Programme Associate-(Nationals Only)

This position is open to Papua New Guinan Nationals Only 

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the leading UN agency working to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities, and build resilience to crises and climate change. Operating in over 170 countries, UNDP provides integrated policy and implementation support to help countries advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through inclusive and sustainable development.

Papua New Guinea (PNG) presents a diverse and complex development landscape, with significant opportunities and challenges. In response, UNDP Papua New Guinea’s Country Programme Document (CPD) 2024-2028 aligns its efforts with national priorities and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) to accelerate progress towards the 2030 Agenda. The programme focuses on four key outcomes:

1. Governance, peace, and social cohesion – Strengthening institutions, access to justice, human rights, and community resilience.
2. Sustainable economic transformation – Advancing economic diversification, job creation, and financial inclusion.
3. Climate action and environmental sustainability – Supporting climate resilience, sustainable energy, biodiversity conservation, and disaster risk reduction.
4. Inclusive development and social protection – Promoting gender equality, health, education, and inclusive social policies.

The Environment & Climate Change Unit, under the leadership of the Assistant Resident Representative (ARR), plays a central role in advancing UNDP’s climate action and environmental sustainability agenda, ensuring alignment with UNDP’s Strategic Plan, PNG’s Vision 2050, and international commitments such as the Paris Agreement and the Sendai Framework. This includes:

• Promoting sustainable management of natural resources and environmental governance.
• Enhancing climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts, including access to climate finance.
• Strengthening disaster resilience through risk-informed development and capacity building.
• Driving nature-based solutions and biodiversity conservation to balance economic development and environmental protection.

The Programme Associate will support the implementation of these initiatives, providing programmatic, administrative, and operational assistance to ensure the effective delivery of UNDP’s work in environment, climate change, resilience, and sustainable development. The role requires strong organizational, coordination, and communication skills to facilitate programme implementation, partnership engagement, and knowledge management.

Position Purpose: 

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Assistant Resident Representative (ARR), the Programme Associate plays a critical role in supporting the implementation of UNDP Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) Country Programme Document (CPD) 2024-2028. The incumbent provides programmatic, financial, and administrative support to ensure the effective design, planning, implementation, and monitoring of projects under the Environment and Climate Change Unit.

The Programme Associate ensures compliance with UNDP’s programme management standards, financial regulations, and reporting requirements while promoting a client-oriented approach in collaboration with national counterparts, UN agencies, donors, and civil society partners. The role requires strong coordination and analytical skills to support programme monitoring, evaluation, and financial management processes, contributing to effective project delivery and UNDP’s broader climate action and environmental sustainability agenda.

The Programme Associate’s key responsibilities include:

• Programme Implementation & Coordination – Assisting in the formulation, execution, and monitoring of projects related to climate change, biodiversity conservation, sustainable energy, and resilience-building, ensuring alignment with national priorities and international commitments.
• Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) – Supporting programme performance tracking, data collection, and reporting, ensuring alignment with UNDP’s Results-Based Management (RBM) framework and compliance with donor requirements.
• Programme Finance & Budget Management – Assisting in budget preparation, financial forecasting, grant management, and expenditure tracking, ensuring financial compliance with UNDP regulations and donor agreements.
• Knowledge Management & Reporting – Maintaining an organized system for programme documentation, reports, and lessons learned, contributing to UNDP’s policy and advocacy efforts.
• Stakeholder Engagement – Supporting coordination with government agencies, donors, civil society, and private sector partners, ensuring effective communication and partnership-building.
• Operational Support – Providing procurement, logistics, and administrative assistance for programme activities, including organizing meetings, workshops, and training sessions.
• Supervision & Team Support – Where applicable, supervising support staff within the Programme Unit and fostering a collaborative working environment.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to ensure flexibility, innovation, and integration across projects. The Programme Associate will work across units, functions, and teams in multidisciplinary groups to enhance horizontal collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Key Duties and Accountabilities

The Programme Associate will support the effective implementation of UNDP Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) Country Programme Document (CPD) 2024-2028 by providing programmatic, financial, and administrative support in the Environment and Climate Change Unit. The role ensures smooth project implementation, compliance with UNDP regulations, and strategic alignment with national and global priorities.

1.) Programme Implementation, Coordination, and Monitoring

• Provide technical and administrative support in the design, formulation, and implementation of projects, ensuring alignment with UNDP’s strategic objectives and national development plans. 
• Assist in the preparation of Country Programme work plans, budgets, and implementation arrangements, ensuring timely data entry of new grants and Annual Work Plans (AWPs) into Quantum. 
• Support programme performance tracking, data collection, and reporting, ensuring alignment with UNDP’s Results-Based Management (RBM) framework. 
• Monitor project expenditures, ensuring compliance with donor agreements and corporate financial regulations. 
• Identify programme-related challenges, propose solutions, and assist in risk mitigation to improve overall project delivery.

