UNDP Jobs - 58432- Project Administrative and Finance Assistant- GoI-

Project Administrative and Finance Assistant- GoI- UNDP Project ‘Strengthening Natural Resource Management’ (Open to Indian Nationals Only)

Location :

New Delhi, INDIA

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

02-Aug-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SB-2

Duration of Initial Contract :

One Year (Renewable on the basis of performance and availability of funds)

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

Human survival and well-being depends upon biodiversity and healthy ecosystems and the goods and services they provide. The conservation of the rich biological diversity is facing new challenges such as multiple-use landscapes, climate change, increased commitment to local communities’ access to resources etc. In India, the key institutions and relevant line departments working on forest, biodiversity and wildlife governance in India have limited capacities to deal with these emerging challenges related to conservation. There is need for diverse biodiversity governance approaches, each specifically suited to local conditions. UNDP is implementing a GoI-UNDP Project ‘Strengthening Natural Resource Management’ along with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change since 2013 with the following components:

Strengthened capacity of key biodiversity governance institutions to respond to emerging challenges;
Government supported changes in forest and sectoral policy and guidelines;
Support the Government of India on south-south cooperation to implement select decisions and priorities under the Convention on Biological Diversity;
Support models of governance for sustainable and equitable access.

UNDP has recently introduced a new initiative, namely the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), in India under the GoI- UNDP Project ‘Strengthening Natural Resource Management’.

BIOFIN is managed by the UNDP Ecosystems and Biodiversity Programme globally, in partnership with the European Union, the Governments of Germany, Switzerland, Norway and Flanders, who support the initiative with a contribution of US$28 million. BIOFIN is currently being piloted in 19 countries, to be scaled up to 29 soon.

Conservation of biodiversity requires huge investments. This has been confirmed by the study conducted by the High Level Panel on Global Assessment of Resources. The findings indicate that the global investment required to implement the Global Aichi Targets ranges between US $ 150 and 440 billion annually.

With this background, UNDP, at the Eleventh meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Hyderabad, launched the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), as a new global partnership, seeking to address the biodiversity finance challenge in a comprehensive manner-building a sound case for increased investment in the management for ecosystems and biodiversity.

As an obligation under CBD, India prepared the National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) in 2008. Thereafter, India has developed 12 National Biodiversity Targets (NBTs) in consultation with concerned ministries/departments, using the Strategic Plan and its 20 Aichi targets as the framework, and has included these in NBAP Addendum 2014 to NBAP 2008.

BIOFIN provides a systematic and flexible approach to identify and mobilize the financial resources needed for implementing the NBAP and making progress towards achieving the NBTs. Through implementation of BIOFIN, it is expected to further enhance awareness and sensitization about significance of biodiversity in development sectors, thereby, inter alia leveraging existing resources to contribute more towards biodiversity, and reducing the financial gap in achieving the NBTs. Implementation of BIOFIN in India would be country driven and would build on the activities already undertaken for assessing funding for biodiversity as a part of preparing NBAP Addendum 2014.

UNDP is looking for a dynamic individual to provide administrative and finance assistance under the BIOFIN Programme. The selected candidate will be placed in the UNDP, New Delhi under the supervision of the Programme Analyst and will support the BIOFIN team in India. He/she will work in close collaboration with the Project Officer-Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and the Project Officer- National Biodiversity Authority.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Administrative and Finance Assistance will support the Programme Analyst, UNDP in New Delhi in the following:

Formulation of project Annual Work Plans, Quarterly Progress Reports (QPR), Project Implementation Reports (PIRs);
Tracking utilization of financial resources;
Following up on performance indicators/ success criteria, targets and milestones and monitor the project implementation;
Identifying and predicting potential operational and financial problems, reporting to the concerned authorities and developing solutions to rectify them;
Maintaining proper records of supporting documents of fund disbursements and providing required information for the audit;
Assisting the Audit team in conducting audit and implementing the audit recommendations;
Maintaining of the internal expenditures control/monitoring system to ensure fund disbursement following UNDP norms and procedures;
Providing assistance in management of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations;
Preparing financial reports for Project Steering Committee (PSC) Meetings and provide financial expenditure statements/reports as required;
Operating the UNDP Financial Accounting System (ATLAS) and performing various tasks thereunder such as (but not limited to)- payment vouchers for the project, settling of travel claims, vendor payments, creation of e-requisitions in the system, making budget checks and receipts- under the guidance of Programme Analyst, UNDP;
Supporting the process for procurement of services and goods adhering to UNDP POPP guidelines;
Assisting in administrative tasks like travel arrangements, meetings, conference and workshops for the team;
Supporting team members in the organization of trainings, workshops, stakeholder consultations, arrangements of study tour, at national and international locations
Drafting and maintaining project files, documents, concept notes, correspondence and various communications as required by the authorities;
Maintaining a filing system ensuring safekeeping of confidential material related to BIOFIN;
Serving as a custodian for management of office stationery supplies;
Organizing trainings for the team members on financial rules;
Ensuring 100% delivery against planned project results and meeting financial delivery targets in annual work plan. Closely tracking slippage against work plan and recommending corrective actions;
Supervising the work of team members or consultants, as may be recruited under the BIOFIN;
Apart from the above the Project Administrative and Finance Assistant will also be required to execute other duties and assignments entrusted by the Head, Energy and Environment Unit, UNDP, and Programme Analyst, UNDP as relevant to the implementation of the programme.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
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:

Knowledge Management and Learning:

Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office;
Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in the area of professional discipline and job knowledge, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills;
Demonstrates competent analytical and presentation skills.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

Ability to assist the team in financial and physical reporting;
Excellent working knowledge of MS Office-Word, Excel, Access, Power Point, Intra-Internet, e-mail applications etc.

Management and Leadership:

Focuses on expected impact and results and responds positively to feedback;
Promotes teamwork and shows conflict resolution skills;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Demonstrates oral and written communication skills;
Supports the team in building strong relationships with stakeholders and external actors;
High interpersonal skills, and ability to remain calm, in control and good humoured under pressure;
Ability to prioritize assignments and requirements, and multitask as needed;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
Demonstrates skills to liaise and work with varied stakeholders especially government and technical agencies.

Communication Skills:

Good communication skills;
Good interpersonal and presentation skills, with an ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Administration/ Finance/ Economics or other related field.

Experience:

At least 5 years of experience in the field of administration and finance preferably in an International Organization;
Experience in procurement, financial and audit procedures;
Understanding of stakeholders related to conservation work in India, especially Biodiversity Finance;
Experience in organizing workshops and conferences with government agencies will be desirable.

Language:

Proficiency in English;
Good command of Hindi.

Remuneration package is INR 50,065/- (all-inclusive and taxable). UNDP offers additional benefits which include medical insurance coverage for the service contract holder and limited pension reimbursement for contract holder and encourages work life balance.

UNDP strives to have a workforce which reflects diversity and gender balance, and applies an equal opportunities approach. UNDP does not solicit or screen for information in respect of HIV or AIDS status. All selection is on merit.