Project Assistant

UNDP works to accelerate the transition of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) towards a green, resilient, and inclusive economy by supporting systemic change in line with the 2030 Agenda.  To address the multi-faceted development challenges UNDP, in partnership with other UN agencies, has developed the Catalyzing the Green Transition in Bosnia and Herzegovina Portfolio a key strategic programmatic framework designed to support a just, inclusive, and systemic green transformation. The Portfolio leverages a strategic, adaptive, and integrated portfolio approach to respond to the complex and interdependent challenges of the green transition, including decarbonization, environmental degradation, unsustainable production and consumption, and climate resilience.

The portfolio is organized around four mutually reinforcing intervention areas: 

• Decarbonization and climate: Enabling a just energy transition through clean energy, low-carbon development, and climate resilience.
• Circular economy: Supporting the shift from a linear to a circular economic model, through innovation, sustainable production and consumption, and resource efficiency.
• Depollution: Addressing air, water, and soil pollution, advancing environmental justice, and improving health and quality of life.
• Nature and biodiversity: Restoring and protecting ecosystems and natural capital to ensure long-term environmental sustainability.

The portfolio is designed to empower decision-makers, communities, businesses, and other actors to co-create and implement new, integrated solutions that foster sustainability at scale. It will support public institutions in designing and delivering green policies, pilot innovative approaches, and promote cross-sectoral alignment with EU Green Deal priorities and global climate and biodiversity targets. A strong emphasis will be placed on building inclusive partnerships across governance levels, from state to local, and enabling strategic coordination and cooperation through the Green Transition Partnership Engagement Platform. This platform will serve as a bridge among government, private sector, academia, civil society, and international actors, fostering joint innovation, resource mobilization, and learning. The portfolio will also enhance capacities for green entrepreneurship and sustainable business models, by engaging the private sector in adopting and scaling circular and low-carbon practices. Support will be extended through awareness-raising, technical assistance, and incentivizing innovation that aligns profitability with environmental and social value. Importantly, the portfolio adopts an adaptive, learning-driven model, grounded in a portfolio logic that moves beyond isolated interventions to a connected set of experiments and systemic responses. This includes using real-time data, foresight, and collaborative intelligence to continuously test and refine what works, enabling evidence-based scaling and policy influence.

This position relates to supporting smooth administrative, logistical and operational Portfolio implementation. More specifically, it will support the learning and innovative approaches introduced by the Portfolio, as part of the interdisciplinary teams, working across units and projects, to foster integration, horizontal collaboration, and strategic coherence in advancing Bosnia and Herzegovina’s green transition. Under the direct supervision of the Sustainable Growth Sector Leader, the Project Assistant will provide support services ensuring high quality, accuracy, and consistency of work. 

The incumbent will be based in UNDP BiH office in Sarajevo.

Scope of Work

Under the direct supervision of the Sustainable Growth Sector Leader, the Project Assistant will: 

Support coordination and implementation of activities related to partnerships and private sector engagement, ensuring timely and efficient delivery in line with portfolio objectives

• Assists in the day-to-day coordination of activities focused on strengthening multi-stakeholder partnerships, particularly with the private sector, civil society, and academia.
• Provides support in implementing initiatives that promote private sector involvement in the green transition, including circular and low-carbon business practices.
• Supports the preparation of Terms of Reference (ToRs), concept notes, background documents, and reports related to private sector engagement.
• Assists in the monitoring of progress and follow-up on activities aligned with annual work plans and strategic portfolio outcomes.

Assist in development and dissemination of tools, guidance materials, and communication products promoting sustainable practices and innovation

• Contributes to the creation and distribution of knowledge products, guidelines, and toolkits targeting businesses and organizations involved in the green transition.
• Supports drafting and formatting of communication and promotional materials in coordination with the communications team.
• Assists in collecting and organizing best practices and success stories to showcase innovations and sustainable business models.
• Participates in updating and maintaining information platforms and relevant knowledge-sharing mechanisms. 

Provide logistical and administrative support for learning initiatives, capacity-building activities, awareness campaigns, and engagement events

• Assists in organizing and coordinating meetings, trainings, workshops, and public events related to the green transition, including logistics, participant outreach, and preparation of materials.
• Supports the administrative and operational aspects of capacity-building and learning activities, including documentation, budgeting, and reporting
• Coordinates with suppliers and service providers and ensures timely procurement service delivery in accordance with UNDP rules and procedures.
• Maintains updated records of activities, participant lists, and feedback forms for continuous improvement.

Support in financial monitoring and administrative activities

• Supports periodic and ad-hoc financial reporting to UNDP and other parties.
• Monitors expenditures and commitments against project budgets and relevant plans and provides finance-related data to support project implementation and planning.
• Drafts various correspondence concerning finance, operations, and budgetary issues, as required.
• Assists in the management of logistical support.
• Assists in the organization of meetings, workshops, training, round tables, and conferences.

Support to knowledge management and gender equality

• Contributes to wide dissemination and visibility of project achievements.
• Contributes to the dissemination of information and knowledge management within the team for effective
• project implementation.
• Supports gender mainstreaming throughout the project activities, work plans, budgets, reports, research, and analyses.
• Supports project manager in making sure that knowledge on gender equality is incorporated in portfolio knowledge management activities and products.

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

Institutional Arrangement

The incumbent will report to the Sustainable Growth Sector Leader, as part of the UNDP Sustainable Growth Sector.

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

Cross-functional & Technical competencies

Thematic Area	Name	Definition
Business Management	Partnerships Management	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 Direction & Strategy	Negotiation and Influence	Reach a common understanding/agreement, persuade others, resolve points of difference through a dialogue, negotiates mutually acceptable solutions and creates ‘win-win’ situations.
Business Management	Communication	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.
Finance	Budget management	Ability to support budgetary aspects of the work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets

Minimum Qualifications of the Successful NPSA

Min. Education requirements	Secondary education is required. First-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the field of Economy, Social Science or related disciplines will be given due consideration but it is not a requirement.
Min. years of relevant work experience	Minimum 5 years (with Secondary education) or 2 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of relevant work experience in administrative and project support at the national or international level.
Required skills	Experience in working with different stakeholders, such as the government institutions, civil society organizations, private sector, etc. Familiarity and experience in working on the Sustainable Development Goals. Good knowledge of Microsoft Office software package (MS Word, Excel, Spreadsheet, Internet etc.) and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management system.  Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability. Treats all people fairly without favoritism. Understand the language associated with gender, equity, inclusion, and diversity.
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section	Experience in development and dissemination of tools, guidance materials, and communication products promoting sustainable practices and innovation Experience providing logistical and administrative support for learning initiatives, capacity-building activities, awareness campaigns, and engagement events. Experience in providing finance-related data and supports periodic and ad-hoc financial reporting Prior UN/UNDP experience and familiarity with UN system and UNDP rules and procedures.
Required Language(s)	Fluency in English and Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian is required.
Professional Certificates	n/a