2.) Programme Finance, Budget Administration, and Cost-Recovery

• Provide financial oversight and support the administration of project budgets, ensuring optimal cost-recovery mechanisms are in place. 
• Ensure accurate financial tracking by monitoring the status of grants, financial reports, and expenditures, verifying Combined Delivery Reports (CDRs) for accuracy and compliance. 
• Maintain the internal expenditures control system, ensuring all transactions are correctly recorded, processed, and posted in Quantum. 
• Support the execution of financial transactions, including preparation of PO and non-PO vouchers, ensuring adherence to UNDP financial regulations. 
• Provide guidance to implementing partners on financial procedures, ensuring efficient use of project funds. 
• Conduct accuracy verification of financial reports and ensure timely corrective actions on erroneous data in Quantum. 
• Maintain Accounts Receivables (AR) for UNDP projects, following up with partners on contributions and outstanding payments.

3.) Accounting and Administrative Support to the Financial Resources Unit 

• Ensure proper control of supporting documents for payments and financial reports for projects. 
• Prepare financial analysis and reports for planning of Country Office (CO) financial resources, providing research-based insights into financial trends. 
• Support the Financial Resources Unit (FRU) in ensuring accurate fund management, cash flow tracking, and expenditure forecasting. 
• Assist in the implementation of audit recommendations, ensuring compliance with internal and external audit requirements.

4.) Partnerships, Resource Mobilization, and Donor Reporting

• Maintain donor profiles and tracking systems, ensuring timely and accurate reporting on mobilized resources. 
• Assist in the preparation of funding proposals, financial reports, and project updates to support resource mobilization efforts. 
• Facilitate communication and coordination with government agencies, donors, UN agencies, and private sector partners, ensuring smooth project implementation. 
• Organize and provide logistical support for meetings, consultations, and workshops with key stakeholders.

5.) Knowledge Management, Capacity Building, and Compliance

• Organization of training for office staff on programme management, financial administration, and UNDP financial systems. 
• Compile and document lessons learned, best practices, and case studies to enhance programme effectiveness and inform future programming. 
• Contribute to policy briefs, analytical reports, and programme evaluations to strengthen UNDP’s policy and advocacy efforts. 
• Provide support in ensuring compliance with corporate policies and procedures, including gender mainstreaming, digital transformation, and environmental sustainability.
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: May supervise support staff in Programme unit

Core Competencies

• Achieve Results LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
• Think Innovatively LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking 
• Learn Continuously LEVEL 2:  Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
• Adapt with Agility LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
• Act with Determination LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
• Engage and Partner LEVEL 2:  Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion LEVEL 2:  Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

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. 

Business Management-Project Management

• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Business Management-Risk Management

• Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks

Business Management -Results-based Management

• Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus on improved performance and demonstrable results.

Business Development-Knowledge Generation

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

Procurement-Contract Management

• Knowledge of contract management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations.

Finance- Budget Management 

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

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Completion of secondary education with specialized training in programme management, finance, administration, or project management is required 

Or 

A university degree (Bachelor’s) in Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Economics, Development Studies, Political Sciences, Environmental Sciences, or other related fields will be given due consideration but is not a requirement.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills:

Experience:

Required: 

• Minimum of 7 years (with high school diploma) or 4 years (with a bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible experience in programme support, project administration, financial management, or operations at the national and/or international level.
• Experience in programme coordination, budget management, monitoring & evaluation, or grant management within a development or public sector context.
• Experience in financial management, including tracking expenditures, preparing financial reports, and ensuring compliance with donor and organizational regulations.
• Experience in project management cycles, including formulation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.

Desirable: 

• Experience working in climate change, environmental management, disaster resilience, or governance-related projects.
• Experience with UN agencies, international organizations, government institutions, or development partners.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Strong understanding of programme and financial management principles, including UNDP’s Results-Based Management (RBM) approach.
• Proficiency in using office software packages (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and database applications for data management and financial tracking.
• Experience working with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems such as Quantum or similar financial and project management systems.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and reporting skills, with the ability to synthesize large amounts of data into actionable insights.
• Excellent organizational and multitasking abilities, with attention to detail and accuracy in managing programme finances and documentation.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to coordinate with government counterparts, donors, civil society organizations, and internal UNDP teams.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, managing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in the UN language of the duty station (English) is required
• Fluency in the national language of the duty station (Tok Pisin) is required for local staff

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. 

Probation

For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

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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