Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. The Climate Change Division (CCD) works with Members States and Partners to accelerate and support a just transition by addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation through enhancing implementation capacity, provision of data information and knowledge, access to finance and technology, and building resilience. It promotes sustainable development and effective policies for climate stability; support action so that countries progress on decarbonization, dematerialization, and resilience pathways in line with their climate commitments, aspirations, and needs; and foster transparency in reporting. The position is located in UNEP’s Climate Change Division, Mitigation Branch, Global Environment Facility (GEF) Climate Mitigation Unit, Nairobi duty station. Under the direct supervision of the Administrative Officer and the functional supervision of the Chief, Programme Management & Administration Unit (PMAU) CCD, UNEP, the incumbent will be responsible for the following;

Responsibilities

A. PROJECT DOCUMENTATION a. Ensuring that project proposals are in line with GEF and UNEP requirements and within resources allocated to the project and its GEF approved budget; b. Drafting project documents and revisions in conjunction with Programme Officers, ensuring that the project documents/revisions are coherent and correspond with the agreed format; c. Ensuring that project documents/revisions are formulated and managed within the UNEP and the UN Financial Regulations and Rules; d. Corresponding with external executing/collaborating bodies during preparation of project documents/revisions; and e. Checking and clearing project documents/revisions before processing them internally and externally, including submission to the Project Approval Group (PAG) B. RESOURCE MONITORING a. Certifying availability of funds against financial resources; b. Requesting Finance Section to disburse funds to implementing bodies in line with project requirements; c. Soliciting financial and progress reports from implementing partners; d. Checking financial and progress reports and querying discrepancies; e. Monitoring, checking and follow up of project receivable balances; f. Checking project accounts to ensure that obligations/expenditures are correctly reflected and requesting rectification where necessary; g. Drawing attention to poor flow or shortfall of resources and requesting action (formal or informal) of the UNEP/GEF Senior Fund Programme Management Officer; h. Advising the UNEP/GEF Senior Fund Programme Management Officer to request additional funds for projects, based on disbursement needs; and i. Providing input to monthly statistics of trust fund resources to keep track of resources flows. C. RESOURCE REPORTING a. Providing reports on income and expenditure against trust fund resources for meetings of GEF Council and Governing Council; b. Providing input for submissions to the Committee of Permanent Representatives, the UNEP/GEF Director’s submissions to the Secretariat, Executive Director or senior management; c. Providing responses for fund management aspect of projects to Internal and External Auditors; and d. Preparing financial statements or responding to queries from UNEP/GEF Senior Fund Programme Management Officer for submission to GEF Secretariat on use resources against specific projects. D. BUDGET AND POLICY EVALUATION a. Analyzing GEF project proposals and proposing amendments, as necessary; b. Drafting and/or clearing Letters of Agreement/Memoranda of Understanding with implementing bodies; c. Ensuring consistency with regard to policies on management of GEF projects and flagging inconsistencies or anomalies in this respect (such as differences in reporting practices); and d. Proposing solutions to problems on the basis of regulations and established practices. E. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION a. Ensuring that obligating documents are prepared and payments made in line with UN financial regulations; b. Acting as Payments Officer, when required, at meetings and tracking disbursement of funds for participants’ tickets and daily subsistence allowance (DSA) c. Acting as a back-up for other Finance and Budget Officers/ Administrative Officers managing GEF trust fund projects and other UNEP/GEF trust fund projects during their absence; d. Checking accounts and liquidating obligations; and e. Attending meetings for exchange of information and discussing practices and procedures related to Fund. f. Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Demonstrates professional competence in programme/project administration, implementation and review, planning and monitoring. Ability to work well with figures, undertake basic research and gather information from standard sources. Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignment given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Knowledge of UN and GEF rules and procedures and an understanding of global environment issues; Shows pride in work and in achievements; Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; Remains calm in stressful situations; Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; Identifies priority activities and assignments; Adjusts priorities as required; Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; Uses time efficiently. TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise and is willing to learn from others: Places team agenda before personal agenda; Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Education

Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in financial management, accounting, public or business administration is required. A first-level degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the specified fields of studies in combination with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.

Job – Specific Qualification

Certification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Accountant (CA) or equivalent is required.

Work Experience

A minimum of five (5) years experience in financial and administrative management and planning of which minimum three years in large public or private international organizations is required Experience with Enterprise Resource Planning Systems such as SAP or other similar systems is required. Experience working with the United Nations or other similar organizations is desirable. Experience with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) is desirable. Experience with auditing is desirable. Two (2) years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; For the post advertised, fluency in English is required; Knowledge of another UN official language is ddesirable. NOTE: “Fluency equals a rating of “fluent” in all four areas (read, write, speak, understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of “confident” in two of the four areas.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates for this position may include substantive assessment which may be followed by a competency-based interview.

Special Notice

Appointment against this project position is for an initial period of one (1) year and may be subject to extension. Candidate selected will be granted a fixed-term appointment limited (“FTA limited”) in accordance with section 2.2 (b) of administrative instruction ST/Al/2013/1 on Administration of fixed-term appointments. United Nations Secretariat staff members who meet the definition of “internal candidate” in staff rule 4.10, who are selected for a position subject to FTA limited will be reassigned to the position without a lien to their parent position. Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. When completing the Candidate Profile form, ensure ALL fields, ALL professional experience and contact information are completed and up to date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you. Individual Contractors and Consultants who have worked within the UN Secretariat in the last six months are ineligible to apply for or be appointed to any professional and higher temporary or fixed-term positions, within six months of the end of their current or most recent service. For such positions, at least six months need to have elapsed between the end of a consultancy or individual contract and the time of application and consideration for an appointment as a staff member under the Staff Rules and Regulations of the United Nations. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. On-line applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira “Contact Us” link.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

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.