Vacancy Announcement from UNDP
Programme Associate
Job Identification: 20194
Locations: Kathmandu, Nepal
Apply Before: 09/07/2024, 11:59 PM
Job Schedule: Full time
Agency: UNDP
Grade: NPSA-6
Vacancy Type: National Personnel Service Agreement
Practice Area: Governance
Bureau: Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific
Contract Duration: 1 Year with Possibility for extension
Required Languages: English and Nepali
Vacancy Timeline: 2 Weeks
Job 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.
Nepal adopted a new Constitution in September 2015, with the intent of transforming the then unitary and centralized system of governance into a federal and decentralized one as a vehicle to ensure equality, equity, and social justice. Nepal’s federal system is characterized by three levels of government (federal, provincial, and local) with non-hierarchical relationships within the levels of government. The Constitution stipulates that the three levels shall be the main structures of the Federal, Democratic and Republican Nepal and all levels shall exercise the power of state of Nepal pursuant to the Constitution and law. The powers of the three levels of government are enshrined in five Schedules of the constitution in the form of exclusive and concurrent powers. The federal system of governance became fully functional in February 2018 after all seven province governments were formed following the general election in November 2017.
With an objective to support on the implementation of federalism in Nepal, the Government of Nepal (GoN) introduced a flagship programme of Provincial and Local Governance Support Programme (2019-2024). Following an initial period of delivery and agreement by GoN, Provinces, stakeholders, and Development Partners that Provincial and Local Governance Support Programme remained necessary and relevant, a decision was taken to extend Provincial and Local Governance Support Programme, with changes necessary to make the programme more effective, efficient, and responsive to the needs of Provincial Local Governments (PLG).
The Provincial and Local Governance Strengthening Programme (PLGSP) 2024-2029 is the national framework programme of the Government of Nepal (GoN) to build institutional, organizational, and individual capacity at all levels of government, with special focus on the provincial and local levels. It aims to attain functional, sustainable, inclusive, and accountable provincial and local governance. Following an initial period of delivery (2019-2023), and agreed by the GoN, Provinces, Development Partners, and other stakeholders, PLGSP will continue for the next five years, with necessary changes to make the programme more effective, efficient, and responsive to the emerging needs of PLGs in advancing federalism in Nepal.
An extensive stakeholder engagement, consultations and re-programming process was undertaken between July 2023 and June 2024 that resulting in a substantial revision in the PLGSP Programme Document (ProDoc). This reprogrammed ProDoc outlines how re-programmed PLGSP emphasizes building the capacity and capability of PLGs’ to deliver on the institutional and individual capacities for advancing federalism in Nepal over the next 5 years. The ProDoc has focused on three outcomes for Federal, Provincial and LG level impacts, each with three related outputs. Three outcomes include: Outcome 1: Federal level government institutions and inter-governmental mechanisms are fully functional in support of federal governance as per the Constitution; Outcome 2: Provincial governments have efficient, effective, inclusive, and accountable institutions and organizations; Outcome 3: Local governments have capacity for Good Governance and for delivering inclusive basic services to all people. Furthermore, there are 9 outputs against the outcome mentioned. Four cross-cutting thematic streams: (i) Inclusive federalism acts, regulations, policies, and strategies; (ii) Collaboration within and across federal institutions and governments, and civic engagement; (iii) Supportive systems and tools for PLG inclusive federalism capacity; (iv) capacity development and transformation (applied to all 3 levels) have also been defined and articulated well. The programme considers the broad principles and approaches including focus on federal devolution, transparency, and accountability, embedding transformative gender and diversity/inclusion agenda, human rights based and participatory approach, devolved, contextual and flexible programme design and implementation and adaptive programming. Further, unpacking structural barriers in political institutions, promoting ownership and trust in provincial and local government system and changing power dynamics in government institutions addressing intersectionality are the expected pathways for Gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) transformation in the programme. Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration (MoFAGA) is the executing agency of the GoN for PLGSP in collaboration with the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers Provincial and Local Governments.
UNDP as the partner of PLGSP and Technical Assistance (TA) provider, has been working with the MoFAGA on the implementation of PLGSP since its inception. The TA component of the programme has also been revised accordingly to facilitate the transformation in the behaviours of the authorities towards federalism for inclusive service delivery, it is fully aligned with revised PLGSP incorporating learnings from the earlier TA engagement. The intent of the revised TA is to leverage UNDP’s technical expertise and facilitation role to support positive transformations that enable implementation of federalism in Nepal, ultimately contributing to more inclusive and effective delivery of inclusive services by PLGs to their people especially for the most marginalized and women.
To this effect, TA will support PLGs for their institutional and organizational capacities. The TA support to federal government will help develop and implement necessary laws and policies to strengthen inter-governmental relationships thereby supporting cooperative federalism. To attain the sustainable achievement described above, TA has been categorized into Implementation Support TA (ISTA) and Transformational TA. ISTA focuses more on supporting the governments in the implementation of PLGs thereby building their institutional and individual capacities. Whereas Transformational TA focuses more on supporting behavioural transformation through research and analysis as well as providing high level expertise as needed. Overall, the TA staff (ISTA and Transformational TA) works together in close coordination with each other in overall guidance of respective government and UNDP Country Office.
