Project Associate (NPSA7)

Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country with an estimated population of 206 million and an annual population growth rate of 2.6%. By 2050, the country’s population is expected to have doubled, reaching more than 400 million and thereby becoming the third largest country in the world. More than half of its population will be under the age of 30 years.  

At the same time, unemployment and under-employment are one of the key development challenges facing young people in Nigeria and undermining the prospects of the country to achieve its development aspirations and fulfil its potential as the continent’s largest economy. According to the National Bureau for Statistics’ report of 2018, over 13.9 million youth are unemployed. The highest unemployment rate was recorded for youths between 15 – 24 years standing at 40.8%, followed by those aged between 25 – 34 years at 30.7%. Investing in Nigeria’s youth is therefore becoming more urgent than ever.  

The Jubilee Fellows Programme will expand opportunities for learning to work transitions for fresh graduates in Nigeria through placement opportunities, job market information, skills transfer and facilitated learning. It is designed as a partnership platform that brings together private and public sector actors – including learning institutions to co-create and deploy to scale a viable solution that enhances youth employability, entrepreneurship and retention of national talent.     

To this end, UNDP Nigeria is seeking a Project Associate, to ensure effective administrative oversight and transparent utilization of project resources ensuring the integrity of financial services. The Project Associate contributes to the effective implementation of financial monitoring and evaluation policies, works with the operations finance team and ensures the financial integrity of the Jubilee Fellowship.

With proper and accurate project financing, the incumbent, supports the design, planning and management of the Jubilee Fellowship.  In doing so, s/he works in close collaboration with project staff, other staff of the Unit, operations team, Programme and projects staff in the CO and UNDP HQs staff for resolving complex programme and operations-related issues, ensuring successful CO performance in Finance.

Institutional Arrangement

Reporting:

The Project Associate will report to the Team Lead for the Jubilees Fellowship Programme and may be required to also follow up with the Operations unit of UNDP on issues that may arise regarding the smooth running of the programme.

Under the direct supervision of Crisis Prevention and Recovery Advisor, the Project Associate will be responsible for the following functions and tasks:

Summary of Key Functions:

• Ensure effective and accurate financial resources management and oversight
• Manage the project budget and ensure proper cash management functioning
• Ensure effective information management and reporting
• Ensure proper financial aid controls and risks management mechanisms

Specific Functions/Results expected

Ensure effective and accurate financial resources management and oversight, including through the following tasks:

• Manage and provide financial analyses and oversight for all resources managed by UNDP programme(s), ensuring full compliance with UNDP rules, regulations, policies, and strategies;
• Advise the Programme Manager, Operations Manager and other UNDP staff on financial matters;
• Prepare cost estimates for different activities according to the needs of programme management;
• Monitor the financial performance of programme activities;
• Coordinate annual audits of the Principle Recipient (PR) and Sub-recipients (SRs) as required by UNDP, and ensure that external auditors have all relevant information.

Manage the programme budget and ensure proper cash management functioning, including through the following tasks:

• Prepare and monitor the project’s budgets in UNDP’s enterprise resource planning system (Atlas) and prepare budget revision in Atlas if necessary;
• Organize and oversee project cash management processes, SR relationships, and accounting and reconciliation of all transactions and security for cash assets on site;
• Ensure that Japanese fund contributions are properly transferred to UNDP;
• Follow up on the disbursement of funds to facilitate timely review of cash position to ensure sufficient funds on hand for disbursements;
• Ensure that advance payments and direct payments are properly reviewed and recorded in a timely manner into Atlas;
• Take corrective actions on unposted vouchers or other financial transaction issues.

Ensure effective information management and reporting, including through the following tasks:

• Prepare regular analysis and reporting on the project funds and Country Office budget approvals, including on the delivery of programme activities;
• Support the preparation of annual project workplans, agreements, and budgets;
• Prepare forecasts necessary to support disbursements requests;
• Conduct verification and posting of disbursement requests, expenditure reports, and supporting documentation;
• Submit timely and accurate required financial reports to the donor, as relevant;
• Maintain information flows between non-finance actors to effectively link programmatic results to work plan expenditure and budgets agreed with the donor;
• Respond to HQ requests to resolve financial data issues or to provide information required.

Ensure proper financial controls and risk management mechanisms, including through the following tasks:

• Develop and support the PMU to maintain risk management and mitigation approaches relating to finance;
• Design and implement effective internal controls and financial resources management system;
• Map, establish and maintain standard operating procedures in the project finance unit, implementing improvements where possible;
• Conduct training and other capacity development activities on financial management for personnel in the UNDP PMU and the project team, as required.

• 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.

• Secondary Education with specialized qualifications or Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.

• Minimum 7 years (Secondary Education) or 4 years (Bachelor's degree) of professional experience in providing programme support and financial resource management services;
• 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 and ERP financials, preferably PeopleSoft;
• Knowledge of UN/UNDP Financial Resource Management is desirable.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Working knowledge of UN principles, SDGs and international development in Africa is an asset.

Required skills and competencies; 

• Innovation
• Communication
• People Management
• Accounting (General)
• Financial Analysis

Required Language: Fluency in spoken and written English.