Project Associate

Background

Bosnia and Herzegovina is known to its rich biological diversity, endemic species and habitats as well as a series of relict ecosystems; species diversity has the highest level of endemism in Europe.  Still, in spite of the country’s rich biodiversity, international obligations, and growing man-induced pressures, nature conservation efforts remain insufficient. Socioeconomic challenges, such as unemployment and poverty, have resulted in government communities focusing on immediate economic priorities rather than environmental issues, including biodiversity. Thus, biodiversity conservation is not seen as a national priority. 

The objective of the SPA project is to achieve practical improvement in management of protected area estate of BiH, providing for better biodiversity status through strengthened resilience of key biodiversity values to climate change impact and increased revenues to protected areas from sustainable recreation. The project is called to reduce the gap between the current capacities of protected areas (PAs) with their increasing vulnerability to emerging threats, on the one hand, and the growing needs to preserve and sustainably maintain the biological and ecosystem diversity, on the other. The project aims to reduce newly emerging threats to the key biodiversity values and provide for sustainable management options and increased funding for PAs. The project makes an incremental effort in assisting the protected area management with tools and instruments aimed at diversifying and improving the sustainable, nature-based tourism offering in targeted PAs and neighbouring communities, thus providing for sustainable incremental income and a development option that valorise the unique nature values without further threatening them. The project also links the PAs to the funding opportunities provided by the governmental grant programmes for tourism development. 

The Project has been financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and is directly implemented by UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina Country Office.

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager and overall supervision of the Sector Leader, the Project Associate will support implementation of the SPA project, along with the other projects in the area of biodiversity and nature protection (ie Biofin, BESNet phase II etc.). This relates to a variety of standard administrative processes ensuring high-quality and accuracy of work. The Project Associate shall promote a client, quality and result-oriented approach.

To ensure consistent service delivery, the Project Associate will work in close collaboration with the SPA project staff, project staff of other climate change adaptation projects of the Energy and Environment Sector, as well as UNDP Country Office (CO) operations staff.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the core functions of the Project Associate will include the following:

 a. Support to project implementation, ensuring quality of business processes

• Ensure business processes are in line with the UNDP regulations and rules and the UNDP internal control framework; 
• Assists in the organization of field visits, missions, workshops, training, roundtables, conferences and study visits within the project; 
• Maintains and updates all administrative, personnel and financial files and records as well as general office files related to the project; 
• Assists in the preparation of draft job descriptions, vacancy announcements, requests for recruitments, interview minutes and requests for contracts; 
• Assists staff by processing requests for personnel-related documents in accordance with requirements of the organization; 
• Maintains the inventory of project assets/equipment and project correspondence and files;
• Follows up on the attendance records of project staff ensuring compliance with the CO practices; 
• Organize travel and other logistics arrangements, in line with the project’s work plan. 

b.  Support to financial monitoring and management 

• Processes all financial transactions on the UNDP online Corporate Planning System, such as non-PO invoices, requesting receipts, requisitions, customer/supplier info updates, project budget revisions, etc.; 
• Ensures proper receipt of goods and services; 
• Maintains the internal expenditures control system that ensures that invoices processed are matched and completed; transactions are correctly recorded and posted in the online system; 
• Takes timely corrective actions on unposted invoices, including the invoices with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved invoices; 
• Supports periodic and ad-hoc financial reporting to UNDP and other parties; 
• Regularly monitors expenditures and commitments against the Project budget and relevant plans, and provides finance related information to support Project implementation and planning and recommends corrective actions when necessary; 
• Drafts various correspondence concerning finance, operations and budgetary issues as required; 
• Assists team members, experts and consultants in liaison with UNDP Operations on financial and other operational matters; 
• Prepares information for evaluations or audit purposes. 

c) Support to project planning 

• Collects, analyses and presents information for monitoring and evaluation of project implementation against project targets; 
• Compiles background information for the formulation of project work plans, draft annual/quarterly budgets, proposals on implementation arrangements, and drafts of quarterly project reports; 
• Supports in the monitoring of the quality of delivery inputs provided by the consultants, beneficiaries and contracted companies and communicates findings to the supervisor; 
• Maintains timetables for the Project Board meetings and provides support to organizing and holding the meetings, including the preparation and dissemination of information and follow-up. 

d) Support to knowledge building and knowledge sharing

• Participates in the trainings for the operations/projects staff on HR, Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures, etc. and organize briefings for the project staff where necessary on new internal procedures; 
• When necessary, provides guidance to project staff in business processes, administrative and other requirements and procedures; 
• Support the Project Manager in the dissemination and sharing of relevant data and lessons learned within the CO and regionally; 
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice. 

e) Support in mainstreaming of gender equality 

• Support the Project Manager in mainstreaming gender equality in the Project implementation; 
• Support the Project Manager in preparing gender equality background materials for use in discussion, correspondence and briefing sessions; 
• Ensure that all the data, when collecting and compiling inputs relating to programme, are gender disaggregated; 
• In the preparation of meetings/consultations/trainings/commissions ensure a minimum of 30% participation of the other sex. 

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

Competencies

Required Skills and Experience

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.

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.