Background

The Project would like to contract a suitably qualified Malaysian to fill the post of Project Assistant

Please follow the application instructions below (bearing in mind to upload the P-11 form instead of your CV/resume). APPLICATIONS WITHOUT THE FULLY COMPLETED P-11 FORM WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
1) Please click on the "Apply now" button.
2) Input your information in the appropriate Sections : personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation. You can type in, or paste your Resume into the last box.
3) Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page.
4) On the next page, you will be asked to upload your Resume. Instead of uploading your Resume, please submit a fully completed and signed (if possible) UNDP Personal History Form (P-11) which can be downloaded at http://www.undp.org.my/page.php?pid=9&menu=sub&title=Join_Us
When completing the Form and, even though not currently requested, please include email addresses for your Supervisors. Without the completed and signed P11, your application will not be considered.
5) Only short-listed candidates will be contacted and please ensure that copies of your educational qualifications are available when contacted.
6) Only applications received on the website with the completed P-11 will be considered for this position.

Whilst we appreciate the individual effort put into your application, only short listed candidates will be notified.

Project Background
The Central Forest Spine (CFS) of Peninsular Malaysia is an important natural habitat of Malaysia harbouring the forest and ecosystems which are crucial for the viability of the natural resources based industry, the highly threatened wildlife like tiger, supplying 90% of the population’s water supply and providing sustainable livelihood for indigenous community. However, it faces significant threats from uncontrolled development, and unsustainable and illegal harvesting of its wildlife. These activities have severely reduced the extent of primary forest within the ecosystem, degraded and fragmented much of the remaining forest, and put its wildlife and ecosystem services at significant risk. The Federal Government of Malaysia has committed itself to improving the health of the CFS through the CFS Master Plan which was adopted in 2011. 

The Improving Connectivity in the Central Forest Spine (CFS) Landscape project (IC-CSF) which is UNDP supported and Global Environment Facility funded project, aims to increase federal and state level capacity to execute the CFS Master Plan through the implementation of sustainable forest landscape management plans in three pilot sites, financed sustainably through the diversification and increased allocation of funds for conservation. It is designed to lift the barriers to establishment of a landscape approach to the management of biodiversity. The project will comprise three complementary components, which will be cost shared by the GEF and co-financing. Each addresses a different barrier and has discrete outcomes, as follows:
Component 1. Planning, compliance monitoring and enforcement framework for integrated forest landscape management; Component 2. Sustainable forest landscape management of three priority forest landscapes within the CFS; and, Component 3. Diversification of financing sources for conservation.

The project supports the objectives of 10th Malaysia Plan, National Physical Plan 2005, Central Forest Spine Master Plan 2008 and National Tiger Action Plan 2008. It also benefits from 3 on going/completed UNDP projects in Malaysia, namely PA, NBSAP, REDD+, and PES.

Organizational Context
Under the supervision of the Programme Manager at UNDP Malaysia and the Project Manager of this project, in consultation with the National Project Director (NPD) at the Forestry Department Peninsular Malaysia, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE), the Project Assistant will provide administrative and financial management of the project. The Project Assistant will be based at the Forestry Department Peninsular Malaysia and will be part of the Project Management Unit comprising of Programme Manager, UNDP, Project Manager and the NPD.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:
-Support the administrative and financial requirements, ensuring achievement of project results and outputs;
-Support the effective project implementation and provision of management oversight
-Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing

1. Manage the administrative and financial requirements, ensuring achievement of project results and outputs:
-Support to coordinate the production of project outputs, as per the project document;
-Support to mobilize all project inputs in accordance with UNDP procedures and government procedures where relevant, for nationally executed projects;
-Support an up-to-date accounting system to ensure accuracy and reliability of financial reporting, and monitor project funds and resources;
-Maintain an effective record-keeping system for all project-related documents and information;
-Support to coordinate duty travel, seminars, public outreach activities and other project events;
-support coordination of the smooth operation of the NSC and TWG or other related working group in close consultation with NRE and UNDP CO, including logistical arrangements for meetings, preparation of meeting agendas and recording and dissemination of meeting reports in a timely manner;

2. Ensures effective project implementation and provision of technical oversight and advisory services, focusing on achievement of the following results:
-Support to prepare and revise project work and financial plans for NSC approval and allocate resources according to these documents;
-Support to Coordinate and oversee implementation of the project’s monitoring and evaluation plan;
-Liaise with UNDP, NRE, relevant government agencies, and all project partners, including donor organizations and NGOs for effective coordination of all project activities;
-Support administrative backstopping to subcontractors and training activities supported by the Project;
-Support to stakeholders participation plan and disseminate project reports to concerned stakeholders;

3. Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing, focusing on achievement of the following results:
-Support the exchange and sharing of experiences and lessons learned with relevant integrated conservation and development projects nationally and internationally;
-Support regular, announced and unannounced inspections of all sites and the activities of the project site management units.

Impact of Results:
The key results are aimed at achieving the project development objective, which is ssustainable forest landscape management in the Central Forest Spine Landscape secures critical wildlife habitats, conserves biodiversity and carbon stocks and maintains the continuous flow of multiple ecosystem services

The UNDP-GEF project will contribute to secure global environmental benefits through enhanced national contribution to sustainable management of 5.3 million ha of predominantly forested land in the tropics with an array of globally significant biodiversity, as well as achievement of Malaysia’s targets set under the Global Tiger Initiative. Specifically, 693,500 ha of land deemed a priority area in both the CFSMP and NTCAP will be under sustainable forest landscape management; with strengthened institutional capacity there will be no net loss of forest within 4.2 million ha of unprotected forest in the CFS, with 95% remaining natural forest. Due to increased connectivity and significantly strengthened law enforcement capacity, the Malayan tiger population will increase by 20% from its current estimated 500 individuals. Through safeguarding of the CFS by increasing the compatibility of different land uses with biodiversity conservation and maintenance of multiple ecosystem services as well as by realising payments for ecosystem services, the Project is directly contributing to arresting and reversing the global trends in land degradation, in particular deforestation.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:
- Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards (human rights, peace, understanding between peoples and nations, tolerance, integrity, respect, results orientation (UNDP core ethics) impartiality;
- Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
- Treats all people fairly without favouritism.

Functional Competencies:
- Assist Project Manager to oversee timely project implementation and to provide the necessary trouble shooting to keep project implementation on schedule;
- Assist Project Manager to formulate and manage budgets and project oversight functions, including audit, accurate and thorough risk assessment and management;
- Assist strategic planning, results-based management and reporting: knowledge of project cycle, excellent work/project planning skills,
- Promotes knowledge management and a learning environment in the office;
- Sensitivity to and responsiveness to all partners.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
A degree in a subject related to natural resources management or environmental science or project management .

Experience:
-At least 5 years of administrative and/or financial management experience;
-Demonstrated ability to administer project budgets, and track financial expenditure;
-Demonstrated ability to maintain effective communications with different stakeholders, and arrange stakeholder meetings and/or workshops;
-Excellent computer skills, in particular mastery of all MS Office programmes;
-A good working knowledge of English and Bahasa Malaysia.

Language Requirements:
Excellent oral and written skills in English and Bahasa Malaysia.