Background

• UNDP will use a transparent and competitive screening process, though will only contact those applicants in whom there is further interest;

No telephone inquires will be entertained. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted;


• Please complete and attach the UNDP P11 for which can be downloaded at the following link:

http://un.by/vacancy/undp/form/

Background information:

The Government of the Republic of Belarus and other Belarusian actors engaged in the human rights and justice area recognize enhanced access to justice as a critical issue. While the Belarusian legislation prescribes the establishment of specialized courts within the system of general and commercial courts in line with chapter 6 of the Belarusian Constitution, lack of de-facto specialisation of the courts remains one of the challenges in the implementation of the constitutional right to judicial protection. This stands in the way of a fully professionalized and targeted effort by the court system in such areas as juvenile justice and administrative justice.

The ultimate goal of the project is to ensure that the population of Belarus, including marginalized and vulnerable groups, enjoys access to justice through an effective and professional court system, including through the specialisation of courts and judges, which has been identified as an important prerequisite for effective and professional court system functioning.

The project objectives are as follows:

1. To support full-scale specialisation of courts as prescribed in the constitution and to promote further improvement of the legislation concerning the court system.
2. To create a sustainable, high-quality basis for systematic and continuous professionalization of judges, to enhance their capacity to work professionally and efficiently within the court system.

Expected outputs of the project:
1. Recommendations towards the improvement of the administration of justice, including through the system of specialised courts, developed;
2. A curriculum for the training of judges reflecting the specialised court system developed.
3. The developed curriculum for the training of judges tested and further adjusted based on lessons learned during the pilot phase;
4. Text books supporting the trainings and functioning for judges elaborated, printed and disseminated.

Gender issues in the project will be addressed through a focus on family law within the component on juvenile justice. International experience in engendering the project outputs will be studied and taken into account.

The project will be partially implemented via NEX-advances.

Duties and Responsibilities

Work Performed/or responsibilities:

Admin&Finance Assistant under the guidance and direct supervision of the Project Manager provides execution of administrative and financial services for the successful implementation of project activities and the achievement of planned project results. He/she promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations and works in close collaboration with the national partners, donors for resolving complex finance-related issues and information delivery.

The Admin&Finance Assistant is responsible for administrative (contractual, organizational and logistical) matters under the project and provides necessary assistance to the Project Manager in the implementation of day-to-day project activities. He/she is responsible for all accounting (disbursements, record-keeping, cash management) matters under the project. The Admin&Finance Assistant reports to the Project Manager.

Summary of Key Functions:

• Accounting and administrative support;
• Provide financial monitoring and reporting.

Accounting and administrative support focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Provide support in administrative and personnel issues to ensure the effective running of the project management unit;
• Assist Project Manager in drafting project correspondence and documents; prepare correspondence of administrative nature;
• Prepare draft job descriptions, vacancy announcements, compiling matrixes in consultation with Project Manager for UNDP HR approval;
• Assist in collection, preparation and submission of support documents for IC recruitment using UNDP recruitment system;
• Provide maintenance and monitoring of staff monthly and annual attendance records for CO review;
• Under Project Manager’s coordination  provide services for performance evaluation review of project personnel;
• Assist Project Manager in responding to telephone inquiries, fax, post and e-mail transmissions, and co-ordinate appointments;
• Provide proper accounting to the project by controlling the supporting documents for payments and reviewing financial reports sub-contractors and sub-recipients;
• Prepare submission of payment requests with proper support documentation to UNDP CO;
• Prepare and submit travel documents to UNDP CO in accordance with UNDP requirements;
• Provide necessary financial and logistical support to visits of foreign experts and delegations (visa support, transportation, hotel accommodation etc.);
• Collect and keep files of project documents, expert reports and ensure general circulation of documents;
• Provide English translation as required.

Provide financial monitoring and reporting focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Provide financial support to ensure an effective running of the project management unit in compliance with UNDP rules, regulations and policies of financial activities, financial recording/reporting system;
• Provide follow-up on audit recommendations;
• Implement effective internal controls and ensure proper functioning of a client-oriented financial resources management system;
• Contribute to preparation of periodic financial reports required by relevant national and/or donor procedures for project, donors, government and other parties involved in implementation and funding of activities;
• Ensure timely submission and verification of correctness of NEX-advance reports;
• Provide support to budgets/ AWP preparation related to NEX advances;
• Provide advice to NEX advance organizations in proper planning, handling and reporting on UNDP resources in accordance with UNDP rules;
• Interact with UNDP CO to request funds transfer, verify financial reports, budget revisions;
• Provide financial monitoring over project commitments and expenditures, and assist the PM in assuring proper project delivery;
• Control the usage of non-expendable equipment (record keeping, drawing up regular inventories);
• Draft project correspondence and documents and finalize correspondence of financial nature;
• Edit reports and other documents for correctness of form and content in financial issues.

Other:

• Perform any other administrative and financial duties as requested by the Project Manager.

Competencies

• University degree in economics, finance, administration or management;
• At least 2 years of relevant admin and finance experience;
• Excellent finance and budgeting skills;
• Working knowledge of UNDP rules and regulations is an asset;
• Previous experience in administering UNDP projects is an asset;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web based management systems;
• Working level of written and spoken English and Russian is mandatory, including the ability to draft, edit and finalize documents in English and in Russian.

Required Skills and Experience

• Demonstrates corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
• Self-development, initiative-taking;
• Outstanding analytical, organizational and administrative skills;
• Remains calm, in control and good humoured even under pressure;
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills.