Full TimeENEurope
Requisition ID: 7461
Grade: ISA-P4
Country: Austria
Duty Station: Vienna
Category: International Consultant
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff-Regular
Contract Duration: 12 months
Application Deadline: 29-May-2026, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)
Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.
UNIDO welcomes applications from qualified persons with disabilities. Reasonable accommodation will be provided to applicants and employees with disabilities to support full participation in the recruitment process and in the performance of their duties.
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.
The medium-term programme framework (MTPF) 2026 - 2029 is UNIDO’s core strategic document and it is in line with UNIDO’s Vision 2050. It sets a renewed vision to support Member States and shape their industries for development. The priorities include fair and sustainable global and regional supply chains, ending hunger through innovation and local value addition, renewable and clean energy, sustainable energy access and climate action. Cross-cutting priorities focus on industrial and economic policy advice, skills development, fostering digitalization and artificial intelligence, gender equality and the empowerment of women, supporting youth, promoting cleaner production and circular economy, and leveraging private sector investment and development finance.
Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards-related activities; and (iv) convening and fostering partnerships for knowledge and technology transfer, investment mobilization, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Sub-regional Offices and Country Offices.
Division of Agribusiness and Infrastructure Development (IET/AGR)
Under the overall guidance of the Director General, the direct supervision of the Managing Director, Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation (IET), and in close coordination with other organizational entities within UNIDO, the Division of Agribusiness and Infrastructure Development (IET/AGR) supports Member States in their efforts to pave the way to sustainable rural development and a structurally transformed and modernized agribusiness sector. Capitalizing on the experience gained by UNIDO in this field over decades and on tried-and-tested and to-be-developed service modules, the Division will explore innovative approaches to maximise the potential that exists in agribusiness development, addressing emerging global trends, in particular food security, poverty alleviation and climate change. It will explore new ways to contribute to global efforts to reduce hunger, accelerate food systems transition, and generate income and employment, especially among women and youth.
The Division provides technical cooperation services to assist the modernization of agriculture and agro-industry, especially in less-developed countries, ensuring that enterprises add value to primary agricultural production, substitute the imports of food and other value-added agricultural products, and participate effectively in local, regional and global value chains. Where needed, it will develop infrastructure and agro-industrial parks and capacities for agro-industrialization, value addition, quality assurance and food safety. It will also bring innovative approaches to Member States to fully benefit from carbon-neutral and biodiversity-enhancing agricultural and agro-industrial production and development opportunities in the green and blue bioeconomy.
Agro-Innovation and Bioeconomy Unit (IET/AGR/AIB)
The Agro-Innovation and Bioeconomy Unit (IET/AGR/AIB) promotes the development of innovative approaches to agricultural and agro-industrial production by looking at new products for industry, new processes of production, new sources of materials and energy from biomass, new schemes for sustainable production and new approaches to climate adaptation and the reduction of climate change. The Unit will contribute to addressing global challenges such as climate change, food and water shortages, environmental pollution, and loss of biodiversity – all in combination with economic development - by replacing fossil and mineral resources with renewable raw materials and through new technologies in production and processing of agriculture and aquaculture-based products.
Overall, the Unit will support agriculture and agro-industry in Member States in a transition from fossil and mineral-based production to a green and blue circular bioeconomy. Through partnerships with innovative firms, R&D departments and development partners, the Unit draws from the latest technology development in agricultural machinery, agro-processing and digitalization and renders adapted solutions to agro-industry development, emphasizing services to less developed countries. It will also engage with innovative carbon sequestration and biodiversity improvement schemes that help farmers and agro-industry firms to finance and apply new technologies of CO2 reduction and biodiversity improvement. It will also foster climate adaptation in agricultural and agro-industry production using more sustainable technology and innovation systems.
PROJECT CONTEXT -220095
Sudan, Africa’s third largest country, is a low-income nation heavily reliant on agriculture, which contributes 31% of its GDP and employs nearly 80% of its population. Since South Sudan’s secession in 2011, Sudan has faced significant economic challenges, losing three-quarters of its oil output, half of its fiscal revenues, and a third of its export earnings. This has led to foreign exchange shortages, low foreign investment, limited international financing, and fiscal deficits due to weak revenue collection and heavy fuel subsidies.
From 2018 to 2020, Sudan’s economy contracted, with sharp currency devaluation causing high inflation. Although inflation began to stabilize in August 2021, it remained above 300% by December 2021. Rising fuel and wheat prices sparked widespread protests, resulting in the overthrow of the president in April 2019 and increased political instability in October 2021. Further political conflict and disturbances in 2023 has further made the national context more fragile.
