UNCDF Jobs - 52358- Project Associate

Project Associate - UNCDF

Advertised on behalf of

UNCDF

Location :

Yangon, MYANMAR

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

SC-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 Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is the UN’s capital investment agency for the world’s 48 least developed countries. It creates new opportunities for poor people and their communities by increasing access to microfinance and investment capital.

The MicroLead Programme was launched in 2008 by UNCDF with the purpose of providing funding to leading southern Financial Service Providers (FSPs) on a competitive basis to facilitate their entry with savings-led methodologies into LDCs, including in post-conflict and transitional contexts, where access to finance is most limited.

The creation of MicroLead was largely motivated by UNCDF’s wider perspective and focus on combining interventions that expand access over the short term while reinforcing a core approach of developing financial markets over the medium term by smartly using subsidies and its lending and guarantee instruments.

MicroLead leverages:

The catalytic role of ‘market leaders’ which can dramatically expand the scale of retail services based on proven business models and also shape norms and standards of practice in underserved markets that can help to drive overall market development;
The role of market leaders to crowd in and attract investors to capitalize or refinance lending portfolios, allowing public institutions to limit their investments to smart subsidies;
Opportunities for low-income people to save through safe, convenient and flexible products that are provided alongside opportunities to borrow, which market leaders are more capable of delivering safely.

In Myanmar, UNCDF has been working since 2012 to create an inclusive financial sector by providing access to financial services for individuals and micro and small businesses thanks to its three year Programme. UNCDF Myanmar is currently funding the in-country operations of three Financial Sector Providers (FSPs). UNCDF funded FSPs are operating in Microfinance and in the Credit Union sector.

In July 2014 as part of the MicroLead Programm, UNCDF Myanmar launched the Financial Diaries Research, a one year project which takes an in-depth look at clients and their financial situations over a period of time.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Programme Specialist, the Project Associate will be responsible for the following tasks.

Provides effective support to management of the CO programme focusing on the achievement of the following results:

Creation of a project in financial system (ATLAS), preparation of required budget revisions, revision of project award and project status, regular update/record the status of unutilized funds, operational and financial closure of a project(s);
Provision of guidance to the executing agencies/implementing partners on routine implementation of projects;
Presentation of information for audit of projects; supports implementation of audit recommendations;
Supports formulation of programme strategies and ensure the implementation of programme/project activities focusing on achievement of annual work plan.

Provides administrative and coordination support to UNCDF Myanmar focusing on achievement of the following results:

Review of projects Financial Reports; preparation of non-PO vouchers for development projects, if required;
Maintenance of the internal expenditures control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed; transactions are correctly recorded and posted in ATLAS;
Administrative support to missions, consultancies, meetings and conferences concerning the Pillar1;
Coordinate with counterpart departments and CO’s Administrative Unit for securing visas and travel clearances for missions;
Coordinate with counterpart departments for meeting requests;
Coordinate with CO’s Administrative and Travel Units for logistics purposes;
Facilitate the sharing of quarterly project reports/ad hoc reports in collaboration with project team to counterpart departments as and when required;
Coordinate and work together with CO’s Communication Unit for contribution agreements, donor reports, etc.; obtain necessary information to facilitate the timely securing of visas and travel clearances for mission members.

Supports resource mobilization focusing on achievement of the following results:

Track and report on allocated resources, as assigned. Review of contribution agreements relating to the allocated resources, managing the contributions in ATLAS;
Ensure funds are utilized in accordance with the contribution agreements;
Facilitate the programme/project in preparation of donor reports as and when required;
Support in the recruitment of staff and consultants.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Building Strategic Partnerships:

Maintaining information and databases

Analyzes general information and selects materials in support of partnership building initiatives;
Maintains databases of donor information.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing:

Basic research and analysis

Researches best practices and poses new, more effective ways of doing things;
Documents innovative strategies and new approaches;
Identifies and communicates opportunities to promote learning and knowledge sharing.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise:

Fundamental knowledge of processes, methods and procedures

Understands the main processes and methods of work regarding to the position;
Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks;
Identifies new and better approaches to work processes and incorporates same in own work;
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.

Promoting Organizational Change and Development:

Presentation of information on best practices in organizational change

Documents ‘best practices’ in organizational change and development within and outside the UN system;
Demonstrates ability to identify problems and proposes solutions.

Design and Implementation of Management Systems:

Data gathering and implementation of management systems

Uses information/databases/other management systems;
Provides inputs to the development of simple system components;
Makes recommendations related to work procedures and implementation of management systems.

Client Orientation:

Maintains effective client relationships

Reports to internal and external clients in a timely and appropriate fashion;
Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines;
Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients;
Pro-activeness and ability to work as a team and under pressure is an asset;
Responds to client needs promptly.

Promoting Accountability and Results-Based Management:

Gathering and disseminating information

Gathers and disseminates information on best practice in accountability and results-based management systems;
Prepares timely inputs to reports;
Maintains databases.

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 required;
Bachelor degree in the areas of finance and accounting, business administration, economic development or other relevant degree an advantage.

Experience:

At least 6 years of hands-on administrative/secretarial experience with development projects;
Experience with international organization is an asset;
Experience in the use of Microsoft Office (MS Word, Excel, accounting software, etc.) is essential.

Language:

Able to communicate in English and Myanmar, both written and spoken.

“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”