Programme Support Officer - Finance, Sri Lanka

General

Description of assignment title: Programme Support Officer - Finance

Assignment country: Sri Lanka

Expected start date: 05/20/2024

Sustainable Development Goal: 16. Peace, justice and strong institutions

Volunteer category: National UN Volunteer Specialist

Host entity: UNODC

Type: Onsite

Duration: 6 months

(with possibility of extension)

Number of assignments: 1

Duty stations: Colombo

Details

Mission and objectives

For two decades, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has been helping make the world safer from drugs, organized crime, corruption and terrorism. We are committed to achieving health, security and justice for all by tackling these threats and promoting peace and sustainable well-being as deterrents to them.

Because the scale of these problems is often too great for states to confront alone, UNODC offers practical assistance and encourages transnational approaches to action. We do this in all regions of the world through our global programmes and network of field offices.

The Office is committed to supporting Member States in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at its core. The 2030 Agenda clearly recognizes that the rule of law and fair, effective and humane justice systems, as well as health-oriented responses to drug use, are both enablers for and part of sustainable development.

Context

The Global Maritime Crime Programme (GMCP) of the United Nations Office

on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) was established in 2010 as the Counter Piracy Programme (CPP), in response to United Nations Security Council resolutions calling for a concerted international response to address piracy off the Horn of Africa. Since then, its mission and mandate have expanded both thematically and geographically, covering a much wider spectrum of maritime crimes within six ocean spaces globally. With its headquarters located in Colombo, Sri Lanka, the Programme is committed

to supporting Member States through its mandate to develop cooperation both at a regional and international level and build law enforcement capacity among Member States to counter serious organized crime within the maritime domain. Under its Indian Ocean East portfolio, the Programme is providing technical assistance to maritime law enforcement authorities and criminal justice actors in Bangladesh, the Maldives and Sri Lanka. Within this context, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is looking for a UN National Volunteer - Programme Support Officer (Finance) to be based in Sri Lanka, under the guidance and direct supervision of the GMCP Programme Associate for Sri Lanka, to provide support for financial monitoring and reporting of UNODC projects and agreements.

Task description

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the UNODC GMCP Programme Associate-Sri Lanka, and overall direction of Regional Programme Coordinator of GMCP-IOE team, the Programme Support Officer (Finance) will mainly provide support for financial data processing, monitoring and reporting of financial information related to project implementation as per the UN Financial Rules and Regulations.

The UNV is expected to be able to perform the following tasks:

• Assist the Programme Associate - GMCP IOE to review financial reports shared by

Implementing Partners. This includes checking the accuracy of the data and compliance of agreement terms.

• Follow up with Implementing Partners on submission of financial reports as per the required timelines in the agreements. Alert the Programme Management on any delays of report submissions.
• Assist the management by preparing reports, spreadsheets with calculations required for reporting of expenses in the financial system of UNODC.
• Track the open commitments status of all active grants under GMCP IOE.
• Assist the management for financial reconciliations including reconciliations of charges posted by UNDP for administrative tasks conducted by them.
• Liaise with UNDP and UNV offices as and when required for inquiries related to Finance.
• Attend meetings between GMCP IOE and Implementing Partners
• Maintains and keep up-to-date files related to financial aspects of project implementation including programming templates, budget revisions etc.
• Provide finance related administrative support for day-to-day office functions.
• Perform any other duties as required/assigned.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark IVD);
• Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities;
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites,

newsletters, press releases, etc.;

• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.eLXIAOp R6xE8
• Network and build relationships with local organizations, groups or individuals and support and/or participate in local volunteering initiatives.

Eligibility criteria

Age: 27 - 80

Nationality

Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.

Requirements

Required experience

3 years of experience in Finance/Accounting functions or Project management is required;

• Excellent analytical skills and report writing skills is required;
• Good communication skills is required;
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications such as Excel,

Word, etc.) is required;

• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners,

including other UN agencies is required;

• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment and ability to work

effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel is required;

• Ability to work with minimum supervision meeting tight deadlines is required;
• Experience in drafting, implementing and monitoring of agreements/contracts is desirable.
• Working knowledge of Sinhala/Tamil is required.

Area(s) of expertise

Administration, Communication, Economics and finance

Driving license

-

Languages

English, Level: Working knowledge, Required

Required education level

Bachelor degree or equivalent in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration/Management, Project Management or any other relevant degree is required; Full or Part professional qualification in financial or management accounting will be an added advantage.

Competencies and values

• Accountability
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Creativity
• Judgement and decision-making
• Planning and organising
• Professionalism
• Self-management
• Teamwork

Other information

Living conditions and remarks

Sri Lanka is an island nation located off the south coast of India. An estimated population of around 21 million people is sheltered in this multi-ethnic, multi- cultural and multi- religious country. Colombo is situated in the Western Province of Sri Lanka and is the commercial capital of the country. The city is located on the west coast of the island, adjacent to the administrative capital, Sri Jayawardenepura

Kotte. Bandaranaike International Airport is located 35km from Colombo and is served by the main international airlines. Sri Lanka is a tropical country with moderate temperature and high humidity all throughout the year. Average temperature in Colombo ranges between 27 and 30 degrees Celsius.

The island experiences two main monsoon seasons, where heavy rainfalls occur, from May to August and October to January. Rice and curry comprise the main dishes. Sri Lankan cuisine tends to be quite spicy. There are hotels and other types of accommodation options available in Colombo. Supermarkets, banking and medical facilities are present within the city. Telephone and Internet service is widely available. Phone plans and data are inexpensive; however, it should not be expected that the internet services work consistently or at a high speed. At present Sri Lanka is undergoing high inflation and an economic crisis. The public unrest and protests are common. The prices of common commodities fluctuate on a daily basis and shortages can also be experienced. Main health advisories are related.

COVID 19 and Dengue, which is also highly prevalent in Sri Lanka, especially after the rainy seasons. Mosquito repellent is available in all local drug stores. Sri Lanka is a unique country and UN is providing unique humanitarian operations in Sri Lanka. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more resilience and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in challenging conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential. As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious acts insurance plan.

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person's race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements

Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy