BIOFIN Project Management Associate

Background
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 is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels offers a spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in its Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in UNDP’s Strategic Plan. 

Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. BPPS staff provides technical advice to Country Offices; advocates for UNDP corporate messages; represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora, including public-private, government and civil society dialogues; and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. 

BPPS’s Hubs on Nature, Climate, Energy and Waste work with governments, civil society, and private sector partners to integrate nature, climate, energy and waste related concerns into national and sector planning and inclusive growth policies, support country obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements, and oversee the implementation of the UN’s largest portfolio of in-country programming nature, climate change, energy and waste. This multi-billion-dollar portfolio encompasses: 

•     Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services including forests;. 

•     Sustainable Land Management and Desertification including food and commodity systems; 

•     Water and Ocean Governance including SIDS; 

•     Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation;

•     Sustainable Energy; 

•     Extractive Industries; 

•     Chemicals and Waste Management;

•     Environmental Governance and Green/Circular Economy; and SCP approaches. 

This work advances crosscutting themes on innovative finance, digital transformation, capacity development, human rights, gender equality, health, technology, and South-South learning. 

In recent decades, biodiversity finance tools and solutions have demonstrated their importance for achieving biodiversity goals and broader sustainable development objectives. Improved choice, design and implementation of effective, well-tailored finance solutions will strengthen countries’ chances of achieving national and global biodiversity targets. 

The Biodiversity Finance Initiative – BIOFIN – was developed to provide a comprehensive methodology for governments to 1) review the existing policy context, 2) measure expenditure levels for biodiversity, 3) calculate future financial needs and 4) design strategic plans to deploy the right mix of finance solutions, tailored to the country context. The methodology has been conducted in 30 countries to date, with many now having reached the implementation stage.

BIOFIN is supported by the Governments of Germany, Canada, Flanders, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Belgium and the European Union. The initiative is part of UNDP’s Nature Hub, under UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS).

BIOFIN’s first phase (2012-2019) enabled full assessments and initial implementation of finance plan elements in target countries. Based on lessons learned, a new and comprehensive version of the BIOFIN Methodology was developed. Significant scaling up of finance solutions is required in all 41 countries to address the biodiversity finance challenge. BIOFIN’s second phase (2018 – 2030) focuses mainly on the implementation of prioritised finance solutions while also allowing additional countries to undertake the initial assessments and create the finance plan. See www.biofin.org for further information. 

Position Purpose

The BIOFIN Project Management Associate will provide financial management, resources management and administrative support to BIOFIN global and national projects, in particular in annual workplan processing, budget allocations, and delivery monitoring, in compliance with the policies, processes and procedures of UNDP and the requirements of the Initiative’s donors.

The Project Management Associate will work in close collaboration with the BIOFIN Global Team, country teams and Operations and Oversight teams in UNDP HQ to resolve budgetary and implementation-related issues and to ensure a consistent quality programme delivery.

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
1- Ensure budgetary, planning, and resources support to BIOFIN country projects

• Coordinate annual multi-year workplan submissions, assist Technical Advisors in reviewing them in a timely manner, ensuring compliance with Donor requirements and identify irregularities. Provide feedback to country teams and technical advisors as required.
• Serve as point of contact on finance and operational issues between BIOFIN Global Team, Integrated Operations Team in HQ, UNDP country offices, and national implementation teams in 45 countries;
• Support the country project budget revisions in Quantum and get all relevant technical and financial clearances;
• Request and manage the transfer of funds from relevant sources of funding to country projects; request Authorized Spending Limit (ASL) issuance when required to allocate funds to countries;
• Support the quality assurance for the country projects on budgetary and planning through periodical assessments and multi-year workplans. 

2- Ensure portfolio monitoring and oversight of projects’ implementation and delivery 

• Run expenditures and other financial reports from PowerBI and/or Quantum, identify delays in implementation or deficits and alert the Project Manager of any projects of concern; 
• Monitor and ensure that country offices take action to correct any project deficits being identified; 
• Offer guidance to country teams to ensure that they prioritize expenditures according to validity of various sources of funding;
• Facilitate the budgeting and planning of activities for BIOFIN Coordination Project, ensuring accurate estimations and adjustments are implemented throughout the year. Maintain and update the database accordingly while delivering technical guidance and support as needed.
• Support BIOFIN Programme Coordination Analyst and Programme Manager in monitoring and facilitating compliance with management and administrative requirements from donors, (technical and financial reports, budget compliance and audits at the global and country levels, guidelines, etc.). 
• Ensure that audits and spot checks for responsible parties are conducted timely according to UNDP guidelines and procedures and relevant reports submitted to UNDP-HQ as required.

3- Ensure country office capacity building and support and knowledge sharing 

• Conduct training to the national teams, focusing on budget processing and financial monitoring techniques, including guiding participants through best practices, efficient methodologies, and tools to ensure accurate budget management and rigorous financial oversight at all project stages.
• Guide country teams and assist Technical Advisors in addressing project, management and financial issues promptly.
• Provide the guidance to the country teams on routine project implementation matters, such as finance, monitoring, planning or other administrative matters.
• 4- Ensure project and programme management support
  Ensure all relevant project information on databases, Quantum and PowerBI, are correct and up to date from the creation of the various outputs on the database until the outputs/project’s operational and financial closure; 
• Ensure review, verification, and reconciliation of resources, maintaining information/databases on potential and actual donors, providing financial and project management-related information and editing support towards funding proposals; 
• Assist with the organization of international meetings and events; 
• Monitor and facilitate compliance with UNDP-specific processes in managing financial resources and other administrative operations;
• Backstop other members of the Global Team and perform ad-hoc tasks, as required, to ensure the Global Team will deliver at the highest standard.

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: None

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 

Finance - Budget management : Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets. 
Business Management - Results-based Management: Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.
Business Management - Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
Business Management - Resource Management: Allocate and use resources in a strategic or tactical way in line with business needs and priorities and principles of accountability and integrity
Business Management -Digital Awareness and Literacy: Ability to monitor new and emerging technologies, as well as understand their usage, potential, limitations, impact, and added value. Ability to rapidly and readily adopt and use new technologies in professional activities, and to empower others to use them as needed. Knowledge of the usage of digital technologies and emerging trends.
Business Management - Working with Evidence and Data: Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making
Data-Data Analysis : Ability to extract, analyse and visualize data (including Real-Time Data) to form meaningful insights and aid effective decision making.
 

Required Skills and Experience
Education:

• Secondary Education is required. Or 
• A University Degree (Bachelor’s degree) in Business Administration or Public Administration, Finance, Economics, Environmental Sciences, Political or Social Sciences will be given due consideration but is not a requirement.

Experience:

• Minimum 7 years of experience (with Secondary education) or 4 years (with a Bachelor’s degree) in finance, budgeting, accounting, administration, environment, or project management is required. 
• Specialized training in administration, accounting, finance or related field would be an advantage;
• Working experience in an international organization and with developing countries is an advantage;
• Experience of UNDP policies, procedures and practices is advantage; 
• Experience delivering presentations and training would be an advantage;
• Full computer literacy including advanced knowledge of word-processing, spreadsheet, and web-based management systems is desirable.

Language requirement:

• Fluency in English and Turkish is required.
• Proficiency in other UN languages is an asset.

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Disclaimer
 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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