UNDP Jobs - 51138- Programme Associate -(Open to Myanmar Nationals on

Programme Associate -(Open to Myanmar Nationals only)

Location :

Yangon, MYANMAR

Type of Contract :

FTA Local

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

05-Dec-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

GS-6

Duration of Initial Contract :

One year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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.

Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Myanmar has been implementing the new Country Programme Action Plan 2013-15 (CPAP) signed with the Government of Myanmar. The CPAP comprises of 3 main pillars, namely: Pillar 1- Promoting local governance; Pillar 2 – Climate Change, Environmental Conservation, Renewable Energy and Disaster Risk Reduction; and Pillar 3 – Support for Democratic Governance and Development Effectiveness.

The Promoting Local Governance pillar aims to produce 5 specific outputs, as follows:

Output 01 - Strengthened institutional capacity for local governments and township administrations for area-related development planning, responsive and effective public service delivery, organizational management and conflict prevention;
Output 02 – Citizens and communities engaged in local development and monitoring of service delivery (civil society, media support);
Output 04 - Strengthened capacity of institutions required to support livelihoods at the local level (microfinance, vocational training, technical extension centres); and
Output 05 – Livelihood support for social cohesion.

Output 1 is designed to assist the government in strengthening institutional capacity of sub national governments (being State/Region, District and Township level Administrations) in several thematic area such as participatory planning and budgeting; responsive and effective people-centred service delivery; local government financial management and conflict mitigation and conflict prevention; as well as the introduction of a township development fund (TDF) jointly with UNCDF.

An essential governance area within the reforms is the development of a people centred approach to service delivery, and an inclusive and participatory planning process, responsive to the needs of the people. Several steps to increase the participation of citizens in planning processes have recently been taken by forming a number of supporting committees at the Township level.

A main challenge in the context of local planning is the lack of experience and limited capacity in facilitating broader participation in development planning at the township level. Procedures and systems have not yet been developed sufficiently for establishing a comprehensive and integrated development planning process. Overall, the current framework of township planning, coordination of the planning and participatory committees, cross-sectoral coordination and management, needs to be further strengthened and integrated.

Among the other core activities to be undertaken by UNDP under output 01 is a mapping of the quality of local/sub-national governance in Myanmar to serve as a baseline and input in future support activities. It will provide national stakeholders with the necessary data and information to make better informed decisions/produce better informed policies/better plans for improved service delivery and democratic governance at local level. This is also described as a flagship activity of the agency, as it is expected to contribute to an enhanced basis for policy dialogue, and to support decision making, planning and engagement for national stakeholders as well as development partners in the area of local governance reform and capacity-building.

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist (Local Development) and with close coordination of Programme Specialist (Local Governance), the Programme Associate provides the Output 1 related programme, financial, administrative and logistics supports for its effective delivery in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations, and in close collaboration with other programme, operations and area-based personnel as required.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

Support to programme implementation and programme management;
Support to programme assurance;
Support to operational, administrative and logistics activities; and
Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing.

Ensures support to programme implementation and programme management focusing on achievement of the following results:

Assisting formulation and design of the programme and preparation and revision of Annual Work Plan (AWP);
Creating, revising and closing projects in ATLAS (UNDP’s web-based enterprise resource system);
Preparing timely and accurate budget revisions;
Monitoring expenditures, tracking accurate use of funds, and preparing monthly expenditure reports and other budget and expenditure statements as required; and
Preparing management and operations budgets and monitoring the utilization of management and operations budgets.

Ensures effective support to programme assurance focusing on achievement of the following results:

Assisting the operational and financial management of the Output, and ensuring that all operational and financial procedures are properly implemented;
Reviewing financial transactions by screening the necessary supporting documentation;
Creating requisitions in ATLAS, and budget-checking requisitions, POs and vouchers;
Preparing non-PO vouchers;
Maintaining the internal expenditures control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed; transactions are correctly recorded and posted in ATLAS;
Taking timely corrective actions on un-posted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers;
Ensuring accurate and comprehensive documentation, filling and achieving.
Supporting audit exercises, including by preparing documentation, liaising with auditors, providing clarification, and information and ensuring and monitoring the implementation of audit recommendations;
Contributing to the organization of Output Boards, including preparing financial reports and organizing Output Board meetings; and
Contributing to reporting, monitoring and reporting of programmes and programmatic interventions in the subject area, tracking use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations.

