Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
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.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Turkmenistan, being a long-term and fully trusted strategic development partner of the country, together with the government and other development actors in Turkmenistan works hard to support the country to address complex development issues across a broad spectrum of issues relating to democratic governance, environment and energy, and human development.
The Democratic Governance, Economic Diversification, and Inclusive Growth is the biggest UNDP portfolio in Turkmenistan in terms of number of projects (currently 14 ongoing projects) and in terms of thematic areas (human rights and rule of law, public administration, digital governance, statistics, SDG implementation and financing, trade facilitation, banking, youth empowerment, social services, CSOs). The main funding of the portfolio is covered by the Government of Turkmenistan cost sharing. The portfolio works closely with such national partners as the Institute of State, Law, and Democracy, the Ombudsperson’s Office, the Ministry of Finance and Economy, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population, the State Statistics Committee, Civil Service Academy, Turkmenaragatnashyk Agency, the State Customs Service, the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations, the State Bank for Foreign Economic Affairs, as well as with local CSOs and NGOs.
The Programme Unit works to support achievement of UNDP strategic objectives to create a world where people and planet thrive together, and to help the Country Office act with both ambition and scale to address urgent problems facing the country as well as global climate deteriorating conditions. Programme staff assist the Country Office in formulating and implementing programme strategies that go beyond solving immediate development challenges to create future smart and integrated systemic changes in resilience and capacity building within the country.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the overall guidance of the Program Analyst, the Programme Associate ensures effective delivery of the CO programme by entering and managing data and supporting programme implementation consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.
The Programme Associate may supervise support staff in the Programme Unit. The Programme Associate works in close collaboration with the Operations, Programme and projects’ staff in the CO and UNDP HQ, and UN Agencies to exchange information and resolve complex finance-related issues.
UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.
- Support formulation of programme strategies and implemnetation of Country Programme Documents (CPDs):
- Provide background information for preparation of CPDs and establishment of Baselines, Milestones and Targets (BMT).
- Provide information/evidence to guide future programming and identify implementation arrangements.
2. Provide effective support to management of the Country Office programme:
- Create project in ERP, prepare required budget revisions, revise project status, determine unutilized funds, and ensure operational and financial closure of a project.
- Provide day-to-day guidance to implementing partners on implementation of projects, and track use of financial resources. Contribute to managing digital technology solutions in programme implementation towards scalability and sustainability in line with UNDP’s digital standards.
- Contribute to the effective management of data in programme implementation, across the data lifecycle. Follow up on programme and project performance indicators/ success criteria, targets and milestones, preparation of reports, and implementation of corporate results-based management mechanisms and tools.
- Identify programme related bottlenecks and propose solutions.
- Make preparations for external and internal programme/project audits, and support implementation of audit recommendations.
- Provide administrative support to the Programme unit by maintaining internal expenditure system and performing quality assurance review of technical reports and payments that includes following up with other units and taking timely corrective actions
3. Support implementation of the CO partnership and resource mobilization strategies:
- Analyze information on donors and prepare donor profiles.
- Track and report on mobilized resources.
- Review contributions agreements and manage contributions in ERP
4. Facilitate knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the Country Office:
In assigned programme areas:
- Organize and deliver programme related training for relevant programme and operations personnel.
- Compile lessons learned and best practices.
- Provide contributions to knowledge networks, communities of practice and digital knowledge platforms.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Competencies
Core:
| Achieve Results | LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work |
| Think Innovatively | LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking |
| Learn Continuously | LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning |
| Adapt with Agility | LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process |
| Act with Determination | LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously |
| Engage and Partner | LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships |
| Enable Diversity and Inclusion | LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making |
Cross-Functional and Technical competencies:
| Thematic Area | Name | Definition |
| Business Management | Project Management | - Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
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| Business Management | Customer Satisfaction/Client Management | - Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers’ needs.
- Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy.
- Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests.
- Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns.
|
| Business Development | Knowledge Generation | - Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need
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| Business Management | Risk Management | - Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks
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| Business Management | Results-based Management | - Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus on improved performance and demonstrable results.
|
| Finance | Budget Management | - Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets.
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| Procurement | Contract Management | - Knowledge of contract management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations.
|
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Secondary education is required
- A university degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, or related field will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.
Experience:
- A minimum of 6 years (with high school diploma) or 3 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant progressively responsible administrative/management or programme experience is required at the national and/or international level.
- Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.), database packages, and web-based management systems such as ERP.
- Ability to review and edit documents, ability to produce meeting reports identifying key actions.
Language requirements:
- Fluency in English, Russian and Turkmen
Disclaimer
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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