Programme Associate

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Last update: Sep 25, 2023 Last update: Sep 25, 2023

Details

Deadline: Oct 7, 2023 Deadline for applications has passed

Location: South Africa

South Africa

Organization:United Nations Development Programme (Regional Bureau for Africa, RBA)

Sectors:

Administration, Finance & Accounting

Job type:Contract, 12 months +

Languages:

English

Work experience:Min 4 years

Date posted: Sep 25, 2023

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Description

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.

The UNDP Country Office (CO) in South Africa, as Government partner in the efforts to achieve the sustainable development goals, sought to reposition itself strategically and realign its human resources to better respond to the new Country Programme Document (CPD) 2020-2025 approved in June 2020 and ensure an effective and efficient contribution to address the intertwined challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment that undermine the country efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. UNDP in South Africa works in the areas of (i)Transformative Governance, (ii) Inclusive and Sustainable Growth, (ii) Nature, Climate and Energy, with innovation and gender embedded in all programing. The program is implemented through various projects in partnership with a variety of partners, including Government entities, Civil Society Organizations, Public and Private Foundations, among others. UNDP adopts the National Implementation Modality as a norm, where implementing partners take the ownership and UNDP plays the oversight role.

As a member of the Governance Team, s/he promotes a collaborative, client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations, UNDP’s Results Based Management (RBM) Framework and driving the CO support to capacity development of national implementation partners in an integrated manner at all levels. S/he works in close collaboration with the Operations and Programme teams, Regional Bureau Country Oversight Team (RSCOT) in resolving complex programme and operations-related issues to successfully build up the capacity of the CO team to deliver quality services to our external and internal clients including Government officials, UN agencies, multilateral and bilateral donors and civil society to reposition the CO programme in South Africa and contribute effectively to the CO’s resource mobilization efforts.

Position Purpose:

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Governance Programme Manager, the Programme Associate provides leadership in execution of services in the CO Programme Unit and supports the design, planning and management of the country programme. The Programme Associate promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations.

The Programme Associate works in close collaboration with the Operations, Programme and project teams in the CO, UNDP staff in HQs and Regional Hubs, UN Agencies, government partners, and internal specialists to exchange information and resolve programme/complex finance-related issues.

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 effective management and implementation of programme strategies and policies, and adapt processes and procedures:

Provide thoroughly researched information for preparation of Country Program Documents (CPDs) and establishment of Baselines, Milestones and Targets (BMT);
Compile information / evidence to guide future programming.

2. Provide effective support to management of the Country Office programme:

Support formulation of programme and projects, work plans, initiation of a project, entering project into ERP, and preparation of required budget revisions;
Provide day-to-day guidance to implementing partners on implementation of projects, and track use of financial resources. Contribute to managing digital technology solutions in programme implementation towards scalability and sustainability in line with UNDP’s digital standards;
Contribute to the effective management of data in programme implementation, across the data lifecycle. Follow up on programme and project performance indicators/ success criteria, targets and milestones, and preparation of reports. Implement corporate results-based management mechanisms and tools;
Identify programme related bottlenecks and propose solutions;
Make preparations for external and internal programme / project audits, and support implementation of audit recommendations;
Provide support to the Programme unit by maintaining internal expenditure system and performing quality assurance review of financial reports and payments that includes following up with other units and taking timely corrective actions.

3. Support implementation of Country Office partnerships and resource mobilization strategies:

Collect information on donors, prepare donor profiles and maintain donor database;
Track and report on mobilized resources.

4. Facilitate knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the Country Office.

In assigned programme areas:

Organize and deliver programme related training for relevant programme and operations personnel;
Compile lessons learned and best practices;
Provide sound contributions and support to knowledge networks, communities of practice, and digital knowledge platforms.

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

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process

Act with Determination LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making

Technical and Cross-functional Competencies:

Business Management:

Customer Satisfaction/Client Management: 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.

Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

Risk Management: Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks.

Results-based Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus on improved performance and demonstrable results.

Business Development: Knowledge Generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.

Procurement: Contract Management: Knowledge of contract management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations.

Finance Budget: Management: Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Secondary Education preferably with specialized certification in Business or Public Administration, Finance or related area.
Bachelor`s degree in Business or Public Administration, Development, Economics, Political or Social Sciences or other closely related is desirable but not a requirement.

Experience:

Minimum of 7 years (with secondary education) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant progressively responsible administrative/management or programme experience is required at the national and/or international level;
Experience in governance programmes area is desirable;
Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.), database packages, and Oracle Cloud web-based ERP management systems;
Hands-on experience in support to development projects with Government, NGOs or UN sister Agencies;
Experience in programme or project management, finance, budgeting and reporting skills;
Knowledge of tools and methodologies to follow-up on projects or project cycle management preferred.

Languages: