Project Financial assistant

Beijing

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
Location: Beijing
Grade: Volunteer - National Specialist - Locally recruited Volunteer
Occupational Groups:
- Administrative support
- Banking and Finance
- Poverty Reduction
- Project and Programme Management
Closing Date: Closed

Background

Preamble:

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that promotes volunteerism to support peace and development worldwide. Volunteerism can transform the pace and nature of development and it benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for volunteerism globally, encouraging partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing volunteers. In most cultures volunteerism is deeply embedded in long-established, ancient traditions of sharing and support within the communities. In this context, UN Volunteers take part in various forms of volunteerism and play a role in development and peace together with co-workers, host agencies and local communities. In all assignments, UN Volunteers promote volunteerism through their action and conduct. Engaging in volunteer activity can effectively and positively enrich their understanding of local and social realities, as well as create a bridge between themselves and the people in their host community. This will make the time they spend as UN Volunteers even more rewarding and productive.

1. Type of Assignment: National UN Volunteer

2. Type of Assignment Place: Family Duty Station

3. Assignment Title: Project Financial Assistant

4. Link with UNV Strategic Framework : Environment and Energy

5. Duty Station, Country: Beijing, China

6. Duration (in months): 12

7. Expected Starting Date: August 2018

8 Host Agency/Host Institute: UNDP/ACCA21

9. Organizational Context/Project:

As part of Denmark’s focus on South-South Cooperation, to enable coherent cooperation between China and countries in Africa, in particular around the promotion of the UN’s Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) initiative, UNDP China has been funded to develop two projects, one with Zambia and one with Ghana. Both aim to ensure a more holistic transfer of renewable energy technologies from China to Africa. The planned support will not transfer hardware per se, but focus on the institutional framework and capacity required to make the local absorption of renewable energy technologies effective.

The present project is collaboration between the Energy Commission in Ghana, the Ministry of Science and Technology in China and the UNDP Country Offices in Accra and Beijing. The project will facilitate exchange of expertise and technology between China and Ghana, thereby building on China’s unique development experience.

The project addresses Ghana’s need to increase universal energy access. The project aims to effect off-grid community-based electrification, increase the share of renewable energy and promote the productive uses of energy. – At the same time, the project supports broader socio-economic and environmental objectives, most notably poverty reduction through employment generation as well as action on climate change mitigation. The project will create an enabling environment - in Ghana for absorbing new technology and in China for providing it appropriately. The project also promotes the production of renewable energy technologies in Ghana with a strong focus on private sector development and inclusion. In China, the project will support the review and updating of South-South Cooperation policies and guidelines. Moreover, the project contributes to solid capacity building, enabling China to engage more systematically in South-South Cooperation. This is conducive to Ghana’s national development goals and priorities for poverty reduction and provision of energy.

Ghana’s Energy Commission and China’s Ministry of Science and Technology will implement the project. UNDP China and Ghana will provide technical and administrative support for the project implementation. The project has duration of four years and a total budget of USD 2,720,000.

Duties and Responsibilities

10. Description of tasks:

Under the supervision of the National Project Director (NPD) and the Project Manager of the Project management Office (PMO) for the China-Zambia/China-Ghana Project, the National UN Volunteer, will undertake the following tasks to support the project’s Implementation and management at the PMO located in Beijing:

Assisting with the implementation of the China-Ghana/China-Zambia Renewable Energy Technology Transfer Projects, and his/her role includes but not limited to:

Developing and managing the financial quarterly and annual work plans;
Maintain daily communication on financial matters between UNDP, the PMO and the key stakeholders and respond promptly to requests for financial information.
Preparing recurring quarterly project financial progress reports as scheduled and special reports as required for budget preparation, audits and other reasons.
Preparing annual work plans and budget revisions as requested.
Drafting of project’s quarterly and annual financial reports.
Keeping financial and procurement archives.
Facilitating the project audit.
Other tasks assigned by the NPD and the PM of the PMO.

Furthermore, the UN Volunteer is expected 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.

Competencies

11. Results/Expected Output:

Some of the expected outputs are as follows:

• Timely support provided to tasks related to the China-Zambia/China-Ghana Project;

• Facilitation ensured to the smooth implementation and management of project activites;

• Appropriate data/file management maintained;

• 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.

12. Qualifications/Requirements:

Core Competencies:

• Experience with managing projects;

• Excellent organizational skills;

• Substantive knowledge of global development issues;

• Excellent abilities in oral communication and presentation;

• Ability to work at a fast pace and to manage competing priorities;

• Excellent inter-personal skills, proven ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience:

• Master’s degree in international development, energy, public policy, management or a related field;

• Demonstrable ability to maintain effective communications with different stakeholders, and arrange stakeholder meetings and/or workshops;

• Demonstrable ability to monitor project budgets, financial expenditure;

• Project financial, technical and/or administrative management experience as well as basic knowledge on solar panel and/or hydrogen technologies are assets;

• International cooperation experiences as well as good English skills both for oral and written are assets

• Excellent written communication skills;

• Good interpersonal skills and team spirit;

• Minimum age of 22 years old.

Language Requirements:

· Full professional proficiency in English and Chinese, written and oral.

Required Skills and Experience

13. Living Conditions:

The duty station of the national UN Volunteer is located in Beijing city, where modest public infrastructure and health services are available. It is the foremost political and cultural metropolis in China. The city has excellent health services available.

In general, rent for apartments in central locations is high relative to other regions in China, but quality is good. Beijing is well served by many shopping malls, large supermarket chains and international brands. Buses and subways are the most common form of mass transportation. Metered taxis are widely available and domestic and regional travel by train and airplane is popular.

14. Conditions of Service for national UN Volunteers

The National UN Volunteer receives a standard volunteer living allowance (VLA), which is intended to cover their accommodation and basic living expenses. In China, the VLA is 8,167 RMB per month. The NUNV is entitled to an excellent health, life and disability insurance package. A modest Settling-in Grant and end of assignment allowances will also be provided along with travel to and from the duty station. The NUNV is entitled to 2.5 days personal leave per month and UN official holidays.