Background

Please read carefully the below information. Before you apply on-line, please download and fill in the P11 form (UNDP personal history form), that should be attached to your on-line application.

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.

Only the UNDP PERSONAL HISTORY FORM (P11) will be considered for screening of applications!  It can be downloaded at the following link:UNDP Personal History Form




UNDP and the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) launch a new project in the area of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development “Landscape approach to management of peatlands aiming at multiple ecological benefits”. The objective of the project is to to promote a landscape approach to management of peatlands so as to conserve biodiversity, enhance carbon stocks, and secure multiple ecosystem services with demonstration in the Poozerie landscape.

The project proposes an integrated approach to decision-making on peatland use that takes into account ecological as well as economic criteria, and considers carbon benefits that may be derived from participation in the voluntary and compliance markets, in addition to biodiversity, land degradation and SFM benefits. A National Strategy for Weatlands Management including a scheme for peatlands management will be developed as a consensus policy document and demonstrations of the restoration and sustainable use of peatlands will take place in a number of sites ranging from protected areas, to agricultural and forested peatlands. The existing MRV protocol for emission reductions from peatlands will be extended to agriculture and forestry biotopes.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Belarus is the project’s national executing agency (referred further in the text as Executing Agency), with the Ministries  of Forestry, Agriculture and Food  acting as a key partners.
Objective of the assignment:

The objective of this assignment is to provide effective administrative support services to  ensure implementation of the project with delivery of all the intended outcomes and outputs in accordance with the Project Document within the approved budget.

Work Performed/or responsibilities:
The Administrative and Financial Assistant (AFA) will be based in Minsk and will work under the guidance and direct supervision of the Project Manager and provides administrative and financial support for the successful implementation of project activities aiming at the achievement of all the 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 and project staff for resolving complex finance and administrative related issues.

The AFA is responsible for all administrative (contractual, organizational and logistical) matters under the project and provides assistance to the Project Manager (PM) and other members of the project team 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 AFA reports to the Project Manager and works in close cooperation with other members of the project team.

Summary of Key Functions:

• Overall, provides all necessary support to the Project Team in the implementation of the project in accordance with the respective UNDP and GEF procedures.
• Accounting and administrative support;
• Provide financial monitoring and reporting.

Duties and Responsibilities

Accounting and administrative support:

• 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 and vacancy announcements along with all the supporting documents for UNDP HR review;
• Assist in collection, preparation and submission of 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;
• Prepare and submit to UNDP CO payment requests ensuring the requests are supported with proper documentation;
• Prepare and submit travel documents to UNDP CO in accordance with UNDP requirements;
• Provide necessary financial and logistical support to project events, including among other workshops, seminars, working meeting and visits of international and national  experts and delegations (visa support, transportation, hotel accommodation etc.);
• Collect and keep files of project documents, expert reports and ensure general circulation of documents;
• Maintain the project’s disbursement ledger and journal;
• Provide translation of documents for/to English/Russian as required. Provides English/Russian interpretation during meetings on project related issues upon project manager request

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 and GEF rules, regulations and policies of financial activities, financial recording/reporting system;
• Provide financial monitoring over project commitments and expenditures, and assist the PM in assuring proper project delivery;
• Draft project budget revisions;
• 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;
• Interact with UNDP CO to request funds transfer, verify financial reports, budget revisions;
• Control the usage of non-expendable equipment (record keeping, drawing up regular inventories);
• Assist in procurement of services and goods under the project;
• Edit reports and other documents for correctness of form and content in financial issues.

Competencies

• Self-development, initiative-taking;
• Acts as a team player and facilitating team work. Ability to work effectively under pressure;
• Outstanding organizational and administrative skills;
• Strong oral and written communication skills;
• Experienced computer user with focus on office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) with advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages. Experience in handling of web based management systems is desirable.

Required Skills and Experience

• University degree in economics, finance, administration or management;
• At least 2 years of relevant finance/administrative  experience;
• Excellent finance and budgeting skills;
• Working knowledge of UNDP rules and regulations is a strong asset;
• Previous experience in administering UNDP/GEF projects is a strong asset;
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Russian is mandatory, including the ability to draft, edit and finalize documents in English and in Russian.