International donors paused funding after October 2021, freezing basic income programs and hindering economic reforms under the IMF’s Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Debt Initiative. Despite reducing its debt from $56 billion to $28 billion by June 2021, Sudan’s poverty and unemployment rates remain high, exacerbated by COVID-19. The labor market is underdeveloped, with a significant mismatch between available skills and formal sector needs.
Brief Overview of the Agricultural Sector in Sudan and the Kassala State
Agriculture and agribusiness are central to Sudan’s economy, with the rain-fed sector covering 9 million hectares and supporting small family farms. Despite its importance for food security and exports, the sector faces challenges like fragmented value chains, poor infrastructure, and limited market access. Farmers struggle with low-quality inputs, inadequate storage, and poor agricultural practices, leading to low yields and significant production losses.
The sector also suffers from a weak business environment, limited credit access, and high costs due to inflation and climate change. In 2021, adverse weather, pests, and input shortages further reduced cereal production by 35% compared to the previous year. Export revenues from key crops like sesame and cotton fell by 15% due to lower yields. The lack of essential infrastructure and certification bodies hampers high-value exports, while the overall economic instability exacerbates these issues.
The Kassala State, covering 22,282 km², is located between latitudes 32°12’ and 36°57’ East and longitudes 12°12’ and 17°12’ North. It comprises eleven localities, with Kassala Town and New Halfa being the urban centers. The state is predominantly flat plains, with the Gash Basin as its largest aquifer, holding 600 million cubic meters of water. Agriculture is vital, with 40.5% of the land being cultivable. Main crops include sorghum, sesame, groundnuts, and various fruits and vegetables. However, the sector faces challenges like poor rainfall, high production costs, and inadequate agro-processing, leading to significant post-harvest losses. In 2021, poor rainy season performance resulted in an 81% drop in crop production compared to 2020.
Energy sources for cooking are mainly gas and firewood, with limited use of solar energy. Urban households primarily use public grid electricity for lighting, while rural areas rely on paraffin lanterns and firewood, with 31.8% having no lighting at all. Recent dry conditions, high food prices, and inflation have worsened food insecurity and malnutrition. Addressing these issues requires focusing on long-term agricultural and agro-processing improvements to enhance food security and economic stability.
In this context, the proposed project seeks to scale-up ongoing project activities by enhancing the competitiveness of strategic agri-value chains to boost SMEs and smallholder farmers’ groups’ participation in local and regional value chains. This will be achieved by piloting agri-food value chain transformation hubs to enhance value chain competitiveness and train and expose selected clusters of smallholder farmers and agro-food SMEs (with strong focus on women and youth) with required technical skills, technologies and market knowledge for productivity enhancement. The main rationale is to build on the past Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS)-funded projects in the Kassala State hence bringing a step forward to the agricultural development interventions led by UNIDO in eastern Sudan since 2018.
FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the supervision of the Project Manager, i) assists in the implementation of the above listed projects in Sudan, ii) formulation and design of new projects, appraising, adjusting and presenting project proposals, and monitoring programme execution, identifying problems and utilizing information as an input to corrective actions to promote effective project management, develops and administers technical cooperation projects. Furthermore, the incumbent shall carry out following main duties.
Education: Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in engineering, sciences, economics, development studies, business administration, international relations or other relevant discipline is required.
Technical and Functional Experience:
Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Fluency and/or working knowledge of another official UN language, is desirable.
REQUIRED COMPETENCIES
Core values:
WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.
WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.
WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective.
Key competencies:
WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential –and this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity.
WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world.
WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work.
WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: To stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another.
This appointment is limited to the specified project(s) only and does not carry any expectation of renewal.
Employees of UNIDO are expected at all times to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for jobs at UNIDO.
All applications must be submitted online through the Online Recruitment System. Correspondence will be undertaken only with candidates who are being considered at an advanced phase of the selection process. Selected candidate(s) may be required to disclose to the Director General the nature and scope of financial and other personal interests and assets in respect of themselves, their spouses and dependents, under the procedures established by the Director General.
Visit the UNIDO website for details on how to apply: www.unido.org
NOTE: The Director General retains the discretion to make an appointment to this post at a lower level.
Notice to applicants:
UNIDO does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. If you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Vacant positions within UNIDO are advertised on the official UNIDO website. Should you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of UNIDO and requesting payment of a fee, please contact: recruitment@unido.org
