Project Support Associate (Part-time-50%)[Open to All Applicants]

Background

• UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels offers a spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in its Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in UNDP’s Strategic Plan. 

• UNDP's 2022-2025 Strategic Plan highlights our continued commitment to eradicating poverty, accompanying countries in their pathways towards the SDGs and working towards the Paris Agreement. As part of the Global Policy Network in the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP's Nature, Climate Change, Energy, and Waste (NCE&W) Hubs promote and scale up integrated whole-of-governance approaches and nature-based solutions that reduce poverty and inequalities, strengthen livelihoods and inclusive growth, mitigate conflict, forced migration and displacement, and promote more resilient governance systems that advance linked peace and security agendas.

• In recent decades, biodiversity finance tools and solutions have demonstrated their importance for achieving biodiversity goals and broader sustainable development objectives. Improved choice, design and implementation of effective, well-tailored finance solutions will strengthen countries’ chances of achieving national and global biodiversity targets. Biodiversity Finance Plans have become increasingly recognised as a relevant tool to help countries to identify and fill the biodiversity finance gap, including through the work of the Biodiversity Finance Initiative www.biofin.org. In December 2022, parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted the Montreal-Kunming Global Biodiversity Framework. This included numerous targets with relevance for financing. Target 19 on resource mobilisation includes reference for countries to design and implement national biodiversity finance plans. 

• The GEF created a global programme to support countries to design a national Biodiversity Finance Plan. A Biodiversity Finance Plan includes a systems analysis of a country's economy including to map existing financing mechanisms, subsidies with potential harmful impacts on nature, drivers of biodiversity loss and gain, public and private expenditures committed towards biodiversity objectives and a country's national financial needs for biodiversity. The biodiversity finance plan itself consists of a series of actions with the aim to significantly scale up available funding, green or phase out harmful finance flows and improve the effectiveness of available expenditures. The programme allows for active sharing of experiences across countries and includes a knowledge sharing platform and the provision of continuous technical support to country teams.

• The implementation of the project in Bahrain falls under the GEF8 Umbrella programme for the development of the first National Biodiversity Finance Plan. The overall implementation of the project will be led by the Programme Analyst/ Project Coordinator with the support of a technical team and in coordination to a government project director and the National Steering Committee.   

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the UNDP Programme Analyst (Sustainable Growth, Energy, Environment and Gender) and the Project Coordinator., the Project Support Associate will be responsible for providing back-office/ administrative support to the project including: 

(I)         facilitating procurement,

(II)        financial and administrative tracking of activities and expenses,

(III)       support with communication, facilitation and organization of outreach activities, press releases, project/UNDP/government briefing notes, translations, etc.

(IV)       liaising with UNDP country office, and GPMTSU (Global Project Management and Technical Support Unit) to facilitate financial reporting and compliance, and UNDP procurement compliance.

1.) Facilitating procurement

• Handle all required procurement processes, requisitions and purchase orders, ensuring compliance with UNDP rules and regulations, 
• Maintain an inventory of assets/equipment and support with the handover of equipment upon project closure,
• Ensure the Quantum approval system is set up at the Country Office for the project,
• Handle all logistical matters to organise the inception workshop, consultation workshops and any meetings as required,
• Regularly update the procurement plan and contacts list.

2.) Management Support

• Provide support with all financial and administrative requirements of the project, especially those related to project funding and accounting,
• Assist in ensuring that project is executed in a timely and appropriate manner,
• Assist or support in facilitating, guiding the work of the national team; manage payment schedules,
• Assist in project related activities, including planning for meetings, local and national consultations, trips and other project related activities, 
• Ensure all national and international travel is organised smoothly, 
• Document and share records of meetings, decisions, actions, etc,
• Support with the Monitoring and Evaluation of the project at the national level, including workshop evaluations, 
• Any other duties assigned by the Programme Analyst/ Project Coordinator, that have direct relevance to the project.

3.) Financial Oversight

• Support the Management of the project budget, and follow up on procurement and accounting procedures and activities, together with the UNDP Country Office and the GPMTSU,
• Ensure financial resources are disbursed on time to implementing partners,
• Maintain records of expenditures and collaborate in financial reporting.

4.) Ensures effective administrative and logistical support to ensure successful project delivery

• Develop calculations for the development of the annual workplan/budget,
• Handle all required procurement processes, requisitions and purchase orders, ensuring compliance with UNDP rules and regulations,
• Maintain an inventory of assets/equipment and support with the handover of equipment upon project closure.
• Ensure the Quantum approval system is set up at the Country Office for the project,
• Handle all logistical matters to organise the inception workshop, consultation workshops and any meetings as required,
• Regularly update the procurement plan and contacts list,
• Handle of all travel arrangements for national travel/missions and participants to national-level workshops,
• Handle all travel procedures for participants to global and regional workshops and other international meetings, ensuring all necessary visa, security clearances and plane tickets are obtained timely, and confirmations/changes of travel arrangements are communicated to the GPMTSU immediately.

Competencies:

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Secondary education is required, or  
• University Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, or equivalent field will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.

Experience:

• A minimum of 6 years (with high school diploma) or 3 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible in project management, finance, administration, accounting, budgeting.

Required skills:

• Experience in dealing with national experts and international institutions,
• Sound understanding of key software packages (MS Office),
• Proven Ability to maintain overview in complex work situations, self-starter in supporting the coordinator in communicating and keeping timelines.

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

• Experience with UNDP/UN policies, procedures and practices, particularly in relation to project development and implementation, is highly desirable.
• CIPS level 2 is highly desirable for this position and candidates holding this level at the time of application will have a distinct advantage. If the desired certification is not available at the time of recruitment, it should be obtained within one year of recruitment. Candidates holding a CIPS certification at any level below at the time of application will have a proportionate advantage,
• Specialized training in administration, accounting, finance or related fields would be an advantage.

Required Language(s):

• Fluency in English and Arabic is required.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

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.

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