Project Associate at United Nations Development Programme (2024)

JOB DETAILS:

United Nations Development Programme Jobs 2024 – Solomon Islands
International Jobs. United Nations Development Programme looking for “Project Associate”. Applicants with Secondary School education may apply on or before 11-Jul-24.

United Nations Development Programme Project Associate Jobs 2024

The United Nations Development Programme has published a job vacancy announcement on 27/06/2024 for qualified applicants to fill in the vacant post of Project Associate to be based in Honiara , Solomon Islands.

Company Name: United Nations Development Programme

Job Title: Project Associate

Duty Station:Honiara , Solomon Islands

Country: Solomon Islands

Application Deadline: 11-Jul-24

About the Company:

The biological diversity of Solomon Islands is critical for the wellbeing of the people of Solomon Islands. The predominantly subsistence lifestyle that characterizes the Solomon Islands economy is underpinned by the country’s heavy reliance on its biological diversity. The importance of biodiversity as the basis for the people’s livelihood and wellbeing is therefore well understood and it is recognized that without biodiversity the country also loses its aesthetic, spiritual and educational values and significance, which are integral to our wellbeing and traditional way of life. Thus, the maintenance of watersheds, marine environment and water quality, soil retention and erosion control, provision of critical habitat for fauna, climate regulation, nutrient cycling and the pollination of plants are just a few of the essential ecological services that are essential to the islanders. Nonetheless, there is growing realization that the country’s biodiversity is also under increasing pressure from multiple sources of threats, for example, from habitat loss, land degradation, overexploitation, invasive alien species and climate change. These pressures can be devastating for the health of the country’s biodiversity and, therefore its livelihood and wellbeing.

The United Nations Development Programme, Solomon Islands with partnership with the Solomon Islands Government have recently received CEO endorsem*nt for its GEF 7 STAR Allocations focusing on mainstreaming biodiversity across sectors, as well as landscapes, seascapes; addressing direct drivers to protect habitats and species; and creating an enabling environment to support Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) target implementation. This project will help the Solomon Islands in safeguarding its indigenous species and ecosystems from invasive species, halt land degradation and restore degraded areas, control unsustainable resource use and climate-induced risks through a holistic and integrated landscape-seascape management approach through effective government enabling and capacity, community participation and development of resilient blue/green livelihoods.

The project objective is to ensure that Solomon Islands indigenous species and ecosystems are at reduced risk from invasive alien species, land degradation and unsustainable resource use as a result of effective government enabling and capacity, community participation and resilient blue/green livelihoods. The project recognizes that these land and seascapes of the Solomon Islands underpin the lives and livelihoods of a large number of local communities and that implementation of a coherent and integrated strategy to promote improved measures for prevention and management of invasive alien species, land and marine degradation and unsustainable use of its natural resources is an integral part of the solution. This is to be achieved through four interrelated and mutually complementary Components that are focused on addressing barrier. The four Components of the project are.

• Component 1: Enabling framework for safeguarding biodiversity, combating land degradation and securing a nature-based economy.
• Component 2: Comprehensive risk management approach to address IAS threats to biodiversity and land degradation.
• Component 3: Community-based integrated ecosystem management and threat reduction at land/seascape scale.
• Component 4: Knowledge management, awareness, M&E and gender mainstreaming.

The Project Management Unit will comprise of the National Project Manager, Project Associate, five Provincial Coordinators for each of the five Provinces and they will be supported by part-time Community-based Liaison Associations for the 12 landscapes/seascapes. They will facilitate and coordinate on- the ground project activities. An International Technical Advisor will work with the PMU to provide technical oversight and implementation support for full time in Year 1 and Year 2 and will work remotely from Year 3-6.

The Project Associate will work under the guidance and direct supervision of the National Project Manager and will provide day to day operational support for the project. The Project Associate will be one of the key personnel of the Project Management Unit (PMU) and will work closely with other PMU staff as well as the provincial officers and partners. S/he will be responsible for financial management of the project. In addition, s/he will also be responsible for providing administrative support for the smooth running of the project – including related to project’s travel, meeting logistics either in the country or abroad, and is additionally responsible to contribute to project deliverables, financial reports and annual work plans. This associate is expected to support procurement procedures and processes, which is inclusive of professional consultation services and equipment needed for the project’s implementation.

