Financial and Administrative Associate with UNDP Djibouti CO NPSA 6

Job description

Job Description

Background

Djibouti faces extreme climatic conditions, with average annual rainfall ranging between 150 mm and 300 mm. Over the past three decades, the frequency of extreme climate events, particularly droughts, has significantly increased. Between 2008 and 2011, repeated droughts had severe and widespread consequences. Future climate projections predict a temperature increase of 0.6 to 2.4°C by 2050, along with a potential decrease in rainfall of up to 11%. These changes are expected to lead to more frequent and severe droughts, rising sea levels, and increased risks for key socio-economic sectors such as agriculture, livestock, fisheries, tourism, and water resources.

Explore job listings

In response, Djibouti has implemented several climate adaptation policies and programs, including the National Adaptation Action Program (PANA, 2006), National Communications to the UNFCCC (2002, 2014, 2021), the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC, 2016), and the National Climate Change Strategy (SNCC, 2017). Climate change adaptation is also identified as a national priority in Djibouti’s Vision 2035 and the National Development Plan (PND) 2020–2024, which supports this ambition. The formulation of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP), in the framework of the Accelerated Growth and Employment Promotion Strategy (SCAPE 2015–2019) and the current PND, marks the next critical step. 

The NAP aims to:

(i) Reduce vulnerability to climate change impacts and strengthen national resilience, and

(ii) Integrate climate change adaptation systematically into national and sectoral planning and budgeting processes.

However, significant barriers persist. These include limited institutional and technical capacities of national coordination bodies, insufficient coordination of adaptation programming, poor access to knowledge-sharing platforms, delays in national reporting mechanisms, lack of sectoral risk and vulnerability assessments, and weak integration of climate considerations into national and regional development planning, budgeting, and monitoring systems.

The project funded under the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme aims to address these gaps. It will support the Government of Djibouti in developing and institutionalizing key policy instruments and tools to mainstream climate adaptation into national and regional planning and budgeting processes, strengthen private sector engagement, and enhance climate-sensitive monitoring and evaluation frameworks across all levels of government.

This project builds on national priorities identified through extensive stakeholder consultations and leverages lessons learned from past climate adaptation and readiness programmes. It aligns with the broader GCF framework to help countries increase sustainable financing, improve national adaptation planning capacities, and develop integrated approaches for responding to climate risks.

In this context, and as part of the project’s operational structure under the UNDP Direct Implementation Modality (DIM), the recruitment of key project personnel is essential to ensure effective project delivery and coordination. The project foresees the establishment of a national implementation team embedded within the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MEDD), composed of:

• Project Manager    to provide technical leadership, quality assurance of deliverables, and capacity-building support to national counterparts;
• Project Analyst  to manage day-to-day operations and ensure effective delivery and coordination of project activities in close collaboration with the National Director and UNDP Country Office;
• Financial and Administrative Associate to support financial management, procurement processes, and administrative functions of the project.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Support Project Planning and Budget Management
  • Assist the Project Coordinator in the preparation of the Annual Work Plan (AWP) and corresponding operational budgets in line with UNDP DIM requirements.
  • Support the establishment of budget codes and expenditure forecasts using UNDP’s financial management systems (e.g., Quantum)
  • Prepare budget revision requests and track amendments in line with UNDP financial guidelines.
• Financial Monitoring and Reporting
  • Ensure the day-to-day monitoring of financial disbursements and expenditures to ensure alignment with the approved AWP and budget ceilings.
  • Maintain and reconcile project accounts and prepare financial reports for internal UNDP use and for donor reporting, in line with agreed schedules and formats.
  • Process and track purchase orders, receipts, payment vouchers, and disbursements in accordance with UNDP financial procedures and internal control frameworks.
  • Liaise closely with the UNDP Finance and Operations teams to ensure full compliance with procurement and payment processes.
• Support Procurement and Contract Administration
  • Coordinate with the UNDP Operations and Procurement teams to facilitate the preparation of consultant contracts, institutional contracts, and service agreements.
  • Ensure timely procurement of goods and services following UNDP DIM rules and procurement thresholds.
• Support Human Resources Services  
  • Provide accurate payroll inputs for project personnel, including consultants and contractors, and liaise with the UNDP HR and Finance teams.
  • Maintain accurate records of contracts, time sheets, and deliverables in accordance with UNDP audit standards.
• Provide Administrative and Logistical Support
  • Maintain a well-organized and up-to-date project filing system (both digital and physical) to support documentation, audit, and reporting requirements.
  • Organize logistical arrangements for workshops, meetings, trainings, and missions, including booking venues, travel authorizations, airline tickets, and hotel accommodations.
  • Coordinate travel claims and ensure all supporting documents are collected and processed according to UNDP travel policies.
• Provide Governance and Coordination Support
  • Organize and provide logistical and administrative support to Project Board/Steering Committee meetings and Technical Working Group meetings.
  • Prepare, distribute, and archive meeting minutes and related documentation.
  • Support the Project Coordinator and the UNDP Programme Specialist in the monitoring of project risks and performance as per the DIM modality obligations.
• Compliance, Risk Management and  Support Knowledge Sharing 
  • Ensure that all financial and administrative activities are executed in full compliance with UNDP POPP (Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures), internal control frameworks, and donor requirements.
  • Support audits and reviews by providing timely and complete documentation as requested.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Competencies

Core: 

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 & Technical competencies 

Finance: Budget Management: Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets.

Business Management: Project Management Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

Finance Management: Accounting (General): Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, frameworks, standards, regulations, policies and trends, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations.

Procurement: Procurement Management: The ability to acquire goods, services or works from an outside external source

Administration & Operations: Events management (including retreats, trainings and meetings): Ability to manage events, including Venue identification, accommodation, logistics, catering, transportation, and cash disbursements, etc.

Business Management: Partnerships Management: Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.

Skills and qualifications

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Secondary education is a requirement.  Or University Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business or Public Administration, Economics or related fields will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.

Experience:

Minimum 6 years (with Secondary education) or 3 years (with bachelor’s degree) of professional experience in financial and administrative support roles, preferably within international development projects.

Language: 

• Fluency in French and Somalie  and/ or Arabic is required. 
• Knowledge of English would be an asset.

Required Skills: 

• Strong skills in MS Excel and other common office software.
• Previous experience with development projects 

Desired Skills: 

• Demonstrated experience to interact effectively with various stakeholders, including governments and NGOs is desired. 
• Experience with UNDP DIM project is a strong asset
• Experience in providing procurement services is an asset
• Experience in providing HR services is an asset

Experience in providing admin and logistics supports is an asset.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

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.

Explore job listings

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.

How to apply

apply here https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/job/27954/apply/email