Programme Assistant, SROC Guyana Liaison Office

The Position:

Under the direct supervision of the Liaison Officer, the Programme Assistant supports the design, planning and management of UNFPA’s program by providing administrative support, facilitating the operational support to achieve the UNFPA mandate and following up on audit recommendations.

The Programme Assistant applies established systems and procedures and assists in  knowledge management by compiling, synthesizing information relevant to population and development, reproductive health and rights and gender issues, including supporting the implementation of UNFPA’s knowledge sharing approach in program development. 

The Programme Assistant will provide support to ensure that the business processes are followed in the processing of financial transactions related to office management and operations. He/she is instrumental in facilitating administrative support, office management/operations, including maintenance of office documents and registry functions using and developing appropriate mechanisms and systems –particularly Atlas ERP- and ensuring compliance with established procedures.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Work Relations:

Internal contacts include the SRO functional units. External contacts include other UN agencies in country, counterparts and partners in the assigned Country including international NGOs, experts, etc.

You would be responsible for:

• Provides substantive programmatic and logistical support for UNFPA programmatic interventions, workshops, capacity building activities, commemoration of International Days, review meetings with stakeholders, advocacy and public information events, and other initiatives, including those within the joint UN framework.
• Ensures timely and efficient support to office financial and administration tasks including payment of vouchers, bills, travel tickets, per diem for meeting participants, consultancies, vendor creation, raising of requisitions, purchase orders, procurement of goods and services and other related processes.
• Maintains petty cash and effects payments when authorized by the appropriate official of the SRO.
• Contributes to the smooth running of the office by ensuring the provision and maintenance of services and supplies, maintaining up-to-date inventory and records and the appropriate common premises related activities. Follow-up on audit recommendations.
• Works in close collaboration with the SROC, implementing and cooperating with other UN agencies, government, civil society partners, relevant humanitarian agencies, stakeholders and field staff to coordinate logistics and supply chain management support for UNFPA operations including in emergencies.
• Ensures timely and effective procurement and management of UNFPA commodities and supplies at all levels, including delivery, transportation, storage, distribution, inventory and reporting of all UNFPA goods. Undertakes field monitoring visits to warehouses to ensure proper storage, distribution and utilization of emergency supplies. 
• Liaises with stakeholders in the SROC in the fulfillment of daily administrative tasks and to advance the programme and mandate of UNFPA including with governments, regional institutions, civil society organizations including but not limited to FBOs, female and youth-led organizations and others. 
• Contributes to the creation and sharing of knowledge by synthesizing and documenting findings and lessons learned, success stories and best practices, strategies and approaches of the Office and drafting relevant materials for dissemination, including to inform partners and the donor community and for the development of knowledge assets as required. 
• Assists the SRH/RHCS Specialist based in St Lucia in compiling data relevant for the conduct of advocacy and policy support activities, establishing and implementing mechanisms to systematically assess the achievement of results, participating in review meetings and evaluation missions and preparing regular inputs to status and progress reports. 
• Supports advocacy and resource mobilization efforts of the Sub-regional Office by compiling and synthesizing relevant background material for use in discussions and public events. Assists in establishing and maintaining networks of donor and public information contacts and provides assistance in organizing and conducting donor meetings. Supports posting of relevant material on social media pages as per internal communication mechanisms. 
• Represents UNFPA in joint UN mechanisms as required including for joint security and duty of care efforts, implementation of the Business Operation Strategy, and contributes to enhancing UNFPA visibility through internal and external communications and social media engagement and monitoring with UN and partners. 
• Facilitate payment requests, financial record-keeping and preparation of financial reports required in line with HACT financial rules and procedures with Implementing Partners.
• Establishes and maintains contacts with government counterparts, implementing partners and other stakeholders to ensure an effective and efficient collaboration.
• Facilitate the conduct of HACT assurance activities and ensures the development and implementation of follow-up actions.
• Focal points for operations related issues for the UNFPA Guyana Office.
• Perform any other job-related duties as assigned by the Supervisor or SROC Management

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:

High School Diploma required. Some college studies in health, population, demography, economics, management and/or other related social science will be considered an asset.

Computer skills: Proficiency in current office software applications 

Experience:

At least 5 years of relevant administrative support experience. Additional UN experience or working with development oriented organizations will be considered an asset.
 

Languages: 

Fluency in oral and written English.  Knowledge of another UN Language is an asset. 

Required Competencies: 

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity 
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, 
• Embracing cultural diversity, 
• Embracing change

Core Competencies: 

• Achieving results including the use of innovative approaches to achieve same, 
• Demonstrating accountability in all areas of work
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen
• Demonstration of analytical and strategic thinking including using out-of-the-box approaches to achieve results 
• Ability to demonstrate emotional intelligence while working under pressure in a team in a multi-cultural environment
• Communicating for impact
• Achieving result 
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen, 
• Thinking analytically and strategically, 
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,

 Functional Competencies:

• Adherence to Business Processes. 
• Commits to following the business process and policies of UNFPA which govern administrative, financial and program management issues as outlined in the Policies and Procedures Manual. 
• Results-based program development and management                                                                          Contributes to the achievement of results through primary research and analysis and effective monitoring     of policy implementation. Uses analytical skills to identify opportunities for policy development and             participates in the formulation of proposals ensuring substantive rigor in the design and application of         proven successful approaches.
• Innovation and marketing of new approaches                                                                                      Enhances existing policies and implementation procedures. Documents and analyzes innovative strategies, best practices and new approaches. Adapts quickly to change                                                        

Additional Competencies:  

•  Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/Building strategic alliances and partners
• Assists in establishing, maintaining and utilizing a broad network of contacts to keep abreast of developments and to share information. Analyzes and selected materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders.
• Advocacy/Advancing a policy oriented agenda                                                                                          Drafts, prepares and communicates internally relevant information for evidence-based advocacy. Assists in maintaining a functioning network of contacts in the media and civil society to support advocacy efforts.
• Resource mobilization                                                                                                                          Provides inputs to resource mobilization strategies analyzing and maintaining information and databases on donors and developing database of project profiles for presentation to donors.

 Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.