Senior Administrative and Financial Assistant

Introduction

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is the United Nations agency dedicated to promoting and implementing fundamental rights at work, increasing employment and income opportunities for women and men, extending the benefits and effectiveness of social protection for all, and strengthening tripartism and social dialogue.

• The ILO Country Office for Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania and Tunisia, based in Algiers, is seeking to recruit a Senior Administrative and Financial Assistant for a regional development cooperation project named “Responsible Investment in Agribusiness for Youth Employment, Food Systems Transformation and Sustainable Development (RYFTS). Tunisia is facing significant economic challenges resulting from the successive repercussions of COVID-19 and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, thus impacting its economic development. The country experienced low economic growth in 2023, with real GDP growth of around 0.4%. The unemployment rate increased to 16.4% (13.8% for men compared to 22.2% for women), particularly among young people aged 15 to 24, where the rate reached 40.9% (42.1% for men and 38.2% for women).
• The agricultural sector plays an important role in Tunisia’s food security and economic development, particularly due to its knock-on effects on other sectors of activity, upstream and downstream. It contributes 10% of GDP, 20% of jobs directly in agriculture and indirectly in the agri-food industries) and around 12% of export revenues.
• However, the agricultural and agri-food sectors are among the sectors most affected by the consequences of the various health and geopolitical crises, to which are added the effects of climate change on the production and sustainability of agricultural investments. These cyclical crises have exacerbated the structural weakness of these sectors, including low levels of investment and job creation, as well as a high unemployment rate. The agricultural and agri-food sectors suffered a decline of 11% and 2.5% year-on-year (GDP) in 2023, and were the main drivers of the observed economic slowdown.
• Thus, the project is part of the Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Employment and Youth launched jointly by the Tunisian Government and the United Nations System. It is based on a partnership between FAO and ILO to support responsible agri-food investments, strengthen businesses and promote economic empowerment by relying on an approach of capitalizing on good practices in order to promote sustainable development and job creation. The project will also be implemented within the framework of the technical support of the PADEO program set up by the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
• This project aims to create employment opportunities in the agri-food sector by supporting young entrepreneurs through different types of entrepreneurship, including collective (Social and Solidarity Economy). The project proposes to help create agricultural projects, provide financial and technical support, and promote the creation of direct and indirect jobs. It focuses on the inclusion of women, people with disabilities and the transition of informal workers to the formal economy. In addition, the project supports existing agricultural businesses and will promote responsible investments to strengthen territorial development. It also seeks to strengthen the capacities of stakeholders at the institutional level (in particular by promoting social dialogue) and civil society to facilitate access to services and markets.
• The initiative aims to promote youth entrepreneurship in the agricultural sector, encourage innovation and ensure adequate financial and technical access. In addition, the project plans to strengthen the capacities of support structures to offer quality services, and facilitate access to markets through a digital platform. The objective is to achieve a concrete impact by improving value chain processes and promoting access to markets for agricultural actors, with the creation of 1,050 direct jobs and 525 indirect jobs.
• Beyond the project, the ILO’s business hub brings together all the projects on entrepreneurship and pilots several coordination actions which involve the participation of all colleagues in the success of the other projects.

Supervision:

• The post holder will work under the general responsibility of the Director of the ILO Country Office in Algiers, and under the direct supervision of the Senior National Project Coordinator.
• The position is based in Tunis.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Ensure the smooth running of the project’s administrative and financial operations, administrative and financial support, and related operational support functions in close collaboration with other operational and financial support staff through the provision of project support. Tasks to be performed include processing of entitlements, issuing of contracts and maintaining records and files.
• Advise and assist project staff in the interpretation of administrative and financial rules, regulations and procedures. Make travel and hotel reservations, prepare travel authorizations and gather information related to the purpose of the trip.
• Prepare and ensure the development, management and budgetary monitoring of service and external collaboration contracts, workshops and training activities, official missions as well as other project actions.
• Prepare financial operations (including budget revisions) concerning commitments, expenditures and make, in coordination with the Project Manager and the Program Unit, the necessary adjustments to optimize the use of resources.
• Participate in the organization and preparation of meetings and make all important administrative and financial arrangements for the organization of workshops and seminars and provide administrative, financial and/or secretarial services for such meetings, seminars and/or workshops;
• Carry out all operations required for expenditure under development cooperation financing, ensuring the most rational use of funds. This includes making calculations, requesting funds, checking supporting documents and making payments.
• Monitor accounts regarding commitments and expenditures and make necessary adjustments to optimize the use of funds. Draft and approve administrative correspondence relating to budgetary matters to verify data, answer questions and obtain additional information.
• Ensure electronic archiving and sending of documents to the ILO Country Office in Algiers. Maintain, update and transmit the registers of the inventory of non-expandable equipment;
• Provide administrative and financial support and guidance to project staff and consultants, regarding payments, benefits, travel expense claims, and other accounting and financial requirements;
• Prepare on own initiative correspondence and reports, as required, on general administrative or other related tasks, including confidential tasks. Periodically prepare administrative statistics, reports and correspondence.
• Work closely with project staff and the ILO Country Office in Algiers. Establish and maintain links with relevant technical units at headquarters, ILO constituents, social partner organizations and UN agencies to discuss planned activities and resolve sensitive issues.
• Perform any other tasks assigned by the line manager

Required qualifications

Training

• The holder must have completed secondary education. Training in accounting, finance or a field related to administration.

Experience

• At least seven years of experience in accounting, finance and administration with increasing responsibilities and supervisory experience. Experience in administrative and financial management within UN Agencies would be an asset.

LANGUAGES

• Excellent command of French and good knowledge of Arabic. A good knowledge of English would be an asset.

Source: https://jobs.ilo.org/job/Tunis-Assistante-Administratifve-et-financiere-principale/1144891501/