Project Assistant, Gender Mainstreaming

Background

The Western Balkans continue to face deeply entrenched gender-based inequalities that significantly undermine the economic potential of women and girls, restrict their access to resources and opportunities, and impede the region’s broader social and economic development. Despite formal commitments to gender equality and alignment with the European Union (EU) accession agenda, structural barriers-rooted in patriarchal norms, limited political commitment, and underinvestment in targeted interventions-continue to perpetuate wide gender pay gaps, low female labour market participation, and women’s underrepresentation in leadership, entrepreneurship, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) sectors.

Women’s employment across the region remains low, with only 45% of women employed compared to 65% of men. They carry out three times more unpaid care work than men and are disproportionately concentrated in lower-paid sectors such as education, health, and social services. Although women are enrolling in and graduating from STEM disciplines at higher rates than men in many cases, they represent just 14% of STEM professionals, reflecting the “leaky pipeline” phenomenon whereby women drop out of the sector at various stages of education and career progression.

Gender disparities are equally evident in entrepreneurship. Women account for just 27.5% of business owners and fewer than 12% of startup founders. Their businesses are often necessity-driven, smaller in scale, and concentrated in low-growth sectors, facing limited access to finance, networks, and innovation ecosystems. Leadership representation also remains low, with only 29% of managers being women across the region, and significant country-level variation.

As the region accelerates digitalization and embarks on a green transition, there is a risk that existing inequalities may deepen if women are not intentionally and actively included. Women face barriers in entering green economy sectors and in accessing green finance, training, and technologies. Simultaneously, the digital gender divide persists, and women are less likely to possess above-basic digital skills, limiting their participation in the digital economy.

Yet the economic empowerment of women is not only a matter of rights but also of smart economics. A 2022 World Bank study estimates that the GDP of IPA beneficiaries could increase by up to 20% if women participated in the labour market at the same level as men. Unlocking this potential requires a comprehensive, gender-responsive approach that integrates women’s empowerment into broader strategies for economic development, digital transformation, and environmental sustainability.

UNDP continuously provides strategic guidance, policy advice and technical support to the decisions makers at various levels and ensures the gradual process of development of the overarching system of gender mainstreaming in the governance system, making it consistent and aligned with international commitments and best practices in gender mainstreaming and women’s empowerment approach. Overall, UNDP's efforts create a conducive environment for gender equality and women’s empowerment initiatives, driving positive systemic changes and promoting inclusivity across all levels of governance.

The UNDP Country Programme for Montenegro (2023-2027) (CPD) is based on a gender analysis, that is also integrated within programmatic priorities and the CPD’s results framework which  uses gender-sensitive and disaggregated data. UNDP aims to allocate a minimum of 15% of the planned resources in gender specific initiatives.

Accordingly, in line with its Gender Equality Strategy UNDP assures gender mainstreaming across its programmes driven by national development choices. Committed to structural transformation UNDP works with countries to shift the underlying systems and power structures that determine development. Linking issues and partners, asking questions and holding difficult conversations helps development build on a foundation of gender equality and inclusion. In this regard, UNDP serves as a convener and advocate as much as, if not more than, a programme provider.

The UNDP Gender Strategy includes a focus on addressing the multiple and intersecting forms of deprivation, disadvantage, and discrimination. For instance, discrimination against women based on sex and gender is inextricably linked with factors such as race, ethnicity, religion or belief, health, status, age, class, caste, and sexual orientation and identity. Other factors are urbanization, migration and displacement, natural disasters and armed conflicts.

Furthermore, building resilience by helping countries develop capacities to prevent, mitigate and respond to diverse risks and crises. This depends on fully involving women, on equal terms and at all levels, including in decision-making.

Guiding principles of results-based management, human rights-based approach, capacity development, digital transformation, and environment-friendly interventions will be assured to bring added value and awareness of partners regarding human-cantered policy design and gender equality.  

