Individual Contractor

Result of Service

The individual contractor’s contribution to research, conference organization and technical assistance will support UNCTAD’s work on the reform of International Investment Agreements, with a view to aligning international investment governance with the sustainable development goals.

Work Location

Home Based

Expected duration

15/04/25 – 15/12/25

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Programme Coordinator of the International Investment Agreements Section, Division on Investment and Enterprise, the Individual Contractor will: 1. Prepare internal background memos on recent developments related to International Investment Agreements (IIAs), Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) and IIA reform in countries in Northern Africa and Western Asia: – Conduct online research in English and Arabic and compile recent examples of concluded treaties, ongoing treaty negotiations and initiated Investor-State Dispute Settlement cases 2. Prepare an internal policy memo discussing the relevance of sustainable development and climate change considerations for the reform of International Investment Agreements (IIAs) concluded by Northern African and Western Asian countries: – Identify some opportunities and challenges for sustainable development-oriented reform for countries in these geographic regions, drawing on the International Investment Agreements Section (IIAs)’s existing publications on the topic, such as the International Investment Agreements (IIAs) Issues Notes on International Investment Agreements (IIAs) and climate action as well as UNCTAD’s key policy tools such as the Investment Policy Framework for Sustainable Development (2015) and the International Investment Agreements (IIAs) Reform Accelerator (2020) 3. Translate existing presentation slides on UNCTAD’s International Investment Agreements (IIAs) reform tools, sustainable development, climate change considerations and recent developments from English into Arabic. 4. Based on incoming requests from beneficiary countries, provide support with the preparation of short online workshops on International Investment Agreements reform, sustainable development and climate action for Northern African and Western Asian countries, and/or assist with inputs into technical assistance reports: – Communicate with beneficiaries in Arabic and English – Provide inputs in Arabic and English 5. Assist with ad hoc background research on international investment policy issues and other ad hoc tasks as requested by the Programme Coordinator

Qualifications/special skills

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in international relations or a related field, is required. A minimum of 2 years of work experience in policy analysis with a focus on international trade and investment issues, are required.

Languages

Fluency in English and Arabic (both spoken and written) is required.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.