Programme Associate

UNDP advocates for nationally owned solutions and helps to make them effective through ensuring a greater voice for poor people, expanding access to productive assets and economic opportunities, and linking poverty programmes with countries’ international economic and financial policies. At the same time, UNDP contributes to efforts at reforming trade and investment arrangements to better support national poverty reduction.

 UNDP contributes to confidence-building between both banks of the Nistru River by involving local authorities, civil society organizations, business community and other stakeholders, as well as through economic and social development of local communities. It aims to ensure that ongoing efforts at the political and technical levels are supported by development and confidence-building initiatives at the community level that seek to create an environment conducive to dialogue and cooperation at all levels.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Programme Specialist/ Inclusive Growth Cluster Lead, the Programme Associate provides leadership in the execution of services in the CO Programme Unit, supports the design, planning and management of the country programme by managing data and facilitating programme implementation. The Programme Associate promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations

 Duties and Responsibilities

• The Programme Associate works in close collaboration with the operations, programme and project teams in the CO and UNDP HQs staff for resolving complex programme-related issues and information delivery.
• 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.

Key duties and responsibilities 

Administration and implementation of programme strategies, adapts processes and procedures:

• Full compliance with UN/UNDP rules, regulations, and policies on programme and projects management, contribution to adjustments of relevant Standard Operating Procedures, as well as compliance with rules and procedures of relevant donors.
• Presentation of thoroughly researched information for preparation of CCA, UNDAF, CPD, CPAP, effective application of RBM tools and establishment of management targets (BSC). Support in the establishment of the mechanisms to track the use of RBM tools and maintenance of RBM database.
• Observation and provision of support on POPP compliance of projects and programmes at all stages
• Presentation of information/ reports for identification of areas for support and interventions in the area of Local development and regional development, business development and confidence building.
• Implementation of the CO partnerships and resources mobilization strategies, preparation of reports.
• Contribution to the mainstreaming of gender, innovation, greening in programmes/projects.
• Contribution to the development of e-tools to be applied in the programme/project management.

Support to management of the CO programme:

• Presentation of thoroughly researched information for the formulation of the country programme, preparation of project documents’ drafts, work plans, budgets, proposals on implementation arrangements.
• For projects under the responsibility or acting as alternate for other Programme Associates, entry of data of new financial contributions into Quantum in the form of Annual Work Plans (AWPs), monitoring of AWPs status. Initiation of a project, entering a project into Quantum, preparation or clearance of required budget revisions.
• Maintenance of Cluster Pipeline and Project Tree in Quantum. Track of availability of cash for projects and coordination of installments’ transfer from donors. Follow up with HQs on ASL allocations for development projects under the responsibility.
• Provision of guidance to the executing agencies and project teams on routine implementation of projects, tracking the use of financial resources and quality control.
• Provision of support for effective monitoring of performance indicators/ success criteria, targets and milestones, and preparation of reports.
• Analysis of the situation in programme, identification of operational and financial problems, development of solutions. Liaising with HQ/Regional Bureau and national counterparts on new areas of intervention.
• Provide support to the Cluster Lead on projects management and oversight.
• Generation of the Annual CDRs for projects under responsibility and submission for signature to the National Coordinators.
• Support in preparation and clearance of projects’ financial reports to donors.
• Provide support for preparation and conduct of audit of NIM/NGO projects, and implementation of audit recommendations.

Administrative support to the Programme Unit:

• Providing administrative support for project formulation, launch, implementation, and closing through supporting formulation missions, organization of project appraisal, closure, and evaluation including but not limited to concluding contracts with external consultants, arranging travel, meetings, initiating recruitment processes and coordinate other logistics.
• Performing the functions of the General User role in Quantum.
• Coordination of administrative processes for projects without staff, including management of contracts, payments, deliverables.
• Proper control of the supporting documents for payments, review of projects Financial Reports.
• Monitoring of funds and coordination of actions needed to ensure the availability of budgets and cash limits for payments.
• Proper maintenance and timely update of document management systems (archives) relevant to the functioning of the Inclusive Growth Cluster.
• Support in creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy:
• Analysis of information on donors, preparation of donor’s profile and database, the establishment of contacts with donor counterparts.
• Introducing and updating projects in the Aid Management Platform
• Preparation of cost-sharing and trust fund agreements, monitoring of fulfillment of contract clauses, terms and references,
• Track and report on mobilized resources.
• Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing:
• Organization of trainings for the operations/programme/projects staff on issues related to programme management and use of Quantum and other internal platforms and tools.
• Synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices in the programme.
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
• Promotion of cross-practice collaboration, exchange of information and joint programming.

Required Skills and Experience

 Education:

• Secondary education is required.
• University degree in Business or Public Administration, Economics, Political or Social Sciences will be given due consideration but is not a requirement.

Experience:

• Minimum 7 years (with Secondary education) or 4 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible administrative or programme experience at the national or international level is required.

Languages:

• Fluency in English, Romanian and Russian is required.
• Working knowledge of one or more additional languages relevant for Moldova, including Bulgarian, Gagauzian, Romani, Ukrainian or sign language will be an asset.

Source: https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/requisitions/job/17760