Regional Project Administrative and Finance Analyst [Open to Tier 1 & 2 applicants]

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

Central Asian region faces a complex risk profile, with growing impacts of climate change and environmental degradation, as well as emerging security risks. The local population, especially in urban areas, is highly exposed to these hazards, while urbanization is outpacing efforts to reduce risks and adapt. 

The project “Enhancing Urban Resilience to Disaster Risk and Climate Change in Central Asia” is funded by the Government of Japan and implemented by UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub (IRH). At the country level, the project is implemented by UNDP Country Offices in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan in close partnership with relevant government and non-governmental stakeholders.  The overall objective of the project is to support all five Central Asian countries in building climate resilience, focusing on urban areas. The project will specifically focus on enhancing regional cooperation and partnership through the existing coordination platforms, while introducing innovative approaches in urban planning based on practical experiences from other countries, including Japan.

The regional project “Strengthening the System for Region-wide Disaster Risk Reduction in Central Asia” project's overall objective is to support five Central Asian countries in strengthening disaster resilience at both regional and national levels, with a focus on enhancing disaster coordination and improving earthquake awareness and readiness. It will specifically aim to strengthen regional coordination through the Regional Emergency Response Coordination Mechanism, ensuring a more operational and effective approach to preparedness, response, and recovery during largescale transboundary disasters. The project will also prioritize raising awareness of earthquake risks, fostering readiness to mitigate impacts, and introducing innovative earthquake monitoring and alerting systems, drawing from the practical experiences of Japan and other countries. Promoting a people-centred, gender-sensitive, disability-inclusive, and risk-informed approach, the project seeks to break siloes in disaster preparedness, response and recovery coordination. Ultimately, it aims to enhance the capacity of Central Asian countries to manage disaster risks and boost the region's overall resilience.   

Duties and Responsibilities

Regional Project Administrative and Finance Analyst will be based in Almaty, Kazakhstan, report to the Regional Project Manager and work closely with the UNDP IRH Climate and Disaster Resilience Team, the UNDP IRH Regional Project Team and Project Teams in UNDP Country Offices in Central Asia, implementing projects at the national level. S/he will be responsible for providing project-related administrative, financial and operational services. Key functions include supporting project implementation, managing project budgets and finances, assisting with event management and procurement, as well as providing additional administrative, financial and operational support as needed, in line with UNDP Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures (POPP) and relevant Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). 

Support the project team to ensure effective financial services, project planning and implementation: 

• Provide comprehensive support in all aspects of project implementation in accordance with the Project Documents (ProDoc), Annual Work Plans (AWPs), LoAs and other agreements between UNDP and responsible partners. Ensure contract-management tracking of delivery quality by consultants, beneficiaries, and vendors. Communicate findings to the supervisor.
• Conduct regular financial analyses and reviews of project implementation, coordinating financial flows and fund allocations across the UNDP IRH and the COs in Central Asia. Support the preparation of financial reports for donors, ensuring compliance with specific agreement requirements.
• Provide the support in reviewing and clearance of Narrative/Financial, FACE and ICE reports from the responsible partners.
• Compile and summarize information and data for formulating AWPs, draft annual/quarterly budgets, as well as regular delivery status updates and proposals on implementation arrangements and other specific project-related topics or issues.
• Develop supporting documents for entering project-related information in Quantum ERP, including AWPs. Assist in developing detailed project budgets for all activities and outputs, preparing budget revisions jointly with the Regional Project Manager.
• Monitor project expenditures against the AWPs and donor requirements, identify incorrect charges and coordinate with the COs to make corrections. Assist in preparing monthly, quarterly and annual expenditure reports. Ensure the timely settlement of outstanding project obligations, the cleanup of negative balances and the reconciliation of advances.
• Support sound resource management through budget planning, resource allocation and expenditure control in accordance with UNDP POPP and relevant SOPs. Review and analyze budget implementation on an ongoing basis, initiating and processing budget revisions as necessary.
• Ensure compliance of project business processes with UNDP POPP and relevant SOPs. When necessary, provide guidance to the Regional Project Team on business processes, administrative requirements and other procedures, as well as support on procurement cases and travel arrangements.
• In coordination with the Regional Project Manager and the Gender Focal Points, support gender and digital solutions mainstreaming in the project implementation, along with other requirements of the ProDoc, including in data collection and compilation. Prepare relevant background materials for use in discussions, briefings, and correspondence.
• Oversee the allocation, inventorying and utilization of project resources, including equipment and materials, ensuring they are used and stored effectively and efficiently to support project objectives.
• Contribute to the required project progress thematic and financial reporting based on the donor (Government of Japan) and UNDP requirements, and its submission for the Project Board consideration. 

