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Project Associate

Syria

  • Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
  • Location: Syria
  • Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Administrative support
    • Project and Programme Management
  • Closing Date: 2024-02-01
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.
 
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. 
 
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. 
 
UNDP is the leading United Nations organization in fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet. Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP
 
Under Pillar 2, the Community Infrastructure Project stands as a transformative initiative aimed at preventing the further erosion of essential service provision— a critical foundation for long-term peace and development. UNDP aims to promote more inclusive, responsive, and representative local governance and more equitable, effective and gender-sensitive delivery of basic services, to strengthen the resilience of the most vulnerable people – who cannot afford private alternatives to essential services. At its core, the project seeks to enhance both access to and the quality of basic services by prioritizing the rehabilitation of critical social service facilities, and addressing the immediate needs of communities.
 
Likewise, the local governance and community resilience project focuses on strengthening local governance, service delivery, and community security. Aligned with the program's goals, it promotes inclusive and gender-sensitive governance, recognizing the pivotal role of effective governance in peacebuilding. UNDP endeavors to support greater civic engagement, community participation, and representation, especially for women, in local planning processes. This strategic approach creates opportunities for citizens' voices to shape local-level decision-making and prioritization, influencing activities under the next two UNDP programmatic priorities.
 
The project Associate works in close collaboration with the operations, programme, and project teams in the CO and UNDP HQs staff to resolve complex program-related issues and information delivery.

 

Institutional Arrangement
 
Direct reports to the Programme Specialist / Team Leader 
 
 
Duties and Responsibilities

 
  • Ensures administration and implementation of programme strategies, adapts processes and procedures focusing on achievement of the following results:
    • Present thoroughly researched information for the preparation of CCA, UNDAF, CPD, CPAP, effectively applying RBM tools, and establishing management targets (BSC). Establish mechanisms to track the use of RBM tools and maintain the RBM database.
    • Present information and identify areas for support and interventions.
    • Implement CO partnerships and resource mobilization strategies, preparing reports.
  • Provides effective support to the management of the CO programme/ projects focusing on the achievement of the following results:
    • Research and present information for formulating the country program, drafting project documents, work plans, budgets, and implementation proposals.
    • Initiate projects, input data into Quantum, and prepare necessary budget revisions.
    • Provide guidance to executing agencies for routine project implementation and monitor financial resource utilization.
    • Follow up on performance indicators, success criteria, targets, milestones, and prepare reports.
    • Analyze program situations, identify operational and financial issues, and develop solutions.
    • Conduct audits for NEX projects and implement audit recommendations.
    • Support the Local Project Appraisal Committee in project submissions, including preparing summaries, facilitating discussions, and documenting results and recommendations.
    • Review and follow up on project proposals for compliance and approval, ensuring quality and completeness.
    • Assist Project Managers in developing technical projects and program documents.
    • Manage daily activities of the Local Governance and Social Basic Services Pillar, organizing, coordinating, and supporting monitoring of implementation, ensuring timely task delivery, and resolving operational issues.
    • Support budgeting, financial planning, and annual work plan for the Local Governance and Social Basic Services Pillar, including updating budgets and work plans, tracking expenditures, ensuring compliance, and reporting on financial performance and results, and creating related requisitions on Quantum and UNALL.
  • Provides administrative support including procurement and finance to the project focusing on achievement of the following results:
    • Control supporting documents for payments and review Financial Reports for NEX projects.
    • Maintain the internal expenditures control system to ensure processed vouchers are matched and completed, and transactions are accurately recorded and posted on Quantum.
    • Take corrective actions on unposted vouchers, addressing budget check errors, match exceptions, and unapproved vouchers.
    • Support procurement for the Local Governance and Social Basic Services Pillar, tracking cases efficiently. This involves preparing procurement plans and requests, overseeing contract management and delivery, and maintaining records.
    • Assist the Project Manager in analyzing fund and grant balances, identifying surplus and deficit, and suggesting solutions. This includes reviewing fund statements and grant agreements and advising on fund allocation and reallocation.
    • Review fund statements and grant agreements and advise on fund allocation and reallocation.
    • Provide administrative support to the Local Governance and Social Basic Services Pillar, with a focus on achieving the following results:
    • Organize events, workshops, meetings, and training managed by the Local Governance and Social Basic Services Pillar. Prepare formal correspondence with governmental authorities.
    • Offer logistical support for internal and external missions conducted by the Local Governance and Social Basic Services Pillar, including transportation, accommodation, security clearance, agenda preparation, etc.
  • Provide support to the effective monitoring, evaluation, and reporting on progress of project implementation. 
    • Follow up on AWP delivery, coordinating with other Pillars. This involves reviewing progress reports, identifying bottlenecks and risks, and proposing solutions.
    • Support monitoring and evaluation tasks with Project Managers, tracking data entry and delivery progress. This includes collecting data, conducting field visits and surveys, preparing progress reports, and providing feedback for improvement.
  • Provides support in the creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy   focusing on the achievement of the following results:
    • Analyze information on donors, prepare donor profiles and databases, and establish contacts with donor counterparts.
    • Track and report on mobilized resources.
    • Follow up with field offices on collecting human stories, ensuring donor visibility, and documenting lessons learned. This includes providing support to field staff, reviewing, and editing human stories and visibility materials, and disseminating best practices and lessons learned.
  • Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the CO focusing   on the achievement of the following results:
    • Organize training for the operations/projects staff on the program.
    • Synthesize lessons learned and best practices in the program.
    • Make sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
    • The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

 

Impact of Results

The key results have an impact on the overall CO efficiency in programme/ project and success in the implementation of programme. / Project strategies. Accurate analysis and presentation of information enhances UNDP's position as a strong development partner. The information provided facilitates decision-making of the management.


 
Competencies

 
Core
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 

People Management (Insert below standard sentence if the position has direct reports.)

N/A

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies (insert up to 7 competencies) 

Thematic Area Name Definition
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.

 

 


 
Required Skills and Experience

 
Min. Education requirements
  • Secondary education is required.  
  • University Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, or equivalent field will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.
Min. years of relevant work experience 
  • Minimum of 7 years (with a high school diploma) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant progressively responsible administrative/management or programme experience is required at the national and/or international level. 
Required  skills 
  • Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.), database packages, and web-based management systems such as ERP is required
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section
  • Experience in thematic areas is desirable.
  • Experience in the preparation of financial reports and overviews is desirable.
  • Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation tools is an asset.
  • Knowledge of project management processes is highly desirable. 
  • Knowledge of procurement procedures of national/international organizations is an asset. 
Required Language(s) 
  • Fluency in written and spoken Arabic and English is required
Professional Certificates N/A
 
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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