Country Representative

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

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.

he UCR works under the overall guidance of the Director of the Division of Regional Bureaus and Field Coordination (GLO/RFO) and the Chief, Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific (GLO/RFO/ASP) and the direct supervision of the UR, Sub-Regional Office in China.

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 team and colleagues, in the country as well as in the region and in headquarters.

The UCR is locally recruited and is subject to the authority of the Director General and if required, may be expected to serve in any assignment and duty station as determined by the needs of the Organization.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES 

Specific roles and responsibilities of the UNIDO Country Representative (UCR) are to lead the UNIDO Country Office in line with the terms of reference for UNIDO Field Offices. Key aspects of the UCR’s responsibilities include:

• Represent UNIDO in the host country to promote the Organization as an effective partner for development, and to maintain close contacts with local stakeholders at the country level, including government institutions, stakeholders, development partners, donors and international entities including United Nations entities.
• Lead the activities of the CO and contribute to the delivery of national development goals, as well as identify donors’ technical and funding priorities in the host country.
• Identify emerging development needs and resource mobilization opportunities and support the alignment of UNIDO's programmes with national priorities and donor strategies.
• Contribute to and/or lead the identification, development, implementation, resource mobilization, as well as monitoring and evaluation of integrated technical cooperation projects and programmes at national level, including the Programmes for Country Partnership (PCPs), and related activities in close collaboration with relevant technical divisions and other organizational units.
• Lead/coordinate and report on UNIDO's activities in the host country, contribute to the development of regional strategies and policies to ensure strategic and programmatic coherence, and support UNIDO's engagement with United Nations Resident Coordinator Offices (UNRCs), United Nations Country Teams (UNCTs), Common Country Assessments (CCAs), United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCFs), and joint United Nations programmes.
• Strengthen dialogue and partnerships with government counterparts, the private sector, other UN organizations, and bilateral and multilateral partners, including Development Finance Institutions.
• Advocate and highlight the relevance and work of the Organization and ensure the dissemination of UNIDO communication and media content to governments and stakeholders.
• Manage the Country Office’s financial and human resources in coordination with relevant divisions while ensuing compliance with applicable requirements related to staff security and safety, safeguarding of UNIDO assets, property and information, including through appropriate contingency planning in line with UNDSS guidance.
• Develop a results-oriented and gender-mainstreamed yearly business plan, periodically report on progress, and use results and performance data for evidence-based decision-making and adaptive management.
• Apply Results-Based Management (RBM) in work planning, implementation, and reporting.
• Carry out other tasks and perform other functions as assigned by the supervisory structure.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS AND DESIRABLE CRITERIA

Education:

A first-level university degree (bachelor’s or equivalent) in economics, business administration, international relations, public administration, or other relevant field with specialization in development economics, 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:

• A minimum of professional experience aligned with the educational level is required, as follows:

• • First-level university degree (Bachelor’s): at least 10 years of relevant professional experience;
  • Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent): at least 7 years of relevant professional experience;
  • Doctorate: at least 5 years of relevant professional experience.

• Progressively responsible professional experience, at national level in the field of economic development, involving technical cooperation at senior level, is required.
• Experience in evaluating the needs, conditions and problems of the country is required.
• Demonstrated experience in supervising/managing both technical and non-technical teams in aspects of the project cycle (project formulation, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation) is required.
• Demonstrated experience in collecting, analysing, and using performance and results data to support evidence-based decision-making and adaptive management is required.
• Experience in representational functions and experience working closely with policymakers as well as in or with the UN system are required.
• Experience in working with intergovernmental bodies, leading with results on strategic partnerships, and resource mobilization is desirable.
• Prior experience working in technical cooperation in Pakistan and other countries in the region is desirable.

Language Skills:

Fluency in written and spoken English and Urdu is required. Knowledge of other official languages of the United Nations is desirable.