|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Background
|
|
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.
UNDP’s 2018-2021 Strategic Plan emphasizes the critical links between environmental sustainability, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and broader efforts to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda and Paris Agreement. As part of the Global Policy Network in the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP’s Nature, Climate Change, and Energy (NCE) Team promotes and scales up integrated whole-of-governance approaches and nature-based solutions that reduce poverty and inequalities, strengthen livelihoods and inclusive growth, mitigate conflict, forced migration and displacement, and promote more resilient governance systems that advance linked peace and security agendas.
The NCE Team works with governments, civil society, and private sector partners to integrate natural capital, environment and climate concerns into national and sector planning and inclusive growth policies; support country obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements; and implement the UN’s largest portfolio of in-country programming on environment, climate change, and energy. This multi-billion dollar portfolio encompasses: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services including forests; Sustainable Land Management and Desertification including food and commodity systems; Water and Ocean Governance including SIDS; Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation; Renewable and Modern Energy; Extractive Industries; Chemicals and Waste Management; Environmental Governance and Green/Circular Economy and SCP approaches. This work advances crosscutting themes on innovative finance, digital transformation, capacity development, human rights, gender equality, health, technology, and South-South learning. UNDP’s Nature, Climate and Energy practice spans 137 countries, with a portfolio directly benefiting 86 million people. Our support to Governments focusses on enabling an inclusive, resilient, green recovery by: building competency to accelerate access to sustainable energy and climate and nature-positive policies and finance; scaling capacity to ensure No One is Left Behind; catalyzing SDG and Paris-aligned investments (public and private); delivering client-focused solutions that respond to countries’ immediate, mid- and long-term recovery and socio-economic development priorities; and leveraging our on-the-ground presence and networks to unlock bottom-up solutions that deliver lasting impacts at country level.
In addition to UNDP’s bilateral partnerships on nature climate and energy, UNDP is an accredited multilateral implementing agency of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Multilateral Fund (MLF), and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) which includes the Global Environment Facility Trust Fund (GEF Trust Fund); the Nagoya Protocol Implementation Fund (NPIF); the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF); and the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF). As part of UNDP’s partnership with these vertical funds, UNDP provides countries specialized integrated technical services for eligibility assessment, programme formulation, capacity development, policy advice, technical assistance, training and technology transfer, mobilization of co-financing, implementation oversight, results management and evaluation, performance-based payments and knowledge management services. The Nature, Climate and Energy Team focuses on managing the oversight of climate and environmental financial resources from global trust funds to catalyze and unlock other types of public and private financing for sustainable development. This includes oversight of the design as well as implementation phase of projects (together with Country Offices and Regional Bureaus), as well as portfolio level oversight and management.
In recent decades, biodiversity finance tools and solutions have demonstrated their importance for achieving biodiversity goals and broader sustainable development objectives. Improved choice, design and implementation of effective, well-tailored finance solutions will strengthen countries’ chances of achieving national and global biodiversity targets.
The Biodiversity Finance Initiative – BIOFIN – was developed to provide a comprehensive methodology for governments to: 1) review the existing policy context, 2) measure expenditure levels for biodiversity, 3) calculate future financial needs and 4) design strategic plans to deploy the right mix of finance solutions, tailored to the country context. The methodology has been conducted in 35 countries to date, with many now having reached the implementation stage.
BIOFIN is supported by the Governments of Germany, Flanders, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the European Union. The initiative is part of UNDP’s Nature, Climate and Energy (NCE) unit, hosted by the Ecosystems and Biodiversity (EBD) cluster under UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS).
BIOFIN’s first phase (2012-2019) enabled full assessments and initial implementation of finance plan elements in target countries. Based on lessons learned, a new and comprehensive version of the BIOFIN Methodology was developed. Significant scaling up of finance solutions is required in all countries to address the biodiversity finance challenge. BIOFIN’s Phase II extended (2018 – 2025) focuses mainly on the implementation of prioritised finance solutions while also allowing additional countries to undertake the initial assessments and create the finance plan. See www.biodiversityfinance.org for further information.
The Project Management Associate is responsible for the day-to-day administrative support to the UNDP Biodiversity Finance Initiative, most importantly its Management Team (MT). The Project Management Associate therefore provides support to office management, human resources, procuring goods and services, financial management, planning, budgeting, supporting the monitoring and evaluation activities of the project, documentation management, and support to monitoring and reporting as required for the successful management and achievement of the outcomes of the Initiative in compliance with the policies, processes and procedures of UNDP and the requirements of the Initiative’s donors.
The Project Management Associate works primarily, but not exclusively, with the Global BIOFIN Team, UNDP country offices in 38 countries, donor focal points, other international/multi-lateral organizations, and contractors. The Project Management Associate is based at UNDP’s Regional Hub in Istanbul, Turkey and will be expected to travel.
