Antecedentes

Seychelles is a small, service-based, middle-income, island-state economy with a diverse and robust portfolio of environment and climate change related strategies, policies and regulations providing an increasingly enabling environment for the climate change sector.

The Seychelles Climate Change Strategy (SCCS) was formulated in 2009 to prevent and reduce the potential impacts of climate change on the country's development. The SCCS set preliminary guidelines for mainstreaming climate change into sustainable development as a national cross-sector programme addressing matters of policy, institutions, capacity building, civil society involvement and a 5 year action plan.

The Seychelles Sustainable Development Strategy (SSDS) 2012-20 is another substantial and more recent policy framework also covering the climate change sector and follows the previous Seychelles Environmental Management Plan (EMPS) [2000-10] the SSDS 2012-20 as the national instrument setting implementation priorities for sustainable development in line with Agenda 21.

The Government of the Seychelles (GoS) leads the response to the climate change challenge , authoring and endorsing reform policies and strategies, involving domestic actors including non-state actors (NSA), enabling increasing participation of the private sector in the implementation of the SCCS / SSDS, and engaging in dialogue with donors, showing control and leadership in modernization reforms on public financial management and good governance, accountability and environmental sustainability.

GoS commitment to the SCCS / SSDS is visible in the policy and strategic on-going reforms, but the SCCS / SSDS do not have a medium term expenditure framework and are not linked to the major ongoing macroeconomic reform program. The absence of inter-policy linkages and integration of the macroeconomic framework in the SCCS / SSDS does pose serious challenges for their implementation and needs to be addressed.

As evidenced from the policy directives, coastal climate change adaptation is a high priority, in view of the impacts of Climate change in terms of coastal erosions and flooding in vulnerable areas. A number of studies have consequently been initiated and emergency remedial works have started on the affected areas on Mahé and La Digue using adaptation approaches such as Ecosystem Based Adaptation (EBA).

Under the EU GCCA + project, cost-effective EBA methods will be applied in project activities, in combination with various engineering technologies to address site-specific issues and opportunities enhancing climate change resilience to coastal flooding by addressing several key issues. 

Deberes y responsabilidades

Under the direct supervision of the GCCA National Project Manager (NPM), and overall supervision of the UNDP Programme Manager for Seychelles, the Programme Assistant (PA) will support the Project Manager in the implementation of the activities outlined in the project document and the Work plan.

The PA will support the administrative, financial aspects as well as handle external communications and travel requests, as well as the acquisition of equipment, goods and services.

The PA will as part of his/her overall duties:

• Work under the direct supervision of the National Project Manager, supporting him/her in the timely implementation of all activities as specified in the project document as per the agreed work plan;
• Assist the NPM in preparation of project workplans, reports and in procurement activities;
• Prepare specifications for procurement under the project;
• Assist the NPM in organization of the Technical Review Meetings for reviewing proposals under the Project;
• Assist the NPM in the coordination, monitoring and close follow-up of the activities of all experts, consultants and project support staff to ensure timely provision of inputs and achievement of outputs and deliverables;
• Support the NPM in preparing for Steering Committee meetings;
• Contribute to the preparation of Project Reports to be submitted to the EU;
• Work closely with the PM and UNDP Programme Manager to undertake day-to-day financial duties necessary for the efficient delivery of the project;
• Assist in the consultative process as required under the project;
• Draft financial reports under guidance of the National Project Manager;
• Assist the National Project Manager in the organizations of the various meetings, workshops, seminars and consultations;
• Maintain records and assist the NPM in the overall management of the Project.

Managerial Functions:

• Provide administrative support in the management of the GCCA Project processes/transactions in implementing procurement and contracting of commodities, materials, equipment and services, ensuring high quality and accuracy of work;
• Use his/her own discretion to address unforeseen situations, while seeking advice from and/or reporting to supervisor as applicable.

Programme Development and Management:

• Liaise with UNDP CO in Mauritius and the European Union regarding the project and in securing/disbursement of funds and assets as per UNDP rules and regulations.

Competencias

• Ability to demonstrate UN Core values of ethics and integrity;
• Ability to build support and political acumen;
• Must be able to create an enabling environment for open communication;
• Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning;
• Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
• Demonstrated diplomatic, interpersonal, networking and negotiating skills;
• Good planning and organizational skills;
• Ability to work under tight deadlines;
• Demonstrated management, interpersonal and networking skills;
• Ability to work both independently and as a member of a team;
• Commitment to team work, accountability, creativity, client orientation, continuous learning, technological awareness, openness to change and ability to manage complex situations, respect for diversity;
• Good professional knowledge of main office computer application.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education:      

• Must have completed Secondary Education (Minimum ‘O’ level);
• Secondary Education with specialized certification in Accounting and Finance;
• Possessing a Diploma in Accounting/Finance Office Management and or related fields, will be an advantage.

Experience:

• 3-5 years’ experience in finance or administrative support related to project management at the local level;
• Experience with working on development projects would be an asset;
• Demonstrated familiarity with procurement processes of UNDP or other agencies;
• Preferred 1 year working experience with an international intergovernmental agency in a similar capacity (preferably the United Nation);
• Must be proficient in MS Office and relevant software especially with regards to spreadsheets and database;
• Excellent organisational, interpersonal and time management skills;
• Self-motivated with well-developed oral and written communication skills;
• Proactive with an ability to deal with people at all levels.

Language:     

• Fluency in spoken and written English is essential;
• Proficiency in other local languages would be advantageous.

Other:  

• The applicant will be required to travel occasionally to La Digue to support project activities and events organised on la Digue;
• Good professional knowledge of main office computer applications.

Mode of Application:

• Interested and qualified candidates should apply on-line through UNDP jobs website:  http://jobs.undp.org or www.mu.undp.org (under Operations);
• Please ensure that you upload the Personal History Form – P11 (available at www.mu.undp.org under Operations/Jobs) and your CV as one attachment in the relevant field of the on-line application;
• Please merge all your documents (Covering Letter, CV & P11 form) into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one (1) document;
• You are required to provide the exact titles of your degrees/qualifications (as per certificates) in the Personal History Form and CV;
• Incomplete applications or applications received after the closing date will not be given consideration;
• Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted;
• Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

UNDP reserves the right to call the best qualified candidates and not to make any appointment following this advertisement.