Provide support to the effective monitoring, evaluation and reporting on the project implementation progress:

• In close coordination with the UNDP IRH Quality Assurance Team, the Climate and Disaster Resilience Team and the Regional Project Manager, support project implementation monitoring system in line with its M&E framework to ensure effective information exchange, provision of feedback, and elaboration of high-quality progress reports. 
• Collect, analyze and present information for M&E of project implementation against project targets as well as for audit purposes. Identify implementation gaps and provide support to bridge them, in consultation with the supervisor and partners. 
• Ensure effective support in the organization of field and study visits, missions, workshops, roundtables and conferences within the project. Assist in the implementation of effective risk management for the project with a well-documented risk mitigation plan in place. Support monitoring of previously identified and emerging risks. 
• Regularly monitor expenditures and commitments against the project budget and relevant plans and provide finance-related information to support project implementation. When necessary, recommend corrective actions and draft various correspondence concerning finance, operations and budgetary issues. 
• Prepare and consolidate required project reports on a timely basis and in line with M&E guidelines and donor requirements. 
• Assist the project manager in preparing the necessary documentation required by the POPP for engaging partners in delivering services through various programmatic instruments, such as Responsible Party Agreements (RPAs), low-value grants and others. 
• In collaboration with the UNDP IRH and COs, collaborate with project personnel to assist in the development of a comprehensive procurement plan for the project, ensuring alignment with project objectives and timelines. 

Support partnerships and event management: 

• In coordination with the Regional Project Manager, establish and maintain contacts and cooperation with the relevant UN agencies, government institutions, NGOs, tertiary institutions, donors, partners and other relevant stakeholders in the region.
• Provide support in updating the database of the relevant public and development partners and other stakeholders who are counterparts for the project.
• In coordination with the Regional Project Manager, ensure regular communication and coordination with all five UNDP programme countries and support partnership as required to facilitate the regional project implementation. 
• Facilitate timely extensions and modifications of donor and partnership agreements as needed, ensuring that all changes are documented and communicated effectively. 
• Provide administrative and logistical support to ensure successful project delivery that includes organizing/coordinating project events/activities and selecting appropriate venues, coordinating project procurement procedures, maintaining project records and files, recruiting Project Team members, supporting contracting activities and other tasks. 

Support knowledge building and knowledge sharing for the project:  

• Participate in training and organize briefings on internal procedures for the project staff. Provide support to other capacity-building activities, including the design and delivery of tools, workshop materials or platforms that tap into the collective intelligence of communities and mobilize action. 
• Provide support in the dissemination and sharing of relevant data and lessons learned within all five programme countries and regionally. Keep a pulse on emerging best practices at the national, regional and international levels related to the project's work. 
• Make sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice. Support compiling and systematizing project knowledge, products and tools as well as their wide distribution to partners. 

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

Institutional Arrangement

The Project Management Unit (PMU), established and hosted by CESDRR, is located in Almaty, Kazakhstan, to support daily project planning and implementation. PMU will be led by a full-time Regional Project Manager (RPM) reporting to the IRH Regional Programme Chief, with matrix reporting to the Climate and Disaster Resilience Team Leader in Istanbul, Türkiye, and will be supported by a Regional Project Associate and a Chief Technical Advisor.

The Regional Project Associate will report directly to the Regional Project Manager based in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and work in close day-to-day collaboration with the UNDP IRH and COs in Central Asia to ensure the efficient implementation of the project. 

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 a pragmatic problem solver and 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 the 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 and Technical Competencies 

Business Management     

• Working with Evidence and Data:     
  • Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making.  
• Digital Awareness and Literacy:     
  • Ability to monitor new and emerging technologies, as well as understand their usage, potential, limitations, impact, and added value. 
  • Ability to rapidly and readily adopt and use new technologies in professional activities, and to empower others to use them as needed. 
  • Knowledge of the usage of digital technologies and emerging trends.
• 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 fulfill and understand the real customers' needs. 
  • Provide inputs to the development of the customer service strategy. 
  • Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests. 
  • Ability to anticipate the client’s upcoming needs and concerns. 
• 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. 
• Monitoring and Evaluation:    
  • Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively.
  • Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results. 
  • Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming. 
  • Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools. 
  • Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. 
  • Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.

Finance     

• Budget Management:    
  • Ability to support budgetary aspects of the work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets. 

Procurement     

• Procurement Management:     
  • Ability to acquire goods, services or works from an external source. 

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master´s degree or equivalent) in Finance, Economics, Management, Environmental sciences, Business Administration, International Relations or any related field is required, or
• University degree (Bachelor’s degree) in Finance, Economics, Management, Environmental sciences, Business Administration, International Relations or any related field in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of advanced university degree. 

Experience:

• Applicants with a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience. 
• Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant administrative or project experience within international or national foreign projects or organizations. 

Desired Skills: 

• Experience using computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and web-based management systems (ERPs), as well as advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages. 
• Proven experience with donor reporting. 
• Experience with financial management and reporting. 
• Experience with international organizations, including the UN system. 
• Experience organizing joint events with governments and/or subordinate organizations, as well as with international organizations. 
• Professional experience in the ECIS region (Central Asia), particularly knowledge of the environment, disaster risk reduction, resilience and urban issues. 

Required Languages:

• Fluency in English and Russian is required. 
• Fluency in, or working knowledge of, Central Asian and other UN languages is an asset. 

Travel:

• Official travel is expected to all Central Asian countries to perform the functions of the Regional Project Administrative and Finance Analyst. 

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.

Use of AI by candidates

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