Project Analyst

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) serves as a global development network, championing transformative change and offering resource and knowledge-sharing across approximately 170 countries. In partnership with host governments, UN bodies, and other stakeholders, UNDP focuses on state-building, governance, and sustainable development. In the Maldives, UNDP has been a trusted partner for 45 years, supporting the country in governance, environmental protection, and climate change adaptation and mitigation.

You are invited to join a team of dedicated development professionals whose primary role is to support the Maldives to achieve the 2030 Agenda. As part of the UNDP team, your focus will be to work with multiple stakeholders to find the country-specific solutions that lead to sustainable development and to ensure no one is left behind - and we reach those furthest behind first.

UNDP is looking for individuals who have the communication, analytical, planning, and implementation capacities that can address links, choices, and connections across many issues and sectors. We seek individuals who can apply global best practices to national contexts. We are looking for people who are enthusiastic, motivated, and committed to making a positive contribution to Development in the Maldives.

Funded by the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR), Maldives Resilient Reef Ecosystem and Economy for the Future (Maldives RREEF) project aims to establish sustainable financing mechanisms to support coral conservation and facilitate the development of, and investment in, projects and businesses that sustainably contribute to the resilience of coral reefs and the communities living on these atolls. The project will engage local private sector actors, including micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises led by men and women; support the development and deployment of incubators and accelerators for coral-positive entrepreneurs and enterprises; promote the use of and access to diverse and innovative financial instruments; and catalyze private sector finance at scale to protect Maldives's reefs and build the resilience of local communities through the Blue Economy. 

The project is implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology (MECCT), Maldives Marine Research Institute (MMRI), Fuvahmulah Nature Park (FNP), Addu Nature Park (ANP), Ministry of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture (MFMRA) as the primary partners. The project will also work closely with SME Development Financing Corporation (SDFC), Business Centre Corporation (BCC), Maldives Marine Research Institute (MMRI), Addu City Council (ACC), Fuvahmulah City Council (FCC) and the Ministry of Tourism. 

The Project Analyst will be based in UNDP Maldives and will report to the Project Manager (GFCR), UNDP. The Project Analyst will be required to undertake domestic and international travel as per the requirements of the project.
 

Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Project Manager, the Project Analyst will ensure effective and timely delivery of Maldives Resilient Reef Ecosystem and Economy for the Future (Maldives RREEF) project.

Functions/Key expected results:

Support the implementation, management, and delivery of project results:

• Provide support for day-to-day project management through planning and implementation of envisaged activities, management of resources and monitoring progress against the intended outputs and initial quality criteria.
• Support the oversight, monitoring and implementation of work plans and budgets for all activities.
• Perform initial check against project annual work plan for all types of payment requests and process in accordance with UNDP Financial Rules and Regulations.
• Support the conformity of results with the Project Document and UNDP rules and procedures through budget preparation and management, planning and general monitoring of the project.
• Support the coordination of activities with project components led by other partners.
• Support the timely and high-quality reporting to management and donors against work plans and according to agreed structure.
• Support the effective governance of the project through the organization of Projects’ Steering Committee meetings and preparation of technical inputs on the progress of work and risks management.
• Ensure that human rights-based approach and gender equality are mainstreamed throughout the implementation of project outputs and activities.
• Support the effective communication of results and build the visibility of the Project amongst stakeholders as well as among the international community within and outside the country.
• Support the overall accountability of the use of GFCR project funds as well as the strict and consistent application of UNDP rules and regulations in all project operations including monitoring of budget expenditures, ensuring that no expenditure is incurred before it has been authorized and maintain a proper record of commitments and planned expenditures.
• Support the year-end closure exercise to ensure timely financial reporting of current year’s activities and timely commencement of following year’s activities. Clean up all PO with balances, take necessary actions maintain, delete, close or re-phase prior year obligations.
• Support visibility of the GFCR project, including adherence to visibility standards and templates of the donor, UNDP and Government, as required. 

Ensure project planning, monitoring and reporting: 

• Support the overall project implementation including planning, budgeting, implementation and monitoring.
• Support the efficient coordination of the GFCR project including timely planning processes and delivery of results taking into consideration agreed upon work plans with the UNDP CO and the participating stakeholders.
• Support the capacity building of national counterparts.
• Support the identification, management, monitoring and reporting of risks, as well as escalation within UNDP and the project governance arrangements, as needed. 
• Support the effective project implementation through close monitoring of results, effective application of RBM tools and management of targets, coordination and follow through on decentralized reviews/evaluations.
• Support full compliance with audit requirements and timely follow-up to audit recommendations.
• Prepare and the project progress reports (progress against planned activities, update on risks and issues, expenditures).
• Ensure timely submission of quarterly financial and activity progress reports to UNDP as well as adequate financial management of allocated resources.
• Ensure timely preparation of reports for UNDP to donors and other stakeholders.
• Prepare presentations to donor partners, government and other stakeholders as required.

Support the Project Manage in liaison, coordination and partnerships with external and internal partners:

• Support the building of trustful relationships and maintain a continuous and constructive dialogue with government, civil society, local communities, and donors to maximize consistency, synergy and maximize impact and results.
• Support the identification of strategic stakeholders and partners for the effective undertaking of outputs and activities.
• Support the development of new partnerships with civil society and/or non-governmental/ community-based organizations, local communities and the private sector to effectively deliver the project outputs and activities.
• Ensure adequate information flow, discussions and feedback among stakeholders according to the agreed management arrangements.
• Ensure regular communication of project results, including through communication products, digital content, visibility materials, and liaison with media in the country and beyond. 

Support the Project Manager in knowledge building and management:

• Support the identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned for organizational sharing and learning. 
• Contribute to building the corporate body of knowledge in the area of blue economy, SDG financing and coral reefs conservation by systematically (1) sharing knowledge with respective colleagues and stakeholders, and (2) ensuring that relevant experiences and lessons are well recorded and disseminated.
• Contribute written inputs to UNDP flagship products/newsletter/policy briefs, based on project results, data and information, lessons learned and best practices.
• Support the systemic capturing of key lessons learned generated by the project through feasibility studies, research, surveys well as other primary and secondary sources to produce knowledge-based products.
• Monitor performance and results of the project and ensure the highest UNDP standards in the provision of technical and advisory inputs, organization of workshops, seminars, training and delivery of outputs (products).
• Compile project related reports, and upload into relevant UNDP database or digital platforms as required.

Ensure proper filing and maintenance of all hardcopy and electronic files of all project related documents in as per UNDP requirements.