Project Assistant (Operations) / Nukus city (Re-advertized)

Capitalizing on the successes and lessons learned from the previous UN Joint Programme on “Sustaining livelihoods affected by the Aral Sea disaster”, four UN Agencies in Uzbekistan (UNDP, UNESCO, UNFPA and UNV) have launched a new UN Joint Programme “Building the resilience of communities affected by the Aral Sea disaster through a Multi-Partner Human Security Trust Fund”. The Joint Programme will be implemented through joint funding from the participating UN agencies and the UN Human Security Trust Fund.

The Programme aims to mitigate inter-connected risks to human security and building the re-silience of communities affected by the Aral Sea Disaster through an integrated and multi-level approach as well as facilitating sustainable financial support through the establishment of a multi-partner human security Fund for the Aral Sea. The main objectives of the programme are to i) address the human security needs of the population affected by the Aral Sea disaster at local and national levels and ii) establish a well-coordinated financial mechanism for imple-menting and sustainable financing of human security initiatives as a way to promote and main-stream the human security approach in the region. The new Joint Programme will further inte-grate the human security concept that proved to be effective in addressing human security challenges faced by individuals and communities affected by the Aral Sea disaster.

The Joint Programme will apply integrated planning to its interventions and will assess the chain of causes and effects of insecurities of targeted communities, establish baselines and develop human security indicators that reflect realities of individuals and communities affected by the Aral Sea disaster to measure the effectiveness of interventions. The Joint Programme will implement interventions that are context-specific and rely on available local assets and resources thereby empowering the participating communities.

The Project Assistant will be contributing to address the human security needs of the population affected by the Aral Sea disaster in the region with the focus on health promotion and disease prevention. S/he will be in charge of providing administrative, logistical, procurement and operational assistance in developing and deploying innovative tools to implementing health awareness raising activites and disseminating best-practices among the project partners for replication and scale up.

Under the overall guidance of the Programme Manager, direct supervision of the National UNV Project Coordinator and close collaboration with the UNV field team, the National UNV Project Assistant provides the following services ensuring high quality, accuracy and consistency of work:

• Provide inputs in the development of quarterly and annual progress reports;
• Assist in providing administrative, procurement, operational and logistical supports for the achievement of the outcomes of the project in a timely manner;
• Provide organizational and administrative support in implementation of programme activities, including organization of roundtables, workshops, trainings, working meetings and other events in collaboration with the partners in healthcare system;
• Assist in issuing the project-related payments and ensuring that all payments are proceeded in a timely manner in line with the UNDP’s financial rules and regulations;
• Provide assistance in proper control of the supporting documents for payments and financial reports for the Project;
• Prepare all procurement, financial and administrative documents related to the implementation of the UNV profolio activities within the Joint Programmeand activities in accordance with the UNDP rules and procedures, maintain programme’s expenditures and commitments;
• Undertake all activities on customs clearance and transportation of all imported equipment/commodities procured by the programme on timely manner;
• Prepare financial reports to be submitted to project management and donor when required;
• Provide implementation of procedures and rules related to administrative, procurement, financial and personnel matters and ensure their compliance;
• Take all necessarysteps for the contractual procedures for the procurement of the goods and services
• Assist in procurement of goods and services as per the approved procurement plan through competitive processes and directly from UN Long Term Agreement (LTA) holders;
• Prepare submissions to the Contract, Asset and Procurement Committee (CAP), Advisory Committee on Procurement;
• Assist in transparent and efficient procurement and general administrator services;
• Assist in maintaining, updating and transmitting inventory records of non-expendable equipment in accordance with UNDP rules;
• Assist in timely preparation of documentation for reporting of procurement activities;
• Maintenance of files related to personnel, finance, procurement, administrative, logistical, project matters;
• Regular update of a database of contract documentation, terms of references, list of suppliers of goods and services;
• Prepare detailed cost estimates and participates in budget analysis and projections as required to handle all financial operations of the project office, make cash payments and reconcile all accounts in required time frame;
• Analyze the potential problems concerning administrative-financial issues and take respective measures to provide adequate project’s resources in time for implementation of the project activities;
• Define the cost-effective measures to ensure the best value for money in committing and disbursing project funds;
• Develop quarterly and annual budget plans for recruitment of personnel; maintain financial records and monitoring systems to record and reconcile expenditures, balances, payments and other data for day-to-day transaction and reports;
• Advise and assist UNV team, experts and consultants on all respects of allowances, salary advances, travel claims and other financial and administrative matters, and calculate and authorize payments due for claims and services;
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as required.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark IVD);
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
• Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities;
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers;
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Results/Expected Output:

• Programme logistics andprocurement are timely and properly conducted;
• Customs clearance and transportation of all imported equipment/commodities procured by the programme done on timely manner;
• Documents for processing payments, inventory of non-expendable equipment, important programme files and documents are recorded and properly kept;
• Potential problems related toprogramme logistics and procurement issues are analyzed and reported;
• A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed.

• Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise in area of specialty and ability to apply good judgment; high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures in a politically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, impartiality and neutrality; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented;

• Accountability: mature and responsible; ability to operate in compliance with organizational rules and regulations;

• Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work en-vironment;

• Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and abil-ity to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities;

• Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender;

• Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; ability to maintain composure and remain helpful towards the staff, but objective, without showing personal interest; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;

• Flexibility, adaptability, and ability and willingness to operate independently in austere, remote and potentially hazardous environments for protracted periods, involving physical hardship and little comfort, and including possible extensive travel within the area of operations; willingness to transfer to other duty stations within area of operations as may be necessary;

• Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards the UN core values.

Degree level: Bachelor's degree

Type of Degree: in Business Administration, Finance, Economics and Accounting and/or other related fields

Years of work experience:  Proven track of at least 2 years of relevant progressive work experience in operations (procurement, logistics, finance, administration) in national or international organizations is required. Experience in health related projects is desirable.

Language: Fluency in English and Russian (both written and spoken), knowledge of Uzbek/Karakalpak is an asset

Driving license required: No

Computer skills: knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power Point) programmes, and experience in handling ATLAS ERP system is an asset

Other:

• Work experience with development agencies is an asset;
• Strong organizational, operational and communication skills, ability to work in a team;
• Initiative, analytical thinking, high work ethics and integrity;
• Skills in project management and events coordination;
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills, diligence, open-mindedness and dedication;
• Proactive and results-oriented;
• Commitment to volunteering and previous engagement in a volunteering activity;
• Willingness to travel in-country;
• Familiarity with gender issues; belief in UN ethics;
• Ability to work in stressful conditions and to meet tight deadlines;
• Experience in handling web-based management systems;
• 22 years of age or older.

Living Conditions:

Nukus, the capital of the Autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan, has over 300,000 inhabitants. Nukus lies on the right bank of the Amu Darya river, 1255 km from Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan and has harsh continental climate with long, hot, dry summers and short, but cold winters.

The national UN Volunteer is responsible for organizing her/his own accommodation. UNDP in Uzbekistan cannot be held responsible for providing benefits or allowances other than applicable ones stipulated in The National UN Volunteer Conditions of Service of the United Nations Volunteer programme.

Conditions of Service for national UN Volunteers

The contract lasts for the period indicated above with possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment.

Moving travel to duty station (if applicable) and a Settling-In-Grant will be provided in the event duty station is not within commuting distance from the place of recruitment. A Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) of USD 641 is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities and normal cost of living expenses.Well-being Differential of 15% (WBD-A) or 30% (WBD-B) of the VLA will apply, paid on a monthly basis, depending on the ICSC classification of the duty station.

Life, health and permanent disability insurance are included (health insurance for up to 3 dependents), as well as return travel of  (if applicable) and resettlement allowance for satisfactory service.

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme which welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture.

United Nations Volunteers reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this opening for other openings with United Nations Volunteers with similar assignment description, experience and educational requirements.