Background

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.

2. Office/Unit/Project Description

The Liptako Gourma (LG) area, comprised of sub-national regions in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger , is home to approximately 14.5 million people. Over the past three years, it has increasingly become one of the epicenters of violence in the Sahel, experiencing a proliferation of armed groups. During the period between 2018 and July 2020 there was a fivefold increase in the number of violent incidents and conflict-related deaths compared to the 2015-2017 period. Inter-ethnic violence is also on the rise. The crisis has triggered significant displacement of populations in the three countries. As of February 2021, over 2 million people have been displaced, the majority of them (55 per cent) in Burkina Faso, followed by Niger (26 per cent) and Mali (19 per cent). According to OCHA, people in urgent need of humanitarian assistance in the three countries have increased from 7.3 million to 10.3 million between 2018 and 2020.

Despite these multiple factors of instability, the Liptako-Gourma sub-region has strong potential and assets to address existing risks and vulnerabilities. These point to factors such as the richness in natural resources and the existence of common socio-cultural dynamics, as well as institutional cooperation frameworks across the borders between the three countries. Furthermore, community-based conflict resolution mechanisms have traditionally been used and could be further promoted to serve as a basis for peacebuilding and equitable natural resource management.

To respond to this crisis, in recent years a number of initiatives have been established, or strengthened, for institutional coordination on security and development policies’ matters, based on the acknowledgment that exclusively military solutions are not sufficient to address the multidimensional crisis in the Sahel. Among the main initiatives are G5 Sahel (G5S), created in 2014 by the Heads of States of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger; the intergovernmental organization covering the Liptako Gourma region – the Liptako-Gourma Authority (LGA) – which has received an expanded political mandate, since 2017; and the International Coalition for the Sahel, established in 2020 by the Heads of State of the G5 Sahel and France, and based on four pillars: 1) fight against terrorism; 2) capacity-building of the armed forces, 3) supporting the return of the State and administrations in the territory and improving access to basic services; and 4) assisting development. UN interventions in the Sahel are guided by the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel (UNISS) framework. In 2018, the UN also developed the UN Support Plan for the Sahel to scale up efforts to accelerate shared prosperity and lasting peace in the Sahel, built around six priority areas: i) cross border cooperation, ii) prevention and sustaining peace, iii) inclusive growth, iv) climate action, v) renewable energy and vi) women and youth empowerment.

In this framework, there is a growing recognition that, despite the number of existing initiatives, more efforts need to be pursued to swiftly redeploy authorities and state services to local areas, once they have been secured from the presence of militias, and to launch social cohesion initiatives before the return of jihadists. Currently this is the missing link to ensure a quicker return to peace and stability. Therefore, UNDP intends to lead an accelerated and scaled stabilization effort in fragile and instable zones with a view to advancing the political framework required for long-term stability. This effort will enable the re-establishment of state structures and basic services while fostering social cohesion through continuous inclusion and consultation. Stabilization interventions will require a dedicated operational backbone, special risk management procedures in the form of a Stabilization Facility

3. Scope of Work

Under the direct supervision of the Finance Specialist and the overall guidance of the Head of the Regional Stabilization, the Programme Finance Analyst will be responsible for supporting the stabilization programmes. The specific functions/responsibilities include:

• Support on day-to-day management and oversight of project activities, preparation of weekly updates and reports related to regional programmes’ financial resources against planned resources, etc.;
• Support in the review of the contribution agreements for the stabilization programme;
• Support in the preparation of progress reports, quarterly financial reports as required in the financing agreements and project documents (in line with donor requirements); 
• Support the implementation of financial services i.e., review documentation and validate process payments before submission to the Global Shared Service Center (GSSC), reversals, month-end and year-end closures transactions;
• Review the execution of stabilization program budgets in accordance with annual work plans;
• Support the procurement processes by creating e-requisitions;
• Ensure sound financial management of the stabilization programs by monitoring budget and project expenditures;
• Support in the preparation of budget revisions, GLJE, APJV, verification of the CDRs;
• Ensure all project financial documentation (progress reports, consulting and other reports, etc.) are properly maintained in hard and electronic copies in an efficient and readily accessible filing system when required by the Finance Specialist, Operations Coordiantor/Manager and the Director of the Regional Stabilization Facility;
• Review regional and country windows project expenditures and ensure that project funds are used in compliance with the Project documents and financing agreements;
• Provide necessary supporting documents during project audits;
• Review annual budgets and project expenditure reports and notify the Finance Specialist and Operations Coordinator/Manager if there are any discrepancies or issues;
• Ensure the consolidation of budgets in lines with available resources harmonizing the resources with the expenses (under/over budgeting);
• Provide financial support to Stabilization Programme Country Windows;
• Any other duty that may be assigned by the supervisor of the head of regional stabilization.

4. Institutional Arrangement

The Programme Finance Analyst will be working under the supervision of the Finance Specialist and the overall guidance of the Head of Regional Stabilization and other members of the stabilization team. The Programem Finance Analyst will be located at UNDP Regional Hub For West and Central Africa in Dakar. 

5. 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

Business Management
Results-based Management     

• Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results

Administration & Operations

Documents and records management

• Overall document (hard or electronic) management; registry and retention policy including storing and archiving

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, analysing and reporting

Contributions management      

• Ability to receive, record, report and manage contributions received

Budget management   

• Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets

Procurement

Contract management

• Knowledge of contract management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations

Business Direction & Strategy  

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.

6. Minimum Qualifications of the Successful IPSA

Min. Education requirements   

• Master’s Degree in Finance, Business Administration, Business Management, or other related fields required or Bachelors Degree with additional years of experience can be considered in lieu of Master´s. Accounting will be given due consideration

Min. years of relevant work experience            

• 2 (Two) years of relevant experience required for the Bachelor’s degree holders. No experience for Masters Degree holders

Required  skills

• Knowledge and understanding of various donor’s reporting requirements;
• Experience of working with UNDP, or another UN agency, would be an advantage;
• Ability to think clearly and analytically;
• Solid expertise on donor financial reporting and overall programme fianance
• Ability to plan own work, setting priorities and completing it under pressure or when faced with competing demands;
• Previous UNDP experience in crisis and post-crisis countries and complex project is an asset;
• Experience with an accounting audit firm is an asset;
• Knowledge of UNDP financial rules and regulations and of Atlas/Quantum is an asset;
• Previous experience in the financial management of development or social projects is an asset.

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

• Highly motivated, pleasant character with good teamwork spirit;
• Available for long working hours during times of peak work;
• Systematic, organized, proactive, motivated, and meticulous with an ability to be flexible and adaptive;
• Ability to perform a variety of standard tasks related to screening and collecting of project documentation, projects data entering preparation of revisions, filing, provision of information, and reporting

Required Language(s)  

• Fluency in French or English. Working knowledge of the other language

7. The following documents shall be required from the applicants

a)           Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.

b)          A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.

c)           Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experiences, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns, or other materials.

DISCLAMER

Female candidacies are strongly encouraged.

Important applicant information

All posts in the SC categories are subject to local recruitment.

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.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence. We strongly encourage female candidacies.

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