Finance Assistant

Volunteering Admin Finance & Economy

Overview

Support implementation of Youth Fellowship Programme and maintain financial records.

You have:

• Demonstrated experience in supporting financial management and reporting.
• Experience within the United Nations (UN) or other international development organizations is an asset.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with strong drafting, formulation, and reporting abilities.
• High level of accuracy and professionalism in document preparation, production, and editing.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with cultural and social sensitivity; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, including grassroots communities, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at various levels.
• Familiarity with communication for development (C4D) tools and approaches.
• Capacity to adapt and perform effectively in challenging environments.
• Ability to work efficiently within multicultural teams comprising both international and national personnel.
• Strong computer literacy, including proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.), email, and internet usage; familiarity with database management systems and office equipment.
• Self-motivated, with the ability to work independently, manage workloads effectively, and meet tight deadlines.
• Demonstrated interest in or commitment to volunteerism as a tool for sustainable development, as well as to the values and principles of the UN system.
• Support the coordination of youth activities.

Contract

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Zambia’s population is predominantly youthful. According to the National Youth Policy (2024), the youth comprised 5.3 million of the total projected population, representing 26.7 percent. This reiterates the need to address the many challenges faced by the youth. The economic difficulties Zambia has been experiencing compounded by climate change, energy crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic have placed a lot of stress on the majority of the Zambian people, especially the youth who are in the majority.

The challenges being faced by the youth are enormous and call for immediate and comprehensive interventions. Although, Government and its stakeholders have had measures in place to address some of the challenges to reduce vulnerability among the youths, many of them still lag behind. Among the reasons for this state of affairs is insufficient coordination, fragmentation and duplication of efforts leading to wastage of resources and lack of impact on the young people.

Recognizing the strategic importance of youth in national development, the Government has taken deliberate policy measures to strengthen coherence and scale interventions. Notably, the National Youth Development Strategy roadmap, endorsed by Cabinet in February 2022, adopts a holistic and multi-sectoral approach to youth empowerment, focusing on skills development, employment creation, entrepreneurship, and youth participation.

Building on this policy foundation, the Government, through the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts (MYSA), in partnership with the United Nations Country Team (with UNDP as the lead agency), launched the GRZ–UN Joint Programme on Youth in December 2022. The Youth Joint Programme aimed at creating an enabling environment for improved livelihoods, enhanced skills, and expanded socio-economic opportunities for young people, with a strong emphasis on inclusion, particularly for young women and youth living with disabilities.

Within this framework, UNDP has taken a leading role in advancing flagship youth employment and empowerment initiatives. Key achievements include the integration of volunteerism in the Eight National Development Plan (8NDP), the development of the State of the Youth Report (2023), the review and adoption of the National Youth Policy, the establishment of a digital youth portal under MYSA, the upgrading of Youth Resource Centres for digital and vocational skills development, and the successful implementation of the Internship, Volunteerism, Apprenticeship and Graduate (IVAG) Programme, which has supported over 2,000 young people through structured placements across the public sector, private sector, and UN system.

Building on the IVAG Programme and experience, the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts has established a structured Youth Fellowship Programme aimed at deepening practical experience, enhancing industry-specific skills, and developing a cohort of young leaders actively contributing to national development. Through structured placements across Government institutions, the private sector, the United Nations and civil society orgainisations, young graduates (fellows) will gain immersive, practical experiences directly aligned with current and forecasted employment trends. Fellows will not only cultivate vital soft skills but will also acquire specialized technical skills.

Under the overall guidance of the Director of Youth Development and direct supervision of the National Coordinator - Youth Programme or his/her designated representative(s), the Finance Assistant will: • Support the implementation of the Youth Fellowship Programme, including youth and arts initiatives under MYSA. • Provide support to ensure that financial processes comply with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP ) Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and maintain accurate and up-to-date financial records. • Ensure proper control and management of supporting documents such as invoices and delivery notes. • Prepare financial reports for non-development projects and monitor fund utilization and budget balances. • Maintain an organized and efficient filing system for financial records and documentation, including archiving. • Maintain an internal expenditure control system to ensure that processed invoices are properly matched and complete, transactions are accurately recorded, and travel claims and other entitlements are duly processed. • Provide timely and accurate information on the status of financial resources as required. • Take prompt corrective action on unposted invoices, including those with validation errors, match exceptions, or pending approvals. • Support the review and preparation of programme documentation in coordination with relevant team members. • Contribute to the development of concept notes and project proposal budgets. • Support the coordination and organization of youth-related event budgets. • Perform any other duties as assigned.

• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Professionalism • Self-management

• Demonstrated experience in supporting financial management and reporting. • Experience within the United Nations (UN) or other international development organizations is an asset. • Excellent oral and written communication skills, with strong drafting, formulation, and reporting abilities. • High level of accuracy and professionalism in document preparation, production, and editing. • Strong interpersonal skills, with cultural and social sensitivity; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, including grassroots communities, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at various levels. • Familiarity with communication for development (C4D) tools and approaches. • Capacity to adapt and perform effectively in challenging environments. • Ability to work efficiently within multicultural teams comprising both international and national personnel. • Strong computer literacy, including proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.), email, and internet usage; familiarity with database management systems and office equipment. • Self-motivated, with the ability to work independently, manage workloads effectively, and meet tight deadlines. • Demonstrated interest in or commitment to volunteerism as a tool for sustainable development, as well as to the values and principles of the UN system. • Support the coordination of youth activities.

Zambia is a land-linked, resource-rich country with sparsely populated land in the centre of Southern Africa. It shares its border with eight countries (Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe) that serve as an expanded market for its goods.

Lusaka is the capital of the Republic of Zambia. The climate is sunny and temperate, but it can be very cold during few months, with freezing temperature at times especially during the night. It is therefore advisable to bring warm clothing and foresee using heaters and other heating options when necessary. As the commercial and cultural centre of Zambia, Lusaka has seen rapid development in recent decades, with reasonable transportation connections and widely spoken English making the city highly attractive to vacationers and experts alike. Unemployment and poverty are issues in the city, and beyond. Key industries for the region and Zambia as a whole, include mining, agriculture, and tourism. Like most Southern African cities, life in Lusaka will require some adjustments for a person moving from outside the region, but the potential rewards and opportunities for experiences are well worth the effort.

Lusaka hosts several international organization and embassies/diplomatic missions, therefore there is a very large community of expatriates from around the world. Housing is most of the time readily available and of good standard options are available. Most foodstuffs, beverages, household goods, furniture, and clothing, mostly imported from South Africa, Europe, and China while some ranges of local brands are available at a competitive price to imports. Meat, fish, fresh fruits, and vegetables are reasonably priced and abundantly available.

The basic infrastructures roads, utilities, and telecommunications are of reasonable standard, although the city experiences power outages from time to time. Medical facilities are still largely inadequate, although several private clinics and hospitals provide reasonably good routine care. Several restaurants around the city serve local or international cuisine and there are numerous social and sports facilities (fitness, tennis, swimming, riding, golf, etc.) in the major hotels or in different establishments around the city. There are no major or special security concerns within Lusaka city limits. For more information, please visit http://zambiatourism.com.

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Potential interview questions

Added 6 hours ago - Updated 46 minutes ago - Source: unv.org