Project Analyst

Background

UNDP Philippines is supporting the government’s effort to implement the decommissioning and normalization aspects of the Bangsamoro peace process. It has designed the programme “Assistance for Security, Peace, Integration and Recovery for Advancing Human Security in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao” (ASPIRE for BARMM) to help address the challenge of collecting unregistered personal firearms in the hands of non-state actors and private armed groups within the conflict-affected communities in BARMM. Due to the significant adverse ratio between decommissioned combatants and firearms “put beyond use,” this challenge has become a point of contention between the parties (i.e. Government of the Philippines and the MILF) to the peace process. The program outcome aims to integrate comprehensive human security policy initiatives, ranging from those that address the socio-economic needs of former combatants to those that promote climate action and disaster risk reduction, thereby contributing to the advancement of local SDG implementation among all people in Mindanao.

As such, UNDP is seeking to hire a Project Analyst who is qualified to support the Peace and Stabilization Programme Team (PSPT) in managing the day-to-day operations of Project ASPIRE for BARMM. The Project Analyst is tasked with assisting in the design and implementation of project activities, ensuring the high quality, accuracy, and consistency of work. The Project Analyst is expected to report to the Project Specialist and will also receive guidance from the Project Manager. The position holder also demonstrates a client-oriented approach, tact, and ability to work with people of different national and cultural backgrounds. Moreover, the Project Analyst works closely with other project colleagues from the Peace Programme Team and with representatives from other UN Agencies, government officials, technical advisors and experts, multilateral and bilateral donors, and civil society to successfully implement the activities.
 

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the UNDP Resident Representative, Team Leader of the Peace Programme Team, and Project Manager, and through the direct supervision of the designated Project Specialist, the Project Analyst will be tasked to deliver distinct outputs of the project, to ensure quality implementation--from activity design, budgeting, monitoring, and organizing events.

The Project Analyst will be directly responsible for completing the following set of tasks within allotted, agreed-upon time frames:

Ensure effective administration and implementation of project activities.

• Support the Project Team in identifying, developing, and regularly updating project implementation strategies, including preparing and adjusting Annual Work Plans, Financial Plans, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Frameworks, and Communications Plans by UNDP POPP/PPM Guidelines.
• Contribute to the analysis, review, and synthesis of thematic proposals and provide technical inputs to support evidence-based planning and programming.
• Assist in the preparation and presentation of relevant information, data, and reports to identify strategic areas for support, policy intervention, and programme alignment.
• Support implementation of the Country Office (CO) partnership and resource mobilization strategies by providing inputs for donor reporting, knowledge products, and briefing materials.
• Ensure that all project documentation and implementation activities are systematically tracked and reported in accordance with UNDP standards, and that gender and inclusion considerations are effectively integrated across all outputs and processes, to the extent permitted by the local context.

Establish partnerships and facilitate communication to support effective project management.

• Provide technical support to the formulation and implementation of country programmes by preparing thoroughly researched inputs, including project document drafts, work plans, budgets, low-value agreements, and proposals for implementing arrangements in coordination with relevant stakeholders and implementing partners.
• Initiate project setup and contribute to presentations before the Project Appraisal Committee (PAC); support entry of project data into UNALL and Quantum systems, and ensure timely finalization of contribution agreements, budget revisions, and project closure processes through detailed review and coordination.
• Participate in inter-agency and project oversight committees, such as the Local Project Appraisal Committee (LPAC) and the Contracts, Assets, and Procurement Committee (CAP), where you analyze and submit procurement documentation for review and endorsement.
• Act as a liaison between UNDP and executing partners by providing continuous technical guidance on implementation, monitoring financial resource use, and ensuring alignment with established targets, indicators, and milestones.
• Contribute to operational and substantive analyses of project resources and expenditures; identify bottlenecks or systemic issues and propose solutions to enhance overall project delivery and partner engagement.

Support effective coordination and communication on administrative and financial processes.

• Guide project stakeholders and implementing partners on the preparation and submission of supporting documents for payments, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and compliance with UNDP financial policies and procedures.
• Facilitate open communication and coordination with operations and finance units to maintain a functioning internal expenditure control system that ensures timely matching and posting of transactions in UNALL and Quantum.
• Monitor financial transactions in collaboration with relevant units and ensure the timely resolution of issues related to unposted vouchers, including those with budget check errors, match exceptions, and unapproved statuses.
• Serve as a communication link between the project team, finance personnel, and partners to ensure shared understanding of financial procedures and to support accountability and transparency in the use of project resources.

Contribute to the creation of strategic partnerships and support resource mobilization efforts.

• Assist the Project Manager in managing relationships with key partners and stakeholders to ensure the effective, efficient, and timely implementation of project activities through coordinated efforts and shared objectives.
• Conduct analysis of donor and partner information, develop comprehensive donor profiles and databases, and initiate contact with donor counterparts to explore areas of collaboration and support.
• Track and report on mobilized resources, ensuring accurate documentation and communication of funding flows and utilization in line with donor agreements and project targets.
• Serve as a liaison with donor and implementing partner counterparts to support the planning and implementation of joint initiatives, identify opportunities for new partnerships, and contribute to the expansion of the project’s resource base and visibility.

Facilitate knowledge sharing and strengthen collaboration through learning and innovation.

• Organize and facilitate training sessions, workshops, and capacity-building activities for programme and project personnel in coordination with partners and technical experts to ensure continuous learning and skill enhancement.
• Document and synthesize lessons learned, best practices, and implementation insights from project activities to inform future programming, enhance adaptive management, and promote institutional learning.
• Contribute actively to knowledge networks, communities of practice, and peer learning platforms by sharing relevant project experiences, tools, and results that support broader organizational learning and collaboration across development partners.
  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 Direction and Strategy

• System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Partnership management

• Emerging Partnerships: Ability to engage with emerging partners, develop and manage a strategy and develop approaches to developing and managing these new strategic partnerships. 
• CSO engagement: Knowledge and understanding of CSOs and the ability to engage with CSOs

Administration & Operations

• Events management (including retreats, trainings, and meetings): Ability to manage events, including venue. dentification, accommodation, logistics, catering, transportation, and cash disbursements, etc

Finance

• Audit (General):  Understands how regulations and professional standards in internal and external audit underpin audit work in the public services. Understands the key stages of audit work, including planning, documentation, testing and reporting. Ability to examine and verify accounts and records. Understands wider mechanisms for assurance and scrutiny. Understands the law and best practice relating to anti- bribery and corruption controls and the fraud risks faced by public bodies.
• Budget management: Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets.
• Audit risk management: Ability to address risks and audit issues raised in the course of an audit and propose solutions in order to ensure a true and fair audit opinion is achieved.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Social Sciences, including International Development, Community Development, Project Management, Peace and Conflict Studies or other related field is required. Or 
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) the areas mentioned above in combination with additional two (2) years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of advanced university degree

Experience:

• Applicants with a master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field of study are not required to have professional work experience.
• Applicants with a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) are required to have a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience in project management and coordination, preferably in peacebuilding and conflict 
• Demonstrated capacity in project management including preparation of budgets, annual work plans and financial reporting is an advantage.
• At least one (1) year of experience in Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) management, disarmament, or decommissioning-related work Is an advantage. 
• Proficiency   in   standard   software   applications   Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook etc Is an advantage. 
• In-depth knowledge of Bangsamoro issues, peace processes, and the normalization process is an advantage. 
• Proficiency in negotiation and mediation, with the ability to facilitate dialogue and conflict resolution is an advantage
• Previous experience in International Organizations, such as UN is an advantage.
• Established rapport with security sectors and MILF peace partners, with a deep understanding of the peace and conflict landscape is an advantage
• Experience working within the Bangsamoro Ceasefire and Normalization Mechanisms is desirable.
• Proven ability to collaborate with key stakeholders involved 
  in the peace processes in the BARMM is an asset.

Required Languages:

• Fluency in English and Filipino is required.

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.

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