Business And Finance Support Assistant

Job Title: *Business and Finance Support Assistant*

Duration: 1 Year (with performance-based renewal up to 4 years)

Type of Contract: Third Party

Duty Station: New Delhi

Remuneration: INR 70,0000/ Per month

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Strengthening Resilience of Vulnerable Communities in Sri Lanka and India to Increased Impact of Climate Change (ADAPT4R) is a five-year project supported by Adaptation Fund (AF) constituted under UNFCCC and executed in India by Ministry of Environment, forest and Climate Change and WFP as Multilateral Implementing Entity. The regional project targets the dry zones in Sri Lanka and drought prone districts on the eastern coast in the states of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

The project’s main goal is to strengthen the climate change adaptive capacity and food security of vulnerable communities in Sri Lanka’s dry zone and India’s eastern coastal states, utilizing a regional, integrated approach. Leveraging differentiated skills and experience in the two countries, and using participatory and bottom-up approaches, the project will enable vulnerable groups to use last mile climate services to plan and implement targeted adaptation measures best suited for different livelihoods and localities, supplemented by livelihoods diversification and enhanced linkages to existing financial services. A regional feedback loop will provide valuable real-time lessons for scaling up and out, both within and beyond the two countries.

The project will achieve its goal through the following two objectives:

1. Strengthen access to reliable, timely and targeted last-mile climate services, and develop a system to co-produce, disseminate and scale up tailored Agromet and hydromet advisories

2. Enhance the adaptive capacity of income-poor farming households facing high climate risks, with a focus on women and vulnerable groups, to develop and implement local adaptation plans informed by climate advisories, resulting in improved practices, and diversified, climate-resilient livelihoods
The project will target smallholder farmers in the inland, dry areas of the project localities, and vulnerable groups in both countries including marginalised communities e.g., PVTGs, women- and youth-headed households, and food-insecure households.

JOB PURPOSE AND KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (Not all inclusive)

The position provides administrative and project assistance to the project at all levels. Reporting directly to the National Project Co-ordinator, overall guidance of the HoU, CC, Resilience and DRR, WFP and Nodal Officer, MoEFCC.

Main responsibilities of PSA include-

• Providing administrative support and assist in the development and implementation of various activities and processes in accordance with the project document.

• Providing support to project implementation to ensure that the various activities are performed within the established targets following WFP’s policies and procedures and in accordance with the rules and regulations of Adaptation Fund.

• Preparing a system for tracking the deliverables against the milestones.

• Ensuring and/or perform accurate, timely recording of project related data and consistency of information presented to stakeholders. Assist in preparation of briefing documents, collation of information from various states and periodic updates.

• Liaising with internal counterparts to support effective collaboration, implementation and monitoring of ongoing project activities. Assist organizing project performance review meetings, technical consultations and workshops.

• Preparing for meetings including power-point slides, documents, minutes of important meetings and comprehensive reports.

• Coordinating and communicating with local partners, agencies, NGOs and government institutions and ensure maintenance of a good database for liaising and responsible correspondence.

• Providing dedicated executive assistant support. Ensure timely acquisition of financial reports from various agencies and its verification.

• Responding to a range of operational business in order to provide a timely and accurate resolution. Liaising with other units such as HR, Finance, Programme Associates in WFP CO and Government officers for smooth project implementation.

• Overseeing the maintenance of records and databases of agencies, partners to ensure information is organized and readily available for staff and compliant with all relevant regulations and policies.

• Assisting managers in planning, monitoring and reconciling budget(s) to ensure that planned financial resources are used effectively.

• Performing the role of the Leave Monitor for the National and State Project Unit ensuring timely compilation of records to HR.

• Performing any other duties as required.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Education: University Degree (graduate or higher) in Business or Public
Administration, Communications, Economics, Commerce, Financial management, or other related field would be desirable.

Experience: Three to five years of progressively responsible programme /administrative support experience is required with at least two years with UN, international-multilateral or multinational organizations or Government offices.

Knowledge & Skills: Excellent interpersonal skills required, including strong professional communication abilities.

• Advocacy and networking skills with a broad range of stakeholders including government, civil society, academia and NGOs.
• Ability to facilitate communication with technical teams and multiple agencies
• Has ability to support programmes implementation, organization of meetings, record keeping, checking the reports from field for accuracy.
• Advanced computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially MS Word, Powerpoint and Excel.
• Knowledge of other analytical software
• Knowledge of UN and the Government system would be an asset.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a diverse team of supply chain and food security, environment and climate resilience, livelihoods, gender and nutrition experts across India.
• Tact and diplomacy.

Languages: Fluency in spoken and written English and Hindi; ability to speak in other Indian languages is a plus.

CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS

• Ability to engage effectively with a wide range of actors from government, private sector and civil society.
• Very strong communications skills, both in writing and speaking.
• Solid planning and problem-solving skills and action orientation.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and simultaneously manage multiple tasks in an independent but consultative manner.
• Maturity, initiative, courtesy, tact and ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to handle any other additional tasks as requested by the supervisor.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. A written test will be used as a form of screening. In the event your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide in advance a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/ certificate(s) required for this position.
• This is a national position therefore candidates who are non-Indian nationals will not be considered.
• WFP is committed to promoting diversity and gender balance. WFP adheres to “zero tolerance policies” in the workplace.

Female applicants are especially encouraged to apply