Northern Ukraine has approximately 3 million ha of wet peat soils, many of which have been drained for agriculture; approximately 1 million ha remain in a natural state. This landscape is a mosaic of steppe forests, wetlands, and river valleys, which sustain rich but threatened ecosystems. Livelihoods are agriculture-based, with livestock farming a key part of the economy. Although the drained peatlands briefly provided rich agriculture lands, over a short time the drained peatlands have become degraded, as mineralization and peat fires take a continuous toll, while emitting GHGs. The water table across the region continues to subside, which causes forest die-offs. Peat fires also have a significant negative impact on human health and local economies. Land use is not optimized, so agriculture continues to encroach on high value ecosystems. However, increased grazing and hay cutting could be beneficial in some abandoned lands in order to maintain biodiverse open peat meadows that are being overgrown by woody vegetation. Underlying drivers of this situation are limited local and national capacity and coordination in land use planning, limited technical knowledge for agriculture on wet peatlands (paludiculture), limited capital access and investment in sustainable agriculture, limited and deteriorating water management infrastructure, and livestock value chains that currently do not sufficiently incentivize sustainable livestock production in peatlands.
The project will catalyze a transition across the landscape to sustainable livestock farming in peatlands, while restoring key areas for maintenance of ecosystem services to support both vibrant livestock agriculture and biodiversity. This will be achieved through i) implementation of Integrated Land Use Plans (ILUPs); ii) promotion of sustainable livestock production practices and value chains, including a multi-stakeholder sustainable livestock platform; iii) conservation and restoration of natural habitats; and iv) coordination, learning, information dissemination, and knowledge management. Planned project results include more than 9,000 direct beneficiaries; improved status of biodiversity including 18 globally significant species; 150,000 ha under improved agriculture; 40,000 ha of land restored; 240,000 ha of high value peatlands and steppe forest ecosystems conserved; and increased knowledge and understanding of sustainable livestock practices in wet peat soils.
In this context, the Project Associate will be responsible for the overall support of implementation of the described projects and other related outputs related in the Energy and Environment Portfolio, performing a variety of standard operational services within the projects’ frameworks ensuring high quality and accuracy of work.
I. Support in the coordination and implementation of designated project activities:

• Assist in the coordination, and implementation of selected activities/components within different projects
• Provide comprehensive support to projects’ monitoring and evaluation activities, assist in data collection, and keep updated relevant databases, contact lists, etc.
• Assist in the preparation of regular updates and reports on projects’ progress, implementing issues, emerging risks/problems, and proposals for necessary remedial actions
• Participate in various project activities (meetings, round tables, conferences, other public activities) as requested by the supervisor
• Assist in the organization of online and offline events of the projects, and other communication activities
• Ensure full compliance of activities with UNDP rules/regulations, and policies/procedures.

II. Provide administrative and logistical support to ensure projects’ results:

• Support in the organization and coordination of meetings, training sessions, workshops, conferences, and project events, as well as prepare reports and meeting minutes as required
• Assist in managing project finances, and processing invoices for project related goods and services
• Assist in preparing project budget and maintaining necessary budgetary controls and records
• Assist in managing procurement processes, and provide inputs for request for quotations/proposals as well as for the projects’ procurement plans
• Prepare tenders’ documentations and small procurements (canvassing) under the guidance from the Procurement Analyst
• Assist in the procurement processes including vendor creation, e-requisitions, etc.
• Assist in drafting terms of references for consultants and contractors as required, and provide support to the recruitment of short-term consultants in line with UNDP rules and regulations
• Assist the project teams, experts, and consultants with travel and logistics matters
• Coordinate and organize trainings, field visits, missions, and conferences as needed
• Keep accurate electronic and paper filing, information, and records systems.

III. Support in networking/communicating with partners and beneficiaries:

• Assist in maintaining cooperation and communication with projects’ partners and beneficiaries on the implementation of the agreed activities, especially for the events, trainings, and workshops that will be conducted
• Maintain the contact database related to partners and beneficiaries, assist in sharing information, and following up on partnership related issues as assigned by the supervisor
• Prepare official correspondences for national and international partners.

IV. Support knowledge building, knowledge sharing and capacity building relevant to the assigned project.

• Participate in training and organize briefings on internal procedures for the project staff. Provide support to other capacity building activities, including to the design and delivery of tools, materials for workshops, or platforms that tap into the collective intelligence of communities and mobilize action.
• Provide support in the dissemination and sharing of relevant data and lessons learned within the CO and regionally. Keep pulse on emerging best practices nationally, regionally, and internationally that relate to the work of the assigned project.
• Make sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice. Support compiling and systematizing project knowledge, products and tools as well as their wide distribution to partners.
  The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the Project Associate provides ongoing project and administrative assistance and support to the projects, performing a variety of standard administrative processes ensuring high quality and accuracy of work.

• Business management: Communication: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience; Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.
• Administration & Operations: Documents and records management: Overall document (hard or electronic) management; registry and retention policy including storing and archiving
• Administration & Operations: Events management (including retreats, trainings and meetings): Ability to manage events, including venue identification, accommodation, logistics, catering, transportation, and cash disbursements, etc.
• Finance: Budget management: Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets
• Procurement: Contract management: Knowledge of contract management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations