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.

Note: This position opens for Cambodian nationals only.

Background

The United Nations Development Programme (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 Cambodia Country Office (CO) works in partnership with the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC), non-government organizations, civil society organizations, community-based organizations, multilateral aid agencies, bilateral donors, and the private sector to accelerate the achievement of Cambodia Sustainable Development Goals (CSDGs) and other national development priorities as set out in the Pentagonal Strategy for realizing the national vision 2050.  

In Cambodia, the UNDP Country Programme Document 2024-2028 (CPD) identified three transformational shifts as priority for support during the next 5 years. The first shift is toward an economic growth model that accelerates inclusive growth, economic diversification, and human development. The second shift involves championing just energy transition, climate action and nature-based solutions as the foundation for national wealth, well-being, and resilience to shocks. The third shift is towards strengthening institutions, civic space, and participation as enablers for inclusive growth, access to rights and equal opportunities for all, whilst ensuring that the society at large is using the full potential of digital transformation. The CPD is aligned to national priorities and policies, particularly Cambodia’s vision 2050 and the Pentagonal Strategy-Phase 1 2024-2028. 

The Programme Support Associate will undertake the following functions to support effective programme and project implementation, financial management, quality assurance, and compliance in line with UNDP policies and procedures:

Duties and Responsibilities

The incumbent will be part of the Programme Support Pool and will be assigned to any Shift/Cluster or work stream of the country office programme based on needs. The incumbent will work through a matrix management and reporting structure. The incumbent's supervisor could be the National Economist and/or Assigned Assistant Resident Representative or any other assigned staff/personnel. The Programme Support Associate supports programme formulation, planning, and implementation through data management and operational support.  

The Programme Support Associate promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations. 

Support administration and implementation of programme strategies

  • Supports the collection, analysis, and presentation of background information for preparation and formulation of Common Country Analysis (CCA), UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), CPD and other strategic documents and policy papers;
  • Contributes to the development and presentation of background information for the formulation of project documents, work plans, budgets, and proposals within the assigned portfolio;
  • Provides inputs to the CO planning, monitoring, and reporting documents (corporate, regional and CO systems and platforms);
  • Contributes to the analysis of information on donors, partners, including provision of information on projects funded through government cost-sharing;
  • Supports project planning, monitoring and evaluation, and day-to-day project management, including project communication and reporting, as required;
  • Contributes research data to concept notes, project ideas, funding proposals, policy briefs etc.;
  • Supports the development of new pipeline projects and provides input and updates on the pipeline information;
  • Supports in the monitoring and timely preparation of information and reports according to approved project documents, corporate timelines, and CO requirements;
  • Supports the integration of gender considerations in all programmes/projects from the design to implementation, including planning and budgeting, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, as well as reporting in line with and using the corporate gender equality commitments, tools, and strategies;
  • Participates and contributes to the programme team meetings, preparation, and implementation of the workplans, and implements assigned activities under the respective plans;
  • Supports the achievement of performance targets in line with CO plans and priorities;
  • Monitors and ensures timely operational and final closure of projects within the portfolio;
  • Supports quality assurance for projects information in corporate systems and open data platforms in accordance with UNDP’s policies and procedures, as needed.

Operational and financial management support

  • Supports in the planning, monitoring and reporting of programmes and projects pertaining to budget and resource management, and ensures support in quality control of financial resource management, flagging any deviations or bottlenecks for the Policy, Accelerator Lab, Communications, and Management and Oversight teams;
  • Reviews of financial/expenditure reports; prepares and submits payment and other programme/project-related requests; implements corrective actions in line with UNDP rules and regulations;
  • Reviews project budgets and budget revisions to ensure matching with available resources in projects;
  • Raises e-requisitions and ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, and transactions are correctly recorded and posted in ERP;
  • Supports in data entries, including relevant cost-recovery rates and their distribution, as required;
  • Enters budget and revisions into the ERP and ensures appropriate documentation management;
  • Checks CDR Bridge and provides support in the verification of Combined Delivery Reports and follows-up on their signing by UNDP and Implementing Partners, as required;
  • Supports in tracking the programme delivery, and in the implementation of acceleration or corrective measures;
  • Provides support in follow-up to the recommendations from audits and assessments (e.g., CO/DIM/NIM Audits, evaluations);
  • Uploads required documentation in the corporate systems;
  • Ensures regular monitoring of the contribution agreements milestones, and flags potential delays in the attainment of milestones for timely corrective measures.

Compliance, quality assurance, and oversight support 

  • Supports the development and implementation of standard operating procedures for the CO and portfolio/projects;
  • Ensures that business processes followed by portfolio/project teams are in line with the UNDP regulations and rules and the approved internal control framework and client-oriented resources management;
  • Monitors portfolio and projects and ensures timely update of risks, project management information, operational and final closure of projects within the portfolio;
  • Undertakes quality assurance for projects information in corporate systems and data platforms in accordance with UNDP’s policies and procedures, as needed.
  • Supports the implementation of the Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfer (HACT) framework, including assurance plans and assurance activities;
  • Supports the oversight measures of NIM projects (incl. monitoring support of cash advances and liquidation, required capacity assessments, etc.);
  • Ensures efficient update and follow-up to the DIM/NIM project audits in the UNDP CARDS system.

Support knowledge management, capacity building, and self-development

  • Assists the programme unit in capturing, codifying, synthesizing lessons from evaluations and assessments and helps in sharing and accumulating best practices and experience across teams and the region;
  • Facilitates peer reviewing, commenting on, and seeking to improve, the quality of projects, good practices, guidelines, and other documents, as required;
  • Supports in the organization of training and workshops for CO and project personnel on project management, financial management, and ERP use;
  • Supports in the provision of guidance to implementing partners on project management and implementation, administrative procedures, monitoring and reporting in compliance with POPP;
  • Participates in events and provides sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice;
  • Develops and carries out personal and professional development and learning plans as agreed with the supervisor.

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

Competencies

Core Competencies:

  • 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

Business Direction & Strategy

  • Strategic Thinking: Develop effective strategies and prioritised plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions; learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future trends; demonstrate foresight.
  • System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Business Management

  • Result-Based Management  : Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus on improved performance and demonstrable results.
  • Customer Satisfaction/Client Management  : Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers' needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients' immediate requests; Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.
  • Resources Management: Ability to allocate and use resources in a strategic or tactical way in line with principles of accountability and integrity.

Operations: Finance

  • Financial Planning and Budgeting: Ability to create and manage processes to achieve UNDP's long and short-term financial goals, including through planning, budgeting, forecasting, analyzing and reporting.

Ethics

  • UN Policy Knowledge - Ethics: Knowledge and understanding of the UN Staff Regulations and Rules and other policies relating to ethics and integrity.
     

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Secondary education is required.  Or 
  • A University degree (bachelor’s degree) in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Public Administration will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.

Experience:

  • A minimum of 7 years (with secondary education) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible experience in programme, project operations, administration, and financial management. 

Desired skills:

  • Experience in supporting programme and/or project implementation, including planning, monitoring, reporting, and coordination; 
  • Experience in financial and administrative support, including budgeting, financial tracking, and processing transactions; 
  • Experience in data management and reporting, as well as maintaining documentation and tracking systems;
  • Experience with ERP systems; 
  • Experience in compliance, audit support, and internal controls;
  • Experience working with the UN, UNDP, or other international development organizations.

Required Languages:

  • Fluency in Khmer and English is required.

Professional Certificates

  • Specialized certification in Programme or Project Management (e.g., MSP or PRINCE-2) or Accounting and/or Finance is a distinct advantage.

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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