Project Associate, International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development

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.

United Nations Volunteers (UNV) is a global programme and shared service for the UN system hosted and administered by UNDP. UNV provides volunteer solutions to UN entities across development, humanitarian, peace and security pillars and provides volunteer advisory services to UN Member States and, on their request, carries out relevant intergovernmental mandates. The Administrator of UNDP is also the Administrator of UNV and delegates strategic management of UNV to its Executive Coordinator.

The External Relations and Communications Section builds and nurtures corporate donor relations, strategically leads the donor resource mobilization platform and conducts coherent communications efforts to highlight the value of volunteerism for peace and development and the contributions of UNV and UN Volunteers.

In December 2023, through its Resolution A/RES/78/127, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 2026 the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development and invited UNV, in cooperation with Governments and relevant organizations of the UN system, to facilitate the implementation of the International Year (hereafter referred to as IYVD-2026).

Subsequently, the IYVD-2026 Secretariat will be established to be responsible for IYVD-2026 preparation and delivery of the workplan. Reporting to the Team Leader for IYVD-2026, the Project Associate supports UNV in preparing and implementing IYVD-2026.

Duties And Responsibilities

Support the effective and efficient functioning of the IYVD-2026 Team Leader and the IYVD-2026 team

• Ensure full compliance of administrative activities with UN/UNDP rules, regulations, policies and strategies
• Maintain the Team Leader’s calendar, contacts and appointments with UN/UNV officials, Member State representatives, media, civil society and other stakeholders
• Arrange appointments and meetings, and facilitate contacts with visitors and staff
• Collect, analyze and prepare inputs into the IYVD-2026 workplan and reports; provide substantive inputs into overall work planning and design of specific activities; suggest alternative courses of action and work planning, where appropriate, based on assessments of past activities
• Compile and prepare briefing and presentation materials, speeches and background information and documentation for meetings and missions
• Take minutes of important meetings, synthesize and analyse findings to be reported to the IYVD-2026 Team Leader

Ensure effective administrative and logistical support

• Provide secretarial, administrative, financial, budgetary, operational and logistical support for high-level meetings, workshops and other events and engagements
• Follow up on deadlines, commitments made, actions taken and coordinate the collection and submission of reports
• Assist in the preparation and updates of budgets and financial reports as required; analyze financial contributions and financial delivery, and suggest alternative approaches to resource mobilization with key stakeholders and usage of resources where appropriate
• Coordinate the quarterly, mid- and end-year financial review meetings with the IYVD-2026 Team Leader and contribute to the preparation of the Annual Financial Reports in cooperation with the UNV Finance and Resources Management Section
• Create requisitions and conduct budget checks for requisitions and purchase orders
• Support the administration of procurement processes and travel arrangements, including hotel reservations, travel authorizations and the processing of visas
• Provide translations of correspondence and documentation as may be required
• Make suggestions to improve the design and delivery of services of the IYVD-2026 Secretariat

Facilitate knowledge-building, sharing and management

• Facilitate knowledge and information management by conducting necessary research, extracting qualitative and quantitative data from various sources, creating and maintaining relevant databases as required (contacts, correspondence, publications, etc.), and maintaining a system to make information readily accessible for the entire IYVD-2026 team; assist in consolidation and compilation of best practices and lessons learned
• Assist in the preparation of communications products and campaign materials, including for dedicated IYVD-2026 websites and audio-visual material
• Oversee the incoming and outgoing correspondence, including ensuring that correspondence reaches the relevant recipient in the IYVD-2026 team and are responded to in a timely and satisfactory manner
• Ensures effective filing, including through automated filing systems, and safe-keeping of documents and other materials required
• Assist in the design, compilation and implementation of the IYVD-2026 evaluation upon conclusion of the year, as mandated by the General Assembly

Competencies

Core Competencies

Achieve Results

• Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline

Think Innovatively

• Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements

Learn Continuously

• Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback

Adapt with Agility

• Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible

Act with Determination

• Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident

Engage and Partner

• Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationship

Enable Diversity and Inclusion

• Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Relationship Management

• Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding

Knowledge Generation

• Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context or responsive to a stated need

Operations Management

• Ability to effectively plan, organize, and oversee the Organization’s business processes in order to convert its assets into the best results in the most efficient manner.
• Knowledge of relevant concepts and mechanisms

Partnerships Management

• Ability to 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

Project Management

• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Resource Management

• Ability to allocate and use resources in a strategic or tactical way in line with principles of accountability and integrity

Education

Required Skills and Experience

• Secondary education, preferably with specialized certification in Accounting and Finance;
• University Degree in Business or Public Administration, Economics, Political or Social Sciences is desirable, but is not a requirement

Experience

• A minimum of 6 years (with high school diploma) or 3 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible administrative or programme support experience is required at the national or international level
• Experience in the usage of office software packages and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages as well as web-based management systems
• Experience working in an international or multicultural environment highly desirable
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management and office technology equipment
• Fluency in English
• Solid verbal and written communication skills; good drafting, formulation, reporting skills
• Working knowledge of another official UN language highly desirable

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Disclaimer

• This is a project position.
• Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.
• The successful candidate will hold a UNDP letter of appointment.
• This post is for local recruitment only. It is open to citizens of the European Union (EU) member states or holders of residence and unlimited work permits for Germany. All travel, interview and relocation costs, if any, incurred to take up an appointment at the duty station in Bonn are at the expense of the applicant.

Important information for US Permanent Residents (‘Green Card’ holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

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.

Scam warning

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.