Project Associate

UNDP is the UN’s global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. 

UNDP positions itself as a development partner that brings global knowledge, through a multi-sectoral approach – the key comparative advantage of UNDP – and concentrates its work on 3 programmatic fields: i) Inclusive and Sustainable Growth, ii) Inclusive and Democratic Governance, iii) Climate Change and Environment.

CCE Portfolio focuses on three programmatic areas that complement each other: 1-Natural Resource Management contributing to sustainable environment management and conservation of natural resources in production landscapes, within the general framework of the ecosystems approach; 2- Climate Change and Disaster Resilience (including chemicals and waste) strengthening institutional capacities for analysis and risk management for resilience with a specific emphasis on climate change, and 3- Cooperation with relevant stakeholders to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy.

The Support to Earthquake-Affected Provinces for Ecosystem Restoration, Nature-Based Solutions, Alternative Livelihoods and Disaster Awareness Raising project’s objective is to rehabilitate/restore ecosystems and livelihoods through the use and promotion of nature-based solutions in the earthquake-affected provinces; and to increase the public’s awareness of fault lines, earthquake-prone areas and sensitive ecosystems to promote disaster risk reduction, preparedness and recovery.

The project aims to address these issues by a) showcasing and repairing the ecosystem damage done by earthquakes and b) leveraging nature-based green opportunities to contribute to earthquake recovery by delivering three main outputs:

• Building national capacity in mapping, needs assessment and planning for ecosystem rehabilitation/restoration in the earthquake-affected provinces;
• Building capacity to apply nature-based solutions in delivering municipal services; raising awareness about nature-based solutions; and creating livelihoods based on nature-based solutions in the earthquake-affected provinces; and
• Developing a concept for “green fault lines.”

The Project Manager will work under the direct supervision of the Climate Change and Environment Portfolio Manager, in close collaboration with the CCE Portfolio Administrator/Projects Implementation Administrator and CCE Portfolio M&E Officer to ensure smooth and timely management of inputs and for monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of results. S/he will be responsible for the coherent operation of the project team, including coordination of the project experts.

The Project Associate will be responsible for smooth and timely implementation of the project activities, drafting progress reports and output related substantial documentation, as well as liaising with national and international stakeholders at the institutional level. S/he will also provide soft-assistance to the government counterpart at the GDF and other key experts, as deemed necessary by the Project Manager. S/he will report to the Project Manager.

Scope of Work 

Under the supervision of the Project Manager, the Project Associate is responsible for efficient and timely implementation of the activities referred in the project document and the associated work plan. S/he is also expected to support project planning and AWP formulation. S/he works in close co-operation with the Portfolio Administrator/Projects Implementation Administrator to ensure the project inputs are administered timely and efficiently according to UNDP rules and procedures. S/he will maintain high standards of service delivery, including adherence to deadline, quick response time, accuracy and completeness of information, sensitivity to client needs.

Support the project team to ensure effective project planning and implementation. 

• 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 partnerships and resource mobilization. 

• Establish and maintain contacts and cooperation with the relevant UN Agencies, government institutions, NGOs, tertiary institutions, partners, and other relevant stakeholders. Provide support in updating the database of the relevant public and development partners, and other stakeholders who are counterparts for the project.
• Ensure regular communication and coordination with partners, project counterparts, stakeholders, and beneficiaries; and develop and maintain effective mechanisms for integrating and responding to their feedback and insight.
• Support creation of high quality information and visibility of the project activities among the stakeholders; and ensure careful selection of communication tools and tailoring the messages to take into account the overall socio-political and development context in host countries.
• Undertake horizon scanning and explore opportunities for resource mobilization in consultation with direct supervisor.

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.

Support knowledge building, knowledge sharing and capacity building relevant to the assigned project. 

• Participate in training and organize briefings on internal procedures for the project staff. Provide support to other capacity building activities, including to the design and delivery of tools, materials for workshops, or platforms that tap into the collective intelligence of communities and mobilize action.
• 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.

Minimum Qualifications of the Successful NPSA 

Min. Education requirements

• University degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Engineering, Political/Social Sciences, Environmental Sciences or related field is required, or
• Secondary eduation in combination with an additional three years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the university degree.
• Min. years of relevant work experience
• A minimum of 7 years (with high school diploma) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience at the national or international level.

Required skills

• Microsoft Office, Windows-based applications, integrated web-based management systems, spreadsheets and databases.
• Experience in organizing and coordinating events and activities.
• Experience in forestry and ecosystem restorations and/or nature-based solutions.
• Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section
• Experience in at least 1 project in collaboration with governmental organizations.
• 2 years of experience in project implementation in the public or private sector or NGOs or international organizations.
• Master’s degree in political/administrative sciences or environmental sciences or any other related field.
• Experience working in UN Organizations.

Required Language(s)

• Fluent written and spoken English and Turkish.

Source: https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/requisitions/job/21004