Organizational context

Established in 1964, the International Trade Centre (ITC) is the joint technical cooperation agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization (WTO) responsible for promoting sustainable trade, particularly exports, from developing countries and economies in transition. ITC’s objective is to strengthen the competitiveness of developing countries’ businesses in global markets, accelerate their economic development, and contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

The four-year (2025-2028 ) Africa Trade Competitiveness and Market Access (ATCMA) Programme – Central Africa Component aims to sustainably increase intra-African trade as well as trade between Africa and the European Union (EU). Implemented by ITC and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), this programme aims to improve market access for specific value chains and strengthen the competitiveness of exporting SMEs in these sectors. It covers the 11 member countries of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). 

A team of professionals and support staff is mobilized for the implementation of the program. The team is led by a Regional Program Manager , based in Yaoundé, Cameroon, who is directly assisted by a technical expert and an Administrative and Financial Assistant attached to the Yaoundé office. A Program Coordinator , based at ITC headquarters in Geneva, will liaise between the local office, ITC technical experts and support functions, while finalizing reports.

 Duties and Responsibilities

< 1.)  Assist in Financial Management 

• Record and monitor financial transactions, in collaboration with UNDP (ATLAS system), prepare requisitions and payment requests;
• Assist the project team in developing the budget linked to the annual work plan;
• Undertake budget reviews, verify availability of funds, ensure necessary approvals are obtained and entered into the computerized budget system 
• Prepare payment requests, fees and per diem for consultants and experts, settlement of supplier invoices and other;
• Monitor the acquisition of goods and services;
• Record cash register transactions (petty cash/imprest account) and produce a quarterly expense report. 

2.)     Assist in administrative and operational management

•  Assist the project team in the implementation of project activities;
• Contribute to the preparation of periodic progress documents and reports;
• Prepare and draft correspondence relating to current affairs and ensure their transmission to their recipients;
• Write minutes of internal coordination meetings; 
• Support the development of terms of reference for recruitment and activities 
• Ensure the archiving and classification of files and working documents, including electronic ones 
• Record, scan, archive received and dispatched documents, routine correspondence, memoranda and reports and any project documents (narrative and financial) in accordance with standard operating procedures in paper and electronic (Share Drive) media for ease of access, reference and confidentiality
• 3.)     Assist in Logistics Management 
• Assist in coordinating the logistical organization of conferences, seminars and meetings organized by and for the ATCMA-CEEAC/ITC program, including the logistics of welcoming ITC experts and their consultants on mission as well as local participants invited to conferences, seminars and meetings; 
• Ensure the preparation, organization and coordination of internal and external official missions for project team members, including: management of travel authorization requests in UMOJA, preparation and follow-up of visa applications, reservations and confirmations of airline tickets, hotel reservations, organization of ground travel, coordination with the United Nations Security Services (UNDSS), distribution of per diems, and processing of post-mission travel expense reports;
• Support the management of operations necessary for the smooth running of activities in collaboration with the coordination unit in Geneva, including: travel authorizations (visas), preparation of memoranda of understanding, purchase requests and field expenditure authorizations (FAs); 
• Provide secretarial services for conferences, seminars and meetings organized and prepare the minutes and reports of said events, in accordance with established formats; 
• Be the focal point in the management and supervision of project inventories, equipment and supplies, including the supply of materials, tools and equipment necessary for the proper functioning of the office, management of vehicle use and fuel supply. 
•  4 ) Assist in Personnel Management 
• Manage monthly leave reports and ensure administrative follow-up of documents related to leave and missions of staff recruited through UNDP, the local team, consultants, regional focal points and visitors on mission in Central Africa, ensuring their compliance with United Nations regulations and their transmission within the required timeframe;
• Provide advice and assistance to the local team on administrative matters;
• Serve as an interface with contracted consultants;
• Act as UMOJA focal point for tasks related to Administration and Human Resources.  >

The post holder performs other tasks relevant to his functional profile, deemed necessary for the proper functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional device

The Administrative and Financial Assistant  will be under the supervision of the Regional Program Manager based in Yaoundé.

Key skills

< Achieving Results:  LEVEL 1  :  Focus on achieving quality, impactful results. Always strive to meet or exceed standards of excellence.

Thinking Outside the Box / Thinking Innovatively:  LEVEL 1: Going Beyond Conventional Approaches and Established Methods

Continuous Learning / Lifelong Learning:  LEVEL 1: Actively seek opportunities to learn and develop, both professionally and personally. Keep abreast of new developments in your professional field.

Adapting with Flexibility / Adapting and Being Flexible:  LEVEL 1: Welcoming all change with flexibility and adopting new ideas, approaches and ways of working 

Act with determination: LEVEL 1: Pursue your mission with motivation and energy. 

Collaborate and Partner:  LEVEL 1: Demonstrate empathy and emotional intelligence, taking into account the needs and feelings of others.

Fostering Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Treat all individuals with respect, consider ethical issues, and demonstrate sensitivity to all individual differences>

Cross-functional and technical skills 

Organizational Management/ Customer Satisfaction/Management / Be able to provide a quick and appropriate response, taking into account the urgency of the situation, provide consistent solutions, and obtain timely and quality results or solutions in order to fully understand and satisfy real customer needs. Contribute to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value to immediate customer requests. Know how to anticipate future customer needs and concerns.

Ethics/ Knowledge of United Nations Policies/  Knowledge and understanding of the United Nations Staff Regulations and Rules and other policies relating to ethics and integrity of the organization.

Administration and Operations/ Document and Archive Management/ Overall document management (paper or electronic); recording and retention policy, including storage and archiving.

Administration and Operations/Event Management (including retreats, trainings and meetings) / Ability to manage events, including venue sourcing, accommodation, logistics, catering, transportation, cash expenditures, etc.

Finance/Financial Planning and Budgeting/ Ability to create and manage processes to achieve UNDP’s short and long-term financial objectives, including planning, budgeting, forecasting, analysis and reporting. 

Finance/Banking and Cash Management/ Ability to collect, process and manage cash, which involves assessing market liquidity, cash flows and investments.

Communication/Writing/Multimedia Editing/ Ability to create and/or edit written content for multimedia.

Required skills and experience 

Education:

<Secondary Education Diploma is required

Or

University degree (Bachelor’s degree) in Administration, Management, Finance or an equivalent field will be duly considered but not a requirement

a certification in Administration, Management, Finance or an equivalent required field will be considered an asset.>

Experience:

< At least five (5) years (with a high school diploma) or 2 years (with a Bachelor’s degree) of relevant professional experience in a similar position in administration, the private sector or international organizations, in a project management framework (planning, implementation, administrative management) >

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 Equal opportunities

 As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values ​​diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures in which we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply for positions within the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the position, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all staff members are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse of authority

 UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination, or abuse of authority. All selected candidates are subject to appropriate screening and are required to adhere to relevant standards and principles.  

Right to select multiple candidates

  UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from among those who applied for this job opening. We may also retain applications and consider recruiting candidates for this position for other similar positions within UNDP, at the same hierarchical level and with similar requirements in terms of job description, experience and education.

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