Project Technical Associate

The Resilience Cluster in Serbia deals with complex set of initiatives, which cut across climate, environment and disasters and social, health, education and environmental infrastructure which is key for resilience of Serbian economy and society. 

In spite of a wealth of data on climate and environment, years of investment into disaster resilience and supporting planning and design of over EUR 1.1 worth of investments, the prioritization of these issues in the national planning and budgeting has a mixed result. The EU is for years importing “some progress” in chapter 27, while adoption of measures which aim to bolster climate and disaster resilience remain slow.

UNDP has wealth of data in citizens perception, for three years as well as reconstruction. At present there is an ongoing study which aims to assess the benefits of good reconstruction in line with build-back-better principle, which should be sufficient for evidence-based policy making of the Serbian Government in the future.

The portrayal of these data, connecting data with ongoing priorities of the Government and budgetary considerations, prioritization of IFI investments, etc, however, needs strengthening. The CO is looking for support in these efforts. UNDP is recruiting Project Technical Associate to assist in planning and implementing investments, specifically within the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) sector. This role will involve creating effective communication mechanisms, fostering stakeholder involvement, aligning capital projects with community needs.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Programme Specialist Resilient Development, the Project Technical Associate support to the effective and efficient implementation of the projects’ components, activities, events and other types of interventions through a range of actions contributing to planning, implementation, and monitoring of the corresponding activities.

Specific responsibilities will include support in the implementation of activities with the aim of achieving the following project results:

• Provide technical support to implement projects activities within the Resilience Cluster in line with the Resilient program strategy including stakeholder consultation, community participation to operationalize activities.
• Provide support in conceptualization, coordination, and implementation of selected activities/components within the large strategic investment projects in construction and infrastructure areas
• Provide technical support in conducting capacity building initiatives
• Generate new ideas and approaches, consolidate best practices from the field and propose effective ways of doing things
• Establish and maintain network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up to date on partnership related issues;
• Assess and evaluate funding proposals from potential partner organizations maintaining quality and consistency.

Provide support in developing partnerships and ensure coordination with implementing partners and relevant stakeholders including UN agencies, focusing on achievement of the following:

• Networking, partner relations, resource mobilization
• Support development of partnerships with the UN Agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, and civil society organizations in the specific thematic areas of the portfolio. Support the development of the new Country Programme Document and the new UN Cooperation Framework;
• Liaise with local stakeholders to identify potential opportunities and where UNDP can add value including implementation of loans and financing opportunities as well as bring to the attention of UNDP any potential conflict of interests she/he sees from any previous collaboration with UNDP.
• Support in analyzing and research information about donors, prepare substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identify, and communicate opportunities for initiation of new projects in the relevant areas of the portfolio.
• Support in development and implementation of effective communication strategies specifically targeted at stakeholders within the disaster risk reduction, climate change and environment sectors, fostering their involvement in investment initiatives, ensuring transparency, and garnering support for sustainable infrastructure development
• Collect information related to infrastructure work and provide inputs for the preparation of substantive briefs

Contribute to knowledge management and information sharing in the UNDP country office

• Identify and document best practices and lessons learned from infrastructure interventions
• Assist in producing publicity materials on infrastructure work including success and lessons learned
• Keep track of the trends and tendencies in the budget of the Republic of Serbia and to bring to the attention of senior management and cluster leadership opportunities for connecting these trends and priorities to the sustainable development goals and UNDP strategic plan / country programme document. Provide comments to the planning documents, terms of references, and, per needs basis, participate in meetings with national counterparts.
• Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks, communities of practice, and digital knowledge
• To undertake any other duties as required.

Institutional Arrangement

• Project Technical Associate will work under the guidance and direct supervision of the Programme Specialist Resilient Development.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Secondary education is required . OR
• A first level university degree in law, social sciences, political science, public or business administration, economics or related field will be given due consideration but it’s not a requirement.

Experience:

• Minimum 7 years (with Secondary Education) or 4 years (with a Bachelor’s degree) of relevant progressively responsible professional experience in coordination, project management, preferably in national and/or international/multilateral development context

Required skills and competencies:

• Good analytical skills and writing skills/experience
• Experience working in transition context
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and working knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, as well as experience in the handling of web-based management systems

Desired additional skills and competencies:

The following specific experiences will be considered as an asset:

• Experience from previous UN assignments and/or multilateral and bi-lateral aid organizations would be an asset
• Experience in implementation of infrastructure projects especially in public sector.
• Experience in partnership building at national, regional, and local level.
• Understanding of current policies and legislation relevant for the field of resilience and smart development; and familiarity with global trends and emerging needs in this regard
• Familiarity with the EU accession process.
• Experience in collaboration with public sector stakeholders.
• Knowledge/Experience on result-based management and project implementation

Required Languages:

• Excellent knowledge of written and spoken Serbian and English

Source: https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/requisitions/job/18767