Project Associate

Overview
Support project planning and implementation effectively.

You have:

Experience in project management and administration.
Knowledge of UNDP policies and procedures.
Skills in data analysis and report writing.
Ability to work in a team and collaborate with other institutions.
Experience in resource mobilization and financial management.
Knowledge of gender equality and its integration into projects.
Contract
This is a NPSA-6 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Personnel Services Agreement . It is normally only for nationals . It usually requires 6 years of experience , depending on education. More about NPSA-6 contracts .

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Details
Starting in 2020, the UNDP office in Cuba began implementing a new cooperation program (CPD) agreed with the Cuban government, which defines the areas of work until 2024. This new framework includes among its priority areas productive transformation, reflecting the national priorities of the National Program for Sustainable Economic and Social Development to 2030 (PNDES) for this topic.

The UNDP in Cuba is one of the main partners supporting the government in this national priority at both the macro and micro program levels, as well as in managing transformational changes, innovation, and public-private partnerships with diverse existing and emerging economic actors such as cooperatives and MSMEs, fostering sustainable and equitable development. A particularly strong partnership has been built since 2009 in the productive transformation of sectors that contribute to food security, a top priority for the Cuban government. This commitment has also been strongly reflected in the CPD (National Development Plan), but it can be extended to other relevant sectors, especially by contributing to the decentralization of powers that the country is promoting to strengthen economic development at the local level.

The Productive Transformation team is part of the UNDP’s Governance and Productive Transformation work area and is responsible for managing the implementation of projects that contribute to this theme, working closely with the management structures formed by the counterpart parties at the national and local levels. This team provides substantive, administrative, logistical, and financial support for project implementation and is accountable to UNDP management and donors for their progress.

The functions of the Project Associate, in strict compliance with UNDP rules and procedures and in close collaboration with the TP Project Officer, are:

Support the project team to ensure effective project planning and implementation.
Collect and summarize information and data for the formulation of project work plans, draft annual/quarterly budgets, proposals on implementation agreements and other project-specific topics or issues.
Provide comprehensive support in all aspects of project implementation in accordance with project documents, annual work plans and other agreements between UNDP and responsible partners.
Ensure the quality of delivery by consultants, beneficiaries, and contracted companies; and communicate the findings to the supervisor.
Ensure that project business processes comply with UNDP’s Project Operating Policies and Procedures (POPP) and UNDP Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). When necessary, provide guidance to project staff on business processes, requirements, and administrative and other procedures.
Support the integration of gender equality into project implementation, including data collection and compilation. Prepare reference materials on gender equality for use in discussions, briefings, and correspondence.
Provide administrative and logistical support to ensure successful project delivery, including organizing/coordinating project events and selecting appropriate venues, coordinating project procurement procedures, maintaining project records and files, recruiting project team members, and supporting recruitment activities.

2. Support partnerships and resource mobilization.
Establish and maintain contacts and cooperation with relevant UN agencies, government institutions, NGOs, tertiary institutions, partners, and other relevant stakeholders. Provide support in updating the database of relevant audiences, development partners, and other actors who are project counterparts.
Ensure regular communication and coordination with partners, project counterparts, stakeholders, and beneficiaries; and develop and maintain effective mechanisms to integrate and respond to their feedback and insights.
Support the creation of high-quality information and visibility of project activities among stakeholders; and ensure a careful selection of communication tools and the adaptation of messages to take into account the socio-political and general development context of the host countries.
Conduct a horizon analysis and explore opportunities for resource mobilization in consultation with the direct supervisor.

3. To offer support for the financial execution of projects
Support the processing of payments and review of supporting information.
Perform processing in the Quantum system of payments related to the projects.
Manage payment and reimbursement processes related to field and international missions.
Support the implementation and monitoring of procurement processes for goods and services, according to UNDP standards and agreements with donors.
Prepare information that allows for the analysis of the financial execution of projects and supports financial audit processes.
To offer support to the ONP for the proper financial management of projects.

4. Provide support for effective monitoring, evaluation and reporting on the progress of project implementation.
Support the implementation of the project monitoring system in accordance with its monitoring and evaluation framework to ensure effective information exchange, feedback provision and high-quality progress reporting.
Collect, analyze, and present information for monitoring and evaluating project implementation against project objectives, as well as for auditing purposes. Identify implementation gaps and provide support to close those gaps in consultation with the supervisor and partners.
Assist in the organization of field and study visits, missions, workshops, round tables and conferences within the project.
Assist in implementing effective risk management for the project with a well-documented risk mitigation plan. Support the monitoring of previously identified and emerging risks.
Periodically monitor expenditures and commitments against the project budget and relevant plans, and provide financial information to support project implementation. When necessary, recommend corrective actions and draft correspondence on financial, operational, and budgetary matters.
Prepare and consolidate required project reports in a timely manner and in accordance with monitoring and reporting guidelines and donor requirements.

5. Support knowledge creation, knowledge sharing, and capacity building relevant to the assigned project.
Participate in training and organize information sessions on internal procedures for project staff. Provide support for other capacity-building activities, including the design and delivery of tools, workshop materials, or platforms that leverage the collective intelligence of communities and mobilize action.
Provide support in disseminating and sharing relevant data and lessons learned within the CO and at the regional level. Stay abreast of emerging best practices at the national, regional, and international levels that relate to the assigned project work.
Make strong contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice. Support the collection and systematization of project knowledge, products, and tools, as well as their broad dissemination to partners.
The holder performs other functions within their functional profile that are considered necessary for the efficient operation of the Office and the Organization.

The Project Associate will join the Productive Transformation team within the Governance and Productive Transformation Area, under the direct supervision of the National Officer for Productive Transformation Projects. They will also work in close coordination with the analysts and other assistants who make up the Productive Transformation team.
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