Programme Analyst at the United Nations Development Programme

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the United Nations' global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life for themselves. It provides expert advice, training and grants support to developing countries, with increasing emphasis on assistance to the least developed countries. It promotes technical and investment cooperation among nations.

Headquartered in New York City, the status of UNDP is that of an executive board within the United Nations General Assembly. The UNDP is funded entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states. The organization operates in 177 countries, where it works with local governments to meet development challenges and develop local capacity.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Programme Analyst

Job Identification: 11080
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Job Schedule: Full Time
Contract Duration: 1 Year
Bureau: Regional Bureau for Africa
Vacancy Type: National Personnel Service Agreement
Practice Area: Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive Institutions
Grade: NPSA-8

Scope of Work

• Under the direct supervision of the Conflict & Political Economy Specialist, the Programme Analyst will be responsible for the following functions and tasks:

Summary of Key Functions

• Ensure effective and accurate financial resources management and oversight;
• Manage the project budget and ensure proper cash management functioning;
• Ensure effective information management and reporting;
• Ensure proper financial aid controls and risks management mechanisms.

Specific Functions / Results expected
Ensure effective and accurate financial resources management and oversight, including through the following tasks:

• Manage and provide financial analyses and oversight for all resources managed by UNDP programme(s), ensuring full compliance with UNDP rules, regulations, policies, and strategies;
• Advise UNDP staff on financial matters;
• Prepare cost estimates for different activities according to the needs of programme management; 
• Monitor the financial performance of programme activities;
• Coordinate annual audits of the Principle Recipient (PR) and Sub-recipients (SRs) as required by UNDP, and ensure that external auditors have all relevant information.  

Manage the programme budget and ensure proper cash management functioning, including through the following tasks:

• Prepare and monitor the project’s budgets in UNDP’s enterprise resource planning system and prepare budget revision if necessary;
• Organize and oversee project cash management processes, SR relationships, and accounting and reconciliation of all transactions and security for cash assets on site;
• Follow up on the disbursement of funds to facilitate timely review of cash position to ensure sufficient funds on hand for disbursements;
• Ensure that advance payments and direct payments are properly reviewed and recorded in a timely manner;
• Take corrective actions on unposted vouchers or other financial transaction issues.

Ensure effective information management and reporting, including through the following tasks:

• Prepare regular analysis and reporting on the project funds and Country Office budget approvals, including on the delivery of programme activities;
• Support the preparation of annual project workplans, agreements, and budgets;
• Prepare forecasts necessary to support disbursements requests;
• Conduct verification and posting of disbursement requests, expenditure reports, and supporting documentation;
• Submit timely and accurate required financial reports to the donor;
• Maintain information flows between non-finance actors to effectively link programmatic results to work plan expenditure and budgets agreed with the donor;
• Respond to HQ requests to resolve financial data issues or to provide information required.

Ensure proper financial controls and risk management mechanisms, including through the following tasks:

• Develop and support maintenance of risk management and mitigation approaches relating to finance;
• Design and implement effective internal controls and financial resources management system;
• Map, establish and maintain standard operating procedures in the project finance unit, implementing improvements where possible;
• Conduct training and other capacity development activities on financial management for personnel as required.

Institutional Arrangements:

• The Programme Analyst would be reporting to the Conflict & Political Economy Specialist.

Competencies
Core Competencies:

• Achieve Result: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by the deadline;
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is 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;
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationship;
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, be aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination.

People Management:

• UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:
Business Management:

• Results-based Management:
  • Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.
• Project Management:
  • Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
• Portfolio Management:
  • Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization's programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment.

Business Direction & Strategy:

• System Thinking:
  • Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
• Effective Decision-Making:
  • Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one's authority, area of expertise and resources.
• Negotiation and Influence:
  • Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiates mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and creates 'win-win' situations.

Business Development:

• Integration within the UN:
  • Ability to identity, and integrate capacity and assets of the UN system, and engage in joint work;
  • Knowledge of the UN System and ability to apply this knowledge to strategic and/or practical situations.

Requirements
Minimum Education Requirements:

• Master's Degree in International Development / Relations, Economics, Business Management, Political Science, or other relevant field.
• A First-level University Degree with two years of additional relevant experience may be accepted in-lieu of the advanced degree.

 Minimum Years of Relevant work Experience:

• Minimum 2 years’ experience in information management and reporting on project expenditures, budgets, work plans, etc;
• Working knowledge of UN principles, SDGs and international development in Africa is an asset.
• Experience in managing project financial resources and ensuring project performance;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems and ERP financials, preferably Quantum/ATLAS;
• Knowledge of UN/UNDP Financial Resource Management is desirable;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Required Skills and Competencies:

• Innovation
• Communication
• People Management
• Accounting (General)
• Financial Analysis

Language:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply

Note

• 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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Application Deadline 14th June, 2023 (11:58 AM).