Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

The project is designed to address the gender-specific barriers faced by women entrepreneurs in Uzbekistan, with a focus on improving access to resources, capacity building, mentorship, and advocacy for systemic change. The outcome of the project is to empower women entrepreneurs in Uzbekistan by enhancing their access to resources, the skills to sustainably grow their businesses, and advocating for policy reforms to create a gender-responsive entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The project aims to significantly enhance the performance and growth of women-led SMEs by providing tailored business acceleration programs. These programs will improve business practices, increase access to financing, and equip women entrepreneurs with essential skills, such as financial literacy, business strategy development, and loan application procedures. The project will focus on developing a gender-sensitive capacity-building curriculum and a comprehensive mentoring framework that takes into account the unique challenges faced by women. This is expected to result in stronger, more resilient women-led businesses that are better positioned to access new markets and resources.

Through the implementation of a robust mentorship program, the project will connect women entrepreneurs with experienced mentors who can provide personalized guidance. