division is responsible for determining programmatic priorities for UNIDO's services and ensuring that UNIDO responds to the specific needs and requirements of Member States and development partners at the country and regional levels. It facilitates, upon guidance of GLO/FLS, the development of regional strategies, country programmes (including Programmes for Country Partnership - PCPs) and monitors their implementation. The Division encompasses all the UNIDO field offices and the five Regional Bureaus: Africa (GLO/RFO/AFR), also hosting the IDDA III Secretariat; the Arab Region (GLO/RFO/ARB); Asia and the Pacific (GLO/RFO/ASP); Europe and Central Asia (GLO/RFO/EUR); and Latin American and the Caribbean (GLO/RFO/LAC).

The position is located under Regional Bureau LAC (GLO/RFO/LAC ) within the Division of Regional Bureaus and Field Offices (GLO/RFO). Under the supervision of the Managing Director of the Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations (GLO), the Division of Regional Bureaus and Field Offices (GLO/RFO) coordinates the field representation and interventions of UNIDO in Member States and regions. Within this context, the Division is responsible for determining programmatic priorities for UNIDO's services and ensuring that UNIDO responds to the specific needs and requirements of Member States and development partners at the country and regional levels. It facilitates, upon guidance of GLO/FLS, the development of regional strategies, country programmes (including Programmes for Country Partnership - PCPs) and monitors their implementation. The Division encompasses all the UNIDO field offices and the five Regional Bureaus: Africa (GLO/RFO/AFR), also hosting the IDDA III Secretariat; Arab Region (GLO/RFO/ARB); Asia and the Pacific (GLO/RFO/ASP); Europe and Central Asia (GLO/RFO/EUR); and Latin American and the Caribbean (GLO/RFO/LAC). The Africa Regional Bureau Africa (GLO/RFO/AFR) also hosts the IDDA III Secretariat and coordinates the

The Programme Officer works under the overall guidance of the Managing Director for the Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations (GLO), the Director for the Division of Regional Bureaus and Field Offices (GLO/RFO) and the direct supervision of the Chief of the Regional Bureau Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as in close collaboration with the colleagues to achieve the mandate of the Regional Bureau.

The Programme Officer is expected to deliver: (a) work that is integral to results achieved by the Regional Bureau (b) in creating an enabling environment for team work which is catalytic to achieving results; (c) in building relationships which contributes to relationship management and (d) in achieving results within a professional team

The UNIDO Staff Performance Management System reinforces the collaboration within formal units as well as among cross-functional teams. In this context, the incumbent collaborates with his/her supervisor and colleagues, within as well as outside the unit. Within the formal teams, the incumbent may be expected to backstop other team members as required.

Staff -members are subject to the authority of the Director-General and in this context all staff are expected to serve in any assignment and duty station as determined by the needs of the Organization.

• Backstop the assigned countries of coverage, providing support to relevant UNIDO field offices.
• Contribute to providing regular communications with the network of UNIDO field offices in the region to ensure a coordinated approach to dealing with and addressing requests from national and regional counterparts.
• As part of the core functions of the Bureau, including relationship management with stakeholders, maintain a regular exchange of information, prepare background and briefing notes for bilateral meetings with partners and counterparts of UNIDO.
• Conceptualize and formulate effective and innovative cooperation strategies for the development of a coherent programme of technical assistance for the countries of the region, including analysis of government policies and industrial trends, portfolio trends and monitoring, review and monitoring of the overall industrial development situation, identification of priority areas for cooperation based on and consistent with country priorities, UNIDO’s regional strategies, business plan and service modules.
• Undertake project and programme development work with an active participation, including leadership role, if required, at the stages of identification, formulation, implementation, and monitoring of projects and programmes at national and sub- regional levels, in close collaboration with relevant technical branches at Headquarters and relevant counterpart institutions at the field level, ensuring development of innovative and cost effective projects and programmes from all sources of financing. Ensure that best practices are incorporated in the development of projects and programmes while ensuring that the project and programme portfolio of UNIDO increases in the countries of the region.
• Contribute to initiating and developing, in cooperation with the field network and relevant technical divisions, country, regional and partnership strategies and programmes that are effectively linked to national development priorities, donor priorities and the UNIDO mandate.
• Provide backstopping and monitoring support to the Chief on the workplan of the Bureau and ensure programmatic coherence of UNIDO’s technical cooperation and service delivery at the country and regional levels.
• Assist the Division in establishing close linkages with the extended network of UNIDO institutions in the field.
• Collaborate with national and regional counterparts and partner institutions, including Permanent Missions of Member States, with a view to enabling a constant flow of information on UNIDO’s field operations and regional activities and strengthening relationships with stakeholders.
• Collaborate with other relevant organizational units of UNIDO, on the organization of conferences and initiate other global forum activities to share knowledge and build partnerships.
• Provide monitoring support to the Chief, in collaboration with the UNIDO field offices and relevant technical divisions, of the country programme portfolio and project implementation at the country level, including the implementation and monitoring according to UNIDO’s Results Based Management of the LAC Regional Programme 2026-2030
• Provide substantive inputs and backstopping support in facilitating and/or organizing missions of the Director General to the Region in cooperation with the field office network.
• Act as a Team Member in relevant UNIDO programmes in the region and participate in missions to promote UNIDO services and encourage governments, financing institutions, multilateral and bilateral organizations, private and public sectors, and other international and national partners to mobilize resources for UNIDO-led programmes.
• Support the implementation of UNIDO’s SDG9 Accelerator including its online platform and South-south and triangular cooperation Mechanism.
• Contribute to the preparation of results-based reporting (e.g. progress reports, annual reports, inputs to IRPF and SDG reporting) ensuring accuracy and evidence-based analysis.
• Perform other related duties and assignments as required by the Chief of the Bureau or Director of the Division.

Education: First-level university degree (bachelor’s or equivalent) in economics, development studies, business administration, international relations, public administration or relevant field, is required. An advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) or Doctorate in the same fields are accepted with a reduced requirement for years of professional experience

Experience:

• First-level university degree (Bachelor’s): at least 8 years of relevant professional experience
• Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent): at least 5 years of relevant professional experience
• Doctorate: at least 3 years of relevant professional experience.
• Progressively responsible relevant professional experience, including some at the international level in economic development, programme management, involving technical cooperation in developing countries is required.
• Experience in all phases of the Project Cycle is required.
• Exposure to the needs, conditions and problems affecting the Latin America and the Caribbean region is desirable.
• Experience in programme/project monitoring, reporting, and evaluation within a development or UN context.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to collect, synthesize and interpret complex data from multiple sources to support evidence-based decision-making.
• Ability to identify key trends, issues and risks, and translate them into clear findings and actionable recommendations.
• Ability to collaborate across units and with external stakeholders (e.g. field offices, UN partners).

Functional Competence

• Continuously develop and maintain expertise
• Stay informed of industry trends and best practices
• Apply knowledge to improve results and decision-making
• Adopt new tools and technologies
• Take ownership of professional development

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English and Spanish is required. Fluency in or working knowledge of Portuguese, or of another United Nations language, is desirable.