Program Assistant
Global Environment Facility (GEF)
Location: Washington D.C.
Last Date: July 6, 2008
Job Title: Program Assistant
Network: None
Sector: None
Manager Name: Richard Hosier
Department/Division: GEF
Grade: GC
Appointment Type: 2 Year Coterminous Term (Local Hire)
HR Contact: Doreeen Kapakasa
Location: Washington, D.C.
*** This is a local 2 year coterminous term appointment. If selected, open-ended staff are encouraged to seek a re-entry guarantee into their releasing unit ***
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is a multilateral financial mechanism created in 1991 to provide grant and concessional funds to recipient countries for projects and programs that address biodiversity loss, climate change, and degradation of international waters, land degradation, ozone depletion and persistent organic pollutants within the framework of sustainable development. Resources for the GEF Trust Fund, which finances GEF’s programs and projects, are mobilized every four years.
GEF is open to universal membership, and currently 178 countries are members. The GEF is governed by a Council comprising 32 Members appointed by constituencies of GEF member countries. An Assembly of all member countries meets every four years at the ministerial level.
GEF is the designated financial mechanism for three international environmental conventions: the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. GEF is a designated financial mechanism of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.
Since its inception as a pilot facility in 1991, GEF has committed $6.2 billion in grants to over 1,800 projects in more than 160 developing countries and transitional economies. Available funding for GEF activities in the period 2006 to 2010 is $3.13 billion (fourth replenishment period).
Ten agencies (the GEF agencies) are principally accountable for the execution of GEF projects: the U.N. Development Programme (UNDP), U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Bank (IBRD/IFC), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the U.N. Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
The GEF Secretariat, construed for administrative purposes as a VPU within the World Bank, has a staff complement of professional and ACS staff of approximately 50. The GEF Secretariat has recently been restructured into four teams: Climate and Chemicals, Natural Resources, External Affairs, and Corporate Operations, Policies and Financial Services. Each team is led by a team leader, who is accountable to the CEO and Chairperson.
GEF is now recruiting a Program Assistant to assist in project tracking. The incumbent will work as an integral part of the Climate and Chemicals team and will report on a day to day basis to the Team Leader for Climate and Chemicals.
SPECIFIC DUTIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES
1. Track project processing. Assist in the coordination, processing, tracking and dissemination of GEF project submissions climate change, ozone depletion, and persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
2. Maintain project processing database. Enter, update and retrieve GEF project data utilizing the GEF database.
3. Prepare and file project documents. File project documents, project reviews, and project correspondence, and prepare standard project-related correspondence; and undertake project document finalization, printing and distribution in consultation with
the Program Coordinator.
4. Attend team meetings, take and prepare minutes;
5. Edit and format reports and documents;
6. Handle Encorr (Internal incoming correspondence) by replying to and closing correspondence log within deadlines
7. Edit the team’s travel plan
8. Arrange meetings and teleconferences for Inter-Agency Task Forces and other meetings; handle conference logistics (e.g., consultants’ travel/payments and presentation materials);
9. provide support to GEF Council meetings and document preparation and mailing;
10. provide back-up assistance to other ACS staff as needed; assist staff working with NGOs and country relations; initiate transactions in SAP for consultant and visitor travel and for other matters as directed; and undertake other tasks as requested by the Team Leader.
11. Perform other tasks as requested.
Selection Criteria:
1. Extensive knowledge and demonstrated experience in operational support functions and database management.
2. Strong interpersonal skills, positive attitude and ability to work effectively in a team environment.
3. Demonstrated degree of initiative and reliability, with ability to develop practical approaches to improve office effectiveness.
4. Ability to handle concurrent activities efficiently under pressure, with minimum supervision and to meet tight deadlines.
5. Excellent secretarial and organizational skills and attention to detail.
6. Thorough knowledge of and proficiency in information technology (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, SAP, Lotus Notes). Knowledge of PageMaker would be an advantage.
7. Flexibility and willingness to work overtime, especially during Council meetings.
8. Five years relevant experience.
Contact:
Christopher F. Briggs
Team Leader Operations, Policies & Finance
Global Environment Facility,
1818 H St. NW.
Washington
DC 20433
Email: CBriggs@theGEF.org
Internet: www.TheGEF.org