Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

  • Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
  • Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
  • Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
  • Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Office/Unit/Project Description 

UNDP has been present in Sri Lanka for over 55 years, supporting the country to achieve sustainable human development on economic, social and environmental fronts. Under its Country Programme Document (2023–2027), the Country Office (CO) delivers a programme portfolio that responds to national priorities and related opportunities in the current socio-economic context, and that anticipates emerging development challenges and new opportunities for expanding the CO's programme.

Given the evolving risk profile of the country arising from climate and environmental vulnerabilities alongside socio-economic pressures, there is an acute need to accelerate structural transformations towards green development to address the climate crisis and overarching environmental issues. The Climate and Environment Team (CET) delivers this agenda under three core thematic areas: Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction; Sustainable Natural Resource Management; and Sustainable Energy and Waste Management.

Through this portfolio, UNDP provides the Government of Sri Lanka with technical and policy assistance to implement projects that facilitate greater preparedness for climate-related extreme weather events and reduce the loss of lives, social assets, and losses and damages in critical climate-sensitive rural production and service sectors of communities vulnerable to climate change impacts. The portfolio is financed largely through vertical funds — including the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Adaptation Fund (AF) and the Montreal Protocol — as well as bilateral and other partnerships such as EU, different international governments, private sector etc. The CET is at the same time developing a comprehensive pipeline to secure new funding and partnerships towards operationalizing catalytic development interventions that deliver transformative impacts on the ground.

This strategy requires excellent programme management and a structure that reinforces the entire programming life cycle, including planning, implementation, oversight, monitoring and evaluation, safeguards and gender mainstreaming, communications, and efficient operations.

Against this backdrop, UNDP seeks to recruit a Project Associate who will support the effective and timely delivery of the CET's portfolio across seven areas: coordination, project management support, policy research and analysis, resource mobilization, partnerships, reporting, and communication and knowledge management. The Project Associate will work as part of a dynamic team and is expected to liaise closely with project teams, implementing partners, responsible parties, government counterparts and CO Operations.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Associate will provide support across the Climate and Environment Team's portfolio in the following seven areas:

1. Ensure effective coordination and operational support across the Climate and Environment Portfolio

  • Coordinate day-to-day liaison between CET project teams, implementing partners, responsible parties, government counterparts and CO Operations to ensure the timely delivery of planned activities.
  • Coordinate the scheduling, preparation and follow-up of Project Board meetings, technical working groups, steering committees and inter-agency meetings, including agendas, meeting documentation, meeting minutes and tracking of agreed action points to closure.
  • Maintain a consolidated calendar of portfolio milestones, reporting deadlines, board meetings, audits and donor missions, and alert the team to upcoming deliverables.
  • Coordinate and consolidate input from project teams for portfolio-level submissions, corporate exercises and management requests.
  • Coordinate logistical and administrative arrangements for field missions, joint monitoring visits, workshops, training programmes and awareness-raising events across project districts.

2. Provide project management and implementation support for CET’s programme

  • Support the day-to-day management and implementation of assigned climate and environment projects, including support to the engagement and administration of consultants, consultancy firms, responsible parties, vendors and implementing partners.
  • Support the development and revision of annual work plans, procurement plans and project budgets in collaboration with Project Management Unit, Implementing Partners and Operations colleagues, and support their entry, revision and monitoring in UNDP's ERP - Quantum.
  • Track delivery against approved work plans and budgets, identify implementation bottlenecks, and propose timely corrective action to the supervisor.
  • Support compliance with UNDP POPP, donor and vertical fund requirements throughout the project cycle, including HACT assurance activities, spot checks, internal and external audits, follow-up on audit recommendations, asset management, and operational and financial closure.
  • Support the application of UNDP's Social and Environmental Standards and gender mainstreaming requirements across assigned projects, including compiling documentation for social and environmental screening, stakeholder engagement plans, grievance redress mechanism records, and tracking of gender action plan indicators.
  • Maintain complete, accurate and audit-ready project documentation and filing systems.

3. Undertake policy research, data analysis and knowledge generation to inform programme development and implementation

  • Conduct background research and compile evidence on national climate and environment policy frameworks including the Nationally Determined Contributions, National Adaptation Plan, sectoral policies and multilateral environmental agreements, to inform programming and project design.
  • Prepare desk reviews, country and sector briefs, and summaries of emerging good practice in climate change adaptation and mitigation, disaster risk reduction, natural resource management, sustainable energy and waste management, and climate finance.
  • Compile and analyse data, including sex-disaggregated and climate-related data, for baselines, situation analyses, project design and results reporting.
  • Track relevant national policy developments, institutional changes and public financing decisions, and flag implications for the portfolio to the supervisor.
  • Provide research inputs to position papers, briefing notes, talking points and presentations for senior management and government counterparts.

