Small Grants Programme Assistant

1. Office/Unit/Project Description

The UNDP Country Office in The Gambia supports national development priorities aligned with the NDP, UNSDCF, and SDGs, with a strong focus on environment, resilience, governance, and inclusive growth. Within this framework, the Environment and Resilience portfolio addresses climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation, and pollution through partnerships with government, civil society, and the private sector, while promoting community-driven and inclusive approaches that empower women and youth. The GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) is a key component of this portfolio, providing direct support to community-based organizations to deliver global environmental benefits and sustainable livelihoods. Under Operational Phase 8 (OP8), SGP emphasizes integrated landscape approaches, innovation, inclusive governance, knowledge sharing, and strategic partnerships to scale up impact and strengthen community resilience.

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) is implemented by UNDP on behalf of the GEF Partnership. UNDP oversees the Small Grants Programme (SGP) through the Vertical Hub and the Nature Hub of BPPS. Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Small Grants Programme efficiently channels direct grants to non-governmental and community-based organizations to help them cope with climate change; conserve biodiversity; protect international waters; reduce the impact of Persistent Organic Pollutants; and prevent land degradation. Helping communities with their initiatives for sustainable livelihoods while generating global environmental benefits is the core inspiration of the Small Grants Programme.

Launched in 1992 as a corporate programme of the GEF, the GEF Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP) has supported local action for over thirty years to address global environmental concerns.  SGP aims to deliver global environmental benefits in the GEF focal areas of biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, protection of international waters, prevention of land degradation, and elimination of persistent organic pollutants through community-based approaches. To date, SGP has funded over 29,000 community-based projects covering more than 120 countries. It has gained considerable experiences at the community level, including adapting to climate change while addressing issues of the GEF focal areas.  Further information can be found at: https://sgp.undp.org/.

2.Scope of Work

 Support to Programme implementation 

• Contribute to day-to-day programme/project implementation, ensuring conformity to expected results, outputs, objectives and work-plans.
• Assist the National Coordinator (NC) in prescreening project concepts and project proposals and evaluate the financial part of the project proposals.
• Assist the NC in development and revision of grant application forms and other management tools, requirements of the programme, and other SGP documents.
• Advise potential grantees on project preparation processes and guidelines, and report to NC and National Steering Committee (NSC) on project development activities, as required.
• Provide day-to-day support and guidance to new and ongoing projects and its grantees, as required.
• Assist the NC in project implementation, matters related to the grievance redress mechanism, monitoring and evaluation, including participation in field visits.
• Support organization and preparation of minutes of NSC meetings and other SGP events.
• Maintain contacts and professional working relationship with NGOs, governmental institutions, donors, other SGP stakeholders.
• Assist NC in reporting regularly to the Central Programme Management Team (CPMT), United Nations Development Programme Country Office (UNDP CO), and assist NC in timely preparation of annual monitoring survey, and other CPMT, UNDP surveys and reports as required.
• Support the NC in meeting relevant M&E requirements (e.g. Project Implementation Report (PIR), Midterm Review (MTR) and Terminal Evaluation (TE)
• Draft memos and other operational documents on behalf of NC and respond to queries on SGP programme matters.
• Regularly update and maintain SGP project database as well as stakeholders’ database.

Support Programme Financial Management

• Provide guidance, review, and control the accuracy of supporting documentation of projects’ interim and final financial reports, such as invoices, and advise the NC as required 
• Process payment requests from grantees and vendors through obtaining necessary clearances and authorizations, and ensuring payments are affected promptly, and in accordance with SGP Standard Operating Procedures.
• Maintain close working contact with respective Regional Focal Point and seek her/his support, advice and guidance on how better to operate Quantum in accordance with SGP SOPs, if needed. 
• In collaboration with the NC, maintain financial integrity of the programme, implement and monitor accounting system and databases of SGP country operational budget.
• Prepare and maintain the grant disbursement table and calendar, as well as track the Country Operating Budget to ensure compliance with the approved yearly budget.
• Draft annual SGP Country office administrative and project budget proposals.
• Management of the Petty Cash account with proper documentation and proper tractable records.
• Enter, extract, transfer data from Quantum and SGP database and produce reports as required.
• Follow up of travel arrangements and DSA payments for NC and NSC members
• Provide other financial reports as required.

Provision of Administrative Support 

Procure office supplies, equipment, and furniture adhering to SGP and CO SOPs on procurement rules and regulation.

• Manage and organize everyday office work.
• Establish a proper filing system, maintain SGP country office administrative, financial, and management files and update them with original documentation or copy of the original documentation as necessary. Special focus on:
• Establish and maintain a separate folder with all signed NSC meetings minutes that approve new SGP granted project
• Establish and maintain projects filing system containing original MOAs and amendments, original or copies of interim and final reports with all supporting documents, and mission reports or evaluation documents. 
• Establish and maintain financial folders for all SGP country office financial transactions. 
• Maintain personnel files, performance evaluation reports, leave records, and other pertinent personnel/consultant records   
• Draft routine correspondence and communications and establish filing system to record communications with local stakeholders.
• Provide administrative and operational support to organization of SGP events and activities as requested
• Prepare background information and documentation, update data relevant to the programme areas and compile background material for the NC and NSC.
• Ensure flow of information and dissemination of materials with all concerned.
• Maintain an updated inventory of all physical assets and register all inventory in the asset inventory sheet.
• Provide logistical and administrative support to visiting missions, travel arrangements, and meetings for the NC, NSC, adhering to SGP SOPs procurement rules and regulation.
• Support with the project audit including with preparation and subsequent implementation of any audit recommendations. 

Support Knowledge Management and Communication

• Actively support the SGP country office in the efforts on knowledge management, knowledge networking and visibility of SGP.
• In accordance with SGP branding guidelines, support NC and NSC in the efforts towards proper recognition of SGP in any KM & Communication material produced by SGP grantees or stakeholders.     
• Facilitate the organization of SGP advocacy events, workshops, stakeholders’ dialogues and round tables. 
• Assist in drafting articles and publications with proper recognition of SGP.
• Participate at events for SGP information dissemination purposes
• Maintain, update or provide valid SGP information for the SGP website, SGP Global database and UNDP CO website.

Provide support to the effective monitoring, evaluation, and reporting on progress of project implementation 

• Generate Performance Evaluation Report
• Support implementation of the project monitoring system in alignment with its Monitoring and Evaluation framework to facilitate effective information sharing on project status and achievement of targets. 

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

3. Institutional Arrangement

• The incumbent will be based in the UNDP Gambia offices;
• The incumbent will report to the SGP National Coordinator;
• The incumbent will be given access to relevant information necessary for the execution of the tasks under this assignment;
• The incumbent will be provided with a workstation and access to reliable internet connection 

 4.Competencies

Expected Demonstration of Competencies

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 improvements 

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 flexible 

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 discrimination 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

Thematic Area                Name                          Definition

Business management      Communication          Ability to 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.

Business Development   Knowledge Generation   Ability to research information and to turn it 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.

Business Management   Project Management        Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goal 

Administration               Documents and records    Overall document (hard or electronic) management; registry and retention policy including storing and archiving.

& Operations                  management 

Administrations              Events management          Ability to manage events, including venue identification, accommodation, logistics, catering, transportation, and cash           & Operations                 (including retreats,            disbursements, etc.    

                                          trainings and meetings)          

Partnership management  Relationship management  Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations,                                                                                             trust and mutual understanding 

2030 Agenda:                        Nature                                 Local Action

Planet

5.Minimum Qualifications of the Successful NPSA

Min. Education requirements 

Secondary education is required or a first level university degree (bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in Business or Public Administration, Environmental and Social Science will also be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement. 

A certificate in Business Administration/ Accounting or Finance will provide distinctive advantage to the candidate

Min. years of relevant work experience 

Minimum five (5) years (with Secondary education), or two (2) years (with Bachelors’ degree) of progressively responsible administrative or programme experience is required at the national or international level. 

Experience, Knowledge and skills    

Demonstrated experience and ability to review and edit documents, and ability to produce meeting reports identifying key actions is required.

Desirable Criteria 

Experience in project management/support at the rural/local community level is an asset 

Experience in monitoring and evaluation and results-based management tools with a background and interest in the analysis of development issues and related policy matters will be an added advantage. 

Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems is an asset.

Experience in supporting programme financial management is an advantage.

Experience in providing operational support, including event management and logistics, is an advantage.

Required Language(s) 

Fluency in UN Language and the National language of the duty station is required. 

Knowledge of other UN Languages is an asset

      

******In accordance with SGP Operational Guidelines, all SGP Local Action team members must be nationals of the designated duty station. Any exception to this requirement, must be duly reviewed and approved by the SGP Global Manager, in consultation with the Office of Human Resources.