Jobs - 60713- Country Programme Assistant (Open for Egyptian Nat

Country Programme Assistant (Open for Egyptian Nationals Only)

Location :

Cairo, EGYPT

Type of Contract :

FTA Local

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

21-Oct-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

GS-5

Duration of Initial Contract :

2 year

Languages Required :

Arabic 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

IFAD is an International Financial Institution and a Specialized United Nations Agency whose mission is to enable poor rural people to overcome poverty. IFAD’s headquarters is in Rome, Italy, and its staff work with poor rural people and their governments, communities and organisations in more than 90 countries to develop and finance programmes and projects aimed at increasing agricultural productivity and incomes. The Programme Management Department (PMD) is responsible for the overall lending programme of the Fund, and is composed of five regional divisions (Asia and the Pacific; East and Southern Africa; Latin America and the Caribbean; Near East, North Africa and Europe Division), Environment and Climate Division and Technical Advisory Division.

Duties and Responsibilities

Managing Project Information:

Act as focal point for all enquiries on projects that do not require CPM, CPO, for Egypt or Regional Director involvement;
Enter and maintain data on essential information systems. Generate information and statistical reports on projects, including identifying, searching, creating or summarizing such information;
Monitoring Project Activities;
Participate in implementation support/supervision and follow up missions, and in identifying constraints to implementation, making appropriate recommendations, and ensuring timely follow up of the recommendations.
Undertake initial review of Annual Work Plans and Budgets (AWPB), Audit Reports, and Progress Reports. Assist in monitor project progress and implementation, anticipate problems and recommend preventive measures;
Provide support for fulfilling IFAD fiduciary responsibilities, such as: (a) initial procurement review and background work as needed for the CPM for IFAD non-objection; (b) preliminary processing of withdrawal applications; (c) provision of guidance to projects to ensure quality of withdrawal applications; (d) initial review of project audit reports; and (e) follow up on project management matters during supervision/ implementation support missions;
Provide support to projects to enhance their M&E systems which includes RIMs indicators in order to promote better internal country coherence and effectiveness;
Participate in preparation of half yearly and annual reports on work progress relative to the annual work plan, including lessons from design and implementation support experience;
Assist in Monitoring all stages of projects to ensure timely compliance with agreed deadlines. Assist the CPO/CPM with the monitoring and administration of all aspects of project implementation including financial, budgetary and administration. Inform CPO/CPM of problems/delays identified for follow-up action as appropriate;
Monitor incoming reports from the projects, such as Audit Reports, Annual Work Plans and Budgets, Progress Reports in compliance with the Loan Agreement and agreed action;
Maintain an active and updated database and tracking system for project activities for the country office;
Assist CPO/CPM in ensuring horizontal collaboration and knowledge sharing among IFAD-funded projects on different thematic areas and implementation issues;
Contribute to the One UN process and other UN in country (FAO, UNDP, WFP, etc.) with a view to increasing the collaboration with UN agencies;
Liaise on a regular basis with IFAD HQ and prepare occasional reports and specific information and documents as per requirement and request;
Managing Project Administration;
Maintain procedural information such as rules, regulations and policies directly affecting projects;
Coordinate and monitor documentation for meetings to ensure timely preparation, distribution and follow-up;
Monitor incoming documents relating to loan effectiveness and ensure that they are submitted to the relevant in-house department;
Coordinate the administrative and logistical arrangements for missions to Egypt projects and out of Egypt) for the, Egypt Country Office staff, CPM, CPO, IFAD HQ staff and consultants;
Draft routine correspondence for the CPO/CPM and proof read and finalize all outgoing correspondence (including contracts, agreements, reports and letters).

Finance and Loan administration:

Ensure prompt processing of Withdrawal Applications received from projects, checking each WA for compliance, documentation and authorized signatures;
Follow up with projects regarding WA withheld pending supporting documentation and other requirements;
Liaise with IFAD Rome on pending payments and provide feedback to affected projects;
Review contractors’ invoices and check supporting documentation to ensure services provided and claimed for are in conformity with the terms of the contract.

Knowledge management:

Input, update and maintain accurate data and information to facilitate monitoring of project activities and to institutionalize and disseminate knowledge.

Other duties:

Perform other duties as assigned by the CPO, CPM, or the Director, NEN.

Competencies

Result-oriented Performer:

Motivation to learn; solution oriented and customer-oriented.

Team Worker/Builder:

Ability to foster teamwork and establish and maintain effective and harmonious working relationships at all levels (including managing upwards) in multicultural, multi ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Planner and Organizer:

Ability to plan, prioritize and organize work accurately; capacity to set or agree to clear priorities within a changing and challenging agenda, combined with ability to meet deadlines in a high pressure and high energy environment.

Communicator:

Excellent interpersonal skills;
Strong capacity to listen and communicate effectively with internal and external clients.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Secondary / High School education completion.

Experience:

At least five years of relevant progressively responsible project related administrative experience.

Languages:

Full command of written and spoken Arabic and English.

IT:

Excellent computer skills in software packages (MS Office suite) and other IT systems;
Familiarity with IFAD specific packages, such as PeopleSoft and with operational and administrative procedures and correspondence styles. Keyboard test at 35 wpm.