Background
UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDPโs policy work carried out at Headquarters, Regional and Country Office levels offers a spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in its Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in UNDPโs Strategic Plan.ย ย
UNDP's 2022-2025 Strategic Plan highlights our continued commitment to eradicating poverty, accompanying countries in their pathways towards the SDGs and working towards the Paris Agreement. As part of the Global Policy Network in the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP's Nature, Climate Change, Energy, and Waste (NCE&W) Hubs promote and scale up integrated whole-of-governance approaches and nature-based solutions that reduce poverty and inequalities, strengthen livelihoods and inclusive growth, mitigate conflict, forced migration and displacement, and promote more resilient governance systems that advance linked peace and security agendas.ย ย
ย In recent decades, biodiversity finance tools and solutions have demonstrated their importance for achieving biodiversity goals and broader sustainable development objectives. Improved choice, design and implementation of effective, well-tailored finance solutions will strengthen countriesโ chances of achieving national and global biodiversity targets. Biodiversity Finance Plans have become increasingly recognised as a relevant tool to help countries to identify and fill the biodiversity finance gap, including through the work of the Biodiversity Finance Initiative www.biofin.org. In December 2022, parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted the Montreal-Kunming Global Biodiversity Framework. This included numerous targets with relevance for financing. Target 19 on resource mobilisation includes reference for countries to design and implement national biodiversity finance plans.ย ย
The GEF created a global programme to support countries to design a national Biodiversity Finance Plan. A Biodiversity Finance Plan includes a systems analysis of a country's economy including to map existing financing mechanisms, subsidies with potential harmful impacts on nature, drivers of biodiversity loss and gain, public and private expenditures committed towards biodiversity objectives and a country's national financial needs for biodiversity. The biodiversity finance plan itself consists of a series of actions with the aim to significantly scale up available funding, green or phase out harmful finance flows and improve the effectiveness of available expenditures. The programme allows for active sharing of experiences across countries and includes a knowledge sharing platform and the provision of continuous technical support to country teams.ย ย
The implementation of the project in Tonga, Nauru, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Palau, Vanuatu, Tuvalu, and Solomon Islands falls under the GEF8 Umbrella programme for the development of the first National Biodiversity Finance Plan. The overall implementation of the project will be led by the Project Lead/Senior Biodiversity Expert with the support of a technical team and in coordination to a government project director and the National Steering Committee.ย ย ย
For the implementation of the GEF8-BFP Umbrella program at the national level, UNDP is recruiting a central national team composed of a Project Lead and Senior Biodiversity Finance Specialist, and a Project Associate and Project Finance Specialist (Biodiversity) to be based out of Suva, Fiji.ย ย
The Project Lead & Senior Biodiversity Finance Specialist, and the Project Associate will also be responsible for the delivery of the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) programme for Fiji.ย
Duties and Responsibilities
The Project Associate will be under the direct supervision of the Project Lead & Senior Biodiversity Finance Specialist.ย ย
UNDP shall be entitled to intellectual property and other proprietary rights over all materials that have a direct relation to the projects.
