Programme Associate

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

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 Programme Unit works to support achievement of UNDP strategic objectives to create a world where people and planet thrive together, and to help the Country Office act with both ambition and scale to address urgent problems facing the country as well as global climate deteriorating conditions. Programme staff assist the Country Office in formulating and implementing programme strategies that go beyond solving immediate development challenges to create future smart and integrated systemic changes in resilience and capacity building within the country.

The Programme Associate will provide support in the implementation of programme, project and UNDP-wide activities, ensuring timely and effective coordination and delivery of support services relating to: UNDP advocacy and programme-related events; fulfillment of UNDP due diligence procedures; portfolio and UNDP-wide advocacy and communications; information management within the two portfolios and other program units; event and logistical requirements for programme delivery; external relations; and team management.

Under the overall guidance of the Portfolio Manager – RSG, and Program Analyst, the Programme Associate ensures effective delivery of the CO programme by entering and managing data and supporting programme implementation consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.

The Programme Associate may supervise support staff in the Programme Unit. The Programme Associate works in close collaboration with the Operations, Programme and projects’ staff in the CO and UNDP HQ, and UN Agencies to exchange information and resolve complex finance-related issues.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities
Support formulation of programme strategies and implementation of the Country Programme Documents (CPDs).
  • Provide background information for preparation of CPDs and establishment of Baselines, Milestones and Targets (BMT).
  • Provide information/evidence to guide future programming and identify implementation arrangements.
Provide effective support to management of the Country Office programme.
  • Create project in ERP, prepare required budget revisions, revise project status, determine unutilized funds, and ensure operational and financial closure of a project.
  • Provide day-to-day guidance to implementing partners on implementation of projects, and track use of financial resources. Contribute to managing digital technology solutions in programme implementation towards scalability and sustainability in line with UNDP’s digital standards.
  • Contribute to the effective management of data in programme implementation, across the data lifecycle. Follow up on programme and project performance indicators/ success criteria, targets and milestones, preparation of reports, and implementation of corporate results-based management mechanisms and tools.
  • Identify programme related bottlenecks and propose solutions.
  • Make preparations for external and internal programme/project audits, and support implementation of audit recommendations.
    Provide administrative support to the Programme unit by maintaining internal expenditure system and
  • performing quality assurance review of technical reports and payments that includes following up with other units and taking timely corrective actions.

Support implementation of the CO partnership and resource mobilization strategies.

  • Analyze information on donors and prepare donor profiles.
  • Track and report on mobilized resources.
  • Review contributions agreements and manage contributions in ERP.

Facilitate knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the Country Office.
In assigned programme areas:

  • Organize and deliver programme related training for relevant programme and operations personnel.
  • Compile lessons learned and best practices.
  • Provide contributions to knowledge networks, communities of practice and digital knowledge platforms.

Supports organization of events, missions, and advocacy campaigns

  • Following guidance from the Portfolio Analysts, lead in the organization and logistics for incoming missions from UN/UNDP Headquarters, regional office and other partners.
  • Following guidance from the Portfolio Analysts and Managers, and in close consultation with UNDP communications and operations units, lead in the organization of high level external and internal events, and advocacy functions.
  • Support to follow-up as required.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization
Competencies

Core Competencies

Achieve Results
LEVEL 2:  Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work

Think Innovatively
LEVEL 2:  Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking

Learn Continuously
LEVEL 2:  Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning

Adapt with Agility
LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process

Act with Determination
LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously

Engage and Partner
LEVEL 2:  Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion
LEVEL 2:  Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making

Cross Functional/Technical Competencies

Business Management – Project Management
Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Business Management – Customer Satisfaction/Client Management

  • Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers’ needs.
  • Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy.
  • Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests.
  • Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns.

Business Development – Knowledge Generation
Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need

Business Management – Risk Management
Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks

Business Management – Results-based Management
Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus on improved performance and demonstrable results.

Finance  Budget Management
Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets.

Procurement – Contract Management
Knowledge of contract management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations.

Required Skills and Experience
Education:
  • Secondary education is required
  • A university degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, or related field will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.
Experience:
  • A minimum of 6 years (with secondary education) or 3 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant progressively responsible administrative/management or programme experience is required at the national and/or international level.
  • Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.), database packages, and web-based management systems such as ERP.
  • Ability to review and edit documents, ability to produce meeting reports identifying key actions.
  • Fluency in the English and Chichewa is required

Apply Here

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