Programme Associate- Inclusive Growth

UNDP Tanzania’s inclusive growth programme 2016 – 2021. The overarching goal is to support Tanzania to accelerate inclusive economic growth with a focus on poverty reduction, job creation and environmental sustainability, in line with the principal objectives set out in the Tanzania Development Vision 2025 and Zanzibar Vision 2020, which aim to eradicate extreme poverty, and promote high quality livelihoods and a competitive and diversified economy. The specific objectives for UNDP Inclusive Growth support are aligned with the priorities set out in the National Five-Year Development Plan II, to increase use of modern technologies in key growth sectors, enhance conservation of the environment and natural resources for poverty reduction and economic growth, develop a harmonized delivering system of social protection, promote women’s economic empowerment and develop pro-poor value chains. They are further aligned with the priorities set out in the draft Zanzibar Strategy for Economic and Social Transformation, to modernize agriculture and agro-industry sectors to increase trade, promote a conducive business environment, improve social protection schemes, and promote gender equality and
women’s empowerment.
The strategy primarily contributes to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Goal 1 (No poverty), Goal 2 (Zero Hunger), Goal 5 (Gender Equality), Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), Goal 9 (Industry, innovation and infrastructure) and Goal 10 (Reduced Inequality). It also conforms to the United Nations Development Assistance Plan II (UNDAP II) for 2016-2021, in its vision on inclusive growth toward achieving the following outcomes:

• Increased economic transformation for greater poverty reduction, competitiveness and increased
• opportunities for decent and productive employment.
• Enhanced equitable and inclusive access to quality basic education and lifelong learning; and,
• Increased coverage of comprehensive and integrated social protection for all, especially the poor and vulnerable.

UNDP supports the government of Tanzania to create livelihood opportunities and reduce poverty, especially among the most vulnerable groups. We work with businesses to create jobs and economic growth, and with government to build infrastructure, link rural areas to markets and develop new forms of employment. Through our work we promote an integrated approach that tackles the issues of multidimensional poverty, inequality and exclusion, and sustainability, while enhancing knowledge, skills, and production technologies to enlarge people’s choices, reduce risks and sustain development gains.
 
The Inclusive Growth and Livelihood pillar is seeking a Programme Associate, who – under the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist -  Pillar Head will provide programme and administrative support services ensuring high quality, accuracy, and consistency of work for the IG pillar.

Under the direct supervision of Programme Specialist – Head of the IG Pillar, the Programme Associate will undertake the following tasks:

1.    Programme Support

• Support the Pillar lead in monitoring programme strategies and implementation of the IG projects.
• Support creation of  projects in Atlas, preparation of required budget revisions, revision of project awards and project status, determination of unutilized funds, operational and financial closure of projects.
• In collaboration with IP/RP to organize project board meetings, circulation, and storage of meeting minutes, follow up implementation of action points and ensuring timely actions are taken.
• Support preparation of project annual work plans and quarterly progress reports compilation of background materials, working papers and statistical data for various programme meetings/ briefs including Voices from the Field, E- Journal, and Factsheets for pillar projects in collaboration with implementing partners and responsible parties.
• Promote use and achievement of gender equality and women empowerment results in country programme;
• Follow up on with IP/RP on implementation of audit recommendations.
• Provision of guidance to the executing/implementing agencies on routine implementation of projects, tracking use of financial resources.
• Ensure all project implementation aspects are adhered to and the checklist is completed on a quarterly and annual basis. All quality assurance processes are adhered to.

2.    Provides administrative support to the Inclusive Growth Pillar focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Proper control of the supporting documents for payments and financial reports for NEX projects; preparation of PO and non-PO vouchers for development projects.
• Review of NEX projects Financial Reports; preparation of non-PO vouchers for development projects;
• Maintenance of the internal expenditures control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Atlas.
• Timely corrective actions on unposted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers.
• Creation of requisitions, prompt in Atlas for development projects, register of goods receipt in Atlas.
• Support to project related communication with stakeholders.
• Documentation and maintenance of filing system in compliance with audit requirements and CO e-document management policy.
• Provide administrative and logistical support for workshops, orientations and training, and any other special events organized by the pillars through its projects.
• Monitoring all Consultants contracts performance and ensure payment is done against delivery
• Follow up with Programme Support and Operations Team and External Relations Team on status of contributions agreement; managing contributions in Atlas.
• Follow-up with IP/RP for timely submission of narrative and financial report as per donors requirement.

3.    Office Administration:

• General administrative assistance including maintaining filing system and update IG pillar webpage.
• Ensure that communications within IG and other pillars is well maintained and there is no breakdown.
• Travel arrangements, leave monitoring, preparation of Pillar calendars.
• Updating projects information’s in UN Info .
• Documenting all projects impacts as inputs to ROAR
• Convene Pillar meeting, recording minutes and follow up for action points

4.    Other Duties:

• Perform other duties as and when required.

Impact of Results

The support of the Programme Associate will help ensure the smooth and effective operation of the Inclusive growth pillar , including project design, resource mobilisation, a well-managed budget and stakeholders  communication; timely and well-planned organization of meeting workshops, trainings, and other events; development of quality communications, notes and reports; up-to-date management of membership information.

Core    

Innovation and Marketing

• Documents and tracks innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches.
• Responds positively to new approaches.    
• Level 3: Adapts deliverables to meet client needs

Resource Mobilization

• Ability to write a project proposal
• Development and Maintains information/databases of  potential and actual donors for the pillar projects/themes.
• Provides data and information needed for preparation of project documents.    
• 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 3: Takes responsibility for addressing critical situations and delivering core value

Technical/Functional    

• Knowledge Management and Learning
• Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office
• Level 3: Implement & Manage: Exercises skills and knowledge independently, demonstrating ability to manage self and team responsibilities, in area of work

Management and Leadership

• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback
• Level 3: Implement & Manage: Exercises skills and knowledge independently, demonstrating ability to manage self and team responsibilities, in area of work

Relationship Management

• Ability to engage and foster strategic partnerships with other parties, inter-agency coordination and forge productive working relationships
• Level 3: Implement & Manage: Exercises skills and knowledge independently, demonstrating ability to manage self and team responsibilities, in area of work

Results-based Management

• Ability to manage programmes and projects with a strategy aimed at improved performance and demonstrable results    
• Level 3: Implement & Manage: Exercises skills and knowledge independently, demonstrating ability to manage self and team responsibilities, in area of work

Project Management

• Ability to plan, organize, motivate, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals    
• Level 3: Implement & Manage: Exercises skills and knowledge independently, demonstrating ability to manage self and team responsibilities, in area of work

Education

• Secondary Education. Bachelor’s Degree  in social sciences, economics, Political Science, International Relations, or a related field is desirable.

Experience:

• At least 6 years of experience in progressively responsible experience in programme management/administration.
• Experience working with Government, CSO, private sector, and development partners.
• Extensive experience in socio-economic development fields, this include development issues, policies and strategies, Regulatory Frameworks and Institutional set-up, analysis, and reviews.
• Good understanding of the issues around Inclusive growth mainstreaming initiatives to facilitate job creation, poverty alleviation, development financing, and Capacity development; gender mainstreaming, Trade and Investments facilitation and promotion; Trade in services facilitation.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.). Experience in handling of web-based management systems
• UN & International Organization working Experience is an added advantage.
• Interpersonal skills and ability to work in team, sharing information and coordinating efforts within the team;
• Ability to take initiative, work independently, work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• On-the-ground work experience in developing countries preferably Tanzania and in Africa

Language Requirements:    

• Fluency in oral and written English is required.
• Knowledge of Kiswahili will be considered an asset.