Project Associate

Under the overall guidance of the BRIDGE Project Manager, the Project Associate will be responsible for providing back-office/administrative support to the project including:

1. →Management Support:

• →Provide support with all financial and administrative requirements of the project, especially those related to project funding and accounting.
• →Assist in ensuring that project is executed in a timely and appropriate manner.
• →Assist or support in facilitating, guiding the work of the national team; manage payment schedules.
• →Assist in project related activities, including planning for meetings, local and national consultations, trips and other project related activities. 
• →Ensure all national and international travel is organised smoothly. 
• →Document and share records of meetings, decisions, actions, etc.
• →Support with the Monitoring and Evaluation of the project at the national level, including workshop evaluations. 
• →Any other duties assigned by the Senior Finance Expert (Project Lead), that have direct relevance to the project.

• Support the Management of the project budget and support overseeing of procurement and accounting procedures and activities, together with the UNDP Country Office.
• Ensure financial resources are disbursed on time to implementing partners.
• Maintain records of expenditures and collaborate in financial reporting.
• Financial and administrative tracking of activities and expenses. 
• Liaising with UNDP country office to facilitate financial reporting and compliance, and UNDP procurement compliance.

• Develop calculations for the development of the annual workplan/budget.
• Handle all required procurement processes, requisitions and purchase orders, ensuring compliance with UNDP rules and regulations. 
• Maintain an inventory of assets/equipment and support with the handover of equipment upon project closure. 
• Ensure the Quantum approval system is set up at the Country Office for the project.
• Handle all logistical matters to organise the inception workshop, consultation workshops and any meetings as required
• Regularly update the procurement plan and contacts list. 
• Handle of all travel arrangements for national travel/missions and participants to national-level workshops. 
• Handle all travel procedures for participants to global and regional workshops and other international meetings, ensuring all necessary visa, security clearances and plane tickets are obtained on time.
• Support with communication, facilitation and organization of outreach activities, press releases, project/UNDP/government briefing notes, translations, etc.; 
• Support knowledge building/sharing of the project.

The Project Associate will be under the direct supervision of the BRIDGE Project Manager. 

UNDP shall be entitled to intellectual property and other proprietary rights over all materials that have a direct relation to the project.

• Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.

• Support offices with event management including venue identification, accommodation, logistics, catering, transportation, and cash disbursements, etc.

• Travel Policy and Procedures - Interprets travel policy, the Staff Rules, administrative circulars and financial regulations and rules on travel-related matters; management and tracking of exception requests to the standard of accommodation; reporting to UN.

• Ability to identify, develop and manage partnerships that leverage private sector technical expertise and resources.

• Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

• Ability to create and manage processes to achieve UNDP's long and short-term financial goals, including through planning, budgeting, forecasting, analyzing and reporting.

• The ability to acquire goods, services or works from an outside external source

• Secondary education is required, or 

• University Degree (bachelor’s degree) in Business Administration, Public Administration, or equivalent field will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.

  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.

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of one of the local languages (Mandinka, Fula, Wolof) is desired

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

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.