The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) is recruiting an Economic Affairs Officer at P-4 level for the Financing for Sustainable Development Office in New York, as a temporary opportunity for six months with the possibility of extension. The role focuses on financing for sustainable development, in particular public investment and public development banks, and requires at least seven years of experience. Applications close on 16 November 2026. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the full job opening, and every duty, requirement and special condition is listed below.
Job Opening 285388: Key Facts
💼 Title: Economic Affairs Officer, P-4
🆔 Job Opening ID: 285388
🎚️ Category and level: P-4
📝 Recruitment type: Temporary Opportunities
🏛️ Department/Office: Department of Economic and Social Affairs
📍 Duty station: New York
⏳ Duration: Six months, with the possibility of extension
Where the Post Sits
The position is located in the Policy Analysis and Development Branch of the Financing for Sustainable Development Office in DESA. The Economic Affairs Officer reports to the Chief of the Policy Analysis and Development Branch of the Financing for Development Office.
Economic Monitoring and Research
🔎 Monitor economic developments and identify recurrent and emerging issues in specific thematic areas of financing for sustainable development, in particular public investment and public development banks
📊 Design and conduct studies of selected issues in Financing for Sustainable Development and engage in economic analysis
📘 Draft inputs to the annual Financing for Sustainable Development Report, other analytical studies, technical papers and publications
Supporting Intergovernmental Processes
🏛️ Provide substantive support to the General Assembly and ECOSOC
🤝 Service inter-agency meetings within the FfD follow-up process, including support for the Inter-agency Task Force on Financing for Development
🧭 Formulate proposals for development strategies, policies and measures for intergovernmental bodies and others
📝 Develop draft policy recommendations in the area of work
Meetings, Speeches and Training
🗓️ Organise expert group meetings, seminars and similar events on FfD topics, including drafting reports, overseeing and engaging in note-taking, and offering administrative support as needed
🎤 Prepare speeches and other inputs for presentations by senior staff on the FfD process and related areas
🖊️ Review inputs of junior staff and provide feedback
🎓 Undertake on-the-job and other training activities, both internally and externally
📦 Perform other related duties assigned by the Chief, including administrative tasks needed for the final delivery of FfDO's outputs
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Competencies
💼 Professionalism: ability to apply economic theories and concepts in Financing for Sustainable Development; ability to conduct independent research and in-depth analysis on economic topics and judge the suitability, validity and accuracy of data from different sources; pride in work, mastery of the subject, meeting commitments and deadlines, persistence with difficult problems, calm under stress, and commitment to gender equality in all aspects of work
🗣️ Communication: speaks and writes clearly and effectively, listens and interprets messages correctly, asks questions to clarify, tailors language, tone, style and format to the audience, and shares information openly
👥 Teamwork: works collaboratively towards organisational goals, values others' ideas, places the team agenda before personal agenda, supports final group decisions, and shares credit and responsibility
Education
🎓 Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in economics or a related field
📘 A first-level university degree plus two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree
Work Experience
⏱️ A minimum of seven years of experience in economic research and analysis, policy formulation, application of economic principles in development programmes or a related area is required
🏦 Experience in policy analysis on public investment and public development banks is desirable
📰 Experience in publications on global or regional financing for sustainable development policies is desirable
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required at UN Level II for reading, writing, listening and speaking, according to the UN Language Framework.
