UNDP is the development arm of the United Nations system, with offices in 180 countries. Globally the organization employs 17,000 people and manages a budget of USD 5 billion each year. The UNDP office in North Macedonia employs a team of 71 and currently manages a portfolio of projects in inclusive prosperity, environmental protection and disater risk reduction, and good governance worth over USD 12 million per year. The Energy, Environment & Disaster Risk Reduction Portfolio includes projects on climate change, air pollution, natural resources management and disaster risk reduction.

In order to promote the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans in the transboundary Prespa Lake area UNDP will implement the EU for Prespa – “EU for infrastructure improvements in Prespa area”, financed by EUD as part of the overall Action “EU for Prespa”. The specific objective of the project will contribute to the preservation and improvement of the ecological system in the Prespa Lake area through a series of interlinked capital investments to be implemented within the boundaries of the Municipality of Resen and accompanying capacity development measures. These initiatives are designed to enhance municipal wastewater and solid waste management systems, redirecting harmful pollutants away from natural ecosystems. The Municipality of Resen and the public utility “Proleter” will benefit from carefully planned capacity development efforts, ensuring the sustainability of the newly introduced systems, and resulting communal wastewater and solid waste management services. Furthermore, the Project will contribute to enhancing transboundary cooperation, improving connectivity and mobility around the lake, through the opening of a new border crossing point with Greece, at Markova Noga. This, in turn, is expected to boost socio-economic and tourism development while fostering cooperation among the nations sharing the lake basin. All of this aligns with the main provisions of the International Agreement for the Protection and Sustainable Development of Prespa Park and the trilateral Strategic Action Plan for Prespa Park.

Both Projects shall be implemented in close collaboration with the Municipality of Resen, Public Enterprise “Proleter”, Resen, the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy, and the Prespa Park Management Committee.

The Project Procurement Associate will perform a variety of standard operational services  focused on procurement ensuring high quality services and accuracy of work. In addition, the Project Procurement Associate will be a “resource” person on procurement matters in portfolio and will support other assistants/associates in the portfolio, with sharing knowledge, providing advices and act as “buddy” to the other colleagues in Energy, Environment and DRR Unit, contributing to more consistent quality of finance services to all projects within the portfolio.

The Project Procurement Associate will report to the Project Manager. The incumbent will also work in close collaboration with the other Unit’s projects staff, programme and operations team, and liaise, as needed, with government officials technical advisors and experts, and contractors to ensure successful implementation of the initiatives.

The incumbent will promote UNDP’s mandate as all-inclusive gender-responsive organization with zero tolerance to any kind of discriminatory and abusive behavior, including sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, and abuse.

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.

The incumbent’s duties are outlined below and should be fulfilled in line with the prevailing UNDP rules and procedures as well as with due compliance with the UNDP internal control framework.

1. Provide procurement and operational support to implementation of the project ensuring full operational compliance and quality of business processes;
2. Facilitate knowledge sharing within the Project;
3. Support  effective mainstreaming of gender equality.

1. Provide procurement support to project implementation, ensuring full operational and quality of business processes

• Ensures that procurement business processes are in line with the UNDP Procurement and Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures and the UNDP Internal Control Framework;
• Provide direct support to the procurement processes including support to the preparation of solicitation documents, tender evaluation and minutes taking/writing;
• Support the market research to identification potential qualified bidders/offerors for the project;
• Support management of contracts with companies (consultancies, works and supply of goods) and individuals (consultancy and other services). Organize a system of tracking contract implementation and ensure that project management is timely alerted on the key milestones (e.g., submission and payment deadlines), and possible deviations of the original contract schedules. Prepare and necessary documentation for the possible extension of contract (cost and non-cost);
• Prepare Project Procurement Plan and keep it updated;
• Assist in preparation of project work-plans through providing support in data collection, systematization and analysis of information, inter-action with institutions in data collection;
• Supports project manager in monitoring delivery of project outputs;
• Provides support to organizing and holding the meetings, including the preparation and dissemination of information and follow-up activities;
• Assists in preparation of interview minutes and requests for contract;
• Ensures full completion of monthly leave reports and attendance records of project staff;
• Ensures regular office work is completed in a timely manner, including maintaining of all programme files, correspondence, photocopies, photos, etc.;
• Drafts various correspondence concerning finance, operations and budgetary issues as required;
• Maintains the inventory of project assets/equipment and project correspondence and files;
• Supports organization of workshops, trainings, sessions, conferences, and other events.
• Collects data and all relevant information to effectively contribute to measurable review of results and longer-term programme effects, as per the programme M&E plan and logical framework.

       2. Facilitate knowledge sharing within the project

• Participate in the training for the operations/project staff on administration and other relevant topics;
• Keep track of the changes of UNDP procedures and provide timely advice to the Project Manager and other project staff on what are the applicable procedures to fulfilling the project objectives;

3.Support  effective mainstreaming of gender equality 

• Support the Project Manager in mainstreaming gender equality;
• Support preparation of gender equality background materials for use in discussion, correspondence and briefing sessions;
• Ensure that all the data, when collecting and compiling inputs relating to the Project, are gender dis-aggregated to the extend possible;
• Support the Project Manager in the reporting on gender mainstreaming as part of the ROAR and other corporate documents.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of   the Office and the Organization

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS FOR EVALUATION OF RESULTS

• Effective and timely fulfillment of all financial steps by ensuring due diligence and respecting the UNDP rules and regulations;
• Effective fulfillment of administrative and organizational requirements for the projects;
• High quality maintenance of files and records and efficient response to queries.