Antecedentes

UN Security Council Resolution 1325 recognises that conflicts affects women and girls differently from men and boys, and that women must be part of conflict resolution and long-term peace building process. In this regard, UN Women has a universal mandate to assist countries and the UN system in progressing more effectively and efficiently towards achieving gender equality and empowerment of women as well as upholding women’s rights. UN Women plays a critical role in the development and strengthening of international norms and standards alongside their implementation through operational and coordination activities, while also informing the development of those norms and standards through experience on the ground. It has also established strategic partnerships and networks with a wide range of stakeholders, including governments, women’s human rights advocates, and civil society organizations.

In the Philippines, the Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signed the Framework Agreement on Bangsamoro on 15 October 2013, which puts both parties on the path to end nearly four decades of intermittent violent civil conflict. After 17 months of negotiations, the two parties agreed on crucial annexes pertaining to normalization, wealth sharing, and power sharing. The final Annex on normalization was signed in Malaysia on 25 January 2014. This has paved the way to signing of a Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), which took place on March 27, 2014.

The CAB also provides the opening for rebuilding communities and livelihoods affected by conflict, pursuing acceptable options for former combatants, restoring justice and harnessing private sector, civil society and development partners in addressing peace, security and development. To protect the most vulnerable population, particularly women and indigenous peoples, the Framework Agreement also guarantees the right of women to meaningful political participation and protection from all forms of violence; equal opportunity and non-discrimination in social and economic activity and the public service, regardless of class, creed, disability, gender and ethnicity; and establishing cultural and religious associations. These provisions in the Framework Agreement equally apply to both Muslims and non-Muslims.

To maximize the opportunities occasioned by the signing of the Framework Agreement and the CAB, the Government and the MILF are working proactively to finalize key elements of the overall peace process and direct overseas development assistance to support the new Bangsamoro entity. Recognizing that the establishment of new structures and processes in the transition to the new Bangsamoro entity will require the enhancement of capacities for governance and peacebuilding, both parties have expressed the need for technical support in managing key processes.

UN Women is currently implementing two projects on women, peace and security - one in relation to promoting women’s participation in the transition process and the establishment of the new Bangsamoro political entity and another one promoting gender-sensitive transitional justice.  The Programme and Finance Assistant is expected to provide support to the two National Project Officers overseeing the implementation of these two projects. 

Deberes y responsabilidades

Summary of Key Functions:

• Provides support to project teams in management of finance and operations;
• Provides administrative support to the project teams;
• Provides support to partnership building, project monitoring and knowledge sharing;
• Provides support in administrative and other tasks in the Philippine Office, as required.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Provides effective support to the project teams in the management of financial resources focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Programme and project budgets are carefully planned, recorded, disbursed, monitored, analyzed and reported;
• Financial reports (FACE) are properly and timely prepared by partners according to UN Women policies and procedures;
• Financial reports (FACE) are reviewed and verified thru proper sampling checks of receipts and other supporting documents;
• Advances to partners are closely monitored to ensure timely liquidation and long outstanding advance, if any, being effectively followed-up for clearance;
• Requests for payments are properly and timely prepared with required supporting documents and submitted to the regional office for payments to be made timely and accurately;
• Month-end and year-end financial closing checklists are completed and submitted timely according to HQ requirements;
• Financial documents and files are systematically recorded and stored to ensure access as well as safety and confidentiality;
• Programme and project funds are managed in keeping with UN Women’s policies, procedures and standards;
• Financial transactions and procurement (including preparation of RFQs and CFPs, receipt and evaluation thereof) are well-planned, documented and executed according to UN Women’s policies, procedures and standards;
• Accurate and updated data are maintained in Atlas and timely corrective actions on erroneous data are taken; and
• As a petty cash custodian of the office, facilitates small-valued payments with full compliance to UN Women rules and regulations, ensuring accuracy and transparency in use;

Provides support in developing, implementing and monitoring strategies to ensure the smooth day-to-day operations of the Project Teams focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Project teams are supported in ensuring smooth, prompt and effective communication and coordination with partners and with UN Women ROAP and other UN offices, and routine correspondence are promptly prepared and/or attended to;
• Project and activity outputs are delivered with properly documented quality results;
• Project and institutional documents are properly filed and updated;
• Project Teams are  provided logistical and administrative support in accessing and utilizing basic information technology; and
• Office premises, equipment and other assets are well-maintained.

Provides administrative and logistical support in the implementation of projects and activities to ensure the following:

• Travel and accommodations arrangements for project teams and for UN Women-supported partners (as the need arises), which involve coordination/preparation of travel reservations/booking, travel authorizations, processing requests for visas, identity cards, DSA, and other documents and requirements, are efficiently facilitated, organized and coordinated;
• Logistical arrangements (such as location and venue of meetings, other conference facilities) are well prepared and contribute to the achievement of the activity’s goals;
• Filing system ensuring safekeeping of confidential materials is maintained;
• Other administrative tasks including VAT (Value-Added tax) claims for project expenses if applicable, are undertaken.

Provides support to knowledge sharing, to ensure the following:

• Knowledge products are shared and accessed in an organized manner among project teams, as necessary; 
• Trainings relevant to functions are participated in and knowledge is shared/applied on work;
• Staff meetings of the project teams and other such meetings to give updates on operational concerns are attended;
• Other tasks as the need arises and as required by the National Project Officers are undertaken.

Competencias

Core Values / Guiding Principles:

Integrity:

• Demonstrates consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.

Professionalism: 

• Demonstrates professional competence and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work; Remains calm, in control and good humoured even under pressure.

Respect for diversity: 

• Demonstrates an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff;
• Demonstrate an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity.

Core Competencies:

Ethics and Values: 

• Demonstrates and safeguards ethics and integrity.

Teamwork: 

• Works collaboratively with colleagues and partners to achieve organizational goals.

Communicating and Information Sharing: 

• Facilitates and encourages open communication and strives for effective communication.

Self-management:

• Accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task.

Emotional Intelligence: 

• Stays composed and positive even in difficult moments, handles tense situations with diplomacy and tact, and has a consistent behaviour towards others.

Conflict Management: 

• Surfaces conflicts and addresses them proactively acknowledging different feelings and views and directing energy towards a mutually acceptable solution.

Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making: 

• Demonstrates informed and transparent decision-making.

Client orientation and Continuous Learning: 

• Focuses on results for the client and responds positively to criticism and feedback.

Development and Innovation: 

• Takes charge of self-development and takes initiative.

Positive Attitude:

• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.

Functional Competencies

• Ability to perform work of confidential nature and to handle a large volume of work possibly under time constraints;
• Ability to administer and execute administrative, financial and logistical processes and transactions;
• Ability to extract, interpret, analyse data and resolve operational problems;
• Ability to perform a variety of repetitive and routine tasks and duties;
• Ability to produce accurate and well-documented records conforming to the required standard;
• Ability to handle web-based management systems;
• Ability to support a team and team building skills;
• Strong attention to details;
• Strong IT skills and excellent knowledge of office software packages; and
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree preferably in Finance, Accounting, Business or Public Administration. Additional degrees or courses related to social sciences will be an asset.

Experience:

Essential:

• At least five (5) years of relevant experience in project support (administrative, finance, logistics);
• Experience in working with people of diverse cultures (Muslim Filipinos, indigenous peoples); and,
• Knowledge and skills on using Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook and the internet.

Desirable:

• Experience supporting internationally funded projects, or familiarity with the UN system especially as it relates to administrative and financial processes (especially procurement, financial reporting) - familiarity with the use of ATLAS is a clear advantage;
• Knowledge of or interest in gender equality and peace.

Language

•  Excellent written and oral command of English as well as Filipino.

Note:

The selected candidate will receive a salary that is commensurate with his/her background and work experience.  Interested applicants are encouraged to apply ONLINE and attach the UN Personal History Form (P.11), available in our website http://www.ph.undp.org/content/philippines/en/home/operations/jobs/   and send to us  on or before 5 February 2016.  Kindly note that only completed P.11 forms will be reviewed.  Please group all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document. UNDP is an equal opportunity employer. Please note that we will contact only the short-listed candidates.