Project Assistant

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions.

• Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.
• The position is located under the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS). Under the overall direction of the Director General, and in close collaboration with all relevant organizational entities within UNIDO, the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), headed by a Managing Director, ensures the Organization’s application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development related to environment, energy, Micro, Small and Medium-Enterprises (MSMEs), and digitalization. The Directorate also oversees the Organization’s normative contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through industrial policy advice and capacity development.
• Through coordination in-house and with Member States and industry stakeholders, it ensures that the services provided in these areas contribute to effective and appropriate technical, business and policy solutions and are focused on results, scaling up and positioning UNIDO as a leading platform for industrial development in developing countries and global fora.
• The Directorate is responsible for the Division of Industrial Policy Advice and Capacity Development (TCS/IPC), and technical Divisions of Circular Economy and Green Industry (TCS/CEG), Energy and Climate Action (TCS/ECA), Climate Innovation and Montreal Protocol (TCS/CMP); MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation (TCS/SME); and Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence (TCS/DAI). Leveraging the diverse skill sets of UNIDO personnel and the services provided by the two TC directorates, TCS collaborates closely with IET to develop and implement programmes and projects, aiming at enhancing synergy and complementarity and maximizing UNIDO corporate performance and impacts on the ground. The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the Divisions as well as with relevant entities in all Directorates across the Organization.
• The position is specifically located under the Division of MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation (TCS/SME). Under the supervision of the Managing Director of the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), and in close coordination with other organizational entities within UNIDO, the Division of MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation (TCS/SME) works towards increasing the competitiveness of industries in developing countries and countries in transition, especially emphasizing business development of MSMEs engaged in manufacturing and creating jobs therein.
• It aims at increasing competitiveness among MSMEs in two interconnected ways: first, by modernizing businesses through the transfer of advanced technologies adapted to local conditions, product innovation, productivity improvement and upgrading, developing market and value chain readiness as well as improved access to finance; and second, by improving the quality of MSME manufactured products and their compliance with market requirements through capacity building for the development of industrial production and trade-related quality infrastructure including for standardization, metrology, accreditation and of conformity assessment service institutions (testing, certification, inspection and calibration) and the strengthening of their capacities.
• The Competitiveness, Quality and Compliance Unit (TCS/SME/CQC) builds national and regional production and quality infrastructure systems, with an emphasis on providing internationally recognized services, facilitating MSME participation in regional and global value chains; strengthening institutional quality infrastructure capacities; building conformity assessment capacities; and supporting market access and quality awareness with the public sector, economic operators and consumers, placing a special emphasis on capacitating MSMEs.

PROJECT CONTEXT

• Global Market Access Programme Nepal (“GMAP Nepal”; project ID 210186)
• The Global Market Access Programme (GMAP, project ID 180025) aims to strengthen the quality and standards compliance capacity for selected Norwegian priority countries (i.e. Colombia, Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Nepal) to facilitate market access for MSMEs by working in emblematic sectors per country.
• The project in Nepal will follow the overall structure of the programmatic framework of the Global Market Access Programme:
• Overall objective (impact): Improved livelihood opportunities for small-scale beekeepers, MSMEs and honey processors in selected districts of Nepal through the sale of high-quality honeys.
• Specific objective: Enhanced market access for Nepalese honeys to the domestic as well as regional and international markets.

 In response to needs identified in the specific country context, the GMAP Nepal pursues three complimentary technical outcomes:

• Outcome 1: Enhanced technical competence and sustainability of the National Quality Infrastructure System. Institutional strengthening of key institutions and relevant public-private support institutions through capacity building (use of best practices, skills development, implementation of management systems, testing laboratories upgrading and equipment procurement) to ensure quality and international recognition of their services.
• Outcome 2: Enhanced MSMEs’ compliance with standards and technical regulations. Improvement of quality and compliance capacities through capacity building (including specialized training and advice) and preparation for certification, and strengthening of collaboration among value chain (VC) actors.
• Outcome 3: Strengthened culture for quality. Advocacy, upscaling of knowledge dissemination and awareness activities in the honey value chain, and support for any relevant policy development/informed policy decisions on standards compliance, as applicable.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting to the Project Manager and under the direct supervision of the National Technical Coordinator and in close cooperation with the project team in the HQ and field location, the Project Assistant provides clerical/administrative support to the project implementation and is responsible for the following key functions:

• Perform general administrative tasks, such as arrangements for meetings, events, study tours, trainings and workshops.
• Provide logistical support to international consultants, national consultants, and visiting UNIDO staff members, and in organizing meetings, study tours and workshops at the field level, and travel requests and expense reports when required.
• Monitor disbursements, commitments and budget allocations and availability for the project.
• Consult to clarify the application of new financial and procurement rules and procedures, TC guidelines and other instructions.
• Collect and compile all data and documents for bi-annual reports, annual reports, service providers’ reports and other reports as required.
• Keep track of project budget expenditures; follow up on status of contracts for the local project team, provide information on the project, draw the supervisor’s attention to problems anticipated and/or encountered.
• Maintain project equipment inventories (both paper and electronic asset management) and ensure appropriate use.
• Prepare/compile relevant documents using SAP, if applicable; initiate and follow up on actions related to trainings and study tours, purchase of equipment/goods and services, travel requests/claims, recruitment, visa applications, and deal with all related inquiries in coordination with the project team at HQ.
• Process all payments through relevant accounts and liaise with project team in the country and UNIDO HQ to clear all payments in a timely manner.
• Assist with onboarding of new project personnel.
• Assist in drafting regular and/or ad-hoc reports on project activities.
• Carry out ad-hoc assignments and research activities, as required.
• Maintain all project-related files (both paper and electronic) and databases related to work.

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Education: Completed higher secondary education (high school diploma or equivalent), is required. Formal administrative/secretarial/clerical training or equivalent is desirable.
• Credit towards total working experience may be considered on a year by-year- basis, up to maximum of four years, for a higher degree education (including first university degree or equivalent diploma and/or master’s degree), in a relevant field to the post.

Technical and functional experience:

• A minimum of six (6) years of work experience in fields related to the post is required.
• Experience in office procedures and practices, preferably within the UN system or in a multicultural environment, is desirable.
• Experience in project administration, accounting and finance, providing support to managerial/professional staff and using administrative skills to assist in the execution of project development and implementation of work is desirable.
• Experience and proficiency in using Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Microsoft Teams), internet is required.
• Experience with SAP or similar ERP software is desirable.
• Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Fluency and/or working knowledge of Hindi and/or Nepali is required.

Source: https://careers.unido.org/job/Kathmandu-Project-Assistant/991416555/