Programme Finance Associate

Duty Stations: Windhoek, Namibia

Reports to: Deputy Chief Financial Officer & Financial Controller 

Team: Finance & Administration

Grade Level: NOA/NOB Equivalent (Local National Professional Staff)

Recruitment Type: Local National Recruitment

Deadline: 18 June 2026

EXTERNAL RECRUITMENT

BACKGROUND

The Global Water Partnership (GWP) is an international institution comprising the intergovernmental Global Water Partnership Organisation (GWPO) and a global network of Regional and Country Water Partnerships operating in more than 180 countries.

Under the GWP Strategy 2026–2030 and the Global Transformation Agenda on Water Investments, GWPO is strengthening decentralized operational delivery systems, integrated financial management systems, fiduciary governance frameworks, and institutional financial coordination mechanisms across the GWP Network.

GWPO is implementing an ambitious institutional transformation agenda aimed at mobilizing and influencing climate-resilient water investments at scale while strengthening financial governance, accountability, and decentralized operational delivery systems across regional and thematic hubs.

The Programme Finance Associate positions support operational programme finance management, financial administration, grant implementation support, financial reconciliations, donor compliance support, financial reporting systems, and implementation of integrated financial governance systems across assigned regional and thematic portfolios.

The positions are designed to support development of future international finance, fiduciary governance, and grant management professionals within GWPO’s long-term institutional talent pipeline.

 

POSITION PURPOSE

The Programme Finance Associate provides operational finance, grant administration, and financial reporting support for GWPO programmes, projects, grants, and operational portfolios across assigned regional and thematic delivery structures.

The incumbent supports implementation of operational financial controls, donor compliance procedures, grant management systems, project financial administration processes, and financial reporting systems supporting decentralized programme delivery across the GWP Network.

The Programme Finance Associate contributes to implementation of the GWPO-GWP Network Integrated Financial Management and Reporting System (NIFMARS), financial reconciliation systems, operational finance controls, documentation management systems, and implementation of the GWPO 15% Joint Delivery and Cost Recovery Framework.

The position supports operational finance coordination relating to grants, sub-grants, implementing partners, consultants, vendors, programme teams, and Regional Water Partnerships.

The Programme Finance Associate works closely with Finance Specialists, programme managers, operational teams, implementing partners, consultants, vendors, and administrative personnel across the GWPO Secretariat and GWP Network.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Programme Finance Administration and Financial Operations

The Programme Finance Associate shall:

• Support day-to-day programme finance administration and operational finance activities across assigned projects, programmes, and operational portfolios;
• Support operational finance management processes for GWPO-signed projects and programmes throughout the project lifecycle, including budget administration, expenditure monitoring, financial reconciliations, reporting support, audit preparation, and project closure support;
• Perform timely and accurate financial transaction processing and data entry into financial management and accounting systems;
• Support implementation of GWPO financial policies, operational financial procedures, and internal financial control systems;
• Support processing of invoices, payment requests, consultant payments, operational advances, travel claims, reimbursements, and operational finance transactions;
• Assist in preparation and coordination of payment runs in accordance with approved procedures and internal controls;
• Support budget monitoring, expenditure tracking, financial reconciliations, and operational financial analysis for assigned projects and programmes;
• Monitor expenditure against approved budgets and support preparation of variance analyses and periodic financial monitoring reports;
• Support financial administration of climate resilience, transboundary water governance, blended finance, private sector investment, and thematic programme portfolios as assigned;
• Support implementation and operational monitoring of the GWPO 15% Joint Delivery and Cost Recovery Framework across assigned operational portfolios and implementing arrangements.

 

Financial Reporting, Reconciliations and Financial Systems Support

• Support preparation of quarterly financial reports for assigned projects, programmes, and operational portfolios;
• Assist with reconciliation of sub-ledgers to the general ledger and support monthly reconciliation exercises;
• Support reconciliation of financial records, operational advances, payroll-related records, travel claims, and project expenditures;
• Support quarterly regional financial consolidation processes coordinated by the Finance Specialist and Deputy Chief Financial Officer & Financial Controller;
• Prepare expenditure reports, financial summaries, operational financial updates, and supporting schedules for management review;
• Support maintenance of financial reporting databases, grants tracking systems, reporting schedules, donor reporting calendars, and operational financial records;
• Support operational implementation of NIFMARS and related financial reporting systems;
• Maintain accurate financial transaction records, supporting documentation, and finance administration files in accordance with GWPO requirements;
• Support preparation of financial dashboards, operational financial summaries, and financial information required for institutional reporting purposes.