This vacancy announcement will be used to fill two (2) positions.
|
|
Duties and Responsibilities
|
|
Provides effective support to the management of the project focusing on the achievement of the following results:
- Presentation of researched information for the preparation of project documentation, annual work plans, budgets, travel plans, etc.;
- Analysis of information on donors, and preparation of donor’s profile and database;
- Analysis of the situation in the project, identification of operational and financial problems, and development of solutions;
- Monitoring and ensuring compliance with UNDP-specific rules, regulations and processes in managing financial resources, monitoring and evaluation, travel arrangements, etc., as well as, donor requirements and audit recommendations;
- Assist with the development and output of implementation materials, including project documents, guidance materials, templates, technical reports, etc. as required;
- Review, verification, and reconciliation of financial data and reports to ensure accuracy and conformity with UNDP programme and operations policies procedures;
- Provide support for budget revisions bi-annually and when needs arise, integrating available budgets from all BIOFIN donors, taking into account available co-finance;
- Presentation of information/reports for identification of areas for support;
- Backstopping of other team members as necessary.
Provides operational and administrative support focusing on the achievement of the following results:
- Serve as point of contact on administrative and operational issues between BIOFIN Management Team (MT) and NCE Management and Programme Support Unit, other support staff, UNDP country offices, and national implementation teams in 38 countries;
- Assistance with procurement and contracting processes, compilation of contract documentation and preparation of documents related to human resource and procurement processes ensuring compliance with the applicable UNDP rules and regulations;
- Support the organization of international and national meetings and workshops;
- Organizes and processes travel payments in line with UNDP rules and regulations;
- Provision of guidance to the country teams on routine project implementation matters, travel, workshops, etc.;
- Maintenance of the internal expenditures control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Atlas;
- Maintain document control procedures and a document filing system, including for supporting documentation for financial reviews, continuously integrating relevant new information/data;
- Proper control of the supporting documents for payments and review of projects financial reports;
- Take timely corrective actions on unposted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers;
- When required, create requisitions, Purchase Order, receipts, and travel related clearances in ATLAS (ERP).
Support to monitoring and reporting focusing on the achievement of the following results:
- Ensure results-based project development and management throughout the different stages of project implementation;
- Manage information flows and support regular reviews by the BIOFIN Manager regarding project details, schedules, risks, deliverables and budgets to ensure implementation is on track;
- Follow up on performance indicators/ success criteria, targets and milestones, preparation of reports and effective application of RBM tools;
- Monitor quality indicators and administer quality review processes and independent evaluations of the Initiative;
- Provide support on timely planning and reporting exercise, and supports maintenance of internal planning and reporting systems for effective and efficient project monitoring
- Monitor planning and implementation carried out by responsible parties, such as by contractors and service providers including in pilot countries, and that they are aligned with key milestones;
- Provide support to resource mobilization, maintaining information/databases on potential and actual donors, providing administrative information and editing support towards funding proposals.
Contributes to facilitation of knowledge sharing and development
- Organization of presentations and trainings for the projects’ staff and consultants at global and national level on project management;
- Preparation of reports synthesizing lessons learnt and good practices;
- Learn from and contribute to corporate knowledge tools;
- Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
|
|
Competencies
|
|
Core
Innovation
- Ability to make new and useful ideas work.
Leadership
- Ability to persuade others to follow.
People Management
- Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.
Communication
- Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.
Delivery
- Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement.
Technical/Functional
Results-based Management
- Ability to manage programmes and projects with a strategy aimed at improved performance and demonstrable results.
Event, Meeting and Workshop Facilitation
- Ability to organize and plan events.
Project Management
- Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
Quality Assurance
- Ability to perform administrative and procedural activities to ensure that quality requirements and goals are fulfilled.
Procurement
- The ability to acquire goods, services or works from an outside external source.
Office Administration
- Ability to manage day-to-day office activities (including but not limited to travel management, facilities and asset management, policy and procedures maintenance) to meet operational needs.
Knowledge Management
- Ability to capture, develop, share, and effectively use information and knowledge.
|
|
Required Skills and Experience
|
|
Education
- Secondary education with at least 7 years of relevant experience, preferably with specialized training in administration, accounting and finance;
- A Bachelor’s degree in business Administration or public administration, finance, economics, environmental sciences, political or social sciences with at least 4 years will also be accepted.
Experience
- Minimum of 7 years’ progressively responsible experience (or 4 years with a Bachelor’s degree) at the national or international level providing administrative and management support to project/programme implementation and oversight;
- Knowledge of tools and methodologies to follow-up on projects or project cycle management;
- Good knowledge of an ERP System (such as Atlas) and UNDP Procurement, Finance and Accounting structure will be considered an advantage;
- Experience in organizing high-level events and workshops at regional or global levels is required, as is experience in managing travel;
- Experience handling procurement and/or human resources processes is required;
- Working experience in an international organization and with developing countries is an advantage, as is knowledge of UNDP policies, procedures and practices;
- Experience delivering presentations and training would be an advantage;
- Full computer literacy including advanced knowledge of word-processing, spreadsheet, and web-based management systems.
Language Requirements
- Fluency in written and spoken English and Turkish, with good writing and communication skills;
- Proficiency in other UN languages is an asset.
HOW TO APPLY:
|
|
Disclaimer
|
|
Important applicant information
All posts in the GS categories are subject to local recruitment.
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Scam warning
The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.
|
|
|
