Project Assistant

UNDP is the UN's global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP has been providing implementation support services for the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, within the scope of the Göksu Taşeli Watershed Development Project (GTWDP) and the Uplands Rural Development Project (URDP). Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MOAF) has the overall responsibility for the management and the implementation of GTWDP and URDP. UNDP’s role is to support the project in dealing with flow of funds arrangement, recruitment of project staff, contracting of technical assistance, accounting, auditing and ensuring procurement of goods, civil works and services. The both Projects are co-funded and hence will be monitored, supervised and approved by International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) (Financier).

The overall objective of Göksu Taşeli Watershed Development Project (GTWDP), is to reduce rural poverty by supporting economic diversification through value chain development and sustainable natural resource management.  The Project targets to increase farmers’ income from improved agricultural production and marketing activities in the targeted area with strengthened resilience to climate shocks. The Project would also contribute to improving the standards of living of the nomadic Yörük tribes in the highlands of the Taurus Mountains, through capacity building that would assist them to organize for improved management of the common natural resources. The project outcomes include:

i)          sustainably increased farm productivity,

ii)         higher product prices received by smallholder producers.

The GTWDP is being implemented in selected villages of 11 districts of Konya and Karaman provinces of Central Anatolia. These districts are located in the Göksu sub-catchment, one of the four in the East Mediterranean Watershed. The Project area includes 238 villages that are situated in the mountainous parts of the 11 districts where the elevation varies between 600 m and 1 800 m. Each component would focus on elements of the identified value chains (VCs).

The GTWDP includes three components namely:

i)          Agricultural Productivity and Natural Resource Management,

ii)         Market Access Enhancement and

iii)        Project Management.

The overall objective of the Upland Rural Development Project (URDP), on the other hand, is to enhance the welfare and socio-economic resilience of small farmers in highlands. This objective can be attained by making the use of natural resources sustainable and improving the resilience and economic opportunities of poor people in rural areas based on farms and agribusinesses linked to more profitable economic clusters. The key strategy of the Project includes developing rural production, encouraging sustainable use of soil and water, and enhancing the adaptation capacity of smallholding farmers to climate change. This strategy depends on two basic complementary outcomes (outputs): (i) Development of critical agribusinesses through better natural resource management and high added value for rural transformation by using an economic clustering approach, (ii) Enhancing access of small farmers to financial services by strengthening special financial resources.

At the first stage, the Project will be implemented in the Eastern Mediterranean (Adana, Mersin, Osmaniye) and the Western Black Sea (Bartın, Kastamonu, Sinop) regions targeting 45 districts and 30,000 households. At the second stage of the programme, the inclusion of additional provinces will be evaluated by IFAD depending on the successful implementation of first phase. Quantitatively URDP’s two phases are expected to benefit about 60,000 households, or 294,000 beneficiaries. URDP beneficiaries are divided into three main categories: (i) economically active poor households, (ii) economically active households with upsides, and (iii) contributors to rural development and clustering investments. URDP has three components: (i) Clustering for Flexible Rural Transformation, (ii) Inclusive Rural Finance, (iii) Project Management.

Under the supervision of the IFAD Projects Manager, the Project Assistant will perform the following duties in accordance with UNDP and IFAD policy and procedures, including not limited to:

• Ensuring administration and implementation of the operational strategies focusing on achievement of the following results:

1. Full compliance of administrative/operational activities with IFAD, MoAF, UN/UNDP rules, regulations, policies and strategies,
2. Implementation of the effective internal control, proper functioning of a client-oriented management system.

• Ensuring organization of logistical and travel services focusing on achievement of the following results:

1. Organization of travel including purchase of tickets, DSA calculation, conference facilities arrangements,
2. Preparation and review of travel authorizations, documentation and related payments.

• Ensuring effective administrative and financial control in the office, focusing on achievement of the following results:

1. Implementation of the control mechanism for administrative services, maintenance of administrative control records such as commitments and expenditures,
2. Review, research, verification and reconciliation of a variety of data and reports ensuring accuracy and conformance with administrative rules and regulations,
3. Assistance in the preparation of budget, audit and other reports,
4. Facilitation of knowledge building and sharing.

• Ensuring proper control of Project Assets focusing on achievement of the following results:

1. Coordination of assets management in the project, timely preparation and submission of periodic inventory reports, coordination of physical verification of inventory items,
2. Coordination of the provision of reliable and quality office supplies,
3. Implementation of Inventory and physical verification control in the projects.

The Project Assistant is expected to assume the following tasks:

The Project Assistant reports to the IFAD Projects Manager.

• Qualitative and quantitative inputs prepared to project reports; high-quality correspondence, briefs, reports prepared.
• Events, workshops, field missions organized in a timely manner,
• Communication activities provided with timely support,
• Quality of planning,
• Quality of written communications,
• Timeliness of service delivery,
• Quality of documentation of experience and reporting,
• Work attendance,
• Other related tasks assigned by UNDP.

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
• Promotes vision, mission and strategic goals of UNDP
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people without favoritism
• Avoids any kind of discriminatory behavior including gender discrimination and ensure that;

1. Human rights and gender equality are prioritized as an ethical principle within all actions
2. Activities are designed and implemented in accordance with “Social and Environmental Standards of UNDP”
3. Any kind of diversities based on ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, disability, religion, class, gender is respected within all implementations including data production.
4. Differentiated needs of women and men are considered
5. Inclusive approach is reflected within all actions and implementations, in that sense an enabling and accessible setup in various senses such as disability gender language barrier is created
6. Necessary arrangements to provide gender parity within all committees, meetings, trainings etc. introduced.

Functional Competencies:

• Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback
• Excellent interpersonal skills: encouraging colleagues to work within and respect an enabling gender equality environment on non-hierarchical bases
• Promotes gender sensitive environment in the office through leadership and personal example
• Ability to manage gender barriers and gender-blind behaviors within the project team and with our partners
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment with sound understanding and capability to empower and develop the capacity of national counterparts
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
• 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 
• Team player, self-motivated and initiative taking, dedicated, creative, resourceful, flexible, energetic with sound judgment
• Capacity to work under pressure, manage stress and adapt to rapidly evolving situations 
• Excellent analytical, communication, writing and presentation skills
• Ability to function at both policy advisory and project implementation levels
• Ability to consider that men and women are affected differently from different interventions and needs to be approached differently.

• Interested individuals shall provide a letter of motivation as a part of their online application focusing on the applicant’s skills and capabilities against the required qualifications (in English).
• Female candidates are encouraged to apply.
• UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Notes:

(i) Internships (paid/unpaid) are not considered professional experience.

(ii) Obligatory military service is not considered professional experience.

(iii) Experience gained prior to completion of undergraduate studies is not considered professional experience.

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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