Transport Assistant

ECA's mission is to deliver ideas and actions for an empowered and transformed Africa; informed by the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063.
The mission will be guided by ECA's five new strategic directions which are: advancing ECA's position as a premier knowledge institution that builds on its unique position and privilege to bring global solutions to the continent's problems and take local solutions to the continent; developing macroeconomic and structural policy options to accelerate economic diversification and job creation; designing and implementing innovative financing models for infrastructure, human, physical and social assets for a transforming Africa; contributing solutions to regional and transboundary challenges, with a focus on peace security and social inclusion as an important development nexus; advocating Africa's position at the global level and developing regional responses as a contribution to global governance issues.

The Sub-regional Office for Central Africa (SRO-CA) is located in Yaoundé (Cameroon). It is headed by a Director who reports to the Deputy Executive Secretary (Programme). Its main objective is to contribute to achieving economic diversification and structural transformation for inclusive and sustainable development in an integrated Central Africa sub-region with focus on economic diversification policy and reforms.

This position is located in Central Africa Sub-regional Office in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The Transport Assistant reports to the Administrative & Finance Officer.

The incumbent is responsible for performing a wide range of administrative, clerical, and transport-related duties. The Transport Assistant will be responsible for the following duties and responsibilities:

A) Administrative Duties:
- Drafts various routine correspondence and responses to queries.
- Maintains office records and establishes reference files on various subjects for the office.
- Maintains logbooks and records on assigned vehicles.
- Assists drivers in the preparation of overtime claims, accident and other reports.
- Processes requests for office supplies.
- Processes and obtains on behalf of SRO-CA staff: UN number plates, driver’s licenses, vehicle insurance, and roadworthiness certificates.
-Follows up on all vehicle-related requests, permits and documents with various Cameroonian Transport authorities.

B) Day-to-day Vehicle Maintenance
- Conducts daily checks to ensure the mechanical soundness and overall cleanliness of the assigned vehicle(s) prior to operating, by verifying and undertaking checks of the following: petrol, oil and water levels, electrical system, brakes, tyre pressure and condition.
- Reports vehicle problems to SRO-CA for appropriate action.
- Maintains records (logs) of all journeys/trips.
- Delivers vehicle to garages and workshops for periodic maintenance, servicing and other required repair work.
- Arranges and oversees roadworthiness tests for official vehicles.

C) General Support Activities
- Drives SRO-CA officials, other visiting UN staff and visitors.
- Collects from and delivers pouches to the airport; delivers equipment for maintenance and repair; delivers miscellaneous documents to embassies, government offices and other locations.
- Provides transportation for organized SRO-CA groups in and near Yaoundé.
- As the operative often in the field, acts as the eyes and ears of SRO-CA by providing updated information and feedback on such subjects as: developments with respect to garages, workshops, insurance companies and other service providers whose operations SRO-CA monitors; road, traffic and weather conditions, road blocks, demonstrations, the movement of Cameroonian Government and other official delegations and current information which is required by the supervisor for planning purposes, using hand held radios (walkie talkies). Alerts the supervisor to impending changes to transport rules and regulations by virtue of contacts maintained with the transport authorities.

D) Support services for SRO-CA functions
- Provides backstopping for SRO-CA conferences by the operation of shuttle and courier services during large meetings.
- Provides transportation for VIPs and high-ranking guests of SRO-CA during their stay in Cameroon.
- Conducts meeting delegates on tours of Yaoundé and on request, on areas such as: local tourist attractions and other places of interest and general information about the country, as well as hotel rates, and historical information on Cameroon and Yaoundé, the organization and structure of SRO-CA, and any other information requested by the guest.
- Assists with the collection and analysis of data as well as preparation of data presentations and reports for information sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, planning and decision making.
- Assists with visualizations and updating information material such as web pages or brochures.
- Performs other duties as assigned.

• Professionalism – Knowledge of driving rules and regulations. Knowledge of the area and the current condition of roads and highways, security, and safety awareness; familiarity with frequently traveled routes and routines of the more senior staff or the officers. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work.

• Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

• Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients" and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Minimum of a high school diploma and a third-grade driving license is required.

Minimum of three years of driving and transport-related experience is required.

Experience in driving a variety of makes and models of vehicles, including vans and other kinds of motorized vehicles and operate handheld radios (walkie talkies) are required.

Clear concise, communication and drafting skills are desirable.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in either language, English or French is required. Knowledge of the other is desirable. Knowledge of another UN language is an advantage.

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include a Technical Test which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Passing the Global General Service Test (GGST) is a prerequisite for recruitment consideration in the General Services and related categories in the United Nations Secretariat. Applicants who have not passed the GGST at the time of application may be invited for the test after submitting an application. Having passed the Administrative Support Assessment Test [in French/English] at the United Nations headquarters, Economic Commission for Africa, Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, United Nations Office at Geneva, United Nations Office at Vienna, International criminal tribunal for Rwanda or International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia may be accepted in lieu of the GGST.

This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. All staff in the General Service and related categories shall be recruited in the country or within commuting distance of each office, irrespective of their nationality and of the length of time they may have been in the country. A staff member subject to local recruitment shall not be eligible for the allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.