Project Associate

Mission and objectives

The United Nations Development Programme (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). UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. The Fiji multi-country office covers ten countries including Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu as well as provides support to regional initiatives. This position is located at the UNDP Pacific sub-office in Pohnpei State in the Federated States of Micronesia which was established in October 2021. This office is set up to serve the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The office will work closely with the UNDP Pacific office in Fiji to deliver the UNDP multi-country programme document (MCPD, 2023-2027) in these five countries. UNDP in the Pacific has developed its multi-country programme document (MCPD, 2023-2027) to guide its interventions in the next five years in full alignment and directly to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF, 2023–27). The Office covers 10 countries in the Pacific with an extensive portfolio which has grown over time. The UNSDCF and UNDP MCPD are designed in full alignment with the 2030 agenda, Samoa Pathway, and 2050 Blue Content Strategy, which is endorsed by the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) among others. The UNDP Pacific Office next five-year plan strategic priorities are encapsulated under three outcome areas: (i) Planet, (ii) Prosperity, and (iii) Peace. Following a strategic review process which was completed in June 2022, UNDP Pacific office structure is aligned to the emerging priorities of the office. In this regard, the programme portfolio will include mutually reinforcing work streams crafted around two clusters (i) Resilience and Climate Change; and ii) Inclusive growth and Effective governance, supported by a policy and innovation team, Operations team, Management and Oversight team that provides strategic guidance on results Management and compliance entrusted with the corporate alignment, programme finance management and quality assurance, and strategic communications team that provides knowledge management and communication support to all programme interventions. In Palau, UNDP’s support contributes to planet, prosperity and peace outcomes through efforts focused at enhancing policy, institutional and local/community levels.

Context

As UNDP Palau’s portfolio continues to expand, effective coordination, administrative support, monitoring, reporting, and communication functions are essential to ensure the timely and efficient delivery of development initiatives. The assignment will support the UNDP Palau team in strengthening day-to-day project implementation and operational coordination, including support to the National Coordinator and programme team. The Project Associate will contribute to effective programme delivery by providing administrative and coordination support, assisting with monitoring and reporting processes, maintaining project documentation, supporting communication and visibility activities, and facilitating coordination with internal and external stakeholders. Through this assignment, the UN Volunteer will contribute to strengthening the efficiency, accountability, and visibility of UNDP’s development efforts in Palau while gaining practical experience in supporting sustainable development initiatives within a United Nations context.

Task Description

Under the overall supervision of the Project Manager and in close coordination with project partners, the Project Associate will: • Administrative support: • Provide day-to-day administrative, logistical, and operational support for programme implementation • Facilitate the organization of advocacy events, workshops, stakeholders’ dialogues and roundtables; participate at events for UNDP information dissemination purposes; • Assist in maintaining, updating and providing valid project information for the website, global database; regularly update and maintain project database as well as stakeholders’ database • Draft routine correspondence and keep record. • Establish and maintain filing system containing original agreements and amendments, original or copies of interim and final reports with all supporting documents, and mission reports or evaluation documents; maintain records, filing systems, and archives in accordance with project requirements. • Procure office supplies, equipment, and furniture adhering to procurement rules and regulations • Assist in preparing, prescreening project concepts/proposals evaluation of financial proposals, reviewing, formatting, and maintaining project documents, reports, presentations, and correspondence. • Support collection, compilation, and organization of project information, data, and supporting documentation. • 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; • Process payment requests from grantees and vendors through obtaining necessary clearances and authorizations and ensuring payments are processed promptly, and in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedures; • Management of the Petty Cash account with proper documentation and proper tractable records; • Maintain financial integrity of the programme, implement and monitor accounting system and databases of country operational budget; • Support monitoring, reporting and communication: • Assist in monitoring activity implementation including participation in field visits to project sites and follow up on agreed actions and deadlines; support travel, and logistical arrangements as required. • Contribute to reporting processes by compiling inputs and supporting documentation from relevant stakeholders; assist in reporting and in timely preparation of annual monitoring survey, and other surveys and reports as required; • Support communication and coordination with project stakeholders, partners, consultants, and beneficiaries; assist in drafting articles and publications with proper recognition of UNDP’s and donor’s contribution; • Actively support efforts on knowledge management, knowledge networking and visibility of UNDP programmes in Palau • Perform other programme-related tasks to ensure the effective implementation of programme activities.

Competencies and values

• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management

Living conditions and remarks

The duty station is Koror, the capital city of Palau. As a local volunteer, the candidate is expected to be familiar with the city’s environment, culture, and infrastructure. The office is accessible by public and private transport, and utilities such as electricity, water, and internet are generally reliable. Local medical facilities, banking services, and food markets are available within the city. Volunteers are expected to observe local customs, including conservative dress codes in professional settings. You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator. The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos” https://www.unv.org/