Project Associate (Abierto a candidatos internos y externos)
Organizational Context
The UNDP office in Cuba, within the Nature, Climate, and Energy (NCE) division, supports national priorities in conservation, climate change adaptation, and sustainable development. The office manages a substantial portfolio of 39 ongoing projects totaling $64.8 million USD and 13 new projects valued at $23 million USD. These projects have national scope, span 3-8 years, and are implemented through Direct Implementation (DIM) and National Implementation (NIM) modalities, requiring significant UNDP support for NIM projects.
Job Purpose
This Project Associate role is crucial for strengthening the UNDP Cuba office's human resource capacity to manage an increasing workload. The position supports the Project Coordinator and national counterparts in the Nature, Climate, and Energy division. The role is essential for ensuring the effective implementation of diverse national projects, addressing challenges such as simultaneous project launches, increased DIM and NIM implementation, donor requirements, and multi-provincial interventions. The Project Associate will contribute to the quality and efficiency of project execution, meeting UNDP standards and donor expectations for monitoring and evaluation.
Responsibilities
The Project Associate will provide comprehensive support to project activities, focusing on financial, procurement, logistical, administrative, and knowledge management processes. Key responsibilities include: Financial Support: Developing and reviewing annual project budgets, processing payments, reconciling expenses, maintaining financial records, and preparing financial reports. This also involves monitoring cash flow, managing donor disbursements, and ensuring compliance with UNDP and donor financial regulations. Procurement Support: Assisting with procurement plans, defining technical specifications for goods and services, and overseeing contract compliance. Logistical and Administrative Support: Ensuring proper filing of project documentation, organizing project activities (meetings, workshops), resolving administrative and logistical issues, and drafting official communications. Knowledge Management and Capacity Building: Participating in training, organizing information sessions, supporting capacity-building initiatives, and facilitating the dissemination of project knowledge, best practices, and lessons learned.
Work Experience
A minimum of 6 years of relevant work experience is required with a secondary education, or 3 years of relevant experience with a university degree. Experience should be in accounting, finance, and logistics, including budget management, payment processes, work plans, procurement, and administrative tasks. Experience in project monitoring and evaluation is also required.
Skills
• Budget Management • Financial Analysis • Project Monitoring and Evaluation • Procurement Processes • Logistical and Administrative Support • Event Management • Travel Management • Risk Management • Communication • Client Management • Knowledge Sharing