Location:

Windhoek, Namibia
Salary:

negotiable / YEAR
Job type:

CONTRACTOR
Posted:

3 months ago
Category:

Programme and Project Management
Deadline:

30/07/2024

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB SUMMARY:

Background

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 offers a spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in its 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 UNDP’s Strategic Plan.

UNDP’s 2022-2025 Strategic Plan highlights our continued commitment to eradicating poverty, accompanying countries in their pathways towards the SDGs and working towards the Paris Agreement. As part of the Global Policy Network in the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP’s Nature, Climate Change, Energy, and Waste (NCE&W) Hubs promote and scale 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.

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. Biodiversity Finance Plans have become increasingly recognised as a relevant tool to help countries to identify and fill the biodiversity finance gap, including through the work of the Biodiversity Finance Initiative www.biofin.org. In December 2022, parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted the Montreal-Kunming Global Biodiversity Framework. This included numerous targets with relevance for financing. Target 19 on resource mobilisation includes reference for countries to design and implement national biodiversity finance plans.

The GEF created a global programme to support countries to design a national Biodiversity Finance Plan. A Biodiversity Finance Plan includes a systems analysis of a country’s economy including to map existing financing mechanisms, subsidies with potential harmful impacts on nature, drivers of biodiversity loss and gain, public and private expenditures committed towards biodiversity objectives and a country’s national financial needs for biodiversity. The biodiversity finance plan itself consists of a series of actions with the aim to significantly scale up available funding, green or phase out harmful finance flows and improve the effectiveness of available expenditures. The programme allows for active sharing of experiences across countries and includes a knowledge sharing platform and the provision of continuous technical support to country teams.

The UNDP Namibia Country Office has organised its programmatic activity into three portfolios: Sustainable, Inclusive and Green Growth (SIGG); Governance, Inclusive Institutions and Civic Engagement (GRICE) and Sustainable Environmental Management and Enhanced Resilience to Shocks and Crises (SEMER) Portfolio. The SEMER portfolio can broadly be divided into three overlapping areas of work: (a) Climate Change (mitigation, adaptation and reporting to UNFCCC); (b) International Waters (marine and freshwater) and (c) Natural Resource Management (sustainable land-use; human-wildlife interaction; sustainable mining, waste management). The implementation of the project in Namibia falls under the GEF-8 Umbrella programme for the development of the first National Biodiversity Finance Plan. The overall implementation of the project will under SEMER, led by the Project Lead with the support of a technical team and in coordination with a government project director and the National Steering Committee.

For the implementation of the GEF8-BFP Umbrella program at the national level, UNDP is recruiting a national team composed of a Sustainable Finance Specialist (Project Lead), a Project Assistant, Biodiversity Finance Specialist. The Project Assistant will be responsible for providing back-office/administrative support to the Senior Finance Expert (Project Lead) and the whole project.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the over-all guidance of the Sustainable Finance Specialist (Project Lead), the Project Assistant will be responsible for providing back-office/administrative support to the Sustainable Finance Specialist (Project Lead) and the SEMER Programme Specialist including:

facilitating procurement;
financial and administrative tracking of activities and expenses;
support with communication, facilitation and organisation of outreach activities, press releases, project/UNDP/government briefing notes, translations, etc.;
liaising with UNDP country office, and GPMTSU (Global Project Management and Technical Support Unit) to facilitate financial reporting and compliance, and UNDP procurement compliance.

Support to Project Management

Provide support with all financial and administrative requirements of the project, especially those related to project funding and accounting.
Assist in ensuring that project is executed in a timely and appropriate manner.
Assist or support in facilitating, guiding the work of the national team; manage payment schedules.
Assist in project related activities, including planning for meetings, local and national consultations, trips and other project related activities.
Provide administrative support to ensure all national and international travel is organised smoothly.
Document and share records of meetings, decisions, actions, etc.
Support with the Monitoring and Evaluation of the project at the national level, including workshop evaluations.