4. Support resource mobilization, donor engagement and project development efforts 

  • Support the identification and analysis of funding opportunities across vertical funds (GEF, GCF, Adaptation Fund, Montreal Protocol), bilateral and multilateral donors such as EU, Government of Japan, etc. and private sector donors, and prepare donor profiles.
  • Support the preparation of concept notes, expressions of interest and full project proposals, including compiling background information, baseline data, stakeholder mapping, co-financing information and required annexes.

5. Strengthen partnerships and stakeholder engagement across government, development partners and other key actors

  • Support the strengthening and maintenance of working relationships between UNDP and line ministries, provincial and district authorities, development partners, civil society organizations, academia, the private sector and community-level institutions.
  • Maintain stakeholder databases and partner mapping across the portfolio.
  • Prepare background notes, briefing packs and arrangements for donor missions, partner meetings and joint field visits.
  • Support engagement with UN agencies under joint programmes and inter-agency coordination mechanisms, including the preparation and follow-up of joint work planning.

6. Support results-based monitoring, evaluation and reporting of programme and project activities

  • Monitor project implementation and achievements against outputs and results framework indicators, and maintain monitoring and evaluation trackers for assigned projects.
  • Support the preparation of donor and corporate reports, including GEF Project Implementation Reports, GCF Annual Performance Reports, Adaptation Fund Project Performance Reports, and other bilateral and multilateral donor quarterly and annual progress reports, and inputs to UNDP corporate reporting.
  • Consolidate inputs from project teams and implementing partners and verify consistency between narrative and financial reporting.
  • Support monitoring and evaluation activities, including field verification, spot checks, mid-term reviews and terminal evaluations, and track the implementation of management responses and evaluation recommendations.

7. Contribute to communications, visibility, knowledge management and institutional learning

  • Work with relevant UNDP technical and communications colleagues to develop advocacy messages, visibility products, human interest stories, case studies and event-related communications, in line with UNDP and donor visibility requirements.
  • Support the preparation of presentations, briefs and content on portfolio results for events, campaigns and digital platforms.
  • Compile lessons learned and good practices across the portfolio and support the development and dissemination of knowledge products within the CO, regionally and with partners.
  • Organize briefings and training on internal procedures for project personnel and implementing partners, and contribute to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement:

The Project Associate will be directly supervised by and report to the Project Manager – Climate and Environment Team. The Project Associate will work in close collaboration with the respective project management units, the UNDP Programme and Operations Teams and other teams in UNDP, as well as with the UNDP Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific and Regional Hub as required.

Competencies

Core
Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements 
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible 
Act with Determination:  LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

Thematic Area Name Definition
Business Management Project Management Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
Business Management Partnerships Management Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.
Business Management Results-based Management Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.
Business Management Communication Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.
Business Management Working with Evidence and Data Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making
Partnership management Resource mobilization Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to meet funding requirements

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Secondary Education (GCE A/L) is required.
  • A university degree (bachelor's degree) in Environmental Science or Management, Climate Change, Natural Resource Management, Agriculture, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Business Management or Public Administration, or any other relevant area will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.

Experience:

  • Minimum of 7 years (with secondary education) or 4 years (with bachelor's degree) of progressively responsible experience in programme/project support, administration or management in related areas such as climate change, environment, energy, disaster risk reduction, natural resource management or development programming is required.

Required Skills:

  • Experience in providing administrative, financial and operational support to the implementation of development projects.
  • Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint), and web-based management systems such as ERP/Quantum.
  • Ability to review and edit documents and to produce meeting reports identifying key actions and follow-up.

Desired Skills:

  • Experience supporting the implementation and monitoring of climate change adaptation and mitigation, disaster risk reduction, biodiversity, chemicals and waste, or sustainable energy projects.
  • Experience with UNDP/UN system or other development actors, including familiarity with UNDP POPP, HACT and audit requirements.
  • Familiarity with UNDP's Social and Environmental Standards, gender mainstreaming and stakeholder engagement approaches.
  • Experience in liaising with government counterparts at national and sub-national level, civil society organizations and community-level stakeholders.
  • Experience in analysis, research, knowledge management or communications work.

Required Languages:

Fluency in the English language and Sinhala and/or Tamil are required.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

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.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.

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