Project Associate

UNDP is the UN's global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. 

UNDP positions itself as a development partner that brings global knowledge, through a multi-sectoral approach – the key comparative advantage of UNDP - and concentrates its work on 3 programmatic fields: i) Inclusive and Sustainable Growth, ii) Inclusive and Democratic Governance, iii) Climate Change and Environment.

CCE Portfolio focuses on three programmatic areas that complement each other: 1-Natural Resource Management contributing to sustainable environment management and conservation of natural resources in production landscapes, within the general framework of the ecosystems approach; 2- Climate Change and Disaster Resilience (including chemicals and waste) strengthening institutional capacities for analysis and risk management for resilience with a specific emphasis on climate change, and 3- Cooperation with relevant stakeholders to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy.

The Shifting to Zero Waste Against Pollution (SWAP) Initiative aims to reduce chemical pollution in the value chain and improve resource efficiency by supporting pilot cities in emerging economies and Least Developed Countries towards a zero-waste vision in line with green chemistry, circular economy, and waste hierarchy principles for sustainable production and consumption. The comprehensive approach of the Initiative will be implemented in five cities: Freetown (Sierra Leone), Kocaeli (Türkiye), Montevideo (Uruguay), Tunis (Tunisia), and Tianjin (China). The total GEF-provided activity budget for the project is USD 28,035,000. 

The Initiative foresees interventions to:

• Enable conditions and coherent policies to promote integrated planning and programming at the city level towards a long-term vision of zero waste and zero pollution.
• Explore special and diverse legal, fiscal, and financial steering instruments to promote sustainable investment and cost recovery to address the financial challenges for the transition to a zero-waste city.
• Enhance sustainable production and consumption by encouraging the private sectors to adopt BAT/BEP to eliminate harmful chemicals in products, promoting eco-design, sustainable consumption and services, building an ecosystem from upstream to downstream for the circularity of materials.
• Make information and knowledge accessible for raising awareness to every key stakeholder in the key value chains, including producers, retailers, consumers, citizens, and waste workers, through a whole-of-society approach. 
• Build global networks and partnerships on zero waste, provide policy and technical advice through its clearing house, facilitate knowledge sharing, and raise awareness across countries and regions.
• Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making
• Ability and inclination to rapidly adopt new technologies, either through skillfully grasping their usage or through understanding their impact and empowering others to use them as needed
• 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.
• Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media, and other appropriate channels. 
• Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results.
• Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets
• The ability to acquire goods, services or works from an outside external source

The Project Associate (PA) will allocate %100 of his/her time to the Shifting to Zero Waste Against Pollution (SWAP) Initiative Project for the whole project’s duration. PA will assist the Project Manager and Project Field Coordinator in fulfilling his/her duties and tasks. The PA will be responsible for supporting day-to-day implementation of project activities, drafting progress reports and output-related substantial documentation, as well as liaising with the donor and national and international stakeholders at the institutional level. PA will also provide assistance to other key experts or relevant stakeholders, as deemed necessary by the Project Manager and Project Field Coordinator. 

Under the guidance and coordination of the Project Manager and supervision of the Project Field Coordinator, the Project Associate is responsible for supporting the efficient and timely implementation of assigned activities. S/he is also expected to support project planning and AWP formulation as well as quality check of the technical reports and other outcomes. S/he will maintain high standards of service delivery, including adherence to deadline, quick response time, accuracy and completeness of information, sensitivity to client needs.

• Provide inputs to the preparation of AWPs under the guidance of the Project Manager and Project Field Coordinator.

• Support the preparation of the annual budgets and procurement plans of the Project under the coordination of Project Manager, Project Field Coordinator and Projects Implementation Administrator.

• Make periodic revisions of AWPs and procurement plans of the Project in consultation with the Project Manager and Project Field Coordinator.

• Provide general administrative support to ensure the smooth running of the project management.

• Provide project logistic support to the Project Manager and short-term consultants in conducting different project activities (trainings, workshops, stakeholder consultations, arrangements of study tour, etc.).

• Support the control of budget expenditures by preparing payment documents, Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) documents for the project staff and reviewing financial reports.

• Control the usage of non-expendable equipment (record keeping, drawing up regular inventories).

• Keep regular contact with project experts and consultants to inform them about the project details and changes.

• Provide English translation as required.

• Draft Terms of References, and other administrative documentation for procurement of goods, services, and consultancies. 

• Provide logistical support to the project staff and project consultants, inter alia, for travel arrangements.

• During the visits of foreign experts, manages their visa support, transportation, hotel accommodation etc.

• Support project experts during the implementation and monitoring of site-based joint activities with local stakeholders. 

• File and archive all relevant correspondence and project-related documents (tender dossiers, proposals, technical reports, evaluation reports etc.).

• Support the organization and logistical preparation of project activities as directed by the Project Manager and Project Field Coordinator.

• Coordinates implementation with, and between, the project partners, ensuring effective information flows between partners.

• Organize the Project Steering Committee meetings.

• Organize and coordinate project meetings, reviews and site visits.

• Organize project events (meetings, workshops, events, seminars, training).

•  Support the Project Manager and Project Field Coordinator by compiling information on contractor performance and reporting any issues identified.

• Monitor bottlenecks and problems in project implementation, proposes/takes necessary corrective actions as required.

• Prepare inputs to APR and compile project reports according to the project document (monthly reports, quarterly reports, donor reports, final report).

• Draft correspondence, notes, briefs, and other materials and documentation.

• Support to the Project Manager in effective mainstreaming of gender equality.

• Prepare inputs to tender documents, technical specifications, terms of references, bills of quantities.

•Provide administrative and documentation support to the Implementing Partner and UNDP in procurement processes, including drafting inputs and compiling documentation. 

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization. All functions are administrative and support in nature. The position does not include decision-making authority or responsibility for project management or implementation, which remain with the Implementing Partner.

Project Associate will work under direct guidance and coordination of the Project Manager and under report to the Project Field Coordinator. He/She will work in close co-operation with the Portfolio Manager, M&E Officer and Projects Implementation Administrator to ensure the project inputs are administered timely and efficient manner according to UNDP rules and procedures. 

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

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.

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

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