Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
Uzbekistan is committed to building climate resilience and fostering sustainable, low-carbon lifestyles, especially among its youth in rural areas. The country faces severe environmental challenges, including rising temperatures, frequent droughts, and the ongoing desertification linked to the drying Aral Sea, which particularly impacts rural communities. This project aims to equip young people with critical skills and knowledge to adapt to and mitigate these climate impacts, empowering them to lead their communities toward a more sustainable future.
The project has three main components. First, it will mainstream climate change education across all upper secondary schools in Uzbekistan, providing a developed curriculum and teacher training to reach over 1.3 million students. Second, it will engage and empower over 800 youth through the Young Green Ambassadors program, enabling them to lead practical climate resilience and sustainability projects in their communities. Third, it will focus on upskilling 4,000 youth in rural areas with essential green skills, such as climate-smart agriculture and renewable energy, through vocational training programs and support for job placement.
The project emphasizes strong partnerships with national institutions, including the Ministry of Education and the Agency for Youth Affairs, to ensure climate education and green skills development are integrated into both school curricula and vocational training. By investing in climate-conscious youth, the project supports Uzbekistan’s broader climate goals and commitments, helping to shape a generation ready to lead climate action and foster sustainable growth across the country. The Project will be implemented in Karakalpakstan, Bukhara, Navoi, Khorezm, Samarkand, Kashkadarya, Surkhandarya regions.
The Project Associate is responsible for providing administrative, financial, and operational support to ensure the project’s effective and efficient execution. This includes managing day-to-day financial transactions, supporting project procurement, assisting in financial reporting, and ensuring compliance with UNDP's operational and financial guidelines. The Associate will work closely with the Project Manager and project team members to facilitate budget tracking, financial reporting, and administrative coordination.
The Project Associate will work under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, and provide financial services to ensure high quality, accuracy and consistency in work. The Project Associate will work closely with national partners, the project, the operations and program departments of the UNDP office and would have the following roles and responsibilities:
Being responsible for logistics, travel arrangements, and hiring project staff, in accordance with corporate rules and UNDP requirements; Encouraging understanding and promotion of gender equality among project staff and partners; On the basis of consultations with the project manager and the UNDP Business Center, carry out the procurement in accordance with the rules and procedures of the UNDP; Preparation of all financial and administrative documents required for project implementation in accordance with UNDP rules and procedures; Preparation of all financial and administrative documents related to the implementation of the project in accordance with UNDP rules and procedures, budgeting of costs and obligations for the project; Preparation of quarterly and annual budget plans for recruiting staff; execution and storage of financial statements, and maintenance of the monitoring system for recording the corresponding expenses, balances, payments and other data on daily financial activities and preparation of reports; Assistance to project staff, experts and consultants in matters of financial costs, advance payments, transportation costs and other financial and administrative costs, preparation and authorization of payments for the services provided; Preparation of detailed cost estimates, participation, if necessary, in budget analysis and forecasting to support the financial operations of the project, alignment of all accounts within the required time frame; Processing, updating the list and keeping records of intangible assets in accordance with UNDP requirements; Execution of duties of a cashier, responsibility for the distribution of the project-based cash flow, keeping records of the cash book and payment orders of regional divisions; Monitoring of vacations of project employees, checking the correctness and appropriate filling of the monthly report card on the presence at the workplace, vacations, absences at the work place due to illness, etc.; Analyzing potential administrative and financial issues and taking the necessary steps to ensure that sufficient resources are available to carry out the tasks assigned to the project; Identifying effective measures to optimize the use of project resources; Ensuring full compliance of administrative and financial processes and financial reporting with the UNDP requirements, policy and strategy; The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.Institutional Arrangement
Under the direct supervision of Project Manager and in close collaboration with relevant project partners, the Project Associate will be responsible for the implementation of the project activities aimed at building national capacities for sustainable rural development by pursuing integrated planning and implementation of innovative solutions.
Project Associate will provide operational services ensuring high quality, accuracy and consistency of work. Project Associate works in close collaboration with the Government counterparts, project, operations, and Programme’s staff in the UNDP CO to exchange information and ensure consistent service delivery and undertake day-to- day responsibility for operational and thematic support services for the satisfactory achievement of the project component outputs.
Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies
Business Acumen: Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome. Ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization. Knowledge Facilitation: Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange. Customer Satisfaction/Client Management: Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers' needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients' immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns. Budget Management: Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets. Contract Management: Knowledge of contract management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations.Desired Skills:
Familiarity with UNDP financial, procurement, and administrative policies and procedures is an advantage; Prior experience managing budgets, handling procurement processes, and ensuring compliance with financial policies is desired; Proficiency in the use of computer software applications particularly MS Excel is an asset; Demonstrated experience in use of information and communication technology as a tool and resource is desired; Experience in handling web-based management systems is an asset.Required Languages:
Fluency in English and Uzbek (written and oral) is required. Knowledge of Russian is desired. Disclaimer Applicant information about UNDP rosters