In 2025, the implementation of the Regional Programme EU4 Gender Equality – Women’s Economic Empowerment and Ending Violence Against Women commenced. The Regional Programme is funded by the European Union and jointly implemented by UN Women and UNDP across six Western Balkan economies. UNDP Montenegro leads the Women’s Economic Empowerment component, focusing on removing barriers to women’s economic participation and strengthening digital skills among women and girls, particularly from marginalized groups. The programme aims to increase women’s participation in leadership roles, STEM fields, and green economy sectors.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under direct supervision of the Project Analyst for Economic Empowerment of Women and overall supervision of the Team Leader of the Gender Equality Portfolio, the incumbent will carry out the following main tasks:

•     Provide support to implementation of day-to-day project activities
•     Provide relevant administrative and logistical assistance in implementation of the project activities
•     Perform regular financial tasks necessary for the successful and timely implementation of project activities

I. Provide support to implementation of day-to-day project activities
•     Draft routine correspondence and reports from oral instructions, previous correspondence or other available information sources, in accordance with the standard office procedures, and ensure appropriate follow-up; write minutes from the meetings; provide translation/interpretation services into English and vice versa, when needed
•     Ensure all project documentation (progress reports, consulting and other technical reports, minutes of meetings, etc.) are properly maintained in hard and electronic copies in an efficient and readily accessible filing system, for when required by the Project Boards, Technical Advisory Committee, UNDP, project consultants
•     Assist the M&E officer in matters related to M&E and knowledge resources management and in the preparation of progress reports. The project teams report progress twice a year to the donors, at least once a year to the Project Boards, and continuously to the CO management, the task is to support these reporting processes with continuous track record of implemented activities.

II. Provide relevant administrative and logistical assistance in implementation of the project activities
•     Provide logistical support to the Gender Equality portfolio of projects and ensure provision of adequate secretarial and interpretation facilities (organization of projects’ events, meetings and study tours, travel arrangements, arrangement of shipments, conference facilities arrangements, visits of experts, timely processed daily subsistence allowances, etc.)
•     Maintain day-to-day communication with the Operations Unit regarding the project related administration matters: procurement, human resources, travel and finance matters; 
•     Provide administrative support regarding recruitment of experts and procurement of goods and services under the project;
•     Provide support to procurement processes related to the implementation of projects in hand: enter project procurement plans in Quantum, provide support in preparation of tender documents and in organization of the tendering and contracting procedure, support to receipts of quotations, bids or proposals, and their preliminary evaluation
•     Provide support to monitoring of consultants’ works  and related payments
•     Provide support to identification of needs for equipment, and procurement and installation of necessary equipment.

III Perform regular financial duties necessary for the successful and timely implementation of project activities

•     Ensure daily transactions are processed in the Quantum system (suppliers, invoices, requisitions, etc.)
•     Keep track of all transactions in a budget notebook
•     Perform regular budget revisions
•     Provide regular delivery estimation and monthly expense estimation to the Finance Unit
•     Provide regular reporting regarding the Projects’ expenditures
•     Prepare periodic Projects’ asset/inventory reports
•     Ensure completeness of documentation, check accuracy of calculation for all financial transactions related to the Projects, and prepare/process financial transactions in the system in accordance with UNDP rules and procedures
•     Assist in the preparation of substantive progress and financial plans and reports.

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

Institutional Arrangement

The Project Assistant will work under the direct supervision of the Project Analyst for Economic Empowerment of Women and under the overall supervision of the Team Leader of the Gender Equality Cluster and Western Balkans Gender Equality Regional Programme. The incumbent will be based in the UNDP Montenegro office in Podgorica.

Competencies

Core Competencies 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Required Experience:

Desired Experience: 

Languages: 

Persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. UNDP is committed to creating an inclusive workplace, and to taking appropriate measures to enable persons with disabilities to have access to UNDP job opportunities and benefit from participating in UNDP selection, hiring and employment processes. UNDP is committed to providing reasonable accommodation during recruitment, hiring and employment.

Equal 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. 

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. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  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.

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