General

Description of assignment title: Programme Associate – Accelerator Lab

Assignment country: Nigeria

Expected start date: 09/11/2023

Sustainable Development Goal: 9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Volunteer category: National UN Volunteer Specialist

Host entity: UNDP

Type: Onsite

Duration: 12 months (with possibility of extension)

Number of assignments: 1

Duty stations: Abuja

Details

Mission and objectives

UNDP is the United Nations largest agency with a mandate to eradicate poverty, through sustainable and inclusive human development. UNDP has been in Nigeria since the country became independent in 1960 providing capacity building and policy development support to the Federal Government of Nigeria in areas of Governance & Peace Building, Inclusive growth, and Sustainable Development. UNDP continues to support the government in the implementation of development interventions aimed at meeting medium to long term goals enshrined in National and Subnational development plans as well as the Sustainable Development Goals. The goal of UNDP is to improve the lives of the people of Nigeria, especially the poorest and most vulnerable, and to ensure a future that offers equality, dignity, and opportunity for all. UNDP works in partnership with the federal Government of Nigeria, development partners, UN agencies, civil society and local communities to help identify local solutions to meet global and national development challenges through a range of interventions that combine UNDP’s expertise and comparative advantage in the areas of Governance & Peace Building, Inclusive growth and Sustainable Development.

Context

In 2019, UNDP built the world’s largest and fastest learning network on the challenges of sustainable development. The network now has 91 labs covering 115 countries. The Accelerator Labs create actionable intelligence, test solutions with national partners. Accelerator Labs are inspired by local solutions that are already working, making the world a better place. Radically accelerating learning about what works, operating as a globally integrated network, where each Lab learns from the rest, exploring multiple solutions at the same time and designing experiments that teach us whether solutions can work and grow in weeks or months instead years. The Accelerator Lab in Nigeria was launched in October 2021. UNDP Nigeria intends to procure the services of a Programme Associate to support the activities of the Accelerator Lab. Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Accelerator Lab Head of Exploration, the Programme Associate directly (i) supports the design, planning and management of the Accelerator Lab by providing programme support and managing data (ii) supports the financial and administrative management needs of the Accelerator Lab team. The Programme Associate promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations. The Programme Associate works in close collaboration with the Operations, Programme and Project teams in the CO and UNDP HQs staff for resolving programme-related issues and information delivery.

Task description

Under the supervision and reporting to the Head of Exploration – Accelerator Lab, the Programme Associate will – 1. Provide efficient administrative and operational support, in conformity with standard operating procedures, including the following tasks: a. Draft routine correspondence, interoffice circulars, general briefing notes, documents and minutes of meetings with key stakeholders, donors or local innovators and files them in shared drive for future references. b. Regularly checks and updates documents on shared drive, c. Monitors shared mailbox for any queries or information coming in from the public relating to the Accelerator Lab, Communications & Partnerships; chases up where necessary and forwards to team members accordingly. d. Prompt exchange of information and follow-up on deadlines, commitments made, actions taken with OAI units and with other UNDP Offices. e. Recording and maintenance of attendance and leave reports. Coordination and recording of travel and leave schedules of the Investigations Section staff f. Organization and coordination of regular and ad-hoc meetings g. Other administrative support tasks, as requested by the Accelerator Lab Team. 2. Provide efficient operational support, in conformity with policies and standard operating procedures including the following tasks: a. Travel administration: arrangement of flight bookings, daily subsistence allowances, visa applications and other travel-related requirements, including post travel arrangements. Enter travel requests and expenses reports in online travel module. b. Procurement and contract management of Responsible Party Agreements (RPAs), Implementing Party Agreements (IPA), Individual Consultants (IC), PSA and interns’ vendors and assets for the Accelerator Lab Team; Preparation of ToR’s and supporting documentation for the management of ICs and the submissions to the Contract Asset and Procurement Committee and Advisory Committee on Procurement. Monitoring investigations consultancy contracts extensions, renewals, payments and time worked. c. Budget administration: Manage and monitor the utilization of the Lab budget; maintaining relevant spreadsheets; regularly review expenditures data; initiate cost recoveries. d. Administer filing system of payment documentations pertaining to the Accelerator Lab team: manage the soft filings of all team – related payment. 3. Provide financial administration or management support to the Accelerator Lab in conformity with standard operating procedures, including the following tasks: a. Ensures proper control of the supporting documents for payments, review of financial reports. b. Maintains the internal expenditures control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Atlas. c. Provides timely corrective actions on unposted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers. d. Processes procurement requests directly with the responsible team, making sure processes are completed in a timely manner. 4. Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in creative ways a. Documents and tracks innovative solutions, experiments and data collated by team to be used for building the portfolio of learning. b. Organizes feedback sessions as well as review of collaborations with clusters and key stakeholders to improve outreach and change approach when necessary. c. Synthesizes lessons learnt and best practices in programme. d. Provides sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice. 5. Provides support to the Accelerator Lab in organizing events and managing social media. a. Works with the Lab team in preparing and implementing a social media calendar. b. Assists in the organization of internal and external events and ensures photographic coverage. c. Prepares monthly highlights of Accelerator Lab work to be used in the monthly newsletter and blog as well as the objective of working out loud. d. Monitors social media engagement of posts relating to the Accelerator Lab’s working out loud strategy. e. Collates information necessary for the monthly dissemination of the Accelerator Lab. f. Maintains working relationships with key stakeholders to incentivize interactions. g. Identifies bottlenecks, problems, and issues, and proposes solutions.

Eligibility criteria

Age: 27 – 80

Nationality

Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.

Requirements

Required experience

4 years of experience in

•  Experience in the usage of Microsoft Office packages is essential.
•  Familiarity with UNDP Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP) systems is required.
•  Fluency in English is required.

Area(s) of expertise

Administration, Development programmes, Communication

Driving license

–

Languages

English, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level

Bachelor degree or equivalent in Administration or Programme Support Services

Competencies and values

•  Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNDP; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNDP procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented;
•  Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNDP in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority;
•  Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues;
•  Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment.
•  Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities;
•  Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;
•  Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary;
•  Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNDP’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

Other information

Living conditions and remarks

Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria located in the centre of the country within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). It is a planned city and was built mainly in the 1980s, replacing the country’s most populous city of Lagos as the capital on 12 December 1991. As of 2015, the city is experiencing an annual growth of at least 35%, retaining its position as the fastest-growing city on the African continent and one of the fastest-growing in the world. The city can be accessed by Air, Road or Rail. Abuja is housed by many expatriate and diplomatic communities. Cost of living in Abuja varies but could be termed as high considering the class of people residing in the city. Terrorism is the main threat in the Abuja. General crime is also prevalent. UN staff members are advised to stay only in UNDSS assessed hotels and residential area. The cost of living is high but food relatively affordable. As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements

Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy