UNDP Jobs - 47583- Programme Associate

Programme Associate

Location :

Yangon, MYANMAR

Type of Contract :

FTA Local

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

11-Jul-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

GS-6

Duration of Initial Contract :

One year

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

Organizational Context

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Myanmar has embarked on a new Country Programme Action Plan (CPAP, 2013-105) in partnership with the Government of Myanmar, and under the United Nations Assistance Framework (UNSF, 2012-2015). The CPAP comprises 3 pillars, namely: Pillar 1 – Local Governance; Pillar 2 – Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Disaster Risk Reduction; and Pillar 3 – Democratic Governance and Development Effectiveness. The Local Governance pillar comprises 5 outputs, namely: output 1 – strengthened institutional capacity of local government; output 2 – strengthened institutional capacity of civil society organizations; output 3 – strengthened capacity of local media institutions; output 4 – strengthened institutional capacity of micro-finance service-providers; and output 5 – improved livelihoods and social cohesion. Output 5 will support livelihood recovery and development activities in 7 states of the country, and will also support opportunities for social cohesion and peacebuilding, at national, regional and local levels.

Under the direct supervision of the Specialist, Social Cohesion and Governance, the Programme Associate provides financial, administrative and logistical support to Output 5 activities, supports the effective delivery of programmes by providing implementation support services consistent with UNDP rules and regulations, and works in close collaboration with the programme, operations and area-based personnel as required.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

Support to programme implementation and programme management;
Support to programme assurance;
Operational, administrative and logistical support;
Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing.

Ensures support to programme implementation and programme management focusing on achievement of the following results:

Creating, revising and closing projects in Atlas (UNDP’s web-based enterprise resource system);
Preparing timely and accurate budget revisions;
Monitoring expenditures, tracking accurate use of funds, and preparing monthly expenditure reports and other budget and expenditure statements as required;
Preparing management and operations budgets and monitoring the utilization of management and operations budgets.

Ensures effective Support to programme assurance focusing on achievement of the following results:

Assisting the operational and financial management of the output, and ensuring that all operational and financial procedures and properly implemented;
Reviewing financial transactions, including by ensuring the necessary supporting documentation;
Creating requisitions in ATLAS, and budget-checking requisitions, POs and vouchers;
Preparing non-PO vouchers;
Maintaining the internal expenditures control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed; transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Atlas;
Taking timely corrective actions on un posted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers;
Ensuring accurate and comprehensive documentation, filing and archiving;
Supporting audit exercises, including by preparing documentation, liaising with auditors, providing clarification and information and ensuring and monitoring the implementation of audit recommendations;
Contributing to the organization of Output Boards, including preparing financial reports and organizing Output Board meetings;
Contributing to reporting, monitoring and evaluation of programme, including by preparing financial reports;
Supporting planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring of programmes and programmatic interventions in the subject area, tracking use of financial resources in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations.

Ensures operational, administrative and logistical support focusing on achievement of the following results:

Supporting procurement activities of the unit, including by overseeing procurement processes, liaising closely with procurement unit to resolve bottlenecks, raising e-requisitions, maintaining rosters for ongoing contracts, providing timely reminders to unit colleagues on contract expiry and extension timelines and ensuring the timely disbursement of payments against contracts;
Supporting human resource activities of the unit, including by overseeing recruitment processes, liaising closely with human resources unit to resolve bottlenecks, maintaining an overview of personnel contracts, and providing timely reminders to unit colleagues on contract expiry and extension timelines;
Supporting consultants and short-term staff, including by managing their visa, protocol and travel arrangements and liaising with them on administrative and logistical issues;
Supporting mission travel, including by processing travel and security authorizations, organizing air travel, ground transportation, accommodation and other logistical arrangements and processing travel claims.

Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing focusing on achievement of the following results:

Identifying and putting in place best financial and administrative management practices in the unit;
Supporting the programme-related information and capacity needs of the unit, including of the area offices;
Organization of trainings for unit staff on relevant topics;
Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Impact of Results

The key results have an impact on the success of country programme within specific areas of cooperation. In particular, the key results have an impact on the design, operation and programming of activities.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented AgendaPreparing information for advocacy:

Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating UNDP’s mandate.

Results-Based Programme Development and Management:
Contributes into results through primary research and analysis

Assesses project performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into project work;
Researches linkages across programme activities to identify critical points of integration;
Monitors specific stages of projects/programme implementation;
Analyzes country situation to identify opportunities for project development;
Participates in the formulation of project proposals and ensures substantive rigor in the design and application of proven successful approaches and drafts proposals accordingly.

Building Strategic Partnerships Maintaining a network of contacts:

Maintains an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership related issues;
Analyzes and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders.

Innovation and Marketing New ApproachesEnhancing processes or products:

Generates new ideas and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things;
Documents and analyses innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches.

Resource Mobilization (Field Duty Stations)Providing inputs to resource mobilization strategies:

Analyzes information/databases on potential and actual donors;
Develops a database of project profiles. Identifies opportunities for project proposals for presentation to donors.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing Basic research and analysis:

Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things;
Documents and analyses innovative strategies and new approaches.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise Fundamental knowledge of own discipline:

Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position;
Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks;
Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning;
Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
Demonstrates in-depth understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments.

Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNDP’s Goals Preparing information for global advocacy

Identifies and communicates relevant information for advocacy for UNDP’s goals for a variety of audiences;
Identifies and takes advantage of opportunities for advocating for UNDP’s mandate.

Client Orientation Establishing effective client relationships:

Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion;
Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines;
Anticipates client needs and addresses them promptly.

Core Competencies:

Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity;
Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;
Self-development, initiative-taking;
Acting as a team player and facilitating team work;
Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively;
Creating synergies through self-control;
Managing conflict;
Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
Informed and transparent decision making.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Completion of Secondary Education (matriculation or its equivalent);
Specialized certification in accounting, finance and administration would be preferred;
University Degree in Business Administration or a relevant Social Sciences field would be desirable;
Prince2 training and certification, RMG would be an added advantage.

Experience:

6 years of progressively responsible administrative or programme experience is required at the national or international level;
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc);
Advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and data base packages;
Experience in handling web based management systems;
Knowledge of the Enterprise Resource Planning Systems, such as ATLAS would be an added advantage;
Past experience with UN or UNDP would be an added advantage.

Language:

Fluency in Myanmar and English.

Remark:

Open to Myanmar Nationasl Only.

(Candidates must apply on-line through UNDP job website together with duly filled and signed UN-P11 form, academic qualification certificates. Applications without these document will note be considered. P11 form can be downloaded here:
http://sas.undp.org/documents/P11_Personal_history_form.docx).