Ensures operational, administrative and logistics support focusing on achievement of the following results:

Supporting procurement activities of the Output, including by overseeing procurement processes, liaising closely with Procurement Unit to resolve bottlenecks, raising e-requisitions, maintaining roasters for ongoing contracts, providing timely reminders to output team colleagues on contract expiry and extension timelines and ensuring the timely disbursement of payments against contracts;
Supporting human resource activities of the Output, including by overseeing recruitment processes, liaising closely with human resources unit to resolve bottlenecks, maintaining an overview of personnel contacts, and providing timely reminders to output team colleagues on contract expiry and extension timelines;
Supporting consultants and short-term staff, including by managing their visa, protocol, and travel arrangements and liaising with them on administrative and logistics issues;
Providing logistics support for programme implementation activities such as trainings, workshops, meetings; liaising with counterpart organizations in doing so; and
Supporting mission travel, including by processing travel and security authorizations, organizing air travel, ground transportation, accommodation, and other logistics arrangements and processing travel claims.

Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing focusing on achievement of the following results:

Identifying and putting in place best financial and administrative management practices in the Output and Pillar;
Supporting the programme-related information and capacity needs of the Output, including of the area offices;
Organization of trainings for output staff on relevant topics; and
Sound contribution to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

The key results have an impact on the success of country programme within specific areas of cooperation. In particular, the key results have an impact on the design, operation and programming of activities.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Advocacy/Advancing a Policy-Oriented Agenda:

Preparing information for advocacy

Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating UNDP’s mandate.

Results-Based Programme Development and Management:

Contributes into results through primary research and analysis

Assesses project performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into project work;
Researches linkages across programme activities to identify critical points of integration;
Monitors specific stages of projects/programme implementation;
Analyzes country situation to identify opportunities for project development;
Participates in the formulation of proven successful approaches and drafts proposals accordingly.

Building Strategic Partnerships:

Maintaining a network of contacts

Maintains an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership related issues;
Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders.

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches:

Enhancing processes or products

Generates new ideas and processes new, more effective ways of doing things;
Documents and analyzes innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches.

Resource Mobilization (Field Duty Stations):

Providing inputs to resource mobilization strategies

Analyzes information/databases on potential and actual donors;
Develops a database of project profiles. Identifies opportunities for project proposal for presentation to donors.

Promoting Organizational learning and Knowledge Sharing:

Basic research and analysis

Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things;
Documents and analyzes innovative strategies and new approaches.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise:

Fundamental knowledge of own discipline

Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position;
Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks;
Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning;
Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
Demonstrates in-depth understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments.

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals:

Preparing information for global advocacy

Identifies and communicates relevant information for advocacy for UNDP’s goals for a variety of audiences;
Identifies and takes advantage of opportunities for advocating for UNDP’s mandate.

Client Orientation:

Establishing effective client relationships

Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion;
Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines;
Anticipates client needs and addresses them promptly.

Core Competencies:

Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity;
Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
Self-development, initiative-taking;
Acting as a team player and facilitating team work;
Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
Creating synergies through self-control;
Managing conflict;
Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others;
Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
Informed and transparent decision making.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Completion of Secondary Education (matriculation or its equivalent);
Specialized certification in accounting, finance and administration would be preferred;
Bachelor Degree in Accounting, Management, Public Administration, Economics, Social Science, Mathematics, Statistics, or related field of studies or a diploma or specialized certificate in these disciplines will be desirable but not a requirement;.
Prince2 training and certification, RMG.

Experience:

At least 6 years of progressively responsible administrative or programme experience at the national or international level;
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) is a must;
Advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages will be an added value;
Experience in handling web-based management systems will be an added value;
Knowledge of the Enterprise Resource Planning Systems, such as ATLAS, would be an added advantage.
Past experience with UN or UNDP would be an added advantage.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in both oral and written English language.

Note:

Must be Myanmar national.

Application:

“Candidates must apply on-line through UNDP job website together with duly filled and signed UN-P11 form, academic qualification certificates. Applications without these document will not be considered. P11 form can be downloaded here:

http://sas.undp.org/documents/P11_Personal_history_form.docx ”. Please scan all documents in one single PDF file to upload because the system takes only one attachment.