Project Associate – Biodivesity

Following its Country Programme Document (CPD) for the Kyrgyz Republic for 2023-2027, UNDP supports the Kyrgyz Republic in moving towards a low-carbon, risk-informed and resilient development, sustaining and protecting healthy ecosystems to implement international climate action commitments.

The Climate, Environment and Energy (CEE) Cluster is the largest programme cluster at UNDP Country Office in the Kyrgyz Republic, focusing on delivering solutions for climate adaptation and mitigation policies, environmental protection, biodiversity, natural resources management, sustainable energy and disaster risk management.

 The cluster works with a variety of partners at regional, national, and sub-national levels for the transparent, accountable, and sustainable management of natural resources, renewable energy, ecosystem services, chemicals, and waste, for ensuring better livelihoods for the Kyrgyz citizens. At a larger scale, the CEE’s interventions are aimed at helping the Kyrgyz Republic transition toward a low-emission and climate resilient sustainable development, prepare for and build resilience to the impacts of climate change, and pursue low-carbon development pathways that guarantee a cleaner, greener, and a more secure future.

 It is within this context that UNDP in the Kyrgyz Republic is looking to bring on board the Project Associate will provide administration, logistics and finance support to the Biodiversity and Nature Solutions team in Kyrgyzstan. This person will keep the required records and will prepare the financial and operational information required by the Project Management Unit (PMU) Kyrgyzstan and review finance related tasks.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Under the supervision of the Programme Coordinator, the Project Associate will support project implementation by undertaking the following scope of work.

Support the project team to ensure effective project planning, budgeting and implementation focusing on the achievement of the following results: 

• Coordination of project planning and preparation work for, typically, a medium-sized and complex component of the project initiatives.
• Analysis, research, summary and presentation of basic information/data on specific projects and related topics.
• Implement project standard operating procedures in line with the government and UNDP’s regulations.

Support the effective reporting on the progress of project implementation 

• Provides assistance in the preparation of projects workplan; ensuring requisite information is included and justified in terms of proposed activities; proposes adjustments as necessary; prepares reports and ensures that outputs/services are properly categorized.
• Preparation of results-oriented progress reports, in line with the monitoring and reporting guidelines and presenting it to the project assurance team in a timely manner.
• Preparation of data for monitoring of projects; categorization, updating, tracking and analyzing data related to projects, e.g. accounting records, outputs, resources utilized, deviations/revisions, etc.; carries out periodic status reviews
• Identification of issues and initiates requisite follow-up actions
• Preparation of reports on budget revisions, expenditures and obligations, verification of availability of funds.
• Preparation for financial authorizations for expenditures to be approved and documentation in prevailing budget system.
• Provision of administrative support for annual and quarterly work plans as well as, operational and financial closure of a project.

Provides administrative support to the Project Management Unit focusing on the achievement of the following results: 

• Supporting the team and serving as focal point for administrative issues related to coordination, monitoring and expedition of project implementation activities
• Preparation of draft standard terms of reference against project objectives, obtained necessary clearances, process and follow-up on administrative actions and provision of solutions to the issues related to project implementation, e.g. recruitment and appointment of personnel, travel arrangements, training/study tours, authorization of payments, disbursement of funds, procurement of equipment and services, security compliance, etc.
• As focal point for responding to simple information requests and inquiries; review and establishment of filling management system; organization of meetings, and workshops; monitoring of the implementation of various routine administrative tasks.
• Preparation of draft correspondence on project budget-related issues, periodic reports, briefing notes, graphic and statistical summaries, accounting spreadsheets, etc.
• Supervision of driver and other clerical level personnel.

Support strategic partnerships, communication, and support to the implementation of resource mobilization:

• Updated database of the relevant public and development partners private sector, civil society and other stakeholders who are counterparts for the project.
• Establishment of filing management for internal databases; updated statistical tables, graphic content, and other background materials/notes to facilitate audit and other reviews.
• Supporting the communication team in the publication of multiple languages report as a tool to communicate results, deepen stakeholder knowledge and buy-in to the project, and resource mobilization for the project,
• In coordination with supervisor, communication, monitoring and reporting personnel and other relevant counterpart communications department drafts project summaries, coordinates with editor, translation services, etc.
• Preparation of draft correspondence of all aspects of programme/project administration, including work plan and budgets, revisions and other related issues, as well as preparing project’s contributions for a variety of periodic reports

Substantively contributes to knowledge building and knowledge sharing focusing on the achievement of the following results: 

• Participation in the trainings for the operations/ projects staff.
• Documentation of lessons learned and best practices in project support management function.
• Contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

The incumbent of the position should avoid any kind of discriminatory behavior including gender discrimination and ensure that 

• Human rights and gender equality is prioritized as ethical principle within all actions.
• activities are designed and implemented in accordance with “Social and Environmental Standards of UNDP”.
• Any kind of diversities based on ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, disability, religion, class, gender is respected within all implementations including data production.
• differentiated needs of women and men are considered.
• inclusive approach is reflected within all actions and implementations, in that sense an enabling and accessible setup in various senses such as disability gender language barrier is created.
• necessary arrangements to provide gender parity within all committees, meetings, training etc. introduced.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Secondary education is required, OR
• University degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business, Management, Social Science, Public Administration, Environment, or relevant related fields will be given due consideration but not a requirement.

Experience:

• Minimum 6 years (with high school degree) or 3 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible administrative or project experience is required
• Solid computer skills required, knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages.
• Relevant experience in administrative, financial, procurement, asset management and/or project activities would be necessary.
• Experience in project planning and budgeting.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Russian is an absolute necessity; working knowledge of the Kyrgyz language is required.

Desired skills:

• Knowledge of and experience in managing complex operations and administration of environment, nature resources and climate change and other related projects will be highly desirable.
• Strong knowledge and solid experience in providing project management support are essential as well as the ability to draft good quality correspondence on budget-related issues, financial-related matters, briefing notes, graphic and statistical summaries, accounting spreadsheets, etc.
• Familiar with Government and UN/UNDP procedures would be desirable.
• Experience in handling web-based management systems would be highly desirable.
• Familiar working with National, Provincial and District governments, in coordinating and conducting meetings, FGDs, workshops and other activities.
• Having knowledge and experience working with government and various stakeholders (e.g., development partners, CSO/NGO, indigenous community, academia) would be highly desirable.
• Experience in conflict resolution, inter-group mediation, as well as prevention of conflicts of interest is strongly desirable.

Source: https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/requisitions/job/19846