Under the over-all guidance of the Project Lead and Senior Finance Biodiversity Specialist, the Project Associate will be responsible for providing back-office/administrative support to the Project Lead and Senior Biodiversity Finance Specialist including: ย
Management Supportย
Provide support with all financial and administrative requirements of the projects, especially those related to project funding and accounting.ย Assist in ensuring that projects are executed in a timely and appropriate manner.ย Assist or support in facilitating, guiding the work of the national team; manage payment schedules.ย Assist in project related activities, including planning for meetings, local and national consultations, trips and other project related activities. ย Ensure all national and international travel is organised smoothly. ย Document and share records of meetings, decisions, actions, etc.ย Support with the Monitoring and Evaluation of the projects at the national level, including workshop evaluations. ย Any other duties assigned by the Senior Finance Expert (Project Lead), that have direct relevance to the project.ยFinancial Oversight
Support the Management of the project budgets and support overseeing of procurement and accounting procedures and activities, together with the UNDP Country Office and the GPMTSU.ย Ensure financial resources are disbursed on time to implementing partners.ย Maintain records of expenditures and collaborate in financial reporting.Ensures effective administrative and logistical support to ensure successful project delivery
Develop calculations for the development of the annual workplan/budgets.ย Maintain an inventory of assets/equipment and support with the handover of equipment upon project closure. ย Ensure the Quantum approval system is set up at the Country Office for the projects.ย Handle all logistical matters to organise the inception workshop, consultation workshops and any meetings as required.ย Regularly update the procurement plan and contacts list. ย Handle of all travel arrangements for national travel/missions and participants to national-level workshops. ย Handle all travel procedures for participants to global and regional workshops and other international meetings, ensuring all necessary visa, security clearances and plane tickets are obtained timely, and confirmations/changes of travel arrangements are communicated to the GPMTSU immediately. ยSupport knowledge building, knowledge sharing and capacity building relevant to the assigned project.
Participate in training and organize briefings on internal procedures for the project staff. Provide support to other capacity building activities, including to the design and delivery of tools, materials for workshops, or platforms that tap into the collective intelligence of communities and mobilize action. Provide support in the dissemination and sharing of relevant data and lessons learned within the project. Keep pulse on emerging best practices nationally, regionally, and internationally that relate to the work of the assigned project. Make sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice. Support compiling and systematizing project knowledge, products and tools as well as their wide distribution to partners.The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.ย
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Competencies
Core Competenciesย
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: 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 discriminationCross-Functional & Technical competenciesย
Business Management
Communication: Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels. Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goalsยAdministration & Operationsย ย
Events Management (including retreats, trainings, and meetings): Support offices with event management including venue identification, accommodation, logistics, catering, transportation, and cash disbursements, etc.ย Travel Policy and Procedures: Travel Policy and Procedures - Interprets travel policy, the Staff Rules, administrative circulars and financial regulations and rules on travel-related matters; management and tracking of exception requests to the standard of accommodation; reporting to UN.ยPartnership
Private sector resource mobilization: Ability to identify, develop and manage partnerships that leverage private sector technical expertise and resources.ยFinanceย
Financial Planning and Budgeting: Ability to create and manage processes to achieve UNDP's long and short-term financial goals, including through planning, budgeting, forecasting, analyzing and reporting.ยProcurement
Procurement management: The ability to acquire goods, services or works from an outside external sourceยRequired Skills and Experience
Education:
Secondary education is required. University Degree (Bachelorยดs degree) in Business Administration, Public Administration, or equivalent field will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.Experience:
A minimum of 7 years (with secondary education) or 4 years (with bachelorโs degree) of progressively responsible administrative or project experience is required. ย Sound understanding of key software packages (MS Office)ย Ability to maintain overview in complex work situations, self-starter in supporting the coordinator in communicating and keeping timelines.ย Able to gather and process data and information.ย Excellent interpersonal skills to network among the national team and beyond to other national institutions.ย Writes clearly professional correspondence and adequately.ย Highly organized person, sets priorities, produces quality outputs, meets deadlines and manages time efficiently.ย Shares knowledge and is willing to provide support to others who request advice or help.ย Works toward creative solutions by analysing problems carefully and logically.ย Maintains professional relationships with supervisors, co-workers and clients.ย Experience with UNDP/UN policies, procedures and practices, particularly in relation to project development and implementation;ย Experience in preparation of financial reports and overviews. Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation toolsย Knowledge of project management processesย Knowledge of procurement procedures of national / international organizationsย Experience in dealing with national experts and international institutions. ยRequired Languages
Fluency in English is required.ย Fluency in Fijian and/or Fiji Hindi is required. Fluency in additional UN languages is an added advantage. ยย
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.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
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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