Background

 

While the impact of COVID-19 is already affecting the whole society, those who are economically and socially vulnerable are hit the hardest. Informal workers have been affected immediately, as they lack access to social protection measures and safety nets, as well as entitlements at the workplace, such as paid leave or sick leave. According to Thailand’s National Statistical Office (NSO) Informal Economy Survey, 2019, 20.4 million people or 54.3% of the labour force are in the informal sector.

Additionally, individuals who are the most affected by the pandemic are those at risk of being left behind in development – including women, the elderly and youth, those who work community enterprises, and marginalised vulnerable groups, such as persons with disabilities (PWDs), LGBTI people, persons living with HIV, homeless persons, stateless individuals, or persons belonging to ethnic minorities, and refugees and migrants. Thailand’s poverty and inequality could rise drastically as the number of ‘new poor’ affected by COVID-19 is also expected to increase significantly. The conflict affected southern border provinces of Thailand have been particularly impacted by the pandemic, including challenges linked to food security.

In view of the impact of the pandemic on Thailand,  UNDP plans to implement a number of interventions building on existing strong partnerships established at the national and sub national level and leverage on ongoing initiatives linked to Response and Recovery at local, regional and national level, including the following:

 

Respond: supporting an inclusive, participatory and gender responsive response by working across key sectors to prevent the spread of the virus and to provide the necessary protection for the most vulnerable. As COVID-19 disproportionately affects vulnerable individuals and groups, it is crucial to ensure their voices are heard and their needs are met in the development of the government response.

 

Recover: Support urgent gender responsive policy and programme recovery interventions to address the impact of COVID 19, especially for poor and marginalized groups by delivering the outputs listed below.

In that regard, UNDP aims at supporting the implementation of a programme titled ‘Strengthening socio economic recovery, human security and resilience in Thailand’. The overall objective of the project is to promote social and economic recovery and strengthen the community resilience of the Thai people – with a particular focus on vulnerable and at-risk groups, including women, youth, persons with disabilities (PWDs), LGBTI persons and ethnic minorities – to ensure empowerment at both sub-national and national level, and in view of promoting SDG localization efforts. The various initiatives will aim at mapping and addressing the various in order to develop targeted, gender responsive measures to mitigate the immediate challenges and address long-term impact of COVID-19 and to promote sustainable economic and social recovery, as well as inclusive, transparent, equitable, sustainable and people-centred development and the achievement of the SDGs.

The overall objective of the project is to promote social and economic recovery and strengthen the community resilience of the Thai people – with a particular focus on vulnerable and at-risk groups, including women, youth, persons with disabilities (PWDs), LGBTI persons and ethnic minorities – to ensure empowerment at both sub-national and national level, and in view of promoting SDG localization efforts. The various initiatives will aim at mapping and addressing the various in order to develop targeted, gender responsive measures to mitigate the immediate challenges and address long-term impact of COVID-19 and to promote sustainable economic and social recovery, as well as inclusive, transparent, equitable, sustainable and people-centred development and the achievement of the SDGs.

To support the project, UNDP Thailand is looking for a Project Management Associate to support the Country Team to implement the project as well as to provide support to various initiatives of UNDP in Thailand. The incumbent is expected to exercise full compliance with UNDP programming, financial, procurement and administrative rules, regulations, policies and strategies, as well as implementation of the effective internal control systems.

The Project Management Associate will work under the overall guidance of Programme Specialist/Team Leader and supervision of the Project Manager. The Project Management Associate works in collaboration with the operations team, programme and project staff, as well as the Advisory Team in UNDP to exchange information and ensure consistent services delivery.

