Back Programme Associate, G6 BTCA UNCDF

The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) makes public and private finance work for the poor in the world’s 47 least developed countries. With its capital mandate and instruments, UNCDF offers “last mile” finance models that unlock public and private resources, especially at the domestic level, to reduce poverty and support local economic development.

UNCDF’s financing models work through three channels: inclusive digital economies, connecting individuals, households, and small businesses with financial eco-systems that catalyze participation in the local economy, and provide tools to climb out of poverty and manage financial lives; local development finance, that capacitates localities through fiscal decentralization, innovative municipal finance, and structured project finance to drive local economic expansion and sustainable development; and investment finance, that provides catalytic financial structuring, de-risking, and capital deployment to drive SDG impact and domestic resource mobilization. By strengthening how finance works for poor people at the household, small enterprise, and local infrastructure levels, UNCDF contributes to Sustainable Development Goal-SDG 1 on eradicating poverty and SDG 17 on the means of implementation. By identifying those market segments where innovative financing models can have transformational impact in helping to reach the last mile and address exclusion and inequalities of access, UNCDF contributes to a broad diversity of SDGs.

UNCDF hosts the Secretariat of the Better Than Cash Alliance.

The Better Than Cash Alliance is a partnership of 75 governments, companies and international organizations that accelerates the transition from cash to digital payments in order to reduce poverty, drive inclusive growth and accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Billions of dollars in cash payments and transfers are made daily in emerging and developing economies, including payment of salaries, social welfare and relief, payments to suppliers, remittances, etc. The problems with these cash payments include a lack of transparency, accountability and security, as well as inefficiency. Furthermore, the individuals who receive the cash payments are often part of the 1.7 billion excluded from the formal financial sector. This means they are excluded from access to a range of appropriate and affordable financial services to help them save safely, take advantage of economic opportunities and reduce their vulnerability to risk.

Shifting these payments from cash to digital has the potential to improve the lives of low income people, particularly women -who are twice as likely to be excluded from the financial system, while giving governments, the development community and the private sector a more transparent, time and cost efficient, and often safer means of disbursing payments. Digitizing payments can also contribute to women’s economic participation by providing them with more control over family finances, increasing personal security, and improving economic opportunities.

The Alliance Secretariat works with its 75 members to navigate their digitization journeys, by:   

The Better Than Cash Alliance Secretariat Core Values: 1) Achieving together; 2) Striving for excellence; 3) Service oriented; and 4) Results oriented.

This G-6 role is based in New York, USA and is subject to local GS recruitment rules and regulations.

• Ensure proper and effective Travel administration
• Ensure Event logistics support in different country and programme locations.
• Information management and database management.
• Provide effective Financial management & resource management support.

1. Ensure proper and effective Travel Administration

• Assist in preparation and submission of quarterly travel plan.
• Prepare adhoc travel request and exception request for BTCA team.
• Prepare flight reservation, visa application, security clearance, conference registration for staff
• Calculate Daily supplemental allowance (DSA) and prepare travel requests for BTCA Staff and consultants, in accordance with organization rules.
• Provide guidance on all travel related matters.
• Prepare expense report and file all supporting documents
• Follow up reconciliation of travel and expense reports.

2. Event logistic support in different country locations.

• Liaise with Management Specialist and relevant colleagues and identify required services/items
• Liaise with various stakeholders and operations colleagues to identify local vendors, prepare payment, request visa application, flight reservation and security clearance
• Complete procurement and finalize the agreement with vendors and follow up invoice
• Manage communication with the guests
• Track event budget/expenditures

3. Ensure proper Information and Database Management

• Manage and monitor all grant agreements, including proposal, amendmnet and correspondence.
• Maintaining all databases
• Maintain and monitor performance base agreement and all POs
• Manage and update contact database in SalesForce and Mailchimp
• Manage stock of publications, order and shipment
• Monitor and organize team’s calender and general email accounts
• Order and maintain stock of office supplies and equipments

