United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Jobs: Programme Assistant, EGER-ABER

Somalia continues to suffer from a range of natural and man-made disasters.

Large parts of the country are affected by recurrent droughts and floods, and insecurity leaving little room for people and communities to recover and gain resilience for future disasters.

Since the early 1990s, the country has seen a series of armed conflicts, beginning with a civil war, collapse of the state, and clan-based conflicts over resources.

The Transitional Federal Government (TFG), formed in 2004 as a result of an international and regional peace negotiation effort, continues to struggle in establishing a regularized influence and recognition.

This was culminated by the formation of Unity government in December 2008.

Early recovery programming can most succinctly be described as development assistance undertaken in a humanitarian setting.

As such, the main purpose of Early Recovery is to build a bridge between humanitarian and development assistance; by introducing a sustainability and capacity building perspective, and by doing so as early as possible, before the conditions for more stable recovery and development appear.

Early Recovery works to restore services, livelihood opportunities, and governance capacity.

It aims to stabilise human security and address underlying risks such as conflict, drought and floods.

Within the international humanitarian community, UNDP has been tasked with taking a lead in Early Recovery.

In Somalia, UNDP works with other international agencies to strengthen Early Recovery mechanisms within aid overall.

It also works to integrate Early Recovery programmes within its own programmes of assistance.

UNDP Somalia has signed a partnership agreement with Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery through which support is provided to Early Recovery in Central South Somalia.

UNDP Somalia’s Country Programme is strongly focused on post conflict recovery and consolidation of peace.

It is composed of three main programme portfolios:

1. Rule of Law and Security (ROLS);

2. Governance

3. Recovery and Sustainable Livelihoods (RSL).

In addition, HIV/AIDS, ICT, Peace building, human rights and Gender are cross-cutting themes of the UNDP programme.

The continuous conflict in Somalia has lead to the collapse of the various government institutions subsequently lead to the collapse of the livelihoods base and services’ delivery systems leading to high unemployment and poverty rates.

Those problems coupled with the absence of rule of law and functional governance system lead UNDP and other agencies to respond swiftly to urgent humanitarian needs.

Towards that end, UNDP – Country Office (CO) designed Projects on employment generation for early recovery (EGER) and area based for early recovery (ABER) with primordial (Employment and Income generation) objectives of providing jobs while rehabilitating and upgrading social and physical infrastructure and build the capacities of civil servants, communities and CSOs’ representatives in planning, management, and implementation.

The Programme Assistant will be responsible for the overall support to the proper implementation of the project The Programme Assistant will report to the Project Managers of ABER and EGER Projects.

The Programme Assistant will make routine decisions upon his/her own authority within established guidelines.

Please add the work relation, you may edit the sample below

The programme Assistant works in close collaboration with the Operations, Programme and projects staff in the CO and other UN agencies staff to exchange information and ensure consistent service delivery.

Closing date: 01 Oct 2009

Location: Kenya - Nairobi

Summary of Key Functions:


Implementation of operational strategies
Effective and efficient projects management support
Effective administrative and financial control in the projects
Support to supply and assets management
Update and input of information in the Web-based database management system
Knowledge building and knowledge sharing.

Key responsibilities/functions:

1. Ensures implementation of operational strategies, focusing on achievement of the following results:

Full compliance of administrative activities with UN/UNDP rules, regulations, policies and strategies.

Support to the Project Managers administrative business processes mapping and elaboration of the Result Based Project Management tools (RBPM).
Assist preparation of results-oriented work plans.
Elaboration of proposals and implementation of cost saving and reduction strategies in consultations with project managements.

2. Ensures effective and efficient provision of project management support services, focusing on achievement of the following results:

Assist in the preparation of UNDP and donor progress and final reports.
Under the guidance of the Project Managers and in close collaboration with the operations/procurement department, carry out and submit required preparatory work for contracts, tendering, bill of quantities and works, according to UNDP procedures, rules and regulations;

Drafts correspondence and reports covering programme issues; compiles statistical data; follows up and responds to queries.

Collect, maintain and update data relevant to the programme areas being supported, maintain work plan information for all programmes.

