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 objective of this assignment is to support youth programming at the country level as well as the regional and global level. The Project Associate will work under the supervision of the UNDP country office Youth Focal Point and guidance of the regional youth portfolio manager and the regional youth team. S/he will be an integral part of the UNDP Country office and Regional Project team and will play an important role supporting UNDP’s Country Offices and partners, with a strong focus on project implementation, coordination, advocacy.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Project Associate is expected to substantially contribute to the effective design and management of youth programming by performing the following duties:
Programme design and delivery support
- Provide substantive support to the country office in mainstreaming youth into strategic planning documents (CPD, UNSDCF) and new project documents and initiatives;
- develop innovative responses to emerging challenges and opportunities for youth, proactively work across thematic teams to ensure youth-responsive approaches are applied;
- Collaborate across the UN system and develop synergies through UN-interagency fora to further national and regional agendas with regard to youth skilling, training, employability and entrepreneurship, as well as youth inclusion in other relevant themes such as climate change, youth peace and security.
- Supports the monitoring and evaluation of youth projects and youth components in other projects of the broader country office portfolio. S/he ensures and guides the appropriate application of monitoring, reporting and evaluation systems and procedures and develops enhancements if necessary;
Cross-regional collaboration
- Support the Regional Youth Team in surfacing national, sub-regional and regional trends in which the youth population has a large current or future stake, support the development of programmatic responses, contributes to the Community of Practice to enable fluid exchange and learning across the region;
- Supports the timely preparation and quality control of all substantive technical reports, briefs and required documents, including progress reports, concept notes, background documents and briefing notes;
- Works closely with the regional team members in the development of project activities to promote youth’s social, political and economic empowerment in the Arab region;
- Carrying out other tasks as assigned by Regional Coordinator in coordination with respective supervisor, and any other required administrative work.
Advocacy and knowledge management
- Advocate for youth engagement in development (and the pursuit of SDGs achievement) nationally, which will include monthly vlogs, leading online public webinars, and social media outreach;
- Captures stories which reflect on know-how (procedures, processes, tactics) and know why (lessons learned, reasons for failures/success).
- Conducts an overview and analysis of the relevant partners, donors and stakeholders of youth projects, and develops a plan for efficient flow of information between them and the projects, and vice versa.
- Develops general tools/guidelines for operative communication measures at regional/national/local levels, for instance press releases, social media, press events, social media and campaigns.
Competencies
| Core | |
| Achieve Results: | LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline |
| Think Innovatively: | LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements |
| Learn Continuously: | LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback |
| Adapt with Agility: | LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible |
| Act with Determination: | LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident |
| Engage and Partner: | LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships |
| Enable Diversity and Inclusion: | LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination |
| Cross-Functional & Technical competencies (insert up to 7 competencies) | Thematic Area | Name | Definition | | Business Direction & Strategy | Entrepreneurial Thinking | Ability to create clarity around UNDP value proposition to beneficiaries and partners and to develop service offers responding to client need-based on UNDP’s organizational priorities and mandate | | Business Direction & Strategy | System Thinking | Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system | | Business Management | Digital Awareness and Literacy | Ability and inclination to rapidly adopt new technologies, either through skillfully grasping their usage or through understanding their impact and empowering others to use them as needed | | Digital & Innovation | Design Thinking | Solving problems by putting people at the center, visualizing ideas, and making them tangible in order to improve them through an iterative process of developing and testing. Strong empathy skills, being able to put yourself “in someone else’s shoes”, understanding needs, abilities, preferences, motivations, and (every day) experiences from different perspectives as well as their cultural, social, economic, and political contexts. Ability to identify and challenge assumptions, (cognitive and social) biases, and dominant mental models by generating new perspectives and frames that help redefine the problem, solution, and opportunity space. Being able to work with incomplete information, ambiguity, and opposing views, needs, and constraints and synthesize them into solutions that are viable, technically feasible, and useful. | | Digital & Innovation Storytelling | Story Telling | Ability to empathize with people’s perceptions, motivations, feelings, and mental models and craft narratives to build an emotive argument for change accordingly. Ability to present data, insights or information in compelling ways to mobilize resources, talent, or action. Ability to choose media and channels that are fit for the purpose to reach specific target audiences. | |
Education:
Secondary Education is required , or University degree in Development, International Affairs, or other related field will be given due consideration but not a requirement.
Experience:
A minimum of 6 years (with high school diploma) or 3 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible administrative or project experience is required.
Required Language:
Fluency written and oral English and Arabic communication skills.
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.
Scam warning
The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.