Project Associate

Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub for Europe and the CIS (IRH) is an advisory hub for the region that provides policy and programmatic support to UNDP’s development activities and works towards assisting Country Offices in the development of country-level initiatives, as well as implements regional-level projects with a wide range of partners. The UNDP Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS (RBEC) has a Project ‘Slovak Transformation Fund” until December 31, 2028. Within this context IRH is looking to bring on board a Project Associate (PA) to support implementation of the Project. 

The UNDP Innovation Team in Europe and Central Asia is pioneering a transformative approach to sustainable development through strategic innovation, portfolio and systems-thinking methods. At the core of this work is the portfolio approach, which organizes initiatives around cohesive outcomes, enabling UNDP to address complex challenges through systems thinking and adaptive management. 

Looking ahead, the team is focusing on key innovation portfolio areas: Urban Transformation, Innovative Finance, AI and emerging technologies, aimed at scaling these solutions; and Future Ready UNDP, which incorporates foresight and intelligence for horizontal integration across themes. Our innovation work is organized around three flagship projects: 

• The Mayors for Economic Growth (M4EG) 
• The Slovak Transformation Fund (STF) 
• The Tadamon initiative

Our team is looking for a Project Associate to work with the STF project: 

The Slovak Transformation Fund is aimed at driving meaningful system transformation in the Eurasia region through two key components: the BOOST Impact Acceleration Programme and City Experiment Fund (CEF). With contribution from the Slovak Ministry of Finance, the STF addresses complex urban challenges by deploying systemic approaches, engaging stakeholders in co-creation processes, and leveraging innovative financing mechanisms. For 2025-2028, the project will focus on twin transition (digital and green) initiatives through thematic city cohorts, working with participating Country Offices and cities to enhance local ecosystems and foster sustainable urban development.

Being a member of the larger regional Innovation Team, the Project Associate will work under the direct supervision of the Regional Project Manager. The PA provides support to administrative and finance services ensuring high quality of work, including accurate, timely, and properly recorded/documented service delivery. The PA ensures effective delivery of project by entering and managing data and supporting programme implementation consistent with UNDP rules and regulations. The PA works in close collaboration with colleagues at the implementing Country Offices, as well as operations and other colleagues at the Istanbul Regional Office. The position requires a high level of initiative and learning motivation and provides an excellent opportunity to work on an international dynamic and virtual team working across a high number of countries. The PA will have opportunities to travel and engage directly with municipality staff, both online and through in-country events.

The UNDP Innovation Team is not just about projects and innovation methods; it's also a dynamic and supportive environment for professional growth. New team members are welcomed with mentorship and regular feedback, ensuring they're well-equipped to contribute to and learn from our innovative work. We are walking the talk - applying the same principles of adaptation, learning, and collaboration to our team dynamics that we advocate in our development approaches. This creates a space where individuals can grow, take on new challenges, and make meaningful contributions to our mission of reimagining development for the 21st century.

Please note that this position is open for citizens and residents of Turkiye only. The position is based in Istanbul, with the current office-wide policy of in-person presence a minimum of three days per week (subject to change). 
 

Duties and Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of the position include: 

Support management of project in Quantum, including but not limited to:

• Setting-up the project and the annual work plans (AWP) in Quantum (ERP system);
• Enhanced project management and pipeline module;
• Track and monitor the use of allocations, track approval of budget revisions and their uploading;
• Create e-requisitions, check budget for accuracy, and do receipts for payments; 
• Generate financial reports and prepare monthly delivery monitoring tables for the assigned project, check for correctness, identify issues, contribute to development of solutions. 