 

Grant Administration, Donor Compliance and Fiduciary Support

• Support implementation of GWPO Grant Management Policy and operational grant administration systems;
• Support administration and financial follow-up of sub-grants issued to Regional Water Partnerships, Country Water Partnerships, host institutions, consultants, and implementing partners;
• Support operational compliance monitoring for donor agreements and funding mechanisms, including climate finance institutions, bilateral donors, foundations, and multilateral programmes;
• Support financial due diligence reviews, fiduciary assessments, and compliance monitoring processes for implementing partners and operational entities;
• Support follow-up on grant reporting deadlines, donor compliance requirements, audit requests, and operational compliance actions;
• Support implementation of operational anti-fraud controls, fiduciary safeguards, and documentation management systems;
• Maintain grants and compliance tracking systems, including reporting schedules, donor deadlines, audit milestones, and grant closure requirements;
• Support operational coordination and compliance follow-up relating to joint delivery and cost recovery implementation arrangements.

Audit, Documentation and Administrative Support

• Support preparation and compilation of financial documentation required for internal and external audits;
• Scan, organize, file, archive, and maintain financial documentation, including invoices, receipts, contracts, grant documents, payroll support records, payment records, and operational financial documentation in both physical and digital formats;
• Support retrieval and organization of financial documents required for audits, donor reviews, management reporting, and compliance verification processes;
• Support operational follow-up relating to audit requests, compliance reviews, and financial documentation requirements;
• Support implementation of operational financial controls and documentation management procedures;
• Maintain orderly, accurate, and accessible finance documentation systems in accordance with GWPO audit and fiduciary requirements.

 

Capacity Development and Operational Support

• Support training, orientation, and technical support activities relating to GWPO financial procedures, donor compliance requirements, operational finance systems, fraud prevention, and grant management processes;
• Support preparation of operational finance templates, guidance notes, tools, forms, and standard operating procedures;
• Support dissemination and operational implementation of updated financial procedures, grant management guidance, and financial administration systems;
• Contribute to strengthening financial governance and financial management capacities across assigned operational portfolios and regional delivery structures;
• Promote a culture of accountability, fiduciary integrity, professionalism, compliance, and service orientation.

 

Institutional Support and Team Collaboration

• Work collaboratively with Finance Specialists, programme teams, procurement personnel, operational staff, consultants, vendors, and implementing partners across the GWPO Secretariat and GWP Network;
• Support implementation of institutional finance priorities, decentralized financial governance systems, and operational transformation initiatives;
• Participate in finance coordination meetings, operational reviews, project implementation discussions, and programme finance support activities;
• Support operational coordination between GWPO and Regional Water Partnerships relating to financial management, grant implementation, reporting schedules, and compliance follow-up;
• Contribute to continuous improvement of financial systems, operational efficiency, financial administration processes, and reporting quality;
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Finance Specialist, Deputy Chief Financial Officer & Financial Controller, or Director – Finance, Administration & CFO.

 

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

The Programme Finance Associate will be evaluated against:

• Accuracy and timeliness of financial transaction processing and finance administration support;
• Quality and timeliness of reconciliations and financial reporting support;
• Effectiveness of support to programme finance management and grant administration processes;
• Compliance with financial procedures, donor requirements, and operational controls;
• Quality and completeness of financial documentation and filing systems;
• Effectiveness of audit and compliance support activities;
• Contribution to implementation of NIFMARS and integrated financial systems;
• Contribution to implementation and monitoring of the GWPO 15% Joint Delivery and Cost Recovery Framework;
• Responsiveness, professionalism, and operational service delivery quality.

 

CORE VALUES AND COMPETENCIES

Core Values

• Integrity
• Professionalism
• Respect for Diversity

 

Core Competencies

• Communication
• Teamwork
• Planning & Organizing
• Accountability
• Client Orientation
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Technological Awareness

 

Functional Competencies

• Programme finance administration and operational finance support;
• Financial reconciliations and financial transaction processing;
• Grant administration and donor compliance support;
• Financial records management and documentation control;
• Operational implementation of joint delivery and cost recovery frameworks;
• Financial systems, spreadsheets, ERP systems, and integrated reporting systems;
• Attention to detail, analytical thinking, and numerical accuracy;
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and professionalism;
• Ability to work effectively in multicultural operational environments.

 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in accounting, finance, business administration, economics, commerce, or related field;
• A first-level university degree in combination with additional qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree;
• Additional accounting, bookkeeping, ERP, grants management, or finance administration certifications are an advantage.
• At least five (5) years of relevant experience in programme finance administration, accounting support, grant administration, financial reporting, audit support, or operational financial administration;
• Experience supporting donor-funded projects, climate finance programmes, operational finance functions, or grant administration processes is desirable;
• Experience using accounting systems, ERP systems, spreadsheets, grants management systems, or financial management systems is desirable;
• Experience in international organizations, NGOs, development programmes, or regional institutional platforms is an advantage.
• Namibian citizen or permanent residents
• Knowledge of Namibia Accounting and financial regulatory regime

 

Skills and Attributes

• Strong organizational and analytical skills;
• High attention to detail and accuracy;
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines;
• Good communication and interpersonal skills;
• Ability to work effectively within multicultural and matrix-management environments;
• Professionalism, integrity, accountability, and strong service orientation;
• Good written and spoken English. Knowledge of additional languages relevant to assigned duty stations is an advantage;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, spreadsheets, financial systems, and operational reporting tools.