UNDP Jobs - 113237- Programme Support Associate

Programme Support Associate

Location :

Bishkek, KYRGYZSTAN

Type of Contract :

NPSA (Short-Term)

Starting Date :

14-Aug-2023

Application Deadline :

27-Jul-23 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

NPSA-7

Duration of Initial Contract :

6 months

Languages Required :

English Russian

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

As the United Nations lead agency on international development, UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities, and to build resilience to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Our work is concentrated in three focus areas; sustainable development, democratic governance and peace building, and climate and disaster resilience. UNDP advocates for change, and connects countries to global knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life.

UNDP has supported Kyrgyzstan’s development progress since 1992 and supports the country in charting future pathways towards greater prosperity, resilience, and social cohesion. As an impartial policy advisor and integrator, UNDP works within the UN system and with all stakeholders in government, civil society, and private sector to advance inclusive, fundamentally sound development solutions and reforms in complex settings. Our United Nations identity ensures neutrality and respect for people’s choices. Transparency and accountability in operations makes us a trusted partner for national and international development stakeholders.

UNDP encourages and enables collective intelligence, collaboration, integration, critical thinking, and thought leadership. We mainstream innovation, digitalization opportunities, gender equity and diversity/inclusion principles in all aspects of our work. Our staff consistently strive for excellence, effectiveness, efficiency and inclusion across all areas of work.

The Sustainable Economic Development team supports senior management in formulating, evaluating, and overseeing the implementation of the UNDP Country Programme in this thematic area with a focus on portfolios such as development planning and financing, green and digital economic transformation, human mobility, and regional and local development. The team exercises leadership and support in ensuring strategic coherence in development of the portfolios, supervises project implementation, and plays a critical role in engagement to foster partnerships and mobilise resources.

The unit contributes to a collective engagement with other teams, partners, and clients to offer timely, well-planned, and efficient services that meet the standard and requirements of UNDP policies and procedures. The team harnesses innovation and digital solutions, while fostering an environment of continuous learning.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, and direct supervision of the Team Leader of Sustainable Economic Development, the Programme Support Specialist supports the management of UNDP programme within the thematic/sectoral areas assigned and will provide programming and implementation monitoring support in the areas of effective and development planning and financing, SDG acceleration, green and digital economic transformation, regional and local development, and cross-thematic development.

The Programme Support Specialist makes a key contribution to project oversight, to the quality of UNDP’s partnerships, integrated planning/reporting and oversight of the use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP policies and procedures. The Programme Support Specialist is a key contributor to strategic delivery planning and ensures the implementation of project governance, quality assurance, financial oversight, risk management, monitoring and audit activities.

Summary of Key Functions:

Support to administration of programme implementation strategies, adapts processes and procedures with a focus on results, effectiveness and efficiency.
Support to oversight of the CO programme.
Administrative support to the unit and programme portfolio.
Support in creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy.
Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing

Supports administration and implementation of programme strategies, adapts processes and procedures with a focus on results, effectiveness and efficiency, focusing on achievement of the following results:

Presentation of thoroughly researched information for preparation of CCA, UNSDCF, CPD, CPAP, effective application of RBM tools and establishment of management targets. Establishment of the mechanisms to track use of RBM tools and maintenance of RBM database.
Support to the Team Leader in the design of effective implementation strategies, including programme and procurement planning.
Implementation of the CO partnerships and resources mobilization strategies, preparation of reports.
Support to the mainstreaming of strategic innovation and digitalization in programme planning and design
Innovation and trouble-shooting to enhance programme effectiveness and efficiency

2. Provides effective support to oversight of the CO programme focusing on the achievement of the following results:

Support preparation of programme governance milestones such as programme boards.
Presentation of thoroughly researched information for formulation of country programme, preparation of project documents’ drafts, work plans, budgets, proposals on implementation arrangements.
Initiation of a project, entering project into the ERP, preparation of required budget revisions.Provision of guidance to the executing agencies on routine implementation of projects, tracking use of financial resources.
Assist and facilitate the regular monitoring of projects and follow up on performance indicators/ success criteria, targets and milestones, preparation of reports.
Analysis of the situation in programme, identification of operational and financial problems, development of solutions; engagement with Responsible Parties to troubleshoot problems.
Preparation and conduct of audit of all projects, monitor implementation of audit recommendations.
Oversee the adequacy of project archives and complete programme archival of key mission reports, supporting documents, agreements etc.

3. Provides administrative support to the unit and programme portfolio focusing on achievement of the following results:

Proper control of the supporting documents for payments, purchase orders, CAP submissions, review of all projects Financial Reports, and other budgetary and financial documentation.
Maintenance of the internal expenditures control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in the ERP.
Timely corrective actions on unposted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers.
Drafting and/or review of MOUs and partnership agreements.

4. Provides support in creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy focusing on achievement of the following results:

Analysis of information on donors, preparation of donor’s profile and database, establishment of contacts with donor counterparts for designated donors/in designated areas.
Support to field monitoring travel communications activities, and other partnership support.
Track and report on mobilized resources.
Communication with partners’ representatives.

Competencies

Core

Achieve Results:

LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline

Think Innovatively:

LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements

Learn Continuously:

LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback

Adapt with Agility:

LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible

Act with Determination:

LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident

Engage and Partner:

LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion:

LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

People Management (Insert below standard sentence if the position has direct reports.)

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies (insert up to 7 competencies)

Thematic Area	Name	Definition
*Business Management*	Project Management	Ability to plan, organise, prioritise and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goal
*Business Development*	Knowledge Generation	Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need
*Business Direction and Strategy*	Negotiation and Influence	Ability to plan, organise, prioritise and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goal
*Administration and Operations*	Documents and records management	Overall document (hard or electronic) management; registry and retention policy including storing and archiving
*Administration and Operations*	Event management (including retreats, trainings and meetings)	Ability to manage events, including venue identification, accommodation, logistics, catering, transportation, and cash disbursements, etc
*Partnership management*	Relationship management	Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding
*2030 Agenda Prosperity*	Inclusive Growth	Economic Planning

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Academic Education	Secondary or High School Diploma is required. A certificate in Business Administration/ Accounting or Finance will provide distinctive advantage to the candidate or University Degree in Business or Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences and Social Sciences will be given due consideration.
Min. years of relevant Work experience	Minimum 7 years with Secondary education or 4 years with Bachelor’s degree of progressively responsible administrative or programme experience is required at the national or international level. Experience in programme oversight, project implementation and/or development finance in the thematic areas related to Sustainable Economic Development or a similar area would be deemed a comparative advantage. Some experience in monitoring and evaluation and results-based management tools with a background and interest in the analysis of development issues and related policy matters will be an added advantage. Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems.
Required skills and competencies	Hands-on experience in programme oversight, project implementation, with public institutions, international organizations and civil society; Demonstrated capacity in monitoring, evaluation and results-based management;
Desired additional skills and competencies	Economic and financial analysis, drafting policy briefs and public finance management.
Required Language(s) (at working level)	Fluency in English and Russian required, Kyrgyz language is a strong advantage. Fluency in other UN languages is also beneficial.