Project Associate (PPP) - SC7

Close to eight years into the crisis, the scale, severity, and complexity of needs across Syria remain deep and far-reaching. Over half of the country’s population have fled their homes: 5.5 million people have sought refuge in the region and beyond, and 6.1 million people are internally displaced. 13.1 million people remain in need of humanitarian assistance. Of these, 5.6 million people face acute humanitarian needs. Millions of people have fallen into poverty, forced to resort to harmful coping strategies and faced with increasing protection risks. If hostilities continue in some parts of the country, humanitarian needs are expected to deepen in these areas during 2018. In 2018 with no end to the conflict in sight, humanitarian needs are expected to continue to grow in scale, severity, and complex. Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) 2019 is expected to play a role in bridging Humanitarian assistance and Development by strengthening Resilience of the affected population in Syria. The role of Resilience is expected to grow faster in the given situation on the ground to accelerate the transition from immediate Humanitarian assistance to IDPs and affected population to more sustainable and recovery-oriented support, including support to potential returns of IDPs as well as refugees.

The priorities of UNDP Syria are, as stipulated in the Country Programe Document 2016-2017, which extended till end/2019, to enhance the resilience and socio-economic stabilization of individuals and communities through restoring the disrupted livelihoods of the affected communities; and restoring, rehabilitating and maintaining sustainable basic services and infrastructure in damaged areas and host communities. Embedded in each priority is an institutional crisis response capacity development component for key national and local partners. Mindful of the scale of the crisis, the scaled-up, targeted, and rapidly responsive interventions of UNDP Syria would strive to mitigate displacement and movement of refugees, including forced, illegal, and unsafe migration and the trafficking of refugees, and to support potential returns of the IDPs.

The Public Private Partnership (PPP) Project is designed to provide support to the public services and to speed up the investment programe and to improve the performance of public infrastructure in general serving the local communities to create a sustainable economic environment for the eventual return of refugees and for Syrians to stay in Syria.

The Programe Associate works in close collaboration with the operations, programe and project teams in the CO staff for resolving programe-related issues and information delivery. The Associate will be responsible for the overall support of implementation of the ongoing PPP project, performing a variety of standard planning, coordination and implementation of activities ensuring high quality and accuracy of work, performing in a timely manner with required output, and following the highest standards in line with UNDP guidelines and procedures.

Knowledge management: Provides effective support to management of the CO programme focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Presentation of thoroughly researched information for formulation of country programme, preparation of project documents’ drafts, work plans, budgets, proposals on implementation arrangements;
• Initiation of a project, entering project into Atlas, preparationof required budget revisions;
• Provision of guidance to the executing agencies on routine implementation of projects, tracking use of financial resources;
• Follow up on performance indicators/ success criteria, targets and milestones, preparation of reports;
• Analysis of the situation in programme, identification of operational and financial problems, development of solutions;
• Preparation and conduct of audit of NEX projects, implementation of audit recommendations.

Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the CO focusingon achievement of the following results:

• Organization of trainings for the operations/ projects staff on programme;
• Synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices in programme;
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

UN Coordination.

Provides administrative support to the Programme Unit focusing on achievement of the followingresults:

• Proper control of the supporting documents for payments, review of NEX projects Financial Reports;
• Maintenance of the internal expenditures control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Atlas;
• Timely corrective actions on unposted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers.

Any other tasks that may be required.

Core Competencies:

Innovation:

• Ability to make new and useful ideas work.

Leadership:

• Ability to persuade others to follow.

People Management:

• Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.

Communication:

• Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.

Delivery:

• Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement.

Technical / Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management:

• Ability to capture, develop, share and effectively use information and knowledge.

Operational Efficiency:

• Ability to identify and execute opportunities to improve operational efficiency.

Education:

• High school with specialized certification in social sciences;
• A first-level university degree in fields of economics, social sciences, administration, or any related study, in combination with 4 years of qualifying experience may be accepted.

Experience: 

• 7 years of progressively responsible administrative or programme experience is required;
• Demonstrated background in bringing together – and facilitating coordination among – multiple partners;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems.

Language Requirements: 

• Fluency in Arabic and English.

Important applicant 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 will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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