Support in project implementation and financial management of the project, including:

• Support project management in performing budget cycle: planning, preparation, revisions, and budget execution;
• Comply and verify budget and accounting data by researching files, calculating costs, and estimating anticipated expenditures;
• Process all types of payment requests for settlement purposes including quarterly advances to the partners upon joint review;
• Monitor budget expenditures, ensuring that no expenditure is incurred before it has been authorized and maintain a proper record of commitments and planned expenditures;
• Prepare and submit expenditure and project budget status reports; 
• Prepare periodic accounting records by recording receipts, disbursements (ledgers, cashbooks, vouchers, etc.) and reconciling data for recurring or financial reports and assist in preparation of annual procurement plans;
• Support procurement and contracting processes (Individual Consultants, services and goods);
• Support documentation for Contract Assets Procurement (CAP) meetings and Regional Asset Contract Procurement submission; 
• Undertake project financial closure formalities including submission of terminal reports, transfer and disposal of equipment, processing of semi-final revisions, and support professional staff in preparing the terminal assessment reports;
• Ensure that contractual processes follow the stipulated UNDP and donor (i.e. Government of Slovakia and European Commission, when relevant) procedures;
• Compile technical and financial reports as required;
• Ensure proper filing of all project related documents;
• Development and oversight of the Project-based Operational monitoring tools (i.e. ‘grants tool’ for BOOST/STF and Country Office Budgets).

Provide event and meeting organisation support for assigned events, including:

• Support the organisation and preparation of key project meetings, including necessary documentation, logistics, travel, administrative support and any follow up required (including producing meeting minutes and reports);
• Support with organising tele-conferences and other means of engagement with stakeholders and partners;
• Support the production of promotional materials. 

Take care of internal communication and updates of project-related information on project platforms and social media including:

• Communicate with IRH teams and Country Offices on financial and reporting matters, be a go-to-person for the implementing Country Offices for support and advise;
• Support annual targets setting and reporting;
• Publishing articles on the platform developed by the project, and updating the information stream such as from campaigns;
• Publishing materials produced by communication experts on social media;
• Engage in the IRH wide regional programme/project meetings and respond to related requests as needed;
• Update events calendar and other platforms as requested.

Perform other project support service duties and responsibilities as requested.

Competencies
Core competencies:

• 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 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 relationships.
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination.

Cross Functional and Technical competencies:

• Cross-functional- Communication            
  • Ability to 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. 
  • Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media, and other appropriate channels.
• Cross-functional- Effective Decision Making        
  • Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources.
• Cross-functional - Monitoring    
  • Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and program performance and results.
• Technical:  General (across the functions)- Event planning and execution              
  • Ability to plan, manage and execute of public and private events to ensure that they support and amplify individual communications and advocacy initiatives, as well as UNDP's overall brand and mandate.
• Technical: Finance- Budget management & reporting and analysis            
  • Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets.
  • Ability to extract, evaluate financial data, derive relevant findings, and present them in a meaningful and coherent manner to facilitate effective decision making and performance monitoring.
• Technical: 2030 Agenda Governance       
  • Understanding of public administration and local governance issues, including decentralization, municipal planning, inclusion, and participation.

Required Skills and Experience
Education:

• Secondary education is required.
• A university degree in Business Administration, Financial Management, Public Administration, Communication, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, or related field will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.

Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years (with Secondary education) or 4 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of relevant progressively responsible administrative/management or project administration and/or coordination experience is required at the national and/or international organization.

Languages:

• Fluency in English and Turkish is required.

Required skills:

• Solid experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.), database packages.

Desired skills:

• Additional academic qualifications in business, economics, accountancy, international development, international law, governance, communication, peacebuilding, knowledge management, innovation, and law enforcement is an asset.
• Demonstrated track record in the preparation of technical and financial reports, and accounts management of international projects is an asset for this position.
• Experience organizing exchange workshops and/or training activities at the national or international level is an asset.
• Prior experience with UNDP/UN, project oversight or management would be an asset.
• Prior experience with EU project will be considered an asset.
• Experience with web-based management systems such as ERP.
• CIPS Certification is an advantage

The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

• Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.
• A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.
• Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as  reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials.

Disclaimer
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
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.

Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.  
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status. 


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