Senior Programme Assistant

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Job Description

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 Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations (GLO), headed by a Managing Director, is responsible for UNIDO’s relations with Member States and all external partners, including through the policymaking organs. It plays a central role for interaction and collaboration with traditional and non-traditional donors; oversees the regional bureaus as well as the network of established field offices, liaison offices and Investment and Technology Promotion Offices; and supports the implementation of particularly complex projects,
programmes and special assignments, thus also fulfilling an important role in safeguarding their quality and the reputation of the Organization.
The Division of Regional Bureaus and Field Offices (GLO/RFO) coordinates the field representation and interventions of UNIDO in Member States and regions. Within this context, the Division is responsible for determining programmatic priorities for UNIDO’s services and ensuring that UNIDO responds to the specific needs and requirements of Member States and development partners at the country and regional levels. It facilitates, upon guidance of GLO/FLS, the development of regional strategies, country programmes (including Programmes for Country Partnership – PCPs) and monitors their implementation. The Division encompasses all the UNIDO field offices and the five Regional Bureaus: Africa (GLO/RFO/AFR), also hosting the IDDA III Secretariat; the Arab Region (GLO/RFO/ARB); Asia and the Pacific (GLO/RFO/ASP); Europe and Central Asia (GLO/RFO/EUR); and Latin American and the Caribbean (GLO/RFO/LAC).
The Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific (GLO/RFO/ASP), which is responsible for determining regional strategies and programmatic priorities for UNIDO’s services, and ensuring that UNIDO responds to the specific needs and requirements of Member States.
The Field Offices fall under the overall responsibility of the GLO/RFO/ASP. The Field Offices are responsible for representing UNIDO in their countries/regions of coverage and for maintaining close relations with all relevant stakeholders. They are responsible for identifying development priorities and donors’ technical and funding priorities in the countries/regions of coverage, and for supporting, and/or leading when requested, the formulation, implementation and monitoring of technical cooperation projects and programmes, including the Programmes for Country Partnership (PCPs) and the Country Programmes (CPs). The Field Offices are also responsible for coordinating and reporting on UNIDO’s activities in their countries/region of coverage, and for leading/contributing to the development of regional strategies and policies to ensure the strategic and programmatic consistency of UNIDO’s work, including of its cooperation with and contributions to the United Nations Resident Coordinator Offices (UNRCs)/United Nations Country Teams (UNCTs)/Common Country Assessments (CCAs)/United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCFs).
This position is located in UNIDO Regional Office in Beijing, GLO/RFO/FLD/ASP/CPR.
At the G5 level the incumbent is expected to perform independent and specialized processes focusing on consistent service delivery and support services within the organizational environment and team. His/ Her interventions result in process consistency.
The UNIDO Staff Performance Management System reinforces the collaboration within formal units as well as among cross-functional teams. In this context, the incumbent collaborates with his/her supervisor and colleagues, within as well as outside the unit. Within the formal teams, the incumbent may be expected to backstop other team members as required.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of the UNIDO Representative in China, the Senior Programme Assistant provides support in the development and administration of technical cooperation programmes and projects as well as secretarial and administrative support and is responsible for the following key functions:

Support the programme monitoring, media outreach and communication functions of the Regional Office;
provide relevant background/project information whenever necessary to supervisor(s); keep track of pending matters, follow up with other offices on deadlines;
When required, support the Assistant to the Representative to: screen phone calls and visitors, screen incoming mail and draft replies for supervisor’s signature on non-technical aspects, respond to complex information requests and inquiries as necessary, as well as to refer queries to appropriate personnel for handling;
Draft routine and non-routine correspondence (both on TC-related and administrative matters); and putting them into adequate style, language and format; proofread documents and edit texts for accuracy, grammar, punctuation and style in accordance with standard practices and in compliance with the UNIDO Correspondence Manual;
Assist in the preparation of papers and presentations by extracting/summarizing statistics; undertake computer-based searches, compile background information to assist in project identification and formulation;
Initiate or monitor exercises related to the implementation of TC projects (e.g.: budget revisions, obligation reviews, re-phasing, extension or completion of projects, issuance of new project allotment documents/due sub-allotments, TC allocations and monitoring related exercises. Interpret or consult to clarify the application of new financial procedures, TC guidelines and other instructions. Keep track of project budget expenditures; recommend and initiate budget revisions; complete justification for budget revisions; provide information on the project, draw the supervisor’s attention to problems encountered. Retrieve substantive information on TC projects from the SAP PPM module that has been designed to support results-based management and regular reporting
Using SAP, initiate and follow up on actions related to recruitment of experts, training and study tours, purchase of equipment, travel authorizations requests/claims and deal with all related inquiries;
Perform general administrative tasks like arrangements for meetings and other events, reservations, budget follow-up, research for information and reference material. Prepare requests/documents, e.g. requisitions, purchase orders, travel requests/authorizations, expenditure authorizations, visa applications, etc.;
Carry out ad-hoc assignments and research activities, as required;
Maintain files (both paper and electronic) and databases related to work;
Assist other team members and perform any other related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education: Completed higher secondary education (high school diploma or equivalent), is required. Formal administrative/secretarial/clerical training or equivalent, is desirable. A university degree will be considered an advantage.

Technical and Functional Experience:

A minimum of eight (8) years of experience in the related fields of the post, is required.
Credit towards total working experience may be considered on a year by-year-basis, up to maximum of four years, for a first university degree or equivalent diploma, in a relevant field.
Experience using Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel), internet search engines, is required.
Experience with 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 secretarial/administrative skills to assist in the execution of project development and implementation of work, is desirable.
Experience with SAP or similar ERP software is desirable.

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