Project Assistant

Organizational Context

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty and hunger reduction, inclusive and fair globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013, the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019 as well as the Riyadh Declaration adopted at the twenty-first session of UNIDO General Conference in 2025, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development in Member States. The relevance of this mission as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9 , which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of inclusive and sustainable industrial development, however, applies to all SDGs. The medium-term programme framework (MTPF) 2026 - 2029 is UNIDO’s core strategic document and it is in line with UNIDO’s Vision 2050. It sets a renewed vision to support Member States and shape their industries for development. The priorities include fair and sustainable global and regional supply chains, ending hunger through innovation and local value addition, renewable and clean energy, sustainable energy access and climate action. Cross-cutting priorities focus on industrial and economic policy advice, skills development, fostering digitalization and artificial intelligence, gender equality and the empowerment of women, supporting youth, promoting cleaner production and circular economy, and leveraging private sector investment and development finance. Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards-related activities; and (iv) convening and fostering partnerships for knowledge and technology transfer, investment mobilization, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Sub-regional Offices and Country Offices. The Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation (IET), headed by a Managing Director, is responsible for the development of innovative UNIDO services in the areas of agroindustry and agribusiness, sustainability standards and fair production, and climate-relevant or climate-improving technologies. It is also, in collaboration with ODG, responsible for developing innovative technical cooperation concepts, identifying new sources and means of finance and entering into new partnerships with a broad range of relevant stakeholders. The position is located under the Division of Agribusiness and Infrastructure Development (IET/AGR). The Division provides technical cooperation services to assist the modernization of agriculture and agro-industry, especially in less-developed countries, ensuring that enterprises add value to primary agricultural production, substitute the imports of food and other value-added agricultural products, and participate effectively in local, regional and global value chains. Where needed, it will develop infrastructure and agro-industrial parks and capacities for agro-industrialization, value addition, quality assurance and food safety. It will also bring innovative approaches to Member States to fully benefit from carbon-neutral and biodiversity-enhancing agricultural and agro-industrial production and development opportunities in the green and blue bioeconomy.

Job Purpose

The Government of Kenya is promoting the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and has recognized the role played by agriculture and manufacturing sectors in income generation, wealth and job creation, increasing foreign exchange earnings, and poverty reduction. Over the past decade, Kenya’s manufacturing sector has not experienced significant expansion, with its contribution to the national GDP remaining stagnant at around 11%. This stagnation has led to insufficient job creation and limited export growth. In response to these challenges, the Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry has set ambitious targets under the National Industrialization Plan, aiming to increase the manufacturing sector’s contribution to GDP to 15% by 2027, and further to 20% by 2030. As part of its strategy to raise manufacturing value-added, the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, and County Governments in partnership with stakeholders, will establish County Aggregation and Industrial Park (CAIP s ) infrastructure in each county in the country. The project aims to complement the government’s CAIP s initiative through increasing investment in agriculture and agribusiness in Kenya. Interventions will focus on one selected agro-industrial park and will address business plan development, infrastructure improvement, investment and trade promotion, and capacity building. It leverages international best practices including those from China.

Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Project Manager and in close cooperation with the project team in the HQ and field location, the Team Assistant provides clerical/administrative support to the project implementation and is responsible for the following key functions: Perform general administrative tasks such as arrangements for meetings, events, study tours, trainings and workshops. Provide logistical support to international consultants, national consultants, and visiting UNIDO staff members and in organizing meetings, study tours and workshops at the field level and travel requests and expense reports when required Monitor disbursements, commitments and budget allocations and availability for the projects. Consult to clarify the application of new financial and procurement rules and procedures, TC guidelines and other instructions Collect and compile all data and documents for bi-annual reports, annual reports, service providers’ reports and other reports as required. Keep track of project budget expenditures; follow-up on status of contracts for the local project team, provide information on the project, draw the supervisor’s attention to problems encountered. Maintain project equipment inventories (both paper and electronic asset management) and ensure appropriate use. Prepare/compile relevant documents and when applicable using SAP, initiate and follow up on actions related to trainings and study tours, purchase of equipment/goods and services, travel requests/claims, recruitment, visa applications, and deal with all related inquiries in coordination with the project team at HQ. Process all payments through relevant accounts and liaise with project team in the country and UNIDO HQ to clear all payments in a timely manner. Prepare/compile relevant documents and when applicable using SAP, initiate and follow up on actions related to trainings and study tours, purchase of equipment/goods and services, travel requests/claims, recruitment, visa applications, and deal with all related inquiries in coordination with the project team at HQ. Assist with on boarding of new project personnel. Assist in drafting regular and/or ad-hoc reports on project activities. Carry out ad-hoc assignments and research activities, as required. Maintain all project related files (both paper and electronic) and databases related to work. . REQUIRED VALUES AND COMPETENCIES

Work Experience

A minimum of six (6) years of work experience in the related fields of the post, is required . Experience in office procedures and practices, preferably within the UN system or in a multicultural environment, is desirable . Experience in project administration, accounting and finance, providing support to managerial/professional staff and using administrative skills to assist in the execution of project development and implementation of work, is desirable . Experience and proficiency in using Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint), internet, is required . Experience with SAP or similar ERP software is desirable .

Skills

Not informed

Explore related opportunities