Programme Associate - #7507629

Job Description

Background and Organizational Context

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, and build resilience so countries can sustain progress. As UN´s development agency, UNDP plays a critical role in helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. UNDP personnel are united by a common purpose: to help countries and communities across the world; and pursue peaceful, prosperous lives, lived in harmony with the planet.

UNDP Guatemala, in accordance with the strategic priorities agreed in the Country Programme Document (CPD) for the period 2022-2025 is the United Nations organization that contributes to national efforts towards sustainable, resilience, equitable and inclusive development, using a participatory and innovative approach. This has implied an increase in alliances with cooperation partners, withing United Nations System and with national and local institutions, and with civil society networks and communities.

The UNDP’s Strategic Priorities Are

• Strong institutions: UNDP provides technical support to inter-institutional coordination mechanisms led by national institutions in social and economic cabinets, integrated rural development, and science and technology alliances. Works in the promotion of innovation in technology use, data generation, information systems development, and gender analysis to strengthen evidence-based decision-making at the national and local levels.
• Peace, Security and Justice: UNDP supports the strengthening of state institutions working to increase citizen security, access to justice and transformation of conflicts.
• Building resilience for adaptation to climate change: UNDP works to strengthen inter-institutional and intersectoral coordination platforms for development planning, climate change adaptation and mitigation, biodiversity and protected areas management, food security and disaster risk reduction management.
• Sustainable and inclusive socioeconomic development: UNDP is working to strengthen the national social protection system, using a gender perspective and prioritizing vulnerabilities faced by people in crisis and shocks. Coordination, collaboration, and partnerships with other public institutions, private sector and civil society organizations are promoted for effective territorial coordination and regional exchange of best practices.
  
  
  

The Programme Unit works to support achievement of UNDP strategic objectives to create a world where people and planet thrive together, and to help the Country Office act with both ambition and scale to address urgent problems facing the country as well as global climate deteriorating conditions. Programme staff assist the Country Office in formulating and implementing programme strategies that go beyond solving immediate development challenges to create future smart and integrated systemic changes in resilience and capacity building within the country.

Position Purpose

Under the overall guidance of the Programme Analyst, the Programme Associate ensures effective delivery of the CO programme by entering and managing data and supporting programme implementation consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.

The Programme Associate may supervise support staff in the Programme Unit. The Programme Associate works in close collaboration with the Operations, Programme and projects’ staff in the CO and UNDP HQ, and UN Agencies to exchange information and resolve complex finance-related issues.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Support formulation of programme strategies and implementation of the Country Programme Documents (CPDs).
• Provide background information for preparation of CPDs and establishment of Baselines, Milestones and Targets (BMT).
• Provide information/evidence to guide future programming and identify implementation arrangements.
• Provide effective support to management of the Country Office programme.
• Create project in ERP, prepare required budget revisions, revise project status, determine unutilized funds, and ensure operational and financial closure of a project.
• Provide day-to-day guidance to implementing partners on implementation of projects, and track use of financial resources. Contribute to managing digital technology solutions in programme implementation towards scalability and sustainability in line with UNDP’s digital standards.
• Contribute to the effective management of data in programme implementation, across the data lifecycle. Follow up on programme and project performance indicators/ success criteria, targets and milestones, preparation of reports, and implementation of corporate results-based management mechanisms and tools.
• Identify programme related bottlenecks and propose solutions.
• Make preparations for external and internal programme/project audits, and support implementation of audit recommendations.
• Provide administrative support to the Programme unit by maintaining internal expenditure system and performing quality assurance review of technical reports and payments that includes following up with other units and taking timely corrective actions.
• Support implementation of the CO partnership and resource mobilization strategies.
• Analyze information on donors and prepare donor profiles and establishment of contact rat technical level.
• Track and report on mobilized resources.
• Preparation and/or review contributions agreements and manage contributions in ERP.
• Facilitate knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the Country Office. In assigned programme areas:
• Organize and deliver programme related training for relevant programme and operations personnel.
• Compile lessons learned and best practices.
• Provide contributions to knowledge networks, communities of practice and digital knowledge platforms.
  
  
  

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

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: May supervise support staff in Programme unit.

Competencies

• Expected Demonstration of Competencies
• CORE
  
  
  

Achieve Results

LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work

Think Innovatively

LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking

Learn Continuously

LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning

Adapt with Agility

LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process

Act with Determination LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously

Engage and Partner

LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion

LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making

• 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 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.
  
  
  

Business Development Knowledge Generation

• Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need
  
  
  

Business Management Risk Management

• Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks
  
  
  

Business Management Results-based Management

• Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus on improved performance and demonstrable results.
  
  
  

Finance Budget Management

• Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets.
  
  
  

Procurement

Contract Management

• Knowledge of contract management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations.
  
  
  

Education

Required Skills and Experience

• Secondary education is required
• A university degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, or related field will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.
  
  
  

Experience

• A minimum of 6 years (with high school diploma) or 3 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant progressively responsible administrative/management or programme experience is required at the national and/or international level.
• Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.), database packages, and web-based management systems such as ERP is desirable.
• Ability to review and edit documents, ability to produce meeting reports identifying key actions will be desired.
• Demonstrable experience in administering project budgets, tracking financial expenditure, and performing administrative duties.
• Good knowledge of an ERP System (such as Quantum) and UNDP procurement, programming, finance and/or accounting structure will be desired.
• Specialized certification in Project Management or equivalent will be an asset.
  
  
  

Disclaimer

Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant Information About UNDP Rosters

Note: 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.

Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

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