Associate (Projects)

As the United Nations lead agency on international development, UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities, and to build resilience to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Our work is concentrated in three focus areas; sustainable development, democratic governance and peace building, and climate and disaster resilience. UNDP’s mandate is to end poverty, build democratic governance, rule of law, and inclusive institutions. We advocate for change, and connect countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life.

The Action for Climate and Environment (ACE) Unit at UNDP is organized around the thematic areas of climate change adaptation and mitigation, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem & land restoration, disaster management and resilience, and access to clean and efficient energy.

The Natural Resource Management and Biodiversity pillar of ACE is supporting the Government of India in meeting national development objectives along with commitments under important multilateral environment agreements especially the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The programme/projects under the pillar have been supporting the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC), National and State level planning for land restoration and biodiversity conservation, habitat restoration, carbon sequestration through enhanced restoration, promotion of nature-based livelihoods and One Health approach.

UNDP is supporting the Ministry in the implementation of a GEF -7 project “Sustainable management and restoration of degraded landscapes for achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) in India”. The project aims to achieve land degradation neutrality by creating additional carbon sinks through an ecosystem-based approach for restoring degraded agricultural, forest, pastoral lands, and surface water bodies. It involves enabling institutional frameworks and policies for integrated sustainable land management practices and up-scaling landscape-wide practices in 3 states Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh contributing to the national target of restoring 26 Mha of degraded lands by 2030.

The project being implemented over a period of five years will lead to the following outcomes: (1) Enhanced national, state and district-level enabling frameworks incentivizing SLM practices and supporting participatory multi-sector platforms to avoid, reduce and reverse land degradation, biodiversity loss and climate mitigation; (2) Integrated participatory landscape design and financing models established in support of avoidance, reduction and reversal of land degradation, desertification, biodiversity loss and negative impacts of climate change to generates multiple sustained environmental and economic benefits; (3) Improved capacity for LDN monitoring, assessment and reporting to UNCCD in support of LDN target setting and evaluation of capacities of partners; allowing government institutions and other agencies to better document, analyse and disseminate effective intervention strategies for restoring productive landscapes and replication of best practices at national and state level, and at international level through improved South-South cooperation, knowledge and adaptive management.

UNDP seeks to engage the services of an Associate (Project) to support the UNDP in implementation of the project. S/he will work under the supervision of Program Manager, UNDP.

Under the direct supervision of Specialist – Sustainable Land Management and in close collaboration with MoEFCC & State Project Team Members, the Associate (Project) will perform the following tasks:

1. Programmatic support
• Provide support in preparation of Annual Work Plan (budget & financial component) including quarterly and annual targets;
• Support in the implementation, monitoring and tracking of project activities and expenditures as per the approved Annual Work Plan;
• Assist in the preparation of project documentation, reports, and presentations;
• Follow-up with project partners and donors, to guarantee smooth implementation of administrative and operational activities of the project;
• Prepare and monitor project timelines and milestones, ensuring deadlines are met;
• Follow up with Project personnel on submission and compilation of regular and timely progress reports;
• Support the timely preparation and submission of annual progress reports, donor reports, project reviews, financial reports, audit reports and any other required project reports;

2. Project Operational Support
• Coordinate project meetings, including scheduling, preparing agendas, and taking minutes. Organize logistics for meetings/workshops/ events;
• Establish and maintain partnerships with stakeholders (UN agencies, NGOs, CBOs, government and donors);
• Coordinate with counterpart in Central Ministries and State Departments to seek/provide project related information;
• Assist in collation and compilation of data and information from the concerned implementing partners;
• Maintaining project documents, inventory, correspondence and communications;
• Preparation of year-wise expenditure reports and projections;
• Preparation of the financial reports for submission to donors, and Government as per the requirement stipulated in the agreements;
• Process timely payments to vendors, consultant, travel and other claims of staff in Quantum (UNDP ERP System). Coordinate with vendors and UNDP finance team for timely release of payments;
• Ensure appropriate recording and accounting documentation as per the organisational requirements and preparation of required financial reports;
• Assist in preparation of RFPs, RFQs and other documents for contracting and procurement of goods and services, including maintenance and physical verification of assets;
• Facilitate preparation of financial audits and processes like annual, half yearly and quarterly financial Reports in consultation with UNDP Finance Team;
• Develop Terms of Reference for consultants/ institutions/consultancy firms to be hired to undertake project activities and help the state government/UNDP in contracting processes and monitoring contracts, follow ups with the contractors/consultants;
• Prepare database of the contracts issued for personnel, procuring goods and services, provide timely alert submission of deliverables and contract expiration & renewals;
• Follow-ups with vendors for timely submission of deliverables and invoices for settlement of payments;
• Support preparation and submission of Procurement Initiation documentation and follow-up with the UNDP procurement unit for issuance of contract.