Bosnia and Herzegovina is known to its rich biological diversity, endemic species and habitats as well as a series of relict ecosystems; species diversity has the highest level of endemism in Europe.ย Still, in spite of the countryโs rich biodiversity, international obligations, and growing man-induced pressures, nature conservation efforts remain insufficient. Socioeconomic challenges, such as unemployment and poverty, have resulted in government communities focusing on immediate economic priorities rather than environmental issues, including biodiversity. Thus, biodiversity conservation is not seen as a national priority.ย
The objective of the SPA project is to achieve practical improvement in management of protected area estate of BiH, providing for better biodiversity status through strengthened resilience of key biodiversity values to climate change impact and increased revenues to protected areas from sustainable recreation. The project is called to reduce the gap between the current capacities of protected areas (PAs) with their increasing vulnerability to emerging threats, on the one hand, and the growing needs to preserve and sustainably maintain the biological and ecosystem diversity, on the other. The project aims to reduce newly emerging threats to the key biodiversity values and provide for sustainable management options and increased funding for PAs. The project makes an incremental effort in assisting the protected area management with tools and instruments aimed at diversifying and improving the sustainable, nature-based tourism offering in targeted PAs and neighbouring communities, thus providing for sustainable incremental income and a development option that valorise the unique nature values without further threatening them. The project also links the PAs to the funding opportunities provided by the governmental grant programmes for tourism development.ย
The Project has been financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and is directly implemented by UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina Country Office.
Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager and overall supervision of the Sector Leader, the Project Associate will support implementation ofย the SPA project, along with the other projects in the area of biodiversity and nature protection (ie Biofin, BESNet phase II etc.). This relates to a variety of standard administrative processes ensuring high-quality and accuracy of work. The Project Associate shall promote a client, quality and result-oriented approach.
To ensure consistent service delivery, the Project Associate will work in close collaboration with the SPA project staff, project staff of other climate change adaptation projects of the Energy and Environment Sector, as well as UNDP Country Office (CO) operations staff.
The incumbent will be based in UNDP BiH office in Sarajevo.ย
Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the core functions of the Project Associate will include the following:
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
Support to project implementation, ensuring quality of business processes Ensure business processes are in line with the UNDP regulations and rules and the UNDP internal controlยframework;ย
Assists in the organization of field visits, missions, workshops, training, roundtables, conferences and study visits within the project;ย Maintains and updates all administrative, personnel and financial files and records as well as general office files related to the project;ย Assists in the preparation of draft job descriptions, vacancy announcements, requests for recruitments, interview minutes and requests for contracts;ย Assists staff by processing requests for personnel-related documents in accordance with requirements of the organization;ย Maintains the inventory of project assets/equipment and project correspondence and files; Follows up on the attendance records of project staff ensuring compliance with the CO practices;ย Organize travel and other logistics arrangements, in line with the projectโs work plan.ยย ย ย ย 2. Support to financial monitoring and managementย
Processes all financial transactions on the UNDP online Corporate Planning System, such as non-PO invoices, requesting receipts, requisitions, customer/supplier info updates, project budget revisions, etc.;ย Ensures proper receipt of goods and services;ย Maintains the internal expenditures control system that ensures that invoices processed are matched and completed; transactions are correctly recorded and posted in the online system;ย Takes timely corrective actions on unposted invoices, including the invoices with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved invoices;ย Supports periodic and ad-hoc financial reporting to UNDP and other parties;ย Regularly monitors expenditures and commitments against the Project budget and relevant plans, and provides finance related information to support Project implementation and planning and recommends corrective actions when necessary;ย Drafts various correspondence concerning finance, operations and budgetary issues as required;ย Assists team members, experts and consultants in liaison with UNDP Operations on financial and other operational matters;ย Prepares information for evaluations or audit purposes.ยย ย ย ย 3. Support to project planningย
ย ย ย ย 4. Support to knowledge building and knowledge sharing
Participates in the trainings for the operations/projects staff on HR, Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures, etc. and organize briefings for the project staff where necessary on new internal procedures;ย When necessary, provides guidance to project staff in business processes, administrative and other requirements and procedures;ย Support the Project Manager in the dissemination and sharing of relevant data and lessons learned within the CO and regionally;ย Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.ยย ย ย ย 5. Support in mainstreaming of gender equalityย
Support the Project Manager in mainstreaming gender equality in the Project implementation;ย Support the Project Manager in preparing gender equality background materials for use in discussion, correspondence and briefing sessions;ย Ensure that all the data, when collecting and compiling inputs relating to programme, are gender disaggregated;ย In the preparation of meetings/consultations/trainings/commissions ensure a minimum of 30% participation of the other sex.ย ยThe incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization. Core Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvementsย Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexibleย Act with Determination:ย LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discriminationย Cross-Functional & Technical competencies Thematic Area Name Definition Business Direction & Strategy Entrepreneurial Thinking
Identify and seize opportunities to service and addย
value to clients, create clarity around UNDP value proposition to beneficiaries and partners, develop service offers responding to client needs in line with ย UNDPโs organizational priorities and mandate Business Direction & Strategy Effective Decision Making Take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with oneโs authority, area of expertise and resources and take into consideration potential wider implications. Business Development Knowledge Facilitation Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally ย and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange. Finance
Budgetย
management Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets Administration & Operations Documents and records management
Overall document (hard or electronic) management; ย
registry and retention policy including storing and archiving Administration & Operations
Events management (includingย
retreats, trainings and meetings) Ability to manage events, including venue identification, accommodation, logistics, catering, transportation, and cash disbursements, etc. Administration & Operations