Project Assistant for RPBU unit (Filipino National Only)

The long-drawn-out peace process between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) together with the non-passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law has created various levels of discontent among some sectors of the Bangsamoro which made them vulnerable to radicalism and violent extremism.  Traditionally, religious radicalism has been alien to Philippines society. While the majority of Filipinos are Christians (and primarily Catholic), they have also co-existed with minority Muslims, mainly concentrated in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), through most of Philippines’ history. However, the siege of Marawi City has shown  that the disaffected Bangsamoro youth are beginning to embrace more radical options.

Under the context described above, UNDP will support efforts to strengthen the enabling environment for peace and stability and sustain the gains for peace and development in the Bangsamoro—it will contribute to trust and confidence-building for long-term peace, and to security and stability on the ground. With the Duterte administration also having defined a new “roadmap to peace” which, among other objectives, aims to revive enabling legislation for the Bangsamoro in the Congress, timely assistance for the implementation of this roadmap is crucial to sustaining peace on the ground.  UNDP and international development partners can also best help Philippines engage with the emerging challenge of radicalism and violent extremism by assisting concerned actors to better understand and address the underlying factors, and by building upon and further strengthening initiatives that are already under way. Thus, under the Project, UNDP, in partnership with relevant stakeholders will implement activities that will result in a comprehensive understanding of the drivers of radicalization and of the risks of violent extremism.

Particular focus will be given to multi-stakeholder dialogue and increased participation in the peace process; assistance for the revived Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) in achieving intra-Moro convergence; and support key stakeholders install prevention mechanism and early response system against radicalism and violent extremism. This will entail the implementation of multiple and multi-faceted activities that will require the support of qualified personnel.

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Team Leader, for Resilience and Peacebuilding Unit, the Project Assistant shall help ensure compliance with the financial rules and regulations of UNDP in all project transactions while facilitating the finance and administrative support needs of the projects and perform the following functions:

• Provide administrative support to the Resilience and Peace Building Unit, including for procurement, finance, travel, and other administrative processes;
• Process travel requests of UNDP staff and field staff (e.g. facilitate travel authorization and security clearances, process DSA, coordinate issuance of air tickets, facilitate vehicle rental);
• Ensure the timely processing of payments to suppliers, vendors, and other service providers;
• Support procurement processed through preparation of procurement requests, canvassing/gathering of quotations and monitoring delivery;
• Ensure systematic filing and maintenance of office records such as incoming and outgoing communications and project records;
• Prepare office correspondence and reports as necessary;
• Perform secretarial and office support functions such as support to preparations for meetings and workshops;
• Perform other tasks as may be assigned by the Supervisor.

Corporate Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional Competencies

• Organizes and accurately completes multiple tasks by establishing priorities while taking into consideration special assignments, frequent interruptions, deadlines, available resources and multiple reporting relationships;
• Plans, coordinates and organizes workload while remaining aware of changing priorities and competing deadlines;
• Building Partnerships:  Establishes, builds and maintains an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership related issues;
• Innovation and Marketing new approaches:  Generates new ideas, approaches, researches, best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things; Documents and analyzes §  innovative strategies and new approaches.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

• Perform work of confidential nature and to handle a large volume of work possibly under time constraints;
• Administer and execute administrative, financial and logistical processes and transactions;
• Results-oriented;
• Teamwork;
• Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position;
• Ability to formulate and manage budgets; manage contributions and investments; manage transactions; and conduct financial analysis, reporting and cost-recovery;
• Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning;
• Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments.

Knowledge and Learning Management

• Excellent knowledge of monitoring and the application of methodology: Good understanding of capacity assessment methodologies; excellent ability to identify significant capacity building opportunities;
• Ability to lead implementation of new systems (business side), and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change;
• Promote knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example.

Self Management

• Focuses on impact and result for the client;
• Establishes priorities for self and other members of the office;
• Schedules activities to ensure optimum use of time and resources; monitors performance against development and other objectives and corrects deviations from the course;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Responds positively to critical feedback and differing points of view;
• Solicits feedback from staff about the impact of his/her own behavior;
• Informed and transparent decision-making.

Education:

• A university degree in business administration, accounting, finance or relevant field.

Experience:

• At least 4 years of professional experience in administrative work, procurement or financial management.
• Familiarity with UN System and administrative and financial management of donor-financed projects is an advantage.

Skills:

• Possess a comprehensive set of competencies in business administration, accounting/finance, and logistics;
• Good communication skills (Oral and Written);
• Demonstrates a high tolerance for change, complexity and unpredictability;
• Results-oriented and demonstrates teamwork, good interpersonal skills and well developed communication skills.
• Computer literate.

Language Requirements:

• English and Filipino; knowledge of regional languages in Mindanao is an added advantage.

Important application information

All posts in the SC categories are subject to local recruitment

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note:  UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply.  All applications with be treated in the strictest confidence.

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