Background
On 28 March 2025, a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar, causing significant human and material losses across Mandalay and surrounding areas. The disaster further exacerbated existing humanitarian and development vulnerabilities, particularly in communities already affected by conflict, displacement, and poor access to essential services.
In response, UNDP launched the Earthquake Response โ Community Led Recovery and Reconstruction Project to support inclusive and resilient recovery through early restoration of livelihoods, infrastructure, and essential services, with an emphasis on community leadership and local economic revitalization.
The project focuses on two key outputs:
Restoration of essential community services and inclusive infrastructure, with strengthened local disaster risk reductionย capacity Livelihoods and economic opportunities restored through Inclusive, disaster- and gender-responsive recovery support.The Project Associate will provide essential operational, administrative, and logistical support to ensure the smooth implementation of project activities and processes.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the supervisaton of Project Manager and coordination with Finance Officer, the Project Associate will support the effective delivery of the Earthquake Response project by performing a range of administrative, operational, and coordination tasks. Project Associate will work closely with the project team to support implementation, financial and logistical coordination, and the preparation of documentation and reports. The incumbent will ensure compliance with UNDP rules and procedures, and contribute to efficient service delivery across the project's operations.
1.Supports management and implementation of project activities focusing on achievement of the following results:ย
Provide inputs in the elaboration of annual work plan of the Earthquake Response โ Community Led Recovery and Reconstruction Projectย and update the budget on system and expenditure reconciliation as required.ย Maintaining of timetables for the Project Board/Committee meetings and provides support to organizing and holding the meetings, including the preparation and dissemination of information and follow-up.ย Assist in arranging logistics, preparing agenda and coordinating with related stakeholders for organizing workshops/trainings as and when required.ย Assist in minutes taking for programme/project meetings and in drafting research reports as required.ย Assist in coordinating of the planned events of the project.ย Provision of guidance to the implementing partners on routine implementation of project activities, tracking use of financial resources.ย Assist in drafting inputs for the projectโs reports.ย Support to data collection such as project teamโs inputs.ย Assist to provide documentation for auditing and spot check exercisesย2. Provides effective support to project financial monitoring and management focusing on the achievement of the following results:ย
Project budget management through Quantum.ย Ensures budget availability for requisitions, POs and vouchers.ย Follow up on the internal expenditures control system including timely corrective actions on un-posted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, and the unapproved vouchers.ย Supports entry of project proposals and project budgets, supports preparation of budget revisions, monitors the funds availability and to ensure the effectiveness in payment process.ย Provides inputs into periodic and ad-hoc financial reporting to CO, donors, as needed;ย Supports in monitoring the project budget and preparing project finance documents, including budget revisions.ย Provides finance-related data to support project implementation and planning.ย Drafts various correspondence concerning finance, operations and budgetary issues as required.ย Assists team members, experts and consultants, in cooperation with Programme Finance Unit on financial and other operational matters.ย Facilitates according to UNDPโs procedures for disbursement of grants advance, liquidation and regular update of resource balances/expenditures records.ย Facilitates project related payments.ย3. Provides administrative and operational support to project implementation, ensuring quality of business processes focusing on achievement of the following results:ย
Ensures full compliance with the CO business processes and UNDPโs procedures.ย Drafts HR and Procurement Plans for the project and provision of support to their implementation.ย Ensures completion of monthly leave reports and attendance records of project staff.ย Assists in preparation of drafting job creation forms; facilitates requests for recruitments/procurements and contract issuances.ย Ensures quality control of documents required for processing personnel or procurement actions related to the project activities.ย Prepares and regularly updates security list of project staffย Assists in the management of logistical support to the project activities.ย Leads maintenance of the inventory of project assets/equipment and project correspondence and files.ย In cooperation with Common Services and Transaction Services Unit provides support to team members and consultants on administrative and other matters, i.e. visa etc.ย Leads maintenance of all administrative, personnel and financial files and records as well as general office files.ย4. Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing focusing on achievement of the following results:ย
Designs filing system and ensures accessible, accurate and comprehensive filling and archiving.ย Identifies best operational management practices and proposes ideas for achieving operational efficiencies; Shares knowledge with project teams; Promotes culture of operational excellence.ย Supports organization of trainings and learning events for project staffs on relevant topics.ย Facilitates preparation of knowledge products.ยThe incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Competencies
Core
Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvementsย
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexibleย
Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discriminationย
Cross-Functional & Technical competenciesย
Business Management
Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
Customer Satisfaction/Client Management:โข ย ย ย ย 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. โข ย ย ย ย Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. ย โข ย ย ย ย Look for ways to add value beyond clients' immediate requests. โข ย ย ย ย Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.
ย
Operations Management:โข ย ย ย ย Ability to effectively plan, organize, and oversee the organization buseiness processes in order to convert its assets into the best results in the most efficient manner. โข ย ย ย ย Knowledge of relevant concepts and mechanisms
Communication: โข ย ย ย ย Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. โข ย ย ย ย Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels
2030 Agenda: Engagement and Effectiveness
Effectivenessย :Programming (PPM) policies and procedures
Business Development
Knowledge Generation:โข ย ย ย ย Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations
Administration & Operationsย
Events management (including ย including retreats, trainings and meetings): โข ย ย ย ย Ability to manage events, including venue identification, accommodation, logistics, catering, transportation, and cash disbursements, etc
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Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Secondary Education is required. University Degree (Bachelorยดs degree) in Business or Public Administration, Economics, Political or Social Sciences will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.Experience:
Minimum 6 years (with secondary education) or 3 years (with Bachelorยดs degree) of progressively responsible administrative or project experience at the national or international level. Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advance knowledge of web based management systems. Experience in administration and operational support to project implementation ย Experience in UNDP or UN and familiarity of corporate tools. At least two years of experience in financial management, report and overview. Knowledge of procurement procedures of national / international organizations. Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation toolsRequired Language(s)
Fluency in Myanmar and English is requiredEqual opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.ย
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.ย
Right to select multiple candidates
UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.ย 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.
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