Associate Programme Officer, Partnerships

The United Nations General Assembly resolution 71/251 established the Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries and adopted its Charter on 23 December 2016. The objectives of the Technology Bank are : a. To strengthen the science, technology and innovation capacity of least developed countries, including the capacity to identify, absorb, develop, integrate and scale up the deployment of technologies and innovations, including indigenous ones, as well as the capacity to address and manage intellectual property rights issues; b. To promote the development and implementation of national and regional science, technology and innovation strategies; c. To strengthen partnerships among science, technology and innovation-related public entities and with the private sector; d. To promote cooperation among all stakeholders involved in science, technology and innovation, including researchers, research institutions and public and private sector entities, within and between least developed countries, as well as with their counterparts in other countries; e. To promote and facilitate the identification and utilization of and access to appropriate technologies by the least developed countries, as well as their transfer to the least developed countries, while respecting intellectual property rights and fostering the national and regional capacity of the least developed countries for the effective utilization of technology in order to bring about transformative change. The Technology Bank’s work is guided by the Strategic Plan 2025–2027, which sets out three core verticals of engagement: i) High-Impact Policy and Technical Advisory Services; ii) Capacity Building for Transformation; iii) Knowledge Services for Results. This position is located in the Programme Unit of the Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries, Gebze, Türkiye. The Associate Programme Officer reports to Economic Affairs Officer, P-4.

Within delegated authority and under the supervision of the Economic Affairs Officer, the Associate Programme Officer will assist in performing the following duties:

• Supports the FRO in working with key clients to facilitate the development, implementation and evaluation of assigned programmes/projects, etc.; translates project/programme objectives into realistic annual work plans, implementation schedules and operational priorities; monitors and analyzes specific aspects of programme/project development and implementation; reviews relevant documents and reports; assists in anticipating implementation risks, identifying problems and issues to be addressed, proactively identifying practical solutions and recommending corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; identifies and tracks follow-up actions.
• Promotes adaptive management by continuously assessing project/programme performance and recommending improvements based on evidence and lessons learned; ensures that project/programme implementation remains responsive to the evolving needs of LDCs and end users/beneficiaries.
• Contributes to promoting innovation and continuous improvement across programme implementation.
• Assists in stakeholder coordination and communication activities.
• Participates in field missions, including provision of substantive and administrative support, data collection, etc.
• Supports the application of results-based management approaches by tracking progress against project outputs, outcomes and indicators, and contributing to results reporting and performance assessments.
• Assists in maintaining project risk registers and supports the monitoring and mitigation of programmatic, operational and partnership risks throughout the project lifecycle.
• Supports the collection, analysis and reporting of programme performance data to inform donor reporting, monitor progress against expected results, and contributes to assessments of programme effectiveness and lessons learned.
• Participates in survey initiatives; assists with design of data collection tools; issues data collection tools, reviews, analyzes and interprets responses, identifies problems/issues and prepares preliminary conclusions.
• Assist in providing substantive support for policy coordination and evaluation functions, including the review and analysis of emerging issues and trends, participation in evaluations or research activities and studies.
• Contributes to the identification, design and formulation of national, regional and multi-country projects aligned with the strategic plan of the Technology Bank and its mandate to strengthen technology transfer, innovation ecosystems, digital transformation and STI capacities in least developed countries, including the preparation of concept notes, project documents, and resource mobilization materials.
• Supports the assessment and selection of partner organization; oversees project/programme implementation by grant recipients, ensuring compliance with contractual obligations and programme objectives.
• Assists in preparing donor reports, funding proposals, briefings and resource mobilization materials under guidance of the supervisor.
• Supports procurement and contracting processes related to programme implementation, including the preparation of terms of reference, technical specifications, evaluation inputs and contract management documentation, in accordance with applicable rules and procedures.
• Assists in monitoring project/programme expenditures against approved budgets and work plans, ensuring efficient use of resources. Coordinates activities related to budget funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and preparation of related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.).
• Assists in performing consulting assignments, in collaboration with the client, by planning facilitating workshops, through other interactive sessions and assisting in developing the action plan the client will use to manage the change.
• Assists in providing administrative and substantive support to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying and proposed participants, preparation of background documents and presentations, handling logistics, etc.
• Carries out basic research on selected aspects of programmes, operations and other activities, etc., to include collecting, analyzing and presenting statistical data and other information gathered from diverse sources.
• Contributes to the collection and analysis of data as well as identification of trends or patterns and provide draft insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.
• Contributes to the preparation of various written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analytical notes, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc
• Contributes to knowledge management activities, including the documentation, dissemination and exchange of good practices, success stories, innovations and lessons learned to support programme scaling, replication and organizational learning.
• Contributes to undertaking outreach activities; participates in the development of training workshops, seminars, etc.; participates in and makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Supports the production of promotional materials.
• Performs other duties as required.

An advanced university degree (Master’s or Doctorate degree, or equivalent) in international development, business administration, management, economics or related fields is required. A first-level or advanced degree (Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctorate degree, or equivalent) in any fields of studies with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree in the specified fields of studies.

Professional certification in project management (PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent) or programme management is desirable.

A minimum of two years of progressively responsible international experience in project/programme management, project implementation or related area is required. Experience implementing projects/programmes involving multiple stakeholders, such as government institutions, private sector actors and development partners, is required. Experience in liaising and coordinating with government institutions, implementing partners, academic institutions, or other relevant stakeholders in developing countries is required. Experience working on projects or programmes related to science, technology and innovation, technology transfer, digital transformation, entrepreneurship development is desirable. Experience applying results-based management approaches is desirable. Experience working in the UN common system or similar international organization is desirable. Experience in implementing projects in least developed countries or African and/or Asian developing countries is desirable. Experience using Umoja or a comparable enterprise resource planning systems for programme, budget, procurement or administrative processes is desirable.

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

This position is temporarily available for 364 days. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.

• While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.
• Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.
• This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15.
• Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.
• Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service. Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position.

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.