The position is for an initial period of 18 months-2 years (negotiable) with the expected opportunity to renew up to a period of 4 years.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of the National Project Manager, the Project Associate, will work full-time to provide day to day financial management and operational support for the project, and will be responsible for the following:

Summary of Functions:

• Ensures effective and accurate financial resources management and oversight, focusing on smooth functioning of the project which includes certification, reporting and closures.
• Support efficient and effective administrative operations.
• Facilitates knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of results.
• Support in procurement of services and goods in compliance with the applicable policies and procedures.

The detailed scope of work is outlines below.

Ensures effective and accurate financial resources management and oversight, focusing on smooth functioning of the project which includes certification, reporting and closures of the following results:

• Leads on financial applications for all resources managed by the SAFE Project and provision of quality financial updates to the Project Manager and other PMU staff members and Country Office senior management.
• Pro-actively contribute to day-to-day project implementation and ensure conformity to expected results and project work-plans.
• Follow-up on timely disbursem*nts and ensure that adequate financial controls are in place to maintain proper accountability of expenditures.
• Ensure that all project transactions are in compliance with relevant guidelines.
• Ensure the financial transactions are properly authorized, recorded, and supported with adequate documentation.
• Establish a computer-based monitoring system for expenditures. Proper control of the supporting documents for all payments and new vendors form.
• Liaise with UNDP CO Finance Officers to ensure compatibility of the project financial management.
• Provide and interpret financial information.
• Identify changes and advise accordingly.
• Provide assistance with internal or external audit requirements if required.
• Maintains a document management system for UNDP, including Sub-recipients, contractors, service providers, and technical assistance providers records.
• Monitor budgets and expenditures and contribute to preparation of budget revision and maintain a proper record of approved project budgets and their revisions.
• Provide justification on quarterly closure and certification for CO, including support in certifying receipt accruals and prepayments and other accounts including micro capital grants, sundry, hospitality and other open item and GL accounts.
• Carry out any other financial assignments as requested by the Project Manager.

Support efficient and effective administrative operations.

• Support and provide the appropriate trainings for administrative, to ensure compliance with relevant administrative procedures.
• Process and review official Project Mission Travel Requests, including timely follow-up action on medical/security clearance, claims, signatures where appropriate.
• Monitor all travel-related payments for the Project, liaising appropriately with Out-posted staff, as required.
• Provide administrative and logistical support for project specific meetings, workshops, trainings, conferences, retreats and any other special events organized by the Project.

Facilitates knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results

• Identifies and synthetizes lessons learnt and best practices in the area of work.
• Actively promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture within the project.
• Systematically builds capacities of national staff and train project staff in all areas of responsibility.
• Identifies and supports development of communications (print, video) highlighting key financial management achievements, best practices, and lessons learnt and contributes to information sharing with the responsible parties, UN entities, financial and technical partners.
• Assist the project team in development of communication materials such as Press Releases, social media posts etc.

Support in procurement of services and goods in compliance with applicable policies and procedures.

• Preparation of procurement plans against project budgets and work plans.
• Prepare payments requests for operational expenses, services provision, purchases, etc

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

Competencies:

Core competencies:

• 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: LEVEL1: 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:

Administration & Operations

• Documents and records management: Overall document (hard or electronic) management; registry and retention policy including storing and archiving
• Inventory management: Each office to ensure sufficient inventory items are available for use as well as reporting for items which are beyond the corporate threshold of $5K and above.
• Vehicle management: Knowledge of policy and procedures on fleet management

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

Finance

• Accounting (General): Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, frameworks, standards, regulations, policies and trends, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations.
• Audit risk management: Ability to address audit issues raised during an audit and propose solutions in order to ensure a true and fair audit opinion is achieved.
• Budget management: Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets.

Required Skills and Experience:

Education:

• Secondary education is required.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Business or Public Administration, Finance, Accounting, Office Management, Human Resources or a related discipline will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.

Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years of experience with (Secondary completion) or 4 years with (bachelor’s degree) of relevant working experience in administration, finance and/or programme support service.
• Experience and knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, frameworks, standards, regulations, policies and trends, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations.
• A demonstrated experience in the financial management of development projects and in liaising and cooperating with government officials, NGOs, etc.
• Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advance knowledge of spreadsheets and web-based management is required.
• Experience working in dynamic environments would be an asset.
• Experience and understands fraud risks faced by public bodies and can effectively analyze data to support fraud identification and fraud risk management is desired.
• Experience with internal financial reporting systems, budgeting and financial reporting is an asset.
• Previous experience working with a GEF-supported project is considered an asset.
• Experience related to project implementation is desired.

Required Languages:

• (At working level) Fluency in English and Pidgin is required.

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