Title: Team Assistant

​Requisition ID: 3530
Grade: SB2 – Local support
Country: Cameroon
Duty Station: Douala
Category: Local Support Personnel
Type of Job Posting: Internal and External
Employment Type: NonStaff-Regular
Contract Duration: 6 months, with possibility of extension
Application deadline: 29-Apr-2024, 11:59 PM (CEST)

Vacancy Announcement
TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT OF PROJECT PERSONNEL
Only nationals or permanent residents of the country of the duty station are considered eligible.
Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

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 Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), headed by a Managing Director, oversees the Organization’s development of capacities for industrial development as well as industrial policy advice, statistics and research activities and the Organization’s normative contribution to Member States and global development community in achieving the SDGs. The Directorate also ensures the application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development related to Environment, Energy, SMEs, Competitiveness and Job creation, as well as Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence. Through coordination in-house and with Member States and industry stakeholders, it ensures that the services provided in these areas contribute toward effective and appropriate technical, business and policy solutions and are focused on results and on realizing any potential for scaling up and positioning UNIDO as a leading platform for industrial development in developing countries and global fora. The Directorate houses the technical Divisions of Capacity Development and Industrial Policy Advice (TCS/CAP); Circular Economy and Environmental Protection (TCS/CEP); Decarbonization and Sustainable Energy (TCS/DSE); SMEs, Competitiveness and Job Creation (TCS/SME); and Digital Transformation and AI Strategies (TCS/DAS). The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the Divisions as well as with relevant entities in the Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations (GLO) and the Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation (IET).

The position is located in the Division of Digital Transformation and AI Strategies (TCS/DAS) which promotes digital transformation and Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) associated technologies (including cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), industrial Internet of things, additive manufacturing, big data, blockchain, e-commerce, and others) as part of innovation ecosystems consisting of productive capacities in manufacturing, services and digital firms, with the purpose to advance the competitiveness of industries and manufacturing firms in Member States. It helps industries to benefit from the rapid progress in digital and convergent technologies associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), ensuring a smooth transition towards safe and secured cyber-physical industrial systems and a smart society and mitigating any negative adverse effects on employment and quality of work. Through the Division’s services, the productive transformation will be key; integrating industrial businesses, dynamic entrepreneurship, and acceleration services, in less developed countries will have the opportunity to technologically catch up instead of falling behind industries in more advanced countries.

UNIDO Cameroon office as the entity of the Organization will facilitate a proximity management of the project and its integration to the national context and priorities; facilitate the necessary synergies and partnerships in order to create more impact and resilience, as well as the needed sustainability beyond the project timeframe.

PROJECT CONTEXT

Economically, Cameroon plays a pivotal role in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC). The country embraces abundant natural resources, including; oil and gas, mineral ores, and agricultural products such as coffee, cotton, coca, maize and cassava. Despite these resources and wealth, the country still faces challenges. According to UNIDO’s Industrial Analytics Platform, Cameroon is ranked 101st out of 132 countries for its performance toward the achievement of SDG-9 industry-related targets. Cameroon tends to lag behind other economies in terms of the level of technological adoption in the industry consequently leading to low performance in other indices measuring competitiveness like value-added per capita, which is ranked at 113th place in the world, and underperforming the average of not only the middle-income industrial economies but also African countries. For this reason, the development needs to foster technological innovation and technical capacity building of key industrial actors, including the private sector, is highlighted in the latest UNSDCF which has been set as a strategic guide outlining the collective vision and response of the UN system to Cameroon’s national development priorities during the 2022–2026 period.

As the specialized UN agency, UNIDO has identified that there are impending development needs to assist Cameroon in promoting the technological upgrade and national quality assurance systems to maximize the developmental potential of the Cameroonian key trade products, as well as minimize the loss of values along with the post-harvest processes and crop management. Therefore, this project responds to an existing need and demand of the value chain actors and institutions to develop their capacity to comply with the market requirements and for the increased added value that will open new opportunities for strengthening the overall industrial and trade competency of Cameroon. The overall objective of the proposed project (ID: 230340) is to contribute to the realization of sustainable trade competence of key Cameroonian products and international business partnerships by enhancing advanced technologies, innovation, and product quality assurance capacity.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager and in close cooperation with the project team in the HQ and field location, the Junior Team Assistant provides assistance and general administrative support to the implementation of the project, and is responsible for the following key functions:

• Perform general administrative tasks such as ordering office supplies, following up on budget queries, making various reservations as required, placing purchase requisitions, researching for information and reference material, organizing requests for formal editing, translation, layout, graphic design and arranging for printing services as well as the publication of documents, if and when necessary;
• Using SAP, when required, make arrangements for travel, prepare travel authorizations, ensuring that visas, security clearances, vaccination certificates, Laissez-Passer etc. are valid and in order. Assist in completing back-to-office mission reports and claim forms;
• Respond to moderately complex information requests and inquiries as necessary, as well as refer queries to appropriate personnel for handling;
• Assist in organizing the logistics for meetings prepare the necessary background documents and agendas’, liaise with counterparts on attendance assist in the preparation of presentation materials, book meeting rooms and take notes at meetings, if required;
• Keep track of pending matters, flagging deadlines and bringing urgent and important items to the attention of the supervisor;
• Maintain an up-to-date filing system (both hard copy and electronic);
• Perform any other related duties as assigned.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Core Values

WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.

WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.

WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective.

Key Competencies

WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential –and this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity.

WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world.

WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work.

WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: To stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another.

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education: Completed higher secondary education (high school diploma or equivalent), is required. Formal administrative/secretarial/clerical training or equivalent, is desirable.

Technical and Functional Experience:

• A minimum of three (3) years of work experience in the related fields of the post, is required.
• 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 with SAP or similar ERP software is desirable.

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English and French is required. Fluency and/or working knowledge of another official UN language is desirable.

This appointment is limited to the specified project(s) only and does not carry any expectation of renewal.
Employees of UNIDO are expected at all times to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for jobs at UNIDO.

All applications must be submitted online through the Online Recruitment System. Correspondence will be undertaken only with candidates who are being considered at an advanced phase of the selection process. Selected candidate(s) may be required to disclose to the Director General the nature and scope of financial and other personal interests and assets in respect of themselves, their spouses and dependents, under the procedures established by the Director General.

Visit the UNIDO website for details on how to apply: www.unido.org

NOTE: The Director General retains the discretion to make an appointment to this post at a lower level.

Notice to applicants:
UNIDO does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. If you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Vacant positions within UNIDO are advertised on the official UNIDO website. Should you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of UNIDO and requesting payment of a fee, please contact: [email protected]