4. Provide effective Financial Management & Resource Management support.

• Provide programme and finance support and ensure full compliance of Alliance operations with the UNCDF operational framework in line with the UN/UNDP rules, regulations and policies.
• Assist Management Specialist to resolve questions related to budgets and payments.
• Creation of requisitions in Atlas, receive approval and make budget check for requisition
• Follow up and review invoice from vendors and grant recipients according to the contracts
• Create receipt, compile all supporting documents, and submit payment request to the finance unit
• Timely corrective actions on un-posted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers. Timely response to HQ requests to resolve financial data issues
• Part of the Operations team, Manage Purchase Order list and monitor
• Manage credit card usage and miscellaneous expenses
• Upload and manage supporting documents for all transactions in SharePoint and dropbox for auditing purposes.

The key results have an impact on the overall economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of Better Than Cash Alliance global operations as it relates to the use of corporate resources in the following areas:

• Travel & Event logistics
• Information Management
• Grant Management & Financial services

Core Competencies

Innovation: Ability to make new and useful ideas work

Level 3: Adapts deliverables to meet client needs

Leadership: Ability to persuade others to follow

Level 3: Proactively seeks and recognizes contributions of others

People Management: Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

Level 3: Appropriately involves team in different stages of work and decision-making

Communication: Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Level 3: Expresses information and views with adaptive reasoning and appreciation for complexity and variation

Delivery: Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

Level 4: Meets goals and quality criteria for delivery of products or services

Functional Competencies:

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise: Fundamental knowledge of processes, methods and procedures

• Understands the main processes and methods of work regarding to the position.
• Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks.
• Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning.
• Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments.
• Demonstrates in-depth understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools, and utilizes these regularly in work assignments.

Design and Implementation of Management Systems: Data gathering and implementation of management systems

• Uses information/databases/other management systems.

Promoting Organizational Change and Development: Presentation of information on best practices in organizational change

• Demonstrates ability to identify problems and proposes solutions.

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches: Implementing processes and uses products

• Documents and tracks innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches.
• Responds positively to new approaches.

Client Orientation:  Maintains effective client relationships

• Reports to internal and external clients in a timely and appropriate fashion.
• Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines.
• Responds to client needs promptly

Education:

Secondary Education, preferably with specialized certification in Management, Accounting or Finance. First University/Bachelors Degree in Business or Public Administration, Economics, Political Sciences and Social Sciences would be desirable, but it is not a requirement, with 3 years of relevant experience.

Work Experience: 

• Six (6) years progressively responsible administrative experience is required at the national or international level esp with a large UN organizaton.
• Candidates having Bachelor’s degree or equivalent and three years of relevant work experience are also accepted.
• Specialized training in office management and administration is highly desirable.
• Experience with a UN organization/agency is desirable.
• Experience with ATLAS and UNDP Procurement Processes is desired, but not a requirement.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web based management systems.

Languages:

• Fluency in English Language (both written and verbal) is required.
• Knowledge of any other UN official language is considered a distinct advantage.

Important applicant information

All posts in the GS categories are subject to local recruitment. 

Externally advertised GS fixed-term appointment and temporary appointment (TA) positions located in New York/Washington D.C. are open to candidates who are either US Permanent Residents, US Citizens or holders of a valid G4 visa at the time of their application and whose G4 visa has been acquired on account of their employment in the UN Systems based in New York or Washington, DC.

Selected candidates who meet the above mentioned eligibility criteria are responsible for their own travel and/or relocation costs.

Selection to GS fixed-term appointment positions at Headquarters requires passing a UN administered clerical test (ASAT). External applicants to General Service (GS) positions in New York who already possess a Bachelor’s degree or an accredited certification in a technical field (e.g. IT, Finance, or Procurement) will not need to obtain/pass the UN Administrative Support Assessment Test (ASAT). However, passing specialized tests (e.g. Finance and Accounting technical assessments) may still be required for some General Service (GS) positions, as specified in the vacancy announcement.

Applicants under serious consideration for short-listing of posts requiring accountancy and finance skills, must take the UNDP Accountancy and Finance Test (UNDP AFT) prior to short-listing.

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.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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Contract Duration: 1 Year with possibility for extension