Project Assistant

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

The overall objective of Göksu Taşeli Watershed Development Project (GTWDP) is to reduce rural poverty by supporting economic diversification through value chain development and sustainable natural resource management. The Project targets to increase farmers’ income from improved agricultural production and marketing activities in the targeted area with strengthened resilience to climate shocks. The Project would also contribute to improving the standards of living of the nomadic Yörük tribes in the highlands of the Taurus Mountains, through capacity building that would assist them to organize for improved management of the common natural resources. The project outcomes include: i. sustainably increased farm productivity, ii. higher product prices received by smallholder producers. The GTWDP is being implemented in selected villages of 11 districts of Konya and Karaman provinces of Central Anatolia. These districts are located in the Göksu sub-catchment, one of the four in the East Mediterranean Watershed. The Project area includes 238 villages that are situated in the mountainous parts of the 11 districts where the elevation varies between 600 m and 1 800 m. Background of Uplands Rural Development Project (URDP). The overall objective of the Upland Rural Development Project (URDP), on the other hand, is to enhance the welfare and socio-economic resilience of small farmers in highlands. This objective can be attained by making the use of natural resources sustainable and improving the resilience and economic opportunities of poor people in rural areas based on farms and agribusinesses linked to more profitable economic clusters. The key strategy of the Project includes developing rural production, encouraging sustainable use of soil and water, and enhancing the adaptation capacity of smallholding farmers to climate change. This strategy depends on two basic complementary outcomes (outputs): (i) Development of critical agribusinesses through better natural resource management and high added value for rural transformation by using an economic clustering approach, (ii) Enhancing access of small farmers to financial services by strengthening special financial resources. At the first stage, the Project will be implemented in the Eastern Mediterranean (Adana, Mersin, Osmaniye) and the Western Black Sea (Bartın, Kastamonu, Sinop) regions targeting 45 districts and 30,000 households. At the second stage of the programme, the inclusion of additional provinces will be evaluated by IFAD depending on the successful implementation of first phase. Quantitatively URDP’s two phases are expected to benefit about 60,000 households, or 294,000 beneficiaries. URDP beneficiaries are divided into three main categories: (i) economically active poor households, (ii) economically active households with upsides, and (iii) contributors to rural development and clustering investments. URDP has three components: (i) Clustering for Flexible Rural Transformation, (ii) Inclusive Rural Finance, (iii) Project Management.

Under the supervision of Projects Coordinator and the Head of Department of Survey and Projects (DSP) of General Directorate of Agrarian Reform, the Project Assistant (PAS) will perform the following duties in accordance with UNDP and IFAD policy and procedures, including but not limited to: Ensures administration and implementation of the operational strategies focusing on achievement of the following results: • Full compliance of project activities with IFAD, MoAF, UN/UNDP rules, regulations, policies and strategies; implementation of the effective internal control, proper functioning of a client-oriented project management system.

Assist project implementation processes for NIM project focusing on achievement of the following results: • Assist the PPMU/CPMU to set up and maintain an effective monitoring and recording system on project activities. • Assist in preparation, implementation, monitoring of Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWPB) and Procurement Plans, • Flag and provide justification for possible deviations from procurement plans and action, • Assist in ensuring contract management effectively through keeping up to date records • Prepare Contract Monitoring Forms • Maintain register of suppliers and contractors • Provide support to the bidding and contracting processes and contracts management including but not limited to: o Performance monitoring, o Temporary and final acceptance of goods services and works, o Preparation and submission of payment requests to GDAR/MoAF

Ensures organization of logistical and travel services focusing on achievement of the following results: • Organization of travel including purchase of tickets, DSA calculation, conference facilities arrangements; when necessary. • Review of travel authorizations, documentation, payments

Ensures effective administrative and financial control in the office, focusing on achievement of the following results: • Implementation of the control mechanism for administrative services, maintenance of administrative control records such as commitments and expenditures. • Review, research, verification and reconciliation of a variety of data and reports ensuring accuracy and conformance with administrative rules and regulations • Assistance in the preparation of budget, audit and other reports • Review of data integrity in the database, control programme. • Facilitation of knowledge building and sharing.

Ensures proper control of Project Assets focusing on achievement of the following results • Set up assets management in the project, provide timely preparation and submission of periodic inventory reports, coordination of physical verification of inventory items. • Coordination of the provision of reliable and quality office supplies • Implementation of Inventory and physical verification control in the projects • Ensure timely provision of inputs for reporting of project activities and support for developing and maintaining the Project Management Information System (MIS) • Any other task assigned by the project as per requirements.

☒ Accountability ☒ Adaptability and Flexibility ☒ Client Orientation ☒ Commitment and Motivation ☒ Integrity ☒ Knowledge Sharing ☒ Self-Management ☒ Working in Teams

supporting project management in the public, private and non-profit sector contexts • Experience in project implementation • Experience in assisting in organizing events and activities. • Experience with assisting administrative work (i.e. finance, procurement, accounting, etc) of Project • Strong English and Turkish language drafting skills • Assist the Project Team in the administration and implementation of the daily project activities. • Provide technical, administrative and logistical support for the organization of events, workshops and meetings • Provide support to the M&E processes including data collection, data verification and re-porting of the activities, • Provide soft assistance to the Project team during procurement, and tracking, and financial processes as required and when necessary, • Perform any other administrative and logistical duties as requested by the Project Manag-er/Projects Coordinator/Portfolio Manager • Develop initial drafts of the reports/minutes of meetings in Turkish and in English. • Provide assistance to the Project team in filing related information, documentation, and correspondences. • Facilitate communication and Project activities among the project partners as requested, • Assist in mail and e-mail transmissions and co-ordination of appointments

This assignment’s duty station is Ankara and relocation is required for the one not living in Ankara. Due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, this can be within a month after contracted upon agreement with the hiring manager. The UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging her/his own housing and other living essentials. UNV Entitlements in a Nutshell for National UN Volunteer (Specialist): • Current Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) is approx 17,334.5 TRY (USD 937.16) • 100% health, life and dismemberment coverage by CIGNA. As per UN’s diplomatic mission status, it is not included in National Security Institution’s (SGK) system but can be initiated on private basis. • Entitlement to annual Leave at the rate of 2.5 working days per completed month of volunteer assignment • Entry allowance for covering relocation expenses • Exit allowance upon completion of service • Several learning opportunities

Unified Conditions of Service is available on UNV's website.