Project Associate

As the United Nations lead agency on international development, UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities, and to build resilience to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Our work is concentrated in three focus areas; sustainable development, democratic governance and peace building, and climate and disaster resilience. UNDP’s mandate is to end poverty, build democratic governance, rule of law, and inclusive institutions. We advocate for change, and connect countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life.

The Action for Climate and Environment (ACE) Unit at UNDP is organized around the thematic areas of climate change adaptation and mitigation, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem & land restoration, disaster management and resilience, and access to clean and efficient energy.

The Natural Resource Management and Biodiversity pillar of ACE is supporting the Government of India in meeting national development objectives along with commitments under important multilateral environment agreements especially the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The programme/projects under the pillar have been supporting the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC), National and State level planning for land restoration and biodiversity conservation, habitat restoration, carbon sequestration through enhanced restoration, promotion of nature-based livelihoods and One Health approach.

UNDP is supporting the Ministry in the implementation of a GEF -7 project “Sustainable management and restoration of degraded landscapes for achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) in India”. The project aims to achieve land degradation neutrality by creating additional carbon sinks through an ecosystem-based approach for restoring degraded agricultural, forest, pastoral lands, and surface water bodies. It involves enabling institutional frameworks and policies for integrated sustainable land management practices and up-scaling landscape-wide practices in 3 states Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh contributing to the national target of restoring 26 Mha of degraded lands by 2030.

The project being implemented over a period of five years will lead to the following outcomes: (1) Enhanced national, state and district-level enabling frameworks incentivizing SLM practices and supporting participatory multi- sector platforms to avoid, reduce and reverse land degradation, biodiversity loss and climate mitigation; (2) Integrated participatory landscape design and financing models established in support of avoidance, reduction and reversal of land degradation, desertification, biodiversity loss and negative impacts of climate change to generates multiple sustained environmental and economic benefits; (3) Improved capacity for LDN monitoring, assessment and reporting to UNCCD in support of LDN target setting and evaluation of capacities of partners; allowing government institutions and other agencies to better document, analyse and disseminate effective intervention strategies for restoring productive landscapes and replication of best practices at national and state level, and at international level through improved South-South cooperation, knowledge and adaptive management.

UNDP seeks to engage the services of a Project Associate to support the MoEFCC (National Project Management Unit) in implementation of the project. S/he will work under the supervision of IGF, MoEFCC (National Project Director – NPD) and shall be part of NPMU.

Under the direct supervision of National Project Director, the Project Associate will perform the following tasks:
• Assist in the preparation of documents related to project, file notes, reports, and presentations for NPMU and UNDP.
• Organize and maintain project files and records.
• Coordinate project meetings, including scheduling, preparing agendas, and taking minutes.
• Handle routine correspondence and communication of the NAEB /GIM Division at MoEFCC where the project is anchored.
• Provides administrative and cooperation support on implementation of project to the National Project Manager and Project Director.
• Ensure regular communication and coordination within the National Project Management Unit, State Project Management Unit, UNDP and MoEFCC with respect to project activities.
• Support National Project Manager in preparation of National / State-specific Annual Work Plans, including monthly targets and deliverables as well as annual spending targets in accordance with the Project Document.
• Arrange travel, accommodation, and other logistics for project staff and stakeholders.
• Coordinate procurement of project supplies and equipment.
• Manage project inventory and assets.
• Maintain up-to-date files and records of project documentation.
• Provide logistical support for workshops and other meetings as tasked by the National Project Manager and Project Director.
• Follow-up with the Budget and Accounts Division in the Ministry and CAAA, Ministry of Finance in submission and processing of monthly, quarterly and annual Face Forms, UCs and Reimbursement claims from the States.
• Processing documents related to GIA budget to the states, assist in budget tracking and financial reporting.
• Process invoices, expense claims, and other financial documentation.
• Support the timely preparation and submission of annual progress reports, donor reports, project reviews, financial reports, audit reports and any other required project reports.