Date: Project Assistant

​Requisition ID: 4541
Grade: SB2 – Local support
Country: Morocco
Duty Station: Rabat
Category: Local Support Personnel
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff-Regular
Contract Duration: 6 months
Application deadline: 26-Sept-2024, 11:59 PM (CEST)

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Only nationals or permanent residents of the country of the duty station are considered eligible.
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID 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 ISID, however, applies in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions.

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 and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.

Under the overall direction of the Director General, and in close collaboration with all organizational entities within UNIDO, in particular the Office of Change Management (ODG/CHM), the Office of Legal Affairs and Compliance (ODG/LEG), the Strategic Planning and UN Engagement Division (ODG/SPU), and the Office of Evaluation and Internal Oversight (EIO), the Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation (IET), headed by a Managing Director, is responsible for the development of innovative UNIDO services in the areas of agro-industry and agribusiness, sustainability standards and fair production, and climate-relevant or climate-improving technologies.

It is also, in collaboration with ODG, responsible for developing innovative technical cooperation concepts, identifying new sources and means of finance and entering into new partnerships with a broad range of relevant stakeholders.

The Directorate houses the Divisions of Coordination and Integration Support (IET/CIS), Quality, Impact and Accountability (IET/QUA), Agribusiness and Infrastructure Development (IET/AGR), Innovative Finance and International Financial Institutions (IET/IFI), Fair Production, Sustainability Standards and Trade (IET/PST), Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), and Climate and Technology Partnerships (CTP). The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the Divisions and relevant entities in the Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations (GLO) and the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS).

Division of Fair Production, Sustainability Standards and Trade (IET/PST)

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 Fair Production, Sustainability Standards and Trade (IET/PST) develops and implements an innovative service package in response to UNIDO’s mandate for fair and responsible local industrial production and trade with a particular focus on building the required skills and capacities and foster a conducive business operating environment to ensure that such production and trade are as inclusive as possible, promoting – among others – the development of human capital through vocational training and industrial skills development.

In collaboration with IET/IFI, IET/PPP, TCS/SME, TCS/CPA, and GLO/MSR, the Division will conceptualize and negotiate such services and raise funds from Member States, development partners, IFIs, and the private sector to coordinate their effective implementation and devise ways in which their implementation can be brought to scale.

This will include cross-cutting and sector-specific initiatives for sustainable supply/value chain and skills development in industrial sectors where UNIDO has, over the years, accumulated expertise, such as agro-industries, fisheries, textiles, leather, light manufacturing, health, mining, automotive and pharma and others. It will do so through close engagement with Member States, private sector associations, industrial enterprises, international quality, standards and trade-related governing bodies, other UN Agencies (e.g. ILO), development partners, NGOs and consumer associations, as appropriate, ensuring solid and operational partnerships.

PROJECT CONTEXT

Project “Enhancing due diligence monitoring and reporting in Morocco’s automotive industry”

The objective of the project is to improve the human rights and environmental due diligence (HREDD) practices of Moroccan small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) first piloted in the automotive industry. To achieve this, the project will capacitate a selected/established entity within the Ministry of Industry and Trade to deliver awareness-raising and advisory services about due diligence reporting requirements. This will also entail helping SMEs to better understand the reporting requirements that are expected from them, as well as providing them with the capacity-building support necessary to comply with this new reporting requirement. Improved reporting practices will ultimately ensure the integrity of data provided on their human rights and environment due diligence which will enable the risk profiling of certain sectors. Activities will be commenced by a six-month inception phase to undertake further assessments on the institutional capacities of different entities to deliver advisory services as well as the automotive sector. As multiple agencies are being engaged to promote responsible business conduct in Morocco or the automotive industry, appropriate coordination with involved partners, such as OECD Responsible Business Conduct MENA and AHK Morocco, should be undertaken during this period.

