Project Associate NPSA 7

Background
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
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.

Political Dialogue ( PD) Support: The central role of the United Nations to facilitate an inclusive intra-Libyan political and reconciliation process is based on the Libyan Political Agreement in 2015 and its institutions, UN Security Council Resolution 2259 (2015), other relevant UNSC Resolutions and the principles agreed in Paris, Palermo and Abu Dhabi, as well as the important roles of the African Union and its High-Level Committee of Heads of State and Government in Libya, the League of Arab States, the European Union and the neighboring countries in Libya’s stabilization with particular regard to intra-Libyan national reconciliation, peace and security and political dialogue. Have fully supported the good offices and mediation efforts of the United Nations Support Mission to Libya (UNSMIL) as per the project document of the Political Dialogue Project, UNDP Libya stressed that a durable solution in Libya requires a comprehensive approach that addresses simultaneously the different aspects. At the start of 2020, UNDP supported UNSMIL and international partners with the Berlin Conference on Libya. Prior to the Berlin Conference, UNMSIL and UNDP worked on six baskets to enhance a comprehensive peace process in Libya. The six baskets are: a) political; b) economic and financial; c) security; d) arms embargo; e) humanitarian law; and f) international human rights law matters.In preparation for the Berlin Summit, UNSMIL, consonant with its UNSC mandate and with the full authority of the UN Secretary General, operationalized each of the six thematic baskets and conducted a comprehensive planning exercise that lays out an action plan to be implemented before, during, and after the Berlin process. Supported by the Action, the outcome of the Berlin Conference of January 2020 enabled the three tracks (security, political, economic). Through support of the Project to the UNSMIL-led facilitation process, by the end of 2020 major achievements were recorded, most notably: the cease-fire agreement of October 2020, and the Political Roadmap developed and by consensus endorsed by the LPDF meeting in Tunis in November 2020, which portrays the establishment of an interim national unity government, the holding of the parliamentary and presidential elections and the unification of the institutions.

Promoting Elecitons for the People of Libya (PEPOL): The United Nations Security Council Resolution 2009 established the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) in September 2011. In February 2012, the High National Elections Commission of Libya (HNEC) was put in place and a joint UN electoral team has been supporting the HNEC since, in particular the organization of election of the General National Congress which took place on 7 July 2012 which were widely praised as credible. The team also supported the February 2014 Constitutional Drafting Assembly elections and the June 2014 House of Representatives elections. Under Libyan leadership, UNSMIL and UNDP are jointly supporting future electoral process(es) based on their expertise to ensure effective decision-making and planning. For this purpose, The Promoting Elections for the People of Libya Project (PEPOL) was established to provide a comprehensive range of electoral support through the integrated UN Electoral Support Team. The UNDP Libya’s national elections project ‘Promoting Elections for the People of Libya’ (PEPOL) is integrated with UNSMIL as part of the UN’s Electoral Support Team (UNEST). UNEST provides technical electoral assistance to the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) to enhance its capacity and readiness to hold national elections. The Project was initially designed in 2017/18 with a three-year scope and had been extended until the end of 2022 to maintain HNEC’s technical readiness for elections, particularly its preparations for national elections in 2022, and possibly a referendum, if decided so.
Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Associate will help promote a client, quality and results-oriented approach in her/his work. S/he will provide support for project management and implementation, by providing high quality input and technical support for planning, implementation and reporting in line with UNDP rules and regulations. S/he will be responsible for ensuring enhanced project progress towards the overall realization of the objectives of the project. S/he will ensure the sound management of financial, accounting and realization of the project outputs through activities, in compliance with UNDP financial rules and regulations as well as specific donor requirements.

Provide support to manage the both PD and PEPOL projects in all staffing, financial, planning, administrative and monitoring matters;
Ensure the adherence to and implementation of the procurement plan in all its components, while ensuring efficient utilization of resources in accordance with UNDP rules and policies;
Support provision of capacity building and training to project partners and stakeholders on programme management related matters to promote national ownership of future electoral processes;
Provide secretariat services for both governance structures, i.e. Technical Committee and Project Boards;
Work with the CTA/PM, project management Specialist, UNSMIL and the UN Electoral Support Team (UNEST) to ensure the timely and efficient delivery of project outputs and products leading to the achievement of expected results;
Work with the CTA/PM and project management specialist, within the annual workplan agreed scope, with the national counterparts, prepare specific work-plans reflecting the scope of activities, timing, sequencing, cost and other inputs for the implementation of these particular project activities, in a timely and cost-effective manner; ensure all actions are launched as per the plans;
Work with the PD and PEPOL team to track implementation of the project work plan and assist with monthly, quarterly and annual reports according to indicators for achieving planned results, as well as for the overall management of the project, in adherence to prevailing UNDP rules, regulations and procedures.
Facilitate project activity analysis including expenditures against activities in this regard;
Prepare requests for advance of funds and/or direct payments;
Monitor budget expenditures and maintain a proper record of approved project
budgets and their revisions;
Prepare proposals for budget revisions;
Prepare and submit expenditure and programme budget status reports;
Working with the CO Finance team to contribute to efficient management of the financial resources of the project, including budgeting and budget revisions, as well as expenditure tracking and reporting;
Respond to queries from the Government, UNSMIAL and UNDP with respect to financial aspects of the programme, liaise with UNDP-appointed and external auditors wherever required;
Prepare recurring reports as scheduled and special reports as required for budget preparations and audit;
Advise and assist international advisors and national consultants on all aspects of allowances, travel claims and other financial matters and calculate payments due for claims and services;
Undertake other financial and administrative tasks on an ad hoc basis.
Provide training and mentoring to the new project assistant on project management in general, as may be necessary for effective execution of its functions;
Support effective cooperation and coordination with all Programme implementation with various project partners and stakeholders;
In collaboration with the CTA/ PM and project management specialist, be responsible for identifying issues and requests for change by maintaining an Issues Log;
Maintains project files (original signed project documents, subsequent revisions, personnel, training, procurement, inventory, project budget and revisions, project reports, studies as well as other supporting documentation, correspondence etc.
Support the CTA/PM and project management specialist in human resource management of staff.; render assistance to drafting TORs, work plans and work specifications for project staff and consultants/experts;
In collaboration with the CTA and project management specialist, ensure review of the PSU work plans and specifications; establish a performance management system;
Ensure assets management
Perform any other tasks requested by the CTA/PM and Project management specialist.

Institutional Arrangement

Under the overall guidance of the Chief Technical Advisor/ PM and direct supervision of Project Management Specialist of PEPOL and PD Projects, Project Associate will be expected to provide support to project implementation performing a variety of standard project activities while ensuring high quality and accuracy of work. S/he will work closely with other project staff, UNDP CO Operations, UNSMIL and other staff of UN agencies, sharing information and ensuring consistent service delivery with an eye to complying with UNDP rules and keeping with donor requirements.
Competencies

Core

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
Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline

Cross-Functional & Technical

Business Management: Results-based Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results
Business Management: Project Management: Abilityt to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
Business Management: Partnerships Management: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
Business Management: Portfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimising return on investment
Business Management: Resource Management: Ability to allocate and use resources in a strategic or tactical way in line with principles of accountability and integrity
Business Management: Change Management: Ability to prepare, support, and help individuals and teams in designing and implementing organizational change
Business Management: Risk Management: Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks

Required Skills and Experience

Min. Education requirements

Secondary school certificate is required OR
Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in Economics, public administration, business administration, finance, accounting or relevant field is strongly desirable

Min. years of relevant work experience

(7)years with secondary education.
Minimum Four (4) years of relevant work experience in administration, finance or programme support service. With Bachelor’s degree
Experience in institutional capacity building for projects/programmes in the area of governance and/or elections working with an international organization, UN agency or NGO would be an asset;
Demonstrated work experience in project assistance to support project management, monitoring, reporting and evaluation especially in donor-funded project setting.
Experience in donor relations including reporting is highly recommended.
Experience liaising with government authorities, other national institutions and NGOs would be considered an advantage.
Demonstrated initiative, problem solving skills and focus on outcomes;
Ability to meet deadlines.

Required skills

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

Working knowledge in electoral assistance (design, management and operations) is desirable;
Knowledge and working experience in ERP system/ or web-based data management system is required;

Required Language(s)

Fluency in English and Arabic is required