Background
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Turkmenistan, being a long-term and fully trusted strategic development partner of the country, together with the government and other development actors in Turkmenistan works hard to support the country to address complex development issues across a broad spectrum of issues relating to democratic governance, environment and energy, and human development.
The Democratic Governance, Economic Diversification, and Inclusive Growth is the biggest UNDP portfolio in Turkmenistan in terms of number of projects (currently 14 ongoing projects) and in terms of thematic areas (human rights and rule of law, public administration, digital governance, statistics, SDG implementation and financing, trade facilitation, banking, youth empowerment, social services, CSOs). The main funding of the portfolio is covered by the Government of Turkmenistan cost sharing. The portfolio works closely with such national partners as the Institute of State, Law, and Democracy, the Ombudspersonโs Office, the Ministry of Finance and Economy, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population, the State Statistics Committee, Civil Service Academy, Turkmenaragatnashyk Agency, the State Customs Service, the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations, the State Bank for Foreign Economic Affairs, as well as with local CSOs and NGOs.
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.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the overall guidance of the 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 projectsโ 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.
Key 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);ย Provide information/evidence to guide future programming and identify implementation arrangements.ยProvide effective support to management of the Country Office programmeย
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 UNDPโs 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;ย 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 strategiesย
Analyze information on donors and prepare donor profiles;ย Track and report on mobilized resources;ย Review contributions agreements and manage contributions in ERP.Facilitate knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the Country Officeย 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.The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: May supervise support staff in Programme unit
Competencies
Core-Competencies
Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies
Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals. 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.ย Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients' immediate requests.ย Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns. Knowledge Generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.ย Risk Management: Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks. Results-based Management: Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.ย Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.ย Budget Management: Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets. 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.ยExperience:
A minimum of 6 years with high school diploma OR; A minimum of 3 years with bachelorโs degree of relevant progressively responsible administrative/management or programme experience is required at the national and/or international level;ย Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.), database packages, and web-based management systems such as ERP; Experience in reviewing and editing documents, in produce meeting reports identifying key actions; Experience with the United Nations or any other international agency would be a valuable asset; Experience in partnership building and management with multi-stakeholders, including government agencies, and other development partners will be advantage; Experience collaborating within diverse and large teams is essential.Required Languages:
Fluency in English, Russian and TurkmenEqual opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.ย
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.ย
Probation
For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
Right to select multiple candidates
UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.ย We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Scam alert
UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.
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