Provide support to financial Oversight

Support the management of the project budget, and support overseeing of procurement and accounting procedures and activities, together with the UNDP Country Office and the GPMTSU.
Monitor financial resources are disbursed on time to implementing partners.
Maintain records of expenditures and collaborate in financial reporting.

Provide support to effective administrative and logistical administration to ensure successful project delivery

Assist in the development of calculations for the development of the annual workplan/budget.
Support all required procurement processes, requisitions and purchase orders, ensuring compliance with UNDP rules and regulations.
Maintain an inventory of assets/equipment and support with the handover of equipment upon project closure.
Provide assistance to have Quantum approval system set up at the Country Office for the project.
Handle all logistical matters to organise the inception workshop, consultation workshops and any meetings as required
Regularly update the procurement plan and contacts list.
Handle of all travel arrangements for national travel/missions and participants to national-level workshops.
Handle all travel procedures for participants to global and regional workshops and other international meetings, ensuring all necessary visa, security clearances and plane tickets are obtained timely, and confirmations/changes of travel arrangements are communicated to the GPMTSU immediately.

Competencies

Core

Achieve Results:

Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline.

Think Innovatively:

Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements.

Learn Continuously:

Open-minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback.

Adapt with Agility:

Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible.

Act with Determination:

Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident.

Engage and Partner:

Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships.

Enable Diversity and Inclusion:

Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Business Management:

Communication-Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.

Administration & Operations

Events Management (including retreats, trainings, and meetings)-Support offices with event management including venue identification, accommodation, logistics, catering, transportation, and cash disbursements, etc.

Administration & Operations

Travel Policy and Procedures-Travel Policy and Procedures – Interprets travel policy, the Staff Rules, administrative circulars and financial regulations and rules on travel- related matters.

Partnership

Private sector resource mobilization – Ability to identify, develop and manage partnerships that leverage private sector.

General (across the functions)

Project Management – Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

Finance

Financial Planning and Budgeting – Ability to create and manage processes to achieve UNDP’s long and short-term financial goals, including through planning, budgeting, forecasting, analyzing and reporting.

Procurement

Procurement management – The ability to acquire goods, services or works from an outside external source.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Secondary education is required. University degree (Bachelor’s Degree) in Environmental Management, Natural Resources Manangement, Public Administration or other related Social Sciences fields will be given due consideration but is not requirement.

Experience: Minimum 4 years (with Secondary Education) or 1 year (with Bachelor’s degree) of experience, in project management, finance, administration, accounting, budgeting or related field.

Required skills:

Experience in dealing with national experts and international institutions is an asset.
Sound understanding of key software packages (MS Office)
Ability to maintain overview in complex work situations, self-starter in supporting the coordinator in communicating and keeping timelines.
Able to gather and process data and information.
Excellent interpersonal skills to network among the national team and beyond to other national institutions.
Writes clearly professional correspondence adequately.
Highly organized person, sets priorities, produces quality outputs, meets deadlines and manages time efficiently.
Shares knowledge and is willing to provide support to others who request advice or help.
Works toward creative solutions by analysing problems carefully and logically.
Maintains professional relationships with supervisors, co-workers and clients.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

Experience with UNDP/UN policies, procedures and practices, particularly in relation to project development and implementation, is highly desirable
Specialized training in administration, accounting, finance or related field would be an advantage.

Disclaimer

Important information for US Permanent Residents (‘Green Card’ holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

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.

Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Scam warning

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ABSTRACT:

United Nations Development Programme Project Assistant Namibia UNDP Jobs 2024

United Nations Development Programme looking for “Project Assistant”. Applicants with an Advanced degree may apply on or before 30-Jul-24.

The United Nations Development Programme has published a job vacancy announcement on 16/07/2024 for qualified applicants to fill in the vacant post of Project Assistant to be based in Windhoek , Namibia. For more jobs, please visit https://unjoblink.org

Company Name: United Nations Development Programme

Job Title: Project Assistant

Duty Station: Windhoek , Namibia

Country: Namibia

Application Deadline: 30-Jul-24

This job has expired.