UNREDD Admin and Finance Assistant

“Cambodians living with dignity in a prosperous society at peace, based on justice, free choices and equitable access to productive resources”

The United Nations Development Programme is seeking qualified, talented, and result-oriented candidates to fill the position below:

Location :  Phnom Penh, CAMBODIA
Application Deadline : 06-May-12
Additional Category: Environment and Energy
Type of Contract : Service Contract
Post Level : SB-3
Languages Required : English 
Duration of Initial Contract :    One Year

Background

Cambodia has one of the highest levels of forest cover in Southeast Asia, with approximately 10.7 million hectares of forest in 2006 or 59% of Cambodia’s land area. Cambodia also has a relatively high rate of land-use change with Forestry Administration statistics showing that 379,485 hectares of forest were lost between 2002 and 2005/6, a deforestation rate of 0.5% per year. A future mechanism for Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) being developed through the UNFCCC provides an opportunity to support Cambodia’s efforts to reduce levels of deforestation and help to maintain and protect this natural forest. The Royal Government of Cambodia has shown early support for the development of approaches to REDD+ with the approval of two pilot sites in 2008 and 2009. In August 2009, the General Department of Administration for Nature Conservation and Protection of the Ministry of Environment, Forestry Administration of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Ministry of Economic and Finance as representatives of the RGC were granted observer status in the UN-REDD programme. Following this time  the RGC with support from UNDP Cambodia and FAO Cambodia, prepared a REDD+ Readiness planning process, which led to the development of the Cambodia Readiness Plan Proposal on REDD+ (“Roadmap”), a document outlining how the country with develop policies and measures to become ‘REDD+ ready’. The Cambodia UN-REDD National Programme forms part of this approach and has been specifically designed to support implementation of the Roadmap, which was been developed by the interim REDD+ Taskforce and stakeholder groups during the period January-September 2010. The UN-REDD programme has four outcomes: 1)    National REDD+ Readiness Management arrangements and stakeholder consultation; 2)    National capacity-building towards development of the REDD+ strategy and implementation framework; and 3)    Sub-National REDD+ capacity-building and demonstration; 4)    Support to development of the Monitoring system. The programme design looks to fully incorporate relevant line ministries and agencies with FA, GDANCP and FiA being fully engaged within the implementing structures, while other ministries are engaged within higher level decision making bodies as well as technical assessment and consultation processes. This approach marks the programme out as one of the most highly integrated UN-REDD programmes globally.  A final programme agreement was signed between General Department of Administration for Nature Conservation and Protection of the Ministry of Environment, Forestry Administration of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Ministry of Economic and Finance representative of the Royal Government of Cambodia and UN-REDD in August 2011. Since this point in time the UN agencies have worked to make initial preparations for the beginning of the programme and an Inception Workshop was occurred the week of the 14th of November. At this workshop it was decided that the period from December to March would focus on establishment of the programme with approval of the first annual workplan being scheduled for March 2012.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Admin and Finance Assistant will be under direct supervision of and reports the progress of work to the Coordinator of the UN-REDD. S/he will be based at UN-REDD Taskforce Secretariat. The Admin and Finance Assistant will perform the following 3 key functions: 1. Ensure effective and high quality support to the programme administrative and finacial management 2. Effective support to the programme implementation 3. Provision of inputs to the programme report 1. Ensure effective and high quality support on programme administrative and financial management Contribute to day-to-day support to the programme implementation and ensuring conformity to expected results, outputs, objectives and work-plans; Ensure effective local purchases in line with UNDP procurement procedures; Maintain programme accounts; Establish and maintain the electronic and physical filing system for programme documentation and communication; Prepare and update proper programme documentation/records and ensure that the documents are prepared and ready for audit; Manage cash reserves of the project; Ensure effective management of financial and administrative aspects of programme assets and financial resources to meet satisfactory outcomes of the annual audit of the project; Prepare for quarterly and annual financial reports. 2. Effective support to programme implementation Participate in day-to-day activities relating to programme implementation and provide assistance to the Programme Coordinator; Facilitate day-to-day communication with programme partners; Prepare budget for workshops and meetings; Arrange for travel for programme staffs and meeting participants; Assist the Programme Coordinator and technical programme team to organize stakeholder meetings and porgramme board meetings, and preparing minutes of meetings and distributing them to participants and maintaining the day-to-day records of programme implementation; Facilitate the organization for workshops, and training programmes; Assist in making arrangement and preparing the necessary documentation for all payments for activities under the programme; Assist in preparing the requisite accountabilities for the programme funds (prepare cash advance statements and quarterly expenditure accounts); Assist in preparing work plans and budgets for all programme activities; Compile the financial documentation to be submitted regularly; Ensure proper records and filing of the programme; Liaise very closely with the UNDP programme assistants/associates to ensure the effectiveness of administrative and financial management in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations; Assist in maintenance of the registers for inventory of non-expendable equipment and ensuring that the equipment is safe and in proper working conditions; Maintain the programme website. 3. Provision of inputs to the project report Provide support to the preparation and distribution of programme reports and publications; Assist the Programme Coordinator in preparing reports for the programme board or UNDP as required. Impact of Results: The position will ensure an excellent assistance to the Coordinator to effectively implement the agreed project in accordance with UNDP policies and procedures and National Execution (NEX) procedures as described in UNDP User Guide (RMG); promote the mobilization of resources to support the extension of the project and improve coordination among stakeholders.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies: Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values. Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability Ability to maintain effective rapport with different kinds of people Functional Competencies:          Knowledge Management and Learning     Shares knowledge and experience     Actively works towards continuing personal learning, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills        Development and Operational Effectiveness     Ability to perform a variety of standard tasks related to results management, including screening and collecting of programme/ projects documentation, projects data entering, preparation of revisions, filing, provision of information     Has good computer skills  especicially ability to use spreadsheets and accounting profession packages     Leadership and Self-Management        Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback     Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude     Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure     Has initiative and can work independently with little supervision

Required Skills and Experience

Education: Secondary education with specialised certification in accounting, business administration with demonstrative and technical experiences Experience: At least 5 years of relevant experiences in office administrative and financial management Experience in the operational aspects of UN-funded projects or with projects of other donors is an advantage. Experience with UNDP NEX procedures would be an important asset; Organisational, financial, inventory and budgetary skills Familiarity with financial and technical rules, regulations and procedures relevant to project implementation Language Requirements: Demonstrate oral and written communication skills in English and Khmer

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.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates must submit their applications online through UNDP Online Recruitment System. Correspondence either in hard or soft format will not be considered.

To submit your application online, please follow the steps below:

1. Download and complete the UN Personal History Form (P11).
2. Click on the Job Title.
3. Click “Apply Now” button, fill in necessary information on the first page, and click “Submit Application”.
4. Upload your application (P11).
5. You will receive an automatic response to your email confirming receipt of your application by the system.

You must state in your application letter how you meet the selection criteria specified in the job descriptions. UNDP will contact references directly. Due to the large number of applications, only short-listed candidates will be contacted for further selection process.