Assessment
📝 Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise
💬 This may be followed by a competency-based interview
Temporary Appointment: Special Conditions
📆 The position is available for six months with the possibility of extension; extension depends on the extension of the mandate and/or availability of funds
🔁 If the selected candidate is a UN Secretariat staff member, the selection is administered as a temporary assignment
📌 The selection is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post
📍 Subject to the funding source, eligibility may be limited to candidates based at the duty station
⏸️ A staff member on a temporary appointment in the Professional and above categories, placed on a position authorised for one year or longer, may not apply for or be reappointed to the current position within six months of the end of current service; this does not apply in duty stations authorised for peacekeeping operations or special political missions
🔄 A staff member holding a temporary appointment is regarded as an external candidate for other positions and may apply for other temporary positions at any level, subject to section 5.7 and staff rule 4.16 (b) (ii); General Service temporary staff may only apply to positions within those categories
📖 Full eligibility requirements are in section 5 of ST/AI/2010/4 Rev.1 on Temporary Appointments
⚖️ An external candidate selected is bound by the staff selection system under ST/AI/2010/3, as amended, and ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1
Who Is Not Eligible
🚷 Candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served a minimum of two years in their initial assignment (section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1)
🧾 Individual contractors and consultants (Non-Staff Personnel) who have worked within the UN Secretariat in the last six months, irrespective of the administering entity
🎂 Staff of UN common system organisations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the temporary need period; applying or being selected does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation
Rules for Retirees
👴 Retirees above the mandatory age of separation must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement"
📋 They may only be employed if the Organisation's operational requirements cannot be met by qualified, available staff members, and the employment would not adversely affect other staff members' career development or redeployment and is cost-effective and operationally sound
Diversity, Integrity and Conduct
🌐 The paramount consideration is securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity and recruitment on as wide a geographical basis as possible
🤲 The UN recruits staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities, and places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women
♿ Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request
🛑 Candidates are not considered if they have committed violations of international human rights law or international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe they were involved in such acts
⚠️ Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered
🏢 The UN Secretariat is a non-smoking environment
Key Definitions in the Job Opening
📕 Sexual exploitation: any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power or trust for sexual purposes, including profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another
📗 Sexual abuse: the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions
📙 Sexual harassment: any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when it interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment
Appointment and Mobility
📜 By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any UN activity or office under staff regulation 1.2 (c)
✈️ Professional staff up to D-2 and Field Service staff are normally required to move periodically between duty stations under ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility; this condition does not apply to temporary positions
🧪 External candidates recruited for certain fixed-term appointments under ST/AI/2025/3 are subject to a one-year probationary period
How to Apply
🖥️ Apply through the UN online recruitment platform, inspira, and carefully follow all instructions there
📖 Refer to the Applicant Guide, found under "Manuals" in the "Help" tile of the inspira account-holder homepage
✅ Provide complete and accurate information on your personal profile and qualifications; applications are evaluated only on the information submitted
🚫 No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification can be made after an application is submitted
🔍 Candidates under serious consideration are subject to reference checks
🕚 Job openings are removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date
Find more international organisation roles in the jobs listings on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN DESA Economic Affairs Officer temporary job in New York?
It is a P-4 temporary position in the Policy Analysis and Development Branch of the Financing for Sustainable Development Office, part of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. It runs for six months with the possibility of extension.
What will the Economic Affairs Officer work on?
The officer monitors economic developments in financing for sustainable development, especially public investment and public development banks, drafts inputs to the annual Financing for Sustainable Development Report, and supports the General Assembly, ECOSOC and the Inter-agency Task Force on Financing for Development.
How much experience is required?
A minimum of seven years in economic research and analysis, policy formulation, application of economic principles in development programmes or a related area. Experience with public investment, public development banks and FfD publications is desirable.
What degree do I need?
An advanced degree in economics or a related field. A first-level degree with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted instead.
Which language is required?
English is required at UN Level II for reading, writing, listening and speaking. French is the other working language of the Secretariat but is not listed as required.
Can consultants currently working with the UN apply?
Individual contractors and consultants who worked within the UN Secretariat in the last six months are not eligible for professional temporary or fixed-term positions, and their applications will not be considered.
When does the job opening close?
The opening closes on 16 November 2026 and is removed from the Careers Portal at 11:59 p.m. New York time on that date.
Deadline
⏳ 16 November 2026
Links
🔗 Job opening: https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/285388?language=en
🗣️ UN Language Framework: https://languages.un.org
