DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS31 July 2025-23:59-GMT Greenwich Mean Time (Abidjan)
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ABOUT WFP
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WHY JOIN WFP?
WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.
WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.
A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.
We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).
Post Title : Finance Associate
Org. Unit : African Risk Capacity (ARC)
Contract Type/Grade : SSA-6
Duration : 11 months with possibility for extension
Duty Station : Abidjan, Cote DโIvoire
Reporting to : Head of Finance and Administration
BACKGROUND
The objective of the African Risk Capacity (ARC) is to help African Union (AU) Member States improve their capacities for planning, preparing for, and responding to extreme weather events and disasters, as well as to assist populations suffering from food insecurity. Operating under the privileges and immunities of the AU, the ARC Agency, through its Secretariat, provides Member States with capacity-building services in early warning, emergency response planning, and risk financing.
In 2014, the ARC Agency established a financial affiliate, ARC Insurance Company Limited (ARC Ltd), a specialized hybrid mutual insurance company that issues policies to governments and pools and transfers risk to the international market. Through ARC Ltd. and following its capacity-building activities, ARC provides insurance-based financing to African governments to implement pre-approved emergency response plans in the event of severe disasters.
African Risk Capacity (ARC) began as a special project within the World Food Programme (WFP). However, in November 2012, ARC was established as a specialized agency of the African Union with administrative support from WFP. WFP continues to provide ARC with technical, administrative, human resources, and project management services through an Administrative Services Agreement (ASA). As a result, WFPโs financial rules and regulations fully apply to ARC, including those related to office relocation, security, and information technology.
HEADQUARTERS RELOCATION
In 2019, the Conference of the Parties approved the relocation of ARCโs headquarters from Johannesburg, South Africa, to Abidjan, Cรดte dโIvoire. The relocation is part of the host country agreement signed with the Government of Cรดte dโIvoire.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the supervision of the Head of Finance, the Finance Associate will provide a range of specialised financial, administrative, and operational support to ensure the effective management of project funds and compliance with donor requirements.
The incumbent will be expected to perform the following duties:
1. Financial Oversight and Budget Monitoring
- Ensure dedicated financial monitoring of the ARC IFAD-GCF funded project, including accurate budget tracking, donor compliance control, and the timely preparation of financial and progress reports.
- Support the financial management of all ARC grants and projects, ensuring effective use of resources and adherence to donor and WFP financial procedures.
- Maintain accurate and updated financial records, including contracts, budgets, disbursements, and reporting timelines.
2. Grants and Donor Compliance
- Monitor grant expenditures and receipts to ensure full compliance with donor financial regulations and reporting deadlines.
- Assist in the preparation and consolidation of annual budgets and forecasts, ensuring alignment with project work plans and funding commitments.
- Prepare budgets for specific activities such as trainings, workshops, and missions as required.
3. Administrative and Operational Support
- Coordinate administrative and logistical support for project activities, including venue bookings, travel and accommodation arrangements for participants.
- Manage operational advances: ensure proper tracking, reconciliation, and documentation.
- Process and track invoices and payment requests in coordination with relevant finance and procurement units.
- Monitor outstanding items such as POs, PRs, travel authorizations, and receivables, ensuring timely follow-up and clearance.
4. Financial Reporting and Analysis
- Prepare regular financial reports (monthly, quarterly, annual) in accordance with both donor and internal reporting requirements.
- Support budget variance analysis and recommend corrective actions as needed to ensure effective budget control and forecasting.
5. Communication and Documentation
- Draft routine correspondence related to financial matters, project budgets, and general administrative issues.
- Liaise with donors and partners on financial issues when necessary and maintain appropriate records of such interactions.
6. Other Duties
- Support internal and external audit processes as required.
- Perform any other duties as assigned by the supervisor to support the effective delivery of ARC projects.
REQUIRED TECHNICAL / FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES
- Knowledge of UN regulations in areas of finance, budget, grant management IPSAS, travel, workshop management would be desirable.
- Specialized knowledge of the use of MS Office and SAP
- Good analytical skills and the ability to identify and recommend corrections to procedural issues.
- Ability to work effectively with people of different national and cultural background.
REQUIRED RECRUITMENT QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
Education
Graduation in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Commerce or other related fields
Experience
Five or more years of progressively responsible work experience in finance work.
Communication and Language skills
Fluency in French and excellent oral and written communication in English.
WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK
WFP Leadership Framework guides to the common standards of behavior that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.
Click here to access WFP Leadership Framework
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
WFP is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact: global.inclusion@wfp.org
NO FEE DISCLAIMER
The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.
REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION
We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete, and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).
Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application.
Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language
Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter
Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time
Please contact us at global.hrerecruitment@wfp.org in case you face any challenges with submitting your application
Only shortlisted candidates will be notified
All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.