Project Associate (Open to Tier 1 & 2 applicants)

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

The Raising Inclusion and Safeguarding Elections in BARMM (RISE-BARMM) project, implemented under UNDP's Electoral Compass initiative with support from AECID, aims to enhance democratic participation, electoral integrity, and political inclusion in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The initiative responds to critical challenges such as voter disenfranchisement, misinformation, and systemic barriers affecting marginalized groups, including women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, and LGBTQI+ communities. With the first parliamentary elections in BARMM approaching in 2026, the project seeks to bridge knowledge gaps and strengthen institutional capacities to safeguard electoral processes. 

The project is structured around two key components: voter education and AI-driven electoral monitoring. It will develop gender- and culturally sensitive voter education materials, ensuring accessibility through local dialect translations and digital outreach campaigns. Additionally, it will enhance the Commission on Elections' (COMELEC) ability to combat AI-generated misinformation by introducing monitoring tools, complemented by technical training for COMELEC personnel, allowing them to identify disinformation trends and strengthen enforcement of digital campaigning guidelines in the elections. 

Aligned with SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 16 (Peaceful and Inclusive Societies), RISE-BARMM supports broader efforts to foster democratic resilience. By tackling information pollution and institutional gaps, the initiative empowers marginalized populations, strengthens governance structures, and safeguards electoral transparency. Through strategic stakeholder engagement, including partnerships with civil society organizations, media, and academic institutions, the project advances inclusive political participation, ensuring equitable access to electoral processes for all communities in BARMM and beyond. 

UNDP is looking for a Project Associate, who will be working under the Project Management Unit (PMU) based in UNDP Country Office in Manila. This involves working closely with the UNDP Institutions and Partnerships Programme (I&P) Team, COMELEC, and other stakeholders to ensure that the project has achieved its intended objectives.
 

Duties and Responsibilities

Overall direction and guidance shall be provided by the UNDP Team Leader for Institutions and Partnerships (I&P) Programme while day-to-day supervision shall be performed by the RISE BARMM Project Officer with oversight from the I&P Programme Analyst.

Key functions include:

Provides support to overall effective and efficient management and monitoring of project: 

• Contribute to the development of project’s annual and quarterly work plans, procurement plan and financial and physical progress reports; 
• Keep track of the delivery of the project and contracted parties, frequently report to the Project Manager on the delivery situation;
• Maintenance of the internal expenditures control system including budget checks and timely corrective actions on unposted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers;   
• Work closely with the Programme Team, Results and Quality Team, and Finance Team to ensure efficient and transparent use of project resources in line with approved budgets and within UNDP rules and regulations;
• Support to the conduct of annual project reviews, audits, monitoring missions, evaluations 
• Support timely operational and financial closure of a project, determination of unutilized funds and processing operational/financial closure of projects;
• Support in drafting terms of reference and support the recruitment and management of national and international consultants, subject matter experts, consulting firms, and other such resources.

Ensures implementation of operational strategies, focusing on achievement of the following results: 

• Full compliance of operational activities with UNDP rules, regulations, policies, and strategies. 
• Provision of inputs to the CO administrative business processes and implementation of the internal standard operating procedures (SOPs) 
• Undertake administrative, finance and procurement procedures, such as travel processing, liquidations of cash advances, processing of payments to suppliers, canvassing/collection of price quotations and payment of utilities; 
• Support to small-value procurement and coordinating with the suppliers for the delivery of goods; 
• Raise requisitions as required and register as general user role in Quantum.  
• Provision of inputs to the project team results-oriented workplan 

Ensures efficient administrative support, focusing on achievement of the following results: 

• Coordination of travel arrangements such as preparation of travel requests, coordination with travel unit for travel authorizations, booking and reservation of hotel rooms, ticket bookings, and visa.    
• Support to the organization of workshops and meetings including transportation services, booking of conference room, compiling of documents, arranging of equipment, among other similar administrative activities. 
• Maintaining and accurate, and reliable filing system; 

Provides support to proper supply and assets management, focusing on achievement of the following result: 

• Coordination of assets management in the unit, timely preparation and submission of periodic inventory reports. 
• Coordination of the provision of reliable and quality office supplies. 

Supports knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the CO, focusing on achievement of   the following results: 

• Support to organization of trainings and events  
• Provision of inputs to lessons learnt and best practices in programme including meeting documentation, drafting of communication letters, and logging of minutes from project and partner meetings.
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.  
• Support in preparation of Corporate Requirements including but not limited to annual work plan, quarterly report, and annual report. 
• In collaboration with the Programme Analyst, support the implementation of the common activities of the Programme Team and the Country Office in general.   

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

Competencies

Core Competencies:

• 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: 

Business Management

• Operations Management: Ability to effectively plan, organize and oversee the operation's business processes in order to convert its assets into the best results in the most efficient manner, Knowledge of relevant concepts and mechanisms

Procurement

• Procurement Management: The ability to acquire goods, services or works from an outside external source 
• Contract Management: Knowledge of contract management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/ or practical situations

Finance 

• Accounting (General): Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, frameworks, standards, regulations, policies and trends, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations
• Budget management: Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets
• Financial planning and budgeting: Ability to create and manage processes to achieve UNDP's long and short-term financial goals, including through planning, budgeting, forecasting, analysing and reporting
• Financial reporting and analysis: Understands changes in regulatory, legal and ethical frameworks and standards for financial reporting in the public sector. Ability to extract, evaluate financial data, derive relevant findings and present them in a meaningful and coherent manner to facilitate effective decision making and performance monitoring. Understands the benefits of integrated reporting, including non-financial resources such as human, social and intellectual capital, and environmental and governance performance

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Secondary education is required. OR
• A First level university degree (bachelor's degree) in Business Administration, Management, Entrepreneurship, Accounting, Economics, Finance or related field will be given due consideration but is not a requirement. 

Experience:

• Minimum of seven (7) years (with secondary education) or four (4) years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in administrative, financial, procurement, and logistics support at the national or international level is required. 

Required Skills:

• Experience on the use of basic information and communications technology (ICT) and in Microsoft Office applications is required.
• At least 2 years demonstrated experience and capacity in project/business, financial management, including preparations of budgets, annual workplans, project delivery or progress reports and financial reports is required.

Desired Skills:

• At least one (1) year work experience in support of a project or program on governance and electoral reform is desired.
• At least two (2) years' experience in administrative, financial and/or procurement support to projects and the use of online enterprise risk management platforms is desired 
• At least two (2) years working experience with UN agency/mission, an NGO/INGO, or government is desired. 

Required Languages:

• Fluency in spoken and written English and Filipino is required

Professional Certificates:

• Certifications in finance, accounting and procurement are an advantage

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.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

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.

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