Secretary of Committee needed at UN Economic Commission for Africa

The Economic Commission for Africa’s (ECA) mission is to deliver ideas and actions for an empowered and transformed Africa; informed by the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063.

This position is located in the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) at the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). The incumbent works under the direct supervision of the Chief of Staff/Officer designated by the Executive Secretary to this effect.

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Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Secretary of the Commission will be responsible for the following duties:

• Prepare for and organizes the meetings of the legislative bodies/intergovernmental processes of the Commission and other official meetings convened by the Executive Secretary, including quarterly briefings to members States and annual retreat of ECA with permanent representatives.
• Lead the preparatory process of the Conference of Ministers as chair of the Conference of Ministers Task Force. Coordinate the preparation of agenda and programme of work of the sessions and coordinates the in-session deliberations; provide support to the bureau of the committee of experts and the Conference of Ministers.
• Responsible for day-to-day external relations of the Commission with the Member States, providing legal guidance and advice.
• Supervise overall legal aspects with host country, including representation and legal aspects.
• Serve as a recognized expert and independently handle a wide range of multi-discipline, highly complex and often sensitive and/or conflicting legal matters involving issues relating to international, public, private and administrative law, to include interpretation and application of instruments in that area of focus including of resolution of disputes and arbitration working with UN legal bodies.
• Provide the ECA secretariat with legal counsel, manage legal affairs and in this connection liaise with UN headquarters. Perform extensive legal research and analysis and prepare legal opinions, studies, briefs, reports and correspondence; make recommendations to senior officials of substantive Divisions and Sub-Regional offices with respect to actions to take.
• Provide authoritative legal advice on diverse substantive and procedural questions of considerable complexity, which may include those related to administration and management, and other operational matters.
• Prepare legal submissions/motions are as necessary in the course of investigations.
• Review, advise on and supervise the review, negotiation and drafting of complex contracts (including procurement), agreements (such as host country agreements), institutional and operational modalities, or legal motions/submissions and other legal documents; develops new legal modalities to meet unique needs/circumstances.
• Advise the Commission on more complex cases before arbitral and other tribunal or administrative proceedings, including disciplinary cases and staff appeals to UN Dispute Tribunals and Administrative Tribunals.
• Conduct and manage day-to-day internal and external relations of the Commission and where necessary liaise with the UN Office of Legal Affairs in New York and other UN bodies.
• Perform other duties as assigned. Work implies frequent interaction with the following: UN headquarters, OLA, Regional Commissions, Directors both within and outside the duty station, Embassies, counterparts, senior attorneys and officials in UN common system organizations, specialized agencies, governments, law firms and other external entities.