Position Summary:
The position holder will serve as a support function to the TA mobilization. S/he will carry out the finance functions that will include maintaining the budget and expense records in the prescribed systems including its reporting. The incumbent will also support Admin and Logistics Analyst in organizing events and logistics therein.
Duties and Responsibilities
The position contributes to all outputs of the programme.
1. Programme Support:
Support Programme Coordination Unit (PCU) in the preparation of events, workshops, and trainings.
Assist Federal Programme Coordination Analyst and the PCU team in the formulation of the annual and quarterly work plans including human resource (HR) and procurement plans.
Provide logistical support in organizing the Technical Assistance Steering Committee (TASC) meetings and ensure all programme related materials are properly documented and easily accessible in preparation for meetings.
Support in the implementation of programme activities as per the project workplan.
Provide logistical support in organizing Project Board meetings and ensure all programme related materials are properly documented and easily accessible in preparation for meetings.
Assist in maintaining contracts issued to third party to conduct research, studies and dialogues.
2. Operation Support:
Support Administrative and Logistics Analyst in preparing the documents related to finance and administrative procedures, including travel and procurement.
Support in organizing workshops, seminars, trainings, and other events, including arrangement for venues, logistics, transportation and documentation of events.
Maintain a filing system for the programme to ensure all programme related materials are properly documented and easily accessible.
Support the timely and effective implementation of HR and procurement plans by preparing all necessary documents as per UNDP rules and regulations.
Support in quality assurance of programme procurement, i.e. technical bids, financial bids, proposals and contracts.
Handle petty cash and reimbursement of petty cash bills from management.
Be responsible to maintain all financial transactions by keeping proper accounts, invoices of the regular expenditures.
Provide support in budget revisions, monitor budget expenditures and assist in preparing quarterly financial reports; Support in audit exercise commissioned by UNDP.
Organize workshops, seminars, trainings, and other events, including arrangement for venues, logistics, transportation and documentation of events.
Make travel arrangements for the programme team, including travel requisitions and claims.
3. Coordination:
Support in planning and coordination for the other programme activities.
Arrange external and internal meetings with government, non-government, UN agencies, development partners and other potential partners and stakeholders, and maintain minutes of all programme related meetings.
Support the programme in conducting trainings to implementing partners on corporate rules and regulations related to financial management, audit, reporting, and programme implementation.
4. Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI):
Facilitate in creating an environment to address GESI issues.
Assist in ensuring gender and inclusion issues in managing events and preparing reports wherever possible.
Support to ensure GESI is mainstreamed in the budget, AWP, procurement and HR plans, and all other administrative work to be undertaken by the project.
Support to create a safe working environment by developing respectful and safe organizational culture and supporting practices.
Other:
- The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the PLGSP programme.
- Strictly comply with the UNDP policies, strategies, code of conduct, guidelines on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA).
- Strict compliance with the UNDP applicable rules, regulations and policies related to ethics and integrity.
Institutional Arrangement
The Programme Associate will work under the direct supervision of the Federal Programme Coordination Analyst and overall guidance of National Project Manager and National Programme Director. S/he will also work closely with the Administrative and Logistics Analyst and the PCU team members.
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
Administration & Operations
Documents and records management
• Overall document (hard or electronic) management; registry and retention policy including storing and archiving
Administration & Operations
Assets Management
• Knowledge of policy & procedures on PP&E; ability to prepare financial statements on PP&E; maintain UNDP | People for 2030 – Competency Framework – Technical Competencies Asset Management Module in Quantum, Asset Dashboard; develop supporting tools for assets certification and further enhancements for AM module; design and run training programs, etc. on assets management and assets recording; run AP-AM interface; perform AP-AM-GL reconciliation; perform analytical review of AM reports and asset information to ensure completeness and accuracy of asset information
Administration & Operations
Vehicle Management
• Knowledge of policy & procedures on fleet management
Administration & Operations
Events Management (including retreats, trainings and meetings)
• Support office with event management including venue identification, accommodation, logistics, catering, transportation, and cash disbursements, etc.
Business Management
Risk Management
• Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactive managing risks
2030 Agenda: People
Gender
• Gender Mainstreaming
2030 Agenda: Peace
Governance
• Inclusion and Participation
Required Skills and Experience
Minimum Education Requirement
Minimum years of relevant work experience
Required skills
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section
- Knowledge of programme/project: planning/ finance/ management procedures is desirable.
- Experience of working with provincial and local governments will be an advantage;
- Experience of supporting programme procurement, i.e. technical bids, financial bids is desired.
Required Language(s)
- Fluency in English and Nepali language is required.
- Knowledge of any national language will be an added advantage.
Disclaimer
Important information for US Permanent Residents (‘Green Card’ holders)
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: 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.
Non-discrimination
UNDP is committed to achieve work force diversity and has a policy to have gender balance among staffs at all levels. Work experience and/or academic knowledge in relation to gender and social inclusion will be an added advantage. Qualified Women, Dalits, Janajatis, Madhesis, Persons with Disabilities, gender and sexual minorities and other minorities are specially encouraged to apply.
United Nations has a zero-tolerance against Sexual exploitation and Abuse (SEA) and Sexual Harassment (SH). Everyone is responsible for Preventing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment (PSEA and SH), and all UN personnel must adhere to the standards of conduct that preserves PSEA principles (both during work hours and outside work hours). All selected candidates will, therefore, go through a safe hiring process.
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