Assist in logistical arrangements for visiting missions, ensure visas are obtained for staff and consultants travelling to the field and briefing kits are compiled, liaise with Field Security
Coordination Officer (FSCO) and ensure security clearance are obtained for all staff and consultants travelling to the field.

Carry out any other relevant duties requested by the Project Manager.

3. Provides support to proper supply and assets management, focusing on achievement of the following result:

Coordination of assets management in the CO, timely preparation and submission of periodic projects inventory reports, coordination of physical verification of inventory items.

Coordination of the provision of reliable and quality projects supplies

4. Ensures effective administrative and financial control in the office, focusing on achievement of the following results:

Support and guides project staff in the field, implementing partners and consultants on UNDP administrative and DEX reporting requirements, clearance procedures for finance, procurement, recruitment, travel, and related issues.

Prepare budget and budget revisions as required; Update and initiate processing of project and financial entries in ATLAS

Reconciles the records of payments with activities and prepare new disbursements to the Project Manager.

Review of data integrity in the database, control programme; analysis of results and initiation of corrective actions when necessary.

Proper inventory control; supervision of proper issuance of inventory items and supplies.

Review of travel authorizations, documentation, payments
Assistance in the preparation of budget, audit and other reports.
Provision of researched information, reports for audit exercises.

5. Ensures Database Management system focusing achievement of the following results:

Provision of e-support to all UNDP and partner users in updating the RSL program website and Intranet based database management system

Inform users of facilities and services available under this data base and advise staff of any changes and updates.

Provision of e-assistance for data access, uploads, transfer and conversion.

Participating in the organization of staff training profiles.

Coordinate and conduct training specific to the users’ needs.

Coordinate arrangements for briefings and demonstrations (of UNDP and user-related systems) and coordinate field (remote) training sessions.

6. Supports knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the RSL team and CO, focusing on achievement of the following results:

Promotes identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned from the project for organizational sharing and learning;

Supports capacity-building of national counterparts; and

Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the RSL/CO.

Impact of ResultsThe key results have an impact on the efficiency of the unit.

Accurate analysis and presentation of information strengthens the capacity of the office and promotes the image of UN/UNDP as an effective contributor to the development of the country, facilitates subsequent action by a supervisor.Incumbent’s own initiative is decisive in results of work and timely finalization.

Competencies and Critical Success FactorsCorporate Competencies:

Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values.

Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Functional Competencies:Knowledge Management and Learning
Shares knowledge and experience

Actively works towards continuing personal learning, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills

Development and Operational Effectiveness
Ability to perform a variety of specialized tasks related to Results Management, including support to design, planning and implementation of programme, managing data, reporting.

Ability to provide input to business processes re-engineering, implementation of new system, including new IT based systems

Good knowledge of Results Management Guide and Toolkit

Leadership and Self-Management

Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback

Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude

Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure

Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

Recruitment Qualifications

Education:

Completion of secondary education, preferably with specialized certification/diploma in Accounting and Finance.

University Degree in Business or Economics is desirable but not a requirement.

Experience:

3 years of progressively responsible administrative or programme experience.

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.

Work experience within the UN or NGO is desirable

Language requirements:

Strong written and spoken English skills.
Knowledge of Somali language is desirable
Terms of ServiceThis is a non-staff contract under the Service Contract modality of hiring of the UNDP.

Individuals engaged under a Service Contract serve in their individual capacity and not as representative of a government institutions, corporate body or other authority external to UNDP.

The incumbent shall not be considered as staff of UNDP, the UN common system or the government and are therefore not entitled to any diplomatic privileges or any other special status or conditions.

How to

and qualified candidates are requested to submit electronic application by visiting http://jobs.undp.org/The closing date for receipt of applications is 1st October 2009.

Applicants are required to fill a P11 Form and submit it together with Curriculum Vitae on the online application.

Find the P11 Form for Fixed Term Contract Holders on this link:http://www.so.undp.org/index.php/Download-document/43-P11-form-for-service-contract-and-SSAs.html

Women & Somali Nationals are strongly encouraged to applyUNDP will only be able to respond to those applications in which there is further interest.