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Programme Assistant

Harare

  • Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
  • Location: Harare
  • Grade: Administrative support - GS-5, General Service - No need for Higher Education - Locally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Administrative support
    • Project and Programme Management
  • Closing Date: 2025-01-29

Background
 
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
 
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.
 
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been actively engaged in Zimbabwe for several decades, focusing on sustainable development, poverty reduction, and the enhancement of democratic governance. The UNDP's work in Zimbabwe is aligned with the country's national priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Key areas of focus include Poverty Reduction, Transformative Governance; Environmental Sustainability, Health and Crisis Response. UNDP collaborates with the Government of Zimbabwe, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to implement programs that respond to the country's unique challenges, thereby facilitating inclusive and sustainable development. 

The Programme Unit works to support achievement of UNDP strategic objectives to create a world where people and planet thrive together, and to help the Country Office act with both ambition and scale to address urgent problems facing the country as well as global climate deteriorating conditions. Programme staff assist the Country Office in formulating and implementing programme strategies that go beyond solving immediate development challenges to create future smart and integrated systemic changes in resilience and capacity building within the country.

Under the overall guidance of the Head of Unit, the Programme Assistant supports the Policy and Prosperity portfolio and Nature Climate and Environment Unit, ensuring effective delivery of the CO programme by entering and managing data and supporting programme implementation consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.

The Programme Assistant works in close collaboration with the Operations, Programme and project staff in the CO, and UNDP staff in HQ and Regional Hubs to exchange information and support programme delivery.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities

Support formulation of programme strategies and implementation of the Country Programme Documents (CPDs).
  • Collect, analyze and present information for preparation of CPDs and establishment of Baselines, Milestones and Targets (BMT).
  • Collect information/evidence to guide future programming and identify implementation arrangements.

Provide effective support to management of the Country Office programme. 

  • Create project in ERP, prepare required budget revisions, revise project status, determine unutilized funds, and ensure operational and financial closure of a project.
  • Provide support to implementing partners on implementation of projects, and track use of financial resources.  Assist in managing digital technology solutions in programme implementation towards scalability and sustainability in line with UNDP’s digital standards.
  • Assist in ensuring that data generated in the programme implementation is managed effectively across the data lifecycle. Support the follow up on programme and project performance indicators/ success criteria, targets and milestones, preparation of reports, and implementation of corporate results-based management mechanisms and tools. 
  • Communicate programme related bottlenecks and possible solutions.
  • Support preparation for external and internal programme/project audits and implementation of audit recommendations.
  • Provide administrative support to the Programme unit by maintaining internal expenditure system and performing quality assurance review of technical reports and payments that includes following up with other units and taking timely corrective actions. 

Contribute to implementation of the Country Office resource mobilization strategies. 

  • Analyze information on donors and prepare donor profiles. 
  • Track and report on mobilized resources. 
  • Review contributions agreements and manage contributions in ERP.

Provide input to knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the Country Office.

In assigned areas:

  • Support organization and delivery of training for relevant programme and operations personnel.
  • Provide input to lessons learned and best practices.
  • Contribute to knowledge networks, communities of practice, and digital knowledge platforms. >
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: 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 Development    

  • Knowledge Generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.

Business Management

  • 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 fulfil and understand the real customers' needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients' immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns. 
  • Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
  • Risk Management: Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks.
  • Results-based Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus on improved performance and demonstrable results.

Finance   

  • 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.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
  • Secondary education is required 
  • A university degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, or related field will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.
Experience:
  • Minimum of 5 years (with high school diploma) or 2 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant progressively responsible administrative/management experience is required at the national and/or international level. 
  • Experience in the usage of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.), database packages, and web-based management systems such as ERP.
  • Work experience with UNDP or other UN agencies operating in Zimbabwe and familiarity with UNDP policies and procedures and ERP systems (Atlas, Quantum) would be an asset.
  • Demonstrated experience supporting project implementation, including with the organization of events and travel processes, and with the management of project budgets, finances and payments. 
  • Ability to review and edit documents and produce meeting reports identifying key actions.

Required Language:

  • Fluency in written and spoken English and basic working knowledge in Shona or Ndebele.
Disclaimer
 

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 
 
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
 
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.
 
Non-discrimination
 
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.  
 
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status. 
 
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We do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.