Project Associate

2.      Project Description 

Albania has made significant improvements in advancing the policy and normative framework for gender equality and women’s empowerment, safety, and security as well as in the social inclusion and protection system in recent years. However, full, and consistent implementation of the legislation is insufficient which prevents the transformation needed to ensure enjoyment of human rights by all people, and gender discrimination, a gender divide in the labor market, and gender-based violence remain critical concerns. The most recent Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Albania (3rd cycle, 2019) highlighted the social protection system still faces challenges and obstacles; out of the 197 recommendations released, 34 related specifically to social cohesion and protection, 37 related to child protection, 34 related to Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Domestic Violence (DV) and 14 recommendations related to health care services.

To respond to the country’s needs, UNDP works with national partners to promote social cohesion and strengthen social protection systems, services, and financing mechanisms to increase coverage and quality for vulnerable groups. Furthermore, UNDP continues to work towards ending all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and unfavorable social norms and gender stereotypes, supporting coordinated referral mechanisms and integrated social care services such as accessible psychological and legal support, safe accommodation and accessible emergency and specialized support.   

 The overall objective of the “Improving Communities’ Resilience” (IRC) project is to support resilience-building of vulnerable communities, including Albanian women and girls, persons with disabilities, religious and ethnic minorities, Afghan evacuees LGBTQIA+, women and men affected by earthquake etc. The project, through a comprehensive approach, intends to tackle identified drivers of exclusion, marginalization, discrimination, and violence. This will be done through operationalization of three model resilience centers in three selected municipalities that will provide adequate support to local vulnerable communities in partnership with government bodies mandated to guarantee sustainable, integrated     service and civil society actors committed to equality and peace building.  Overall, the program will seek to establish a sustainable working model that will help improve social cohesion, livelihoods and address the needs of vulnerable and marginalized communities in Albania.

3.      Scope of Work 

The Project Associate will work under the supervision of the UNDP IRC Project Manager and will assist in the overall management of administrative services for IRC project. S/he will administer and execute processes and transactions ensuring high quality and accuracy of work and promotes a client, quality and results-oriented approach. S/he will work in close collaboration with the Operations, Programme and project staff in the UNDP Country Office to exchange information and ensure consistent service delivery

The main duties and responsibilities of the Project Associate include the following:

Support the project team to ensure effective project planning and implementation 

• Compile and summarize information and data for the formulation of project work plans, draft annual/quarterly budgets, proposals on implementation arrangements, and on other specific project related topics or issues. 
• Provide comprehensive support in all aspects of project implementation in accordance with the project documents, annual work plans and other agreements between UNDP and responsible partners. Ensure quality of delivery by consultants, beneficiaries, and contracted companies; and communicate findings to the supervisor. 
• Ensure compliance of project business processes with UNDP Project Operational Policies and Procedures (POPP) and UNDP Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). When necessary, provide guidance to project staff on business processes, administrative and other requirements and procedures. 
• Provide administrative and logistical support to ensure successful project delivery that includes organizing/coordinating project events and selecting appropriate venues, coordinating project procurement procedures, maintaining project records and files, recruiting project experts, and supporting contracting activities.   
• Support project level implementation in UNDP operational systems and by inputting and analysing information related to UNDP project procurement and financial operations.

Support partnerships and resource mobilization. 

• Establish and maintain contacts and cooperation with the relevant UN Agencies, government institutions, NGOs, tertiary institutions, partners, and other relevant stakeholders. Provide support in updating the database of the relevant public and development partners, and other stakeholders who are counterparts for the project.
• Ensure regular communication and coordination with partners, project counterparts, stakeholders, and beneficiaries; and develop and maintain effective mechanisms for integrating and responding to their feedback and insight.
• Undertake horizon scanning and explore opportunities for resource mobilization in consultation with direct supervisor.
• Prepare and consolidate all required project reports, on a timely basis and in line with monitoring and reporting guidelines and donor requirements.

Provide support to the effective monitoring, evaluation, and reporting on progress of project implementation.

• Assist in the organization of field and study visits, missions, workshops, roundtables, and conferences within the project.
• Support implementing partners in monitoring and reporting activities.
• Assist in implementation of effective risk management for the project with a well-documented risk mitigation plan in place. 
• Regularly monitor expenditures and commitments against the project budget and relevant plans, and provide finance-related information to support project implementation. When necessary, recommend corrective actions and draft various correspondence concerning finance, operations, and budgetary issues.

Support knowledge building, knowledge sharing and capacity building relevant to the assigned project.

• Participate in training and organize briefings on internal procedures for the project staff. Provide support to other capacity building activities, including to the design and delivery of tools, materials for workshops, or platforms that tap into the collective intelligence of communities and mobilize action.
• Provide support in the dissemination and sharing of relevant data and lessons learned within the CO and regionally. Keep pulse on emerging best practices nationally, regionally, and internationally that relate to the work of the assigned project.
• Support compiling and systematizing project knowledge, products and tools as well as their wide distribution to partners.

4.      Institutional Arrangement

The  Project Associate will directly report to the Project Manager. (Annex 1 attached). 

5.      Competencies

  6.  Minimum Qualifications of the Successful NPSA