 

Duties and Responsibilities

 

1. Provide effective and efficient support in administration, financial management, procurement process, human resources, travel arrangements focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Provide administrative support to Project Manager, and Project Coordinating Associate in organizing financial payments, official travel arrangements, goods and service procurements including consultants’ contracts process, payments for consultants and vendors using ATLAS Programme and other online applications;
• Prepare travel arrangement of official missions, travel requests/authorizations, security clearance, etc. Maintain the supporting documents for the official mission needed to settle travel claims for auditor purposes according to UNDP Rules and Regulations;
• Review and compile procurement plan of projects for preparation of procurement plan;
• Review project budgets and ensure project budget revisions are taken in ATLAS.

 

2. Provide effective support to management of the CO programme focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Preparation of required budget revisions, determination of unutilized funds, operational and financial close of projects;
• Support planning and implementation of assurance activities;
• Provision of guidance to executing agencies on routine implementation of UNDP-supported projects.

 

3. Provide secretarial services focusing on the achievement of the followings:

• Provide logistical and administrative support to the Project Manager and the Project Team, monitor correspondence, telephone calls and visitors;
• Maintain effective filing system to maintain all hard and electronic files, reference materials and confidential records as required;
• Provide organization and coordination support for international and external meetings with other teams, external bodies (UN Agencies, Government, Civil Society, etc.);
• Prepare minutes of meetings, write official communications, proof-read outgoing communications, and translate documents;
• Prepare documents, agendas and materials related to meetings and missions;
• Perform other duties as assigned.

 

Competencies

 

Core
Innovation Ability to make new and useful ideas work	Level 3: Adapts deliverables to meet client needs
Leadership Ability to persuade others to follow	Level 3: Proactively seeks and recognizes contributions of others
People Management Ability to improve performance and satisfaction	Level 3: Appropriately involves team in different stages of work and decision-making
Communication Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform	Level 3: Expresses information and views with adaptive reasoning and appreciation for complexity and variation
Delivery Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement	Level 3: Takes responsibility for addressing critical situations and delivering core value
Technical/Functional
Results-based Management Ability to manage programmes and projects with a strategy aimed at improved performance and demonstrable results	Level 3: Implement & Manage: Exercises skills and knowledge independently, demonstrating ability to manage self and team responsibilities, in area of work
Partnerships Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationship	Level 3: Implement & Manage: Exercises skills and knowledge independently, demonstrating ability to manage self and team responsibilities, in area of work
Project Management Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.	Level 3: Implement & Manage: Exercises skills and knowledge independently, demonstrating ability to manage self and team responsibilities, in area of work
Resource Mobilization Ability to analyze information/ databases and develop a database of project profiles and identify opportunities for project proposal to donors	Level 3: Implement & Manage: Exercises skills and knowledge independently, demonstrating ability to manage self and team responsibilities, in area of work
Knowledge Management Ability to capture, develop, share and effectively use information and knowledge	Level 3: Implement & Manage: Exercises skills and knowledge independently, demonstrating ability to manage self and team responsibilities, in area of work
Job Knowledge/ Technical Expertise Ability to understand and apply principles of professional discipline and identify new and better approach to work processes	Level 3: Implement & Manage: Exercises skills and knowledge independently, demonstrating ability to manage self and team responsibilities, in area of work
Client Orientation Ability to research potential solutions to internal and external client needs and maintain effective relationships within the work unit and with external client.	Level 3: Implement & Manage: Exercises skills and knowledge independently, demonstrating ability to manage self

 

Required Skills and Experience 

 

Education:

• Thai national with Secondary Education.  Bachelor’s degree in Business or Public Administration, Economics, International Development, Political Sciences and Social Sciences or related field would be desirable.

 

Experience:

• Minimum 3 years with Bachelor’s degree or 6 years with secondary education, of administrative or programme experience is required at the national or international level;
• Experience in leading solution-oriented projects with demonstrated results;
• Experience working with major international organizations or the United Nations is desirable.

 

Language Requirements:

• Excellent command of writing and speaking Thai and English.

 

Applications to be submitted online at https://jobs.partneragencies.net/erecruitjobs.html?JobOpeningId=31416

Contact : kamonwan.bamrungchaokasem@undp.org

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ผู้ช่วย / Assistant