Programme Assistant

Org. Setting and Reporting
- The position is located in the Office for Africa (OA), Division of Country Programmes (DCP) at ITC Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. DCP/OA is responsible for coordinating and managing the development and implementation of several multidisciplinary trade-related technical assistance projects in the Africa region. The Programme Assistant will support the administrative and logístical management of OA Continental and West Africa projects including managing schedules, maintaining contact databases, handling correspondence, organizing meetings, maintaining office records and processing travel requests, procurement, and grant agreements.
- Responsibilities
- Under the direct supervision of the Continental Programme Officer, in close collaboration with the West Africa Programme Officer, and the general guidance of the Chief, Office for Africa, DCP, the Programme Assistant will be responsible for the following duties: - Provides assistance in support of planning and implementation activities/processes for, typically, a large and highly complex component of the departmental programme/project initiatives. - Researches, compiles, analyses, summarizes, and presents basic information/data on specific programmes/project and related topics. - Assists in the coordination of programme/project planning and preparation; monitors status of programme/project proposals; takes necessary action to ensure project documents are completed and submitted to relevant parties for approval. - Assists in the preparation and analysis of programme/project budget proposals; provides assistance in the interpretation of budget guidelines; reviews and coordinates submissions of programme proposals and budget estimates, ensuring that requisite information is included and justified in terms of proposed activities; propose adjustments as necessary; prepares reports and ensures that outputs/services are properly categorized. - Assists in the monitoring and evaluation of programmes/projects; categorizes, updates, tracks and analyses data related to programmes/projects, e.g. accounting records, outputs, resources utilized, deviations/revisions, etc.; carries out periodic status reviews, identifies issues and initiates requisite follow-up actions; prepares revised budget estimates; reports on budget revisions, expenditures and obligations, verifies availability of funds; ensures necessary approval and entry in computerized budget system; initiates financial authorizations for expenditures. - Collaborates with programme/project managers on performance reporting; liaises with relevant parties on the interpretation of the activities/services scheduled in the PB and various planning instruments such as the medium-term plan and internal work plans; provides assistance on reporting requirements, guidelines, rules and procedures and ensures completeness and accuracy of data submitted. - Drafts programme/project summaries, coordinates review and clearance process, and coordinates with editor, translation services, etc. on finalization and publication of report multiple languages. - Serves as focal point for coordination, monitoring and expedition of programme/project implementation activities, involving extensive liaison with a diverse organisational units to initiate requests, prepare standard terms of reference against programme/project objectives, obtain necessary clearances, process and follow-up on administrative actions and resolve issues related to project implementation, e.g. recruitment and appointment of personnel, travel arrangements, organisation of and participation in training/study tours, authorization of payments, disbursement of funds, procurement of equipment and services, etc. - Prepares, maintains and updates files (electronic and paper) and internal databases; designs and generates a variety of periodic and ad hoc reports, statistical tables, graphic content, and other background materials/notes to facilitate inspection and other reviews. - Drafts correspondence and communications related to all aspects of programme/project administration, including work plan and budgets, revisions and other related issues, as well as prepares unit contributions for a variety of periodic reports. - Provides guidance and training to new/junior staff. - Assists with the collection and analysis of data as well as preparation of data presentations and reports for information sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, planning and decision making. - Assists with visualizations and updating information material such as web pages or brochures. - Performs other duties as assigned.
- Competencies
- Education
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Job - Specific Qualification
- Not available.
- Work Experience
- Languages
- For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.
- Assessment
- Special Notice
- United Nations Considerations
- No Fee