Background

The UNDP-led Srebrenica Regional Recovery Project for Economic Development (SRRP for ED) operates in an area of 1,100 km² comprising of the municipalities of Srebrenica, Bratunac and Milici (Republika Srpska Entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina). The SRRP for ED is designed to provide an integrated and comprehensive development framework, which seeks to revitalize the human and physical capital in three target municipalities. The project aims to contribute to advancing local economic development in the SRRP region by tapping into the existing opportunities for sustainable economic growth and triggering job creation, income generation, increased competitiveness of the region, improved public-private dialogue as well as the creation of business-friendly environment supported by the local and entity authorities.
The overall project goal is to advance local economic development through increased competitiveness, private sector development and public-private dialogue and partnering.
The project specific objective is to further exploit opportunities for sustainable economic growth, job creation and income generation in Srebrenica region. This will be achieved through:

• Support to investments in growth-oriented industrial activities,
• Development and strengthening of agricultural value chains with potential for growth,
• Continuous and sustainable engagement between public and private sector actors to spur economic activity,
• Introduction of adaptation and mitigation measures to deal with effects of climate changes.

Under the overall guidance of the Project Manager, the Junior Economic Expert will provide technical and administrative support services ensuring high quality, accuracy and consistency of work. The Junior Economic Expert will be in charge of supporting interventions related to private sector development in the Srebrenica region, closely working with the project’s partners, in line with the project document and action plans. The incumbent will assist in day-to-day implementation of the Srebrenica regional office activities and maintain good and smooth collaboration with local partners.
The Junior Economic Expert is expected to promote a client, quality and result-oriented approach consistent with UNDP’s rules and regulations. The Junior Economic Expert will work in close collaboration with the projects’ staff in the Programme Office to exchange information and ensure consistent service delivery. The employee will be based in the UNDP Srebrenica office.
 

Applicants are required to submit completed and signed UNDP Personal History Form (downloadable from http://www.ba.undp.org/content/bosnia_and_herzegovina/en/home/operations/jobs.html) online through this website.

Candidates must be nationals of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Only successful candidates will be contacted.
 

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Support provided to the Project Manager and the Private Sector Development (PSD) Specialist in economic development related issues:

• Collects economic information required by the PSD Specialist to conduct activities’ performance or sub-sector analyses;
• Supports local MSMEs and start-ups in filling their assistance application to UNDP;
• Monitors the performance of MSMEs in the target region;
• Compiles best practices in the field of entrepreneurship in the country and the region;
• Identifies and defines services needed by local MSMEs in new product development;
• Monitors interventions progress against annual plans and targets;
• Ensures the proper documentation of all actions;
• Updates the beneficiaries’ database;
• Documents issues that arise during the implementation of the sub-activities;
• Identifies opportunities in MSMEs development and proposes actions to make the best use of them;
• Monitors changes to activity risks and proposes solutions if risks increase;
• Ensures synergies with other MSMEs development related interventions implemented by UNDP or other development agencies (e.g. USAID/Sida GOLD project); and
• Contributes to the design of project implementation plans, procurement plans and other relevant documents

2. Provision of administrative assistance

• Maintains contacts with stakeholders, arranges and attends meetings, and takes minutes;
• Supports planning and implementation of workshops and seminars;
• Follows all steps of procurement procedures for goods, works and services;
• Maintains database of meetings;
• Assists the organization of field visits, missions and conferences and other logistics arrangements as required by the project activities;
• Assists in preparation and implementation of Memorandum of Understanding and Letters of Agreement with project partners;
• Archives all relevant documents related to work with CSOs (project documents, reports, etc.)
• Drafts routine correspondence, facsimile and memoranda from oral instruction or other available information sources including preparing background materials for discussions, and briefing sessions;
• Assists in the timely coordination and implementation of the recruitment and deployment of experts to support project implementation; and
• Drives official UNDP cars and undertaking field trips in accordance with project activities, including vehicle log maintenance and production of monthly vehicle reports.

3. Support in effective mainstreaming of gender equality:

• Provides effective support to the Project Manager in mainstreaming gender equality in Project implementation as well as that knowledge on gender equality is incorporated in the project knowledge management activities and products;
• Provides effective support to the Project Manager in incorporating gender equality in all the areas of implementation of Project components, in the creation of Projects, in the Project Reports and in the organization of the Project evaluations and audits;
• When collecting  and compiling inputs relating to programme, ensures all the data are sex and age disaggregated and evaluated from the gender point of view ; and
• In the preparation of meetings/consultations/trainings/commissions ensures minimum 30% participation of the other sex.

4. Support knowledge sharing within the Project:

• Provides support in organization of Project knowledge management activities;
• Identifies and synthesizes lessons learnt and best practices in project; and
• Provides support to relevant knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Competencies

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda

Level 1.1: Support the preparation of information for advocacy

• Identifies relevant information for advocacy for a variety of audiences
• Makes research of contacts in the media, government, private sector, donors, other agencies, civil society in other stakeholders for UNDP’s advocacy efforts

Results-Based Programme Development and Management

Level 1.1: Contributing to results through provision of information

• Provides information for linkages across programme activities to help identify critical points of integration
• Provides information and documentation on specific stages of projects/programme implementation
• Participates in the formulation of project proposals

Building Strategic Partnerships

Level 1.1: Maintaining information and databases

• Analyzes general information and selects materials in support of partnership building initiatives
• Maintains databases of donor information
• Tracks and reports on mobilized resources

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches

Level 1.1: Implementing processes and uses products

• Documents and tracks innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches
• Tracks bottlenecks, problems and issues, and proposes solutions
• Responds positively to new approaches

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

Level 1.1: Basic research and analysis

• Researches best practices and poses new, more effective ways of doing things
• Documents innovative strategies and new approaches

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise
 
Level 1.1: Fundamental knowledge of processes, methods and procedures

• Understands the main processes and methods of work regarding to the position
• Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks
• Identifies new and better approaches to work processes and incorporates same in own work
• 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

Client Orientation

Level 1.1:  Maintains effective client relationships

• Reports to internal and external clients in a timely and appropriate fashion
• Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines
• Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients
• Responds to client needs 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 employee.
• Informed and transparent decision making

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• University degree in economics or related fields, advanced university degree in economics will be considered as an asset.

Experience:

• Two years of relevant experience in the private sector and/or on projects entailing the provision of TA to MSMEs.
• Previous experience with an international public and/or private sector organization or experience with UN and/or UNDP projects would be considered an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Excellent command of English and B/C/S languages

Other requirements:

• Excellent computer skills and ability to use information technologies as a tool and resource;
• Valid driving license (B category);
• Ability and willingness to travel within BiH.