Junior Sustainable Development Officer

Asia and the Pacific is undergoing profound transformation, shaped by three interconnected megatrends: climate change, digital transformation and demographic shifts. The region accounts for around 60% of global GHG emissions while remaining highly vulnerable to climate impacts. Rapid digitalization and AI are reshaping economies and societies, creating new opportunities while raising new challenges. Demographic change is also significant: the share of people aged 60 years or over is projected to rise from 16% in 2025 to 26% by 2050, alongside diversity in demographic trajectories across the region.

The interaction of these megatrends is reshaping the region’s development prospects and calls for thought leadership – forward-looking, integrated policy thinking. ESCAP’s three main functions involve serving as an intergovernmental platform for the region, conducts research and analysis, and provides technical assistance to the member States. Through the research and analysis function, ESCAP plays an important role in identifying emerging development issues, generating new ideas and evidence, and translating them into policy messages for member States. Strengthening ESCAP’s thought leadership can help anticipate emerging challenges and opportunities and inform regional policy dialogue and cooperation.

ESCAP’s work is supported by five Regional Institutions, which provide specialized expertise and capacity development: the Asian and Pacific Training Centre for Information and Communication Technology for Development (APCICT), the Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT), the Asian and Pacific Centre for the Development of Disaster Information Management (APDIM), the Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization (CSAM), and the Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (SIAP). These institutions complement the work of ESCAP’s divisions by strengthening national capacities, facilitating knowledge exchange and fostering regional cooperation.

Under the direct supervision of the Sustainable Development Officer, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks to support the Deputy Executive Secretary for Programme in strengthening the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific's (ESCAP) thought leadership on emerging and cross-cutting development issues in Asia and the Pacific. Particular attention will be given to the areas of climate change, digital transformation, and demographic shifts, focusing on substantive publications and through the Editorial Board of ESCAP.

Throughout the posting, the candidate will be expected to:
• As part of the team, provide coordination support to the Office of the Executive Secretary in ESCAP inter-division and UN inter-agency collaboration activities and initiatives around the key socioeconomic thematic areas; and
• As part of the team, provide support to the Deputy Executive Secretary on donor relationship management across substantive projects;
• Provide research inputs as needed to substantive areas, including climate change, air pollution, energy transitions, and digital transformation;
• Provide support to the Sustainable Development Officer in monitoring, and where applicable, supporting the activities of ESCAP’s Regional Institutes; and
• Support ESCAP’s intergovernmental processes, focusing on substantive inputs around the highlighted socioeconomic megatrends, including through the Commission session.