Job Description

1. Position Information

Office/Unit/Project

UNDP Türkiye

Climate Change and Environment Portfolio

EU Partnership for Local Climate Action in Türkiye Project

Title
Project Associate Level
NPSA-7 Duty station (City and Country)
Ankara, Türkiye Type (Regular or Short term)
Regular Office- or Home-based
Office Expected starting date
15 July 2026 Expected Duration
6 Months, with possibility of renewal based on the satisfactory performance and availability of funding Position Number 224128

2. Office/Unit/Project Description

UNDP is the UN's global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life.

UNDP positions itself as a development partner that brings global knowledge, through a multi-sectoral approach – the key comparative advantage of UNDP - and concentrates its work on 3 programmatic fields: i) Inclusive and Sustainable Growth, ii) Inclusive and Democratic Governance, iii) Climate Change and Environment (CCE).

CCE Portfolio focuses on three programmatic areas that complement each other: 1-Natural Resource Management contributing to sustainable environment management and conservation of natural resources in production landscapes, within the general framework of the ecosystems approach; 2- Climate Change and Disaster Resilience (including chemicals and waste) strengthening institutional capacities for analysis and risk management for resilience with a specific emphasis on climate change, and 3- Cooperation with relevant stakeholders to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy.

The European Union and the Government of Türkiye are jointly implementing the 'EU Partnership for Local Climate Action in Türkiye' project, in a bid to bolster local climate action and guide the nation towards a future that is both climate-resilient and low-carbon. Working closely with the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change (MoEUCC), local authorities, and key stakeholders, the project focuses on enhancing capacities at different levels of governance and society.

The Project;

• aims to enhance climate risk assessment capacity. It focuses on bolstering the preparedness of local authorities to tackle climate change impacts by conducting comprehensive vulnerability and risk assessments.
• is directed towards improving local climate planning capacity. The aim here is to provide a regulatory framework for developing Local Climate Change Action Plans (LCCAPs), and pilot the creation of these plans in select municipalities.
• targets the enhancement of local decision-making and implementation capacities for climate action. Interactive tools developed as part of this component, integrated into the online national climate portal, will arm local stakeholders with vital resources to make informed decisions and effectively execute climate action plans.
• is designed to improve public awareness, enhance local stakeholder capabilities, and foster collaboration to implement climate actions. Through tailored capacity-building programs and awareness-raising initiatives, this component aims to equip municipalities and local stakeholders with the tools and knowledge needed to design and implement effective climate change actions.

The Projet Associate (PA) will be assigned full time for the whole project’s duration. PA will assist the Project Manager in fulfilling his/her duties and tasks. The PA shall be responsible for supporting day-to-day implementation of project activities, drafting progress reports and output related substantial documentation as well as liaising with the EUD as well as national and international stakeholders at the institutional level. PA will also provide assistance to other key experts or relevant stakeholders, as deemed necessary by the Project Manager. PA will report to the Project Manager.

3. Scope of Work

Under the supervision of the Project Manager, the Project Associate is responsible for efficient and timely implementation of the activities referred in the project document and the associated work plan. S/he is also expected to support project planning and AWP formulation as well as quality check of the technical reports and other outcomes. S/he will maintain high standards of service delivery, including adherence to deadline, quick response time, accuracy and completeness of information, sensitivity to client needs.

Project planning and AWP formulation:

• Support the preparation of AWPs of the Project.

• Support the preparation of the annual budgets and procurement plans of the Project under the coordination of Project Manager and Projects Implementation Administrator.

• Make periodic revisions of AWPs and procurement plans of the Project in consultation with the Project Manager.

Timely and effective implementation of the project

• Provides general administrative support to ensure the smooth running of the project management.

• Provides project logistic support to the Project Manager and short term consultants in conducting different project activities (trainings, workshops, stakeholder consultations, arrangements of study tour, etc.).

• Supports the control of budget expenditures by preparing payment documents, travel related documents for the project staff and reviewing financial reports.

• Controls the usage of non-expendable equipment (record keeping, drawing up regular inventories).

• Keeps regular contact with project experts and consultants to inform them about the project details and changes.

• Provides English translation as required.

• Provides logistical support to the project staff and project consultants, inter alia, for travel arrangements.

• During the visits of foreign experts, manages their visa support, transportation, hotel accommodation etc.

• Supports project experts during implementation and monitoring of site-based joint activities with local stakeholders.

• Files and archives all relevant correspondence and project related documents (tender dossiers, proposals, technical reports, evaluation reports etc.).

• Plans and organizes implementation of project activities according to AWP and project budget. Coordinates implementation with, and between, the project partners ensuring effective information flows between partners.

• Organizes the Project Steering Committee meetings.

• Organizes and coordinates project meetings, reviews and site visits.

• Organizes project events (meetings, workshops, events, seminars, training).

• Monitors timetable and performance of contractors (consultants, companies) and makes necessary amendments thereto.

• Monitors bottlenecks and problems in project implementation, proposes/takes necessary corrective actions as required.

• Prepares inputs to APR and compile project reports according to the project document (monthly reports, quarterly reports, donor reports, final report).

• Drafts correspondence, notes, briefs and other materials and documentation.

Project inputs administered timely and efficiently according to project plans and UNDP procedures

• Prepares inputs to procurement related documents such as ToR/RFP/RFQ/ITB,etc.

• Assists in evaluation of bid and offers, compiles and prepares necessary documentation.

• Assists in selection of project experts and consultants and participates in selection process.

• Prepares documents related to HACT framework such as Direct Payments (RDPs) for signature.

• Provide assistance in formulation of expectations, duties and deliverables of the experts and companies as necessary.

• Provide support in reviewing and providing feedback on the technical reports submitted by the contractors of the project.

• Assist in ensuring that the deliverables submitted by the contractors of the project are in alignment with the defined deliverables in the ToRs.

4. Institutional Arrangement

Project Associate will report to the Project Manager and work in close co-operation with the Projects Implementation Administrator to ensure the project inputs are administered timely and efficient manner according to UNDP rules and procedures. The Project Associate will be expected to be present on the premises of the Directorate of Climate Change of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change during the expected days of the weekdays.

5. Competencies

Core
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

Thematic Area Name Definition Business Management Working with Evidence and Data

• Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making

Business Management Digital Awareness and Literacy

• Ability and inclination to rapidly adopt new technologies, either through skillfully grasping their usage or through understanding their impact and empowering others to use them as needed

Business Management Customer Satisfaction/Client Management

• Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers' needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests. Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns.

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.

Business Management Monitoring

• Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media, and other appropriate channels.

Business Management Operations Management

• Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results.

Business Management Knowledge Management

• Ability to plan and coordinate administrative and logistical processes to ensure smooth implementation of project activities.

Technical - Finance Budget management

• Ability to collect, document, organize and share information, ensuring systematic filing and accessibility of project records.

Technical – _Procurement

Procurement

management

• Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets
• The ability to acquire goods, services or works from an outside external source

6. Minimum Qualifications of the Successful NPSA

Min. Education requirements

• Secondary education is required, or
• Bachelor’s degree in business administration/economics, engineering, political/social sciences, city and regional planning, climate change, environmental sciences, or related fields will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.

Min. years of relevant work experience

• A minimum of 7 years (with high school diploma) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible administrative experience is required.

Required skills

• Excellent command of Microsoft Office, Windows-based applications
• Proven 1 years of technical experience in climate change adaptation/local climate action planning/vulnerability risk assessment.
• Experience in project cycle management

Desired skills and qualifications in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

• Experience in working with or coordinating among public institutions, municipalities, civil society organizations and/or academia, donors.
• Experience in working with or coordinating among consultants or experts.
• Experience in organizing and coordinating events and activities including planning, organizing logistics, and preparing documentation for hybrid, in-person, and online formats.
• Experience in supporting monitoring project progress or maintaining workplans, and supporting results-based reporting.
• Experience in supporting review of technical documentation.

Required Language(s)

• Fluency in written and spoken Turkish and English is required.