UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to end poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, as well as protect the planet, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Together, these efforts aim to ensure that improvements in human wellbeing remain within ecological boundaries. We also help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities and institutional capabilities, as well as build resilience, in order to achieve the SDGs.

UNDP China has been working in China over the past 40 years, partnering to advance various phases of China’s development. UNDP China’s actions and programmes for the period of 2021-2025 are defined in its Country Programme Document for China (CPD), prepared in cooperation with the Government of China and other partners. The CPD contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for China 2021-2025 and aligned to support the development priorities outlined in the Government of China’s 14th Five Year Plan.

We support the attainment of the SDGs in China, by promoting sustainable development principles in policies and decision-making, focusing on reducing inequality, promoting inclusive, low-carbon growth and protecting the environment.  Our work involves shaping the policy discourse and practices in China’s development cooperation and overseas public and private financing by providing policy and technical guidance on alignment with international best practices and norms. In addition, UNDP leverages its global network and South-South Cooperation (SSC) to facilitate mutual knowledge and experience sharing between China and partner countries on best practices and lessons learned to advance the SDGs.

To support China’s international development cooperation engagements for greater SDG impact and to strengthen the application of international norms, standards, and best practices, UNDP started a multi-year project, including research, knowledge sharing and capacity-building workshops, multi-stakeholder dialogues, and other activities. The project aims to foster two-way exchanges and reinforce global efforts to achieve the SDGs.

Scope of Work 

• Provide effective support to project management, including design, set up and implementation of “Effective Multilateralism in China towards Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals” project 
• Provide effective support to the coordination of activities, including reporting, with other UN Agencies involved in the project.
• Provide support to the effective monitoring, evaluation, and reporting on the progress of project implementation.
• Contribute to communications efforts and knowledge management.
• Support to knowledge products and ad-hoc requests related to the project. 

Responsibilities: 

Under the guidance and supervision of the Government Partnership Analyst of UNDP China, the Project Associate is expected to perform work in following areas:

Provide effective support to project management, including design, set up and implementation of “Effective Multilateralism in China towards Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals” project  

• Compile and summarize information and data for the formulation of project work plans, draft annual/quarterly budgets, proposals on implementation arrangements, and on other specific project-related topics or issues.
• Provide comprehensive support in all aspects of project implementation in accordance with the project documents, annual work plans, and other agreements between UNDP and responsible partners. Ensure quality of delivery by consultants, beneficiaries, and contracted companies; and communicate findings to the supervisor.
• Ensure compliance of project business processes with UNDP Project Operational Policies and Procedures (POPP) and UNDP Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). When necessary, provide guidance to project staff on business processes, administrative and other requirements and procedures.
• Support mainstreaming gender equality in the project implementation, including in data collection and compilation. Prepare gender equality background materials for use in discussions, briefings, and correspondence.
• Provide administrative and logistical support to ensure successful project delivery that includes organizing/coordinating project events and selecting appropriate venues, coordinating project procurement procedures, maintaining project records and files, recruiting project team members, and supporting contracting activities.
• Support to the organization of regular project steering committee meetings.
• Provide effective support to the organization of high-level policy dialogues, technical-level dialogues, roundtables, trainings, and workshops, as well as closed-door sharing sessions.
• Contribute to the development of concept notes, agendas, background briefings, talking points, note-to-files, meeting minutes, and other relevant documents upon request.

Provide effective support to coordination of activities, including reporting, with the other UN Agencies involved in the project.

• Support the development of joint workplans in coordination with the UN Agencies involved.
• Contribute to overall monitor and report (to donor) on the activities implemented under the project.
• Provide effective support to organize regular and ad-hoc meetings in coordination with other UN Agencies.
• Assist in consolidation inputs and updates as requested by the donor and UNSDCF Result Groups where needed.
• Facilitate funds transfer to other UN Agencies and joint financial reporting working closely with the finance colleagues and Finance Team.
• Manage the list of partners and external stakeholders involved in these events and meetings.

Provide support to the effective monitoring, evaluation, and reporting on progress of project implementation. 

• Support implementation of the project monitoring system in alignment with its Monitoring and Evaluation framework to ensure effective information sharing, provision of feedback, and elaboration of high-quality progress reports.
• Collect, analyze and present information for monitoring and evaluation of project implementation against project targets as well as for audit purposes. Identify gaps in implementation and provide support in bridging those gaps in consultation with supervisor and partners.
• Assist in the organization of field and study visits, missions, workshops, roundtables, and conferences within the project.
• Assist in implementation of effective risk management for the project with a well-documented risk mitigation plan in place. Support monitoring of previously identified and emerging risks.
• Regularly monitor expenditures and commitments against the project budget and relevant plans, and provide finance-related information to support project implementation. When necessary, recommend corrective actions and draft various correspondence concerning finance, operations, and budgetary issues.
• Prepare and consolidate required project reports on a timely basis and in line with monitoring and reporting guidelines and donor requirements.

Contribute to communications efforts and knowledge management.

• Proactively manage internal knowledge sharing platform under the project.
• Support the development and implementation of the communication strategy of the project to ensure strategic communications with external audience on development results and takeaways.
• Support relevant communications deliverables and efforts (e.g. social media posts, press release, news article, media outreach, etc.) working closely with Communications Team of the UNDP China where needed.
• Provide support to design and translation of publications working closely with experts and the Communication Team.

Support to knowledge products and ad-hoc requests related to the project

• Effective support to development of summary reports of the events working closely with UNDP China Research and Policy team.
• Assist in development of research knowledge products in support of the Research and Policy team.
• Provide support in the dissemination and sharing of relevant data and lessons learned within the CO and regionally. Keep pulse on emerging best practices nationally, regionally, and internationally that relate to the work of the assigned project.
• Make sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice. Support compiling and systematizing project knowledge, products and tools as well as their wide distribution to partners.
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

The Project Associate will work under the guidance and supervision of the Government Partnership Analyst in UNDP China’s Global Partnerships Cluster team.