Administrative and Finance Assistant at United Nations

Job Opening Number: 19-United Nations Environment Programme-112232-Individual Contractor
Location: Port Harcourt, Rivers
Expected duration: Initial appointment of 6 months, with possibility of extension.
Department/Office: United Nations Environment Programme
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Result of Service

• The Administrative and Finance Assistant will provide administrative support to UNEP’s team in Port Harcourt.

Duties and Responsibilities

• The United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) is the United Nations system-designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action.
• The Crisis Management Branch delivers high quality environmental expertise to national governments and partners in the UN family. Field based assessments of the environmental impact of crises form the core of UN Environment's conflict and disaster management operations. However, as the international community has shifted its focus from post-crisis intervention to crisis prevention, the branch has also expanded its operational range, adding disaster risk reduction and environmental cooperation for peacebuilding to its core services of post-crisis environmental assessment and recovery.
• The region of Ogoniland, in the Niger Delta of Nigeria, has suffered from widespread environmental contamination due to oil production during several decades. UN Environment assessed the extent and severity of the hydrocarbon contamination in a report published in 2011: soil, sediments, groundwater, surface water, mangroves, and swaps ecosystems were particularly affected, and alarming public health impacts on the population were highlighted. UN Environment evaluated that ecosystems remediation could take up to 30 years, and estimated the costs of ecosystem remediation to up to USD 1 billion for the first 5 years of activities.
• The Federal State of Nigeria has committed to follow UN Environment’s recommendations, by creating the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), a dedicated institution to undertake the clean-up process under the Federal Ministry of Environment. However, the process of establishment of this institution has stalled for several years, and only recently the institution had its initial budget approved and entered the planning phase of decontamination work.
• UN Environment is proposing a project which will assist HYPREP and its Governing Council to discharge their responsibilities better. The project is designed in response to a request from the Government and the agreement has already been signed with the Government of Nigeria. This project comes as an integral part of UN Environments continuing support to the Government of Nigeria to clean up the environmental contamination in Nigeria and achieve lasting peace in the region. While this current project is for a duration of one year, it is clear that UN Environment’s technical support to Government of Nigeria will continue until the implementation of the original UN Environment report is completed.
• To support this work, UNEP is seeking to appoint an Adminstrative and Finance Assistant to work in the UNEP Liaison Office being set up in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The Terms of Reference for this position is given below.

Competency
Professionalism:

• Ability to perform a broad range of administrative functions, e.g., budget/work programme, human resources and database management, etc.
• Shows pride in work and in achievements.
• Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
• Remains calm in stressful situations.
• Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Communication:

• Speaks and writes clearly and effectively in English.
• Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately.
• Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience.
• Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Planning and Organizing:

• Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies.
• Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required.
• Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work.
• Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning.
• Uses time efficiently.

Academic Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent is required. University degree in business administration or equivalent is desirable. Technical training in Accounting, Finance is desirable.

Experience:

• A minimum of six (6) years of work experience in the field of business administration using financial and programme systems is a requirement.
• Good knowledge of financial and administrative rules and regulations is an advantage.
• Experience working with the UN and/or international organisations is an advantage.

Language:

• English is the working languages of the UNEP Office in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
• The ability to speak one, or more, of the four Ogoni languages is an advantage.