Project Associate (Open to all applicants)

Job Description

Please note the appropriate Tier indicated in the vacancy title and ensure that you are holding the applicable contract as defined below:
Tier 1: UNDP/ UNCDF/ UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed term (FTA) appointments (defined as “internal” candidates)   
Tier 2: UNDP/ UNCDF/ UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA) and personnel on regular PSA contracts 
Tier 3: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates
 

Background

The project “Addressing Climate Vulnerability in the Water Sector (ACWA) in the Marshall Islands)” implemented by the Government of the Republic of Marshall Islands (GoRMI) in collaboration with UNDP became operational in January 2020 with the objective to address expected impacts of climate change on water security on Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI).

RMI is a small island developing state in the Pacific. The nation is a large-ocean state, with a total land area of only 182 km², spread across over 2 million km² of ocean. There are 24 inhabited atolls and islands, which are mostly remote and lie merely 2 m above sea level on average. There are no rivers, streams or lakes in RMI and the number of small surface ponds is very limited.

GoRMI, with the assistance of UNDP, has developed a project on adaptation to climate change impacts to water supply in RMI.  The project is co-financed by GoRMI and Green Climate Fund (GCF).  The project will build resilience to the impacts of climate change on water supply, particularly in 24 atolls and islands that are highly vulnerable to drought. The project will invest in improving water security, water resilience and water governance through:

• Water Security - Improving household and community rainwater harvesting and storage structures to increase resilience of water supply in 77 rural communities in the outer islands and atolls accounting for approximately 28% of RMI’s population, including 7,630 (49%) women, currently at risk.
• Water Resilience - Securing groundwater resources from contamination due to inundation caused by wave overtopping of seawater.
• Water Governance - Strengthening the technical capacities of national and subnational institutions and key stakeholders to integrated climate change risks into water governance processes so that management of climate change risks are coordinated, effective, participatory, equitable, and sustained over the long-term when risks are expected to worsen.

The project aligns with GoRMI’s key climate change policies and strategies and has been developed through extensive consultation with government, Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) and beneficiary communities. The proposed project is aligned with RMI’s NDC and country work programme to the GCF.  The NDA has issued a letter of no-objection and the proposed project is aligned with the work programme of the AE (UNDP) selected by the NDA.

• This GCF project will be executed by UNDP, in close partnership with the GoRMI, given UNDP’s extensive experience in implementing climate change adaptation projects globally. The project implementation will be led by a team based in Majuro, RMI and Suva, Fiji
   

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Associate will work under the supervision of the Project Manager, and work closely with the Team Lead for the Resilience and Sustainable Development Team and the Project management Unit (PMU) as well as the key government counterparts. Below is the ACWA project’s organizational structure – depicting the reporting line for this position.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Project Manager, the Project Associate is responsible for providing support to the Project Management Unit (PMU), especially the PM and Project Finance and Admin Officer, in financial management of the project including project accounting system, overall budget expenditures according to the Project Document, advising the Government, PMU and UNDP on the need for budget revision and/or off-track activities, and presenting financial analysis at Project Board meetings.

Summary of Key Functions:

• Support the project team to ensure effective projet planning, operation and implementation
• Administrative support to the PMU
• Administration and implementation of operational and financial services for the project 
• Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing
• Support procurement and warehouse team

Support the project team to ensure effective projet planning, operation and implementation

• Compile and summarize information and data for the formulation of project work plans, draft annual/quarterly budgets, proposals on implementation arrangements, and on ot