The expected outcome is critical for the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of the automotive industry in Morocco, as it will help to ensure that local SMEs are better equipped to meet the evolving demands of their European and other clients.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of the Project Manager and in close cooperation with the project team in the HQ and field location, the Team Assistant provides clerical/administrative support to the project implementation and is responsible for the following key functions:

• Provide global assistance to the project team in the planning, coordination and implementation of activities.
• Perform general administrative tasks such as the organization and logistics of meetings and events required to implement the project (invitations, logistics, attendance sheets, necessary materials and documentation, reporting of event participation, etc.) as well as training sessions and other technical activities (e.g. study tours), notably by initiating the corresponding procedures in collaboration with the HQ-based project assistant. Guide the project team in purchasing and payment procedures, financial authorizations and the organization of official missions.
• Provide logistical support to international consultants, national consultants, and visiting UNIDO staff members and in organizing meetings, study tours and workshops at the field level (within and outside of Morocco) and travel requests and expense reports when required
• Maintain an up-to-date list of contacts for the project team based in Rabat – Morocco, project counterparts and partners, and local suppliers of goods and services, identified as part of project implementation.
• Draft correspondence in a style, format and level of language corresponding to UNIDO’s standards in this field; ensure the transmission of this correspondence and follow up with the project’s stakeholders.
• Monitor disbursements, commitments and budget allocations and availability for the projects. Process all payments through relevant accounts and liaise with project team in the country and UNIDO HQ to clear all payments in a timely manner.
• Implement and monitor, in close collaboration with the project coordinator and the HQ-based project assistant, the project’s procurement procedures for goods and services:
  • Identification of suppliers/service providers
  • Request for quotations
  • Establishment of administrative files and preparation of purchase orders and/or launch of tendering procedures
  • Follow-up of payment procedures according to the terms defined at the time of contract establishment, coordination with suppliers/contractors, the UNIDO office in Rabat and the financial services at the Organization’s headquarters.
• Coordination with suppliers/contractors in order to organize the delivery of goods purchased by the project and/or the performance of services requested, and monitoring of the closing of files in accordance with UNIDO’s administrative and accounting regulations.
• Assistance to the project coordinator in the financial, accounting and budgetary monitoring of the project, in close collaboration with the UNIDO office in Rabat and the relevant staff at UNIDO headquarters.
• Consult to clarify the application of new financial and procurement rules and procedures, TC guidelines and other instructions. Collect and compile all data and documents for bi-annual reports, annual reports, service providers’ reports and other reports as required.
• Keep track of project budget expenditures; follow-up on status of contracts for the local project team, provide information on the project, draw the supervisor’s attention to problems encountered.
• Assist in drafting social media posts and relevant press materials, in close coordination with the UNIDO office in Rabat and the relevant staff at UNIDO headquarters.
• Assist in drafting regular and/or ad-hoc reports on project activities.
• Carry out ad-hoc assignments and research activities, as required.
• Maintain all project related files (both paper and electronic) and databases related to work.
• Any other task deemed necessary for the implementation of the project.

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.

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education

Completed higher secondary education (high school diploma or equivalent), is required. Advanced university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in management, administration or accounting or equivalent diploma in a relevant field or other relevant discipline is desirable.

Credit towards total working experience may be considered on a year by-year- basis, up to maximum of four years, for a higher degree education (including bachelor’s and/or master’s degree), in a relevant field to the post.

Technical and Functional Experience

• A minimum of six (6) years of work experience in administrative and/or accounting and financial management of development projects in Morocco, is required.
• Experience in office procedures and practices, preferably within the UN system or in a multicultural environment, is desirable.
• Experience in project administration, accounting and finance, providing support to managerial/professional staff and using administrative skills to assist in the execution of project development and implementation of work, is desirable.
• Experience and proficiency in using Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint), internet, is required.
• Experience with SAP or similar ERP software is desirable.
• Experience in the area of industrial development in Morocco, including the automotive sector and social and environmental sustainability, is desirable.

Languages

Fluency in written and spoken French is required. Working knowledge of English is desirable.

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