Project Support Assistant

Introduction

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN). It was established in 1919 to promote social justice and brings together governments, employers and workers of 187 Member States to set labour standards, develop policies and devise programmes promoting decent work for all women and men.

Countries made a global promise to secure the rights and well-being of everyone on a healthy, thriving planet when they adopted the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015. Yet, half of the world’s population has no access to social protection and over half of the people employed are working in low-income and insecure jobs. According to the ILO Monitor on the world of work, in 2023, the global jobs gap was projected to stand at 453 million people and 4 billion people were still excluded from social protection. The COVID-19 pandemic caused an unprecedented loss of jobs and livelihoods and exacerbated income insecurity around the world. The impact has been particularly adverse for people without access to social protection, including those working in the informal and care economies, women, children, youth and those without access to digital technologies. In addition, the conflict in Ukraine has exposed fragilities in the global food and energy systems, as well as in the global economic and financial systems, triggering a cost-of-living crisis around the world unseen in at least a generation. This has to be set against the backdrop of the accelerating climate crisis and its adverse impacts on economies and societies. Constrained by rising debt burdens and shrinking fiscal space, many countries now face an even more daunting policy landscape. The Global Accelerator aims to respond to these complex challenges and chart a human-centred green recovery out of the present crisis and facilitate the inclusive structural transformations needed to achieve the SDGs by 2030.

The Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions, launched in September 2021 by the UN Secretary-General, signals the UN system’s collective response for addressing these multiple challenges that threaten to erase development progress. The initiative aims to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and support the creation of decent jobs, primarily in the green, digital and care economies, and to extend social protection to people who are excluded. The Government of Uzbekistan has committed, at the highest levels, to implementing the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions (GA), a UN initiative launched in 2021. Through policy analysis and stakeholder dialogue, national stakeholders have identified four key areas for the GA country roadmap: formalisation, inclusion, transitions to a green and digital economy.

As per the ILO mandate on job and social protection, the ILO has been nominated as the lead United Nations agencies to support the GA in Uzbekistan.

The Global Accelerator Uzbekistan project is a two-year project financed by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Fund (SDG Fund), which is a UN development cooperation mechanism specifically established to implement the 2030 Agenda.

The Project Support Assistant will assist the ILO team in all administrative and financial tasks of the project with the support of the ILO Moscow Office, in line with ILO financial and administrative rules. 

Reporting Lines

The Project Support Assistant will directly report and work under the overall supervision of the National Project Coordinator in Tashkent and support other team members, in particular the National Project Officer – Employment and the National Coordinator. DWT/CO-Moscow’s Social Protection Specialist is the second-level chief and Director is the Responsible Chief.

The Project Support Assistant will work in close collaboration with the Moscow-Finance and Administrative unit and the relevant Senior Project/Programme Assistant.

Description of Duties

1. Draft standard correspondence, type and format a variety of documents related to project activities (correspondence, reports, technical documents, presentations, etc.) in conformity with the ILO requirements and using appropriate software. 
2. Provide general office management, administrative and logistic support for meetings, seminars and/or workshops organized under the project/programme.
3. Update information on project website and databases. Reply to queries and emails for information.
4. Maintain files, databases and official records related to project activities. Search and select relevant information and records for officials upon request.
5. Liaise/Request services from other work units inside or outside the office for completion of tasks.
6. Process all administrative arrangements for official travel, including travel authorizations, visas and other required clearances.
7. Assist in calculating cost estimates and compile documents and materials for missions for colleagues, resource persons and participants of meetings, seminars and project-related activities. 
8. Compile routine financial data and information for project-related activities. Enter data to classify and code transactions. 
9. Prepare and ensure transactions are processed in IRIS including contracts, travel requests, purchase orders, purchase requisitions and external payment authorisations.
10. Arrange payments of resource persons, such as daily subsistence allowance. Draft payment-related correspondence, ensure follow-up and maintain records. 
11. Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

Required qualifications

Education

Completion of secondary school education. Formal training in accounting and/or finance and administrative field would be an asset.

Experience

At least three years’ experience in general office management and clerical support work. Knowledge of the ILO or UN administrative system is an asset.

Languages

Excellent knowledge of English and Uzbek. Working level of Russian is an advantage.

Competencies

• Ability to organize own work.
• Ability to prioritize work assignments, organize own schedule, perform routine work independently, meet deadlines and adapt to changing demands and multiple tasks. 
• Proficient in basic computer software (Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Adobe Reader) and ability to use other software packages required by the Office.
• Ability to obtain services from other work units inside or outside the office for completion of tasks.
• Ability to work as a member of a team and manage a heavy workload under time pressure.
• Knowledge of practices and procedures for preparing administrative documents and maintaining filing systems.
• Ability to draft correspondence and correct documents in accordance with established standards.
• Ability to work with accuracy and to pay attention to detail.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Customer service skills in order to provide courteous, prompt and efficient responses to clients.
• Understanding of principles of non-discrimination and gender equality.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and gender-sensitive behaviour and attitudes are also required.