Location:

Dakar, Senegal
Salary:

$12,434 - $18,653 / YEAR
Job type:

FULL_TIME
Posted:

2 weeks ago
Category:

Programme and Project Management
Deadline:

17/12/2024

JOB DESCRIPTION

Background and Organizational Context

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP/UNCDF: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP/UNCDF including our values and inspiring stories.

UNDP/UNCDF 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.

General Assembly Resolution 2186 (XXI) decided to “bring into operations the United Nations Capital Development Fund as an organ of the General Assembly which shall function as an autonomous organization of the United Nations. The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) assists developing countries, especially least developing countries, in the development of their economies by supplementing existing sources of capital assistance by means of grants, loans, and guarantees. UNCDFs vision is to help mobilize and catalyze an increase of capital flows for SDG impactful investments to Member States to address the most pressing development challenges facing vulnerable communities in these countries and thereby contribute to sustainable economic growth and equitable prosperity.

UNCDF utilizes its unique capability in the UN system to deploy grants, loans and guarantees to crowd-in finance for the scaling of development impact. UNCDF focuses on where the needs are greatest, a deliberate focus and capability rooted in UNCDF’s unique investment mandate to support the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the realization of the Doha Programme of Action for the least developed countries, 2022–2031.

As per its Strategic Framework, UNCDF works to deploy its functions as a hybrid development organization and development finance institution. UNCDF responds to Member States requests for assistance by providing targeted technical and financial advisory services on investments for development outcomes, designing bespoke financial structuring solutions, undertaking financial derisking of investments, and enhancing investment readiness of SDG aligned projects in partnership with private sector, UNOs, International and Local Finance Institutions, Development Finance Institutions as well as Foundations and Philanthropy, among others. UNCDF works to develop local financial systems, new markets and mobilize and crowd in capital from public and private sources. UNCDF is driven by a partnership mindset which enables it to deploy its different capital capabilities in highly tailored and responsive ways in order to mobilize investments flows from other sources, in particular from the private sector. By structuring transactions which are highly impactful, but also recognize the need for multiplying the impact of its own capital, UNCDF seeks to position itself as a preferred partner for different stakeholders. UNCDF’s work is focused on six priority areas, including:

Sub-national and local infrastructure financing
Women owned enterprise financing
Nature and climate financing
Energy and decarbonization finance
Sustainable food systems financing
Inclusive digital finance

Following a recent restructuring, UNCDF’s organizational set up includes an Investment and Implementation Division (IID), Investment and Finance Oversight Division (IFOD), Operations and Oversight Division (OOD) and a Directorate of the Executive Office. UNCDF staff and personnel are located in regional hubs based in Dakar (Senegal), Nairobi (Kenya) and Bangkok (Thailand) with sub-regional presence in a number of locations in the Caribbean and Pacific Regions. UNCDF is led by an Executive Secretary based out of New York, USA. Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 2321(XXII, para 1.a), the Administrator of the UNDP performs the function of the Managing Director of UNCDF. UNCDF is overseen by the Executive Board of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and performs the function of the Executive Board of UNCDF.

Position Purpose

Under the overall supervision of the Regional Team Lead for West Africa, the Regional Programme Associate ensures effective delivery of programmes/projects in the West African Region by managing data and supporting programme/project oversight and implementation consistent with UNCDF & UNDP rules and regulations.

The Regional Programme Associate works in close collaboration with members of the Investment and Implementation Division (IID), Investment and Finance Oversight Division (IFOD), Operations and Oversight Division (OOD), as well as programme and project staff in the region.

UNCDF adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNCDF personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Key Duties and Accountabilities

Summary of Key Functions:

1. Support the Regional Team Lead with programme/project oversight, implementation and reporting

2. Provide effective monitoring and operational support to country and regional programmes/projects and transactions.

3. Support to resource mobilization.

4. Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing.

1. Support the Regional Team Lead with programme/project oversight, implementation, and reporting

Collection, analysis and presentation of background information for projects/programmes and transactions in the region.
Presentation of background information for formulation of country or regional programmes/projects: extract content from approved project documents, prepare work plans, and prepare budgets for the regional team (including capturing budget information from projects/programmes and transactions in the region).
Maintain a filing system, with accurate and high-quality vetted data in the corporate Quantum+ system for all projects developed and implemented in the countries covered by the UNCDF regional team as well as related documents supporting the implementation for audit purposes. This will require ensuring that project teams implementing projects exercise their due diligence as required per corporate standards.
Coordinate documents processing, securing the needed signatures to support programmes/projects implementation in the region (regional and country level projects) as relevant to all stages of the project cycle.
Collection, analysis and checking for accuracy and consistency of information against established formats and templates.
Timely and pro-active follow-up on correspondence with project counterparts, Regional Investment Officers, and Operations and Oversight Division.
Organizes scheduled weekly regional team meetings as well as ad hoc meetings as may be required;
Attends Regional team meetings and takes minutes, and circulates and ensures proper filing of minutes in line with corporate standards.
Assist in the collection of inputs into the region-focused and integrated Business Work Plan.
Support the Regional Team Lead with coordination between Regional Investment Officers and Global Thematic Leads.

2. Provide effective monitoring and operational support to country and regional programmes/ projects

Support the creation as well as review the create of projects in Quantum/Quantum+ modules, preparation of and review of required budget revisions, revision of project award and project status, determination of unutilized funds, operational and financial close of a project;
Provision of guidance to country and regional programme and project staff on routine protocols as per UNCDF’s policies and regulations for the design, implementation and closure of transactions, projects and/or programmes.
Support collection, and ensure quality, of information for audit of programmes/projects and supports implementation of audit recommendations.
Effective and timely communication to projects/programmes on the processes relating to Delegation of Authority (DOA) and ensure the proper DOAs are established as per corporate protocols and standards.
Collaborate with the Regional Programme and Management Support Specialist in regional portfolio analysis, in particular, ensuring all data necessary for the analysis is collected from projects and consistent for any specific projects under his/her portfolio
Provide support and coordinate in a range of operational matters such as HR, procurement, travel, and admin work in collaboration with the dedicated colleagues for HR, procurement, travel and admin at the regional level
Ensures there is a functional and retrievable filing system for all documents including soft and hard copies as per corporate standards.

3. Supports resource mobilization

Analysis of information on donors and preparation of donor’s profile in collaboration with the External Relations Unit.
Support the Regional Team Lead with communications and engagements with governments, donors, and other stakeholders.
Track and monitor delivery on a regular basis as well as donor agreements reporting and other requirements to ensure the projects are properly following the legal commitments.
Track and monitor funding and partnerships, including with the private sector, development banks and other development finance institutions, in coordination with the Investment and Finance Oversight Division (IFOD) and Operations and Oversight Division (OOD).

4. Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing

Actively support the organization of training for the operations/projects staff in the region.
Synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices in the region.
Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
Assist in the preparation, updating, and dissemination of PowerPoints and other presentations and managing dissemination of information that describe the work and achievements of the region in line with corporate standards via the Strategic Communications Unit

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

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: None

Competencies

Expected Demonstration of Competencies

Core:
Achieve Results – LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline.
Think Innovatively – LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements.
Learn Continuously – LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback.
Adapt with Agility – LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible.
Act with Determination – LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident.
Engage and Partner – LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships.
Enable Diversity and Inclusion – LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Thematic Area Name Definition

Business Management – Project Management

Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

Business Management – Customer Satisfaction/Client Management

Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers’ needs.
Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy.
Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests.
Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns.

Business Development – Knowledge Generation

Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.

Business Management – Risk Management

Identify and organize action around reducing, mitigating and proactively managing risks.

Business Management – Results-based Management

Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.

Administration & Operations – Events management (including retreats, trainings, and meetings)

Ability to manage events, including venue identification, accommodation, logistics, catering, transportation, and cash disbursements, etc.

Business Management – Communication

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.

Keywords

Programme/project support
Reporting and tracking
Knowledge building and sharing

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Secondary education is required.
A university degree (Bachelor´s degree) in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, or related field will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.

Experience:

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

A minimum of 6 years (with secondary education) or 3 years (with a bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible administrative/management or programme experience is required at the national and/or international level.
Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, and experience in handling of web-based management systems such as ERP is required.
Proven ability to review and edit documents and proven ability to produce meeting reports identifying key actions is required.
Extensive experience in project oversight and/or management highly desirable.
Experience with tools and methodologies to follow-up on projects or project cycle management is preferred.
Fluency in English and French is required.

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Disclaimer

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

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP/UNCDF, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP/UNCDF 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/UNCDF 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/UNCDF rosters.

Note: UNDP/UNCDF 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/UNCDF at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Non-discrimination

UNDP/UNCDF 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/UNCDF 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.

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Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements

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