Project Associate – Innovative Finance Lab

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Closing Date: May 02, 2025, 05:59 AM

Job Description

Background

UNDP has operated in Ethiopia since 1981. Since then, UNDP has focused on providing Ethiopia with strategic support to build national capacity and enhance the country’s development results in the areas of poverty reduction and economic growth, democratic governance as well as climate resilient development. UNDP is currently assisting the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) to overcome its structural challenges as it strives to become a democratic, peaceful and prosperous middle-income country. It supports a successful transition to democratic governance, address drivers of conflict to consolidate and build peace, foster enabling conditions for expanded job creation by the private sector (especially SMEs) and accelerate the transition to a green economy resilient to climate change. Gender equality and women’s empowerment are embedded across all areas of work.

Ethiopia has demonstrated successive, rapid and strong economic growth in the past decade, with average growth rate of 10% that led to poverty reduction significantly. Building on the successful implementation of the Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP), I&II, Ethiopia has developed the Homegrown Economic Reform Programme (HGER), that aims to address structural issues and sustain a rapid and inclusive economic growth setting the country on a path to prosperity.

One of the strategic initiatives in tandem with the interventions is the establishment of an Innovative Finance Lab (IFL), a joint initiative by the UNDP and the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE). The IFL has four pillars, namely, Technical Assistance Facility, Enterprise Financing Facility, the Knowledge Sharing Unit, and the Regulatory Sandbox Unit. With the broader objective to spearhead thought leadership and advocacy for innovative and inclusive finance for sustainable development; the Lab will focus on SMEs development and financing.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Associate will support the Innovative Finance Lab and shall be responsible for providing operational oversight (administrative and financial) as well as monitoring and reporting support to the Project at the Innovative Finance Lab, to relevant implementing partners, in the effective implementation of the Project and to ensure scaling up of the Project.

The Project Associate’s scope of work will include, but will not be limited to the following responsibilities:

• Administrative support: This involves maintaining files and filing systems while safeguarding confidential documents; providing timely and quality administrative and logistical support to project activities.
• Procurement support: This includes the purchase of office supplies and equipment; periodic inventory of equipment and goods to ensure accurate record keeping in the appropriate registers.
• Logistic support for meetings, workshops and other project related events as well as day-to-day transportation and mission travel requirements/arrangements. This includes preparatory communications with stakeholders; 2) dissemination of invitations; 3) coordination with event contacts; 4) pre-event communication with guests; 5) provision of on-site logistical support; and 6) post-event communication with participants.
• Development of project administrative materials, including 1) event notification forms and checklists; 2) event and activity calendars; and 3) guest and participant lists; 4) assists in monitoring the progress of project consultants to ensure compliance with deadlines stipulated in applicable terms of reference and requests for quotations/proposals.
• Financial reports and resource mobilization: this includes managing project budgets and monitoring expenditures against established allocations, ensuring consistency and timeliness of delivery. This also involves support for financial resource planning for projects, including preparation of reports containing financial situation analysis; preparation and monitoring of budgets; regular analysis and reporting on budget approvals and execution status.
• Cash liquidity and reimbursement: This includes processing documents for cash advances, liquidation and reimbursements in a timely manner, for submission to project managers; certifying expenditures for payment approval and monitor/control budget expenditures and approved allocations.
• Internal expenditure control system: This includes budgetary controls and timely corrective action on unaccounted vouchers, vouchers with budgetary control errors, correspondence exceptions and unapproved vouchers.
• Support the Technical Assistance Facility and knowledge building: this includes supporting Innovative Finance Lab Technical Assistance Facility, Enterprise finance facility and Knowledge sharing by focusing on achievement of participation in the training for the program operations and projects staff on procurement and travel.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangements

The Project Associate will report to the Director, Innovative Finance Lab. S/he will work under the direct supervision and day-to-day guidance of the director. S/he will liaise with the UNDP team at the country office and country-level representatives of relevant implementing partners as well as the designated focal points in partner organizations for effectively fulfilling assigned responsibilities.

Competencies

Core competency 

• 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 a pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
• 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 flexible
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

• Business Direction and Strategy: Business Acumen – Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization and ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks
• Administration and Operations:
• Documents and records management Overall document (hard or electronic) management, registry, and retention policy, including storing and archiving.
• Travel policy and  procedures: Knowledge of travel policy and procedures; ability to interpret travel policy, the Staff Rules, administrative circulars and financial regulations and rules on travel-related matters
• Finance: Budget management – Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets
• Procurement: Procurement management – The ability to acquire goods, services or works from an outside external source
• Procurement: Supplier/relationship management – Knowledge of supplier management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations
• Business Development: Human-centered Design – Ability to develop solutions to problems by involving the human perspective in all steps of the problem-solving process.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Secondary education is required, or
• University Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Social Sciences, or related field, preferably with specialization in Finance, Accounting, Business Management, Business Administration, Project Management would be given due consideration but is not a requirement.

Experience:

• A minimum of 6 years (with high school diploma) or 3 years (with bachelor’s degree) in providing administrative and financial management support to projects and programmes in international organizations is required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications especially Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.
• Excellent oral, written and presentation skills.

Language:

• Fluency in English and Amharic (oral and written) is required.

Equal 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.

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.

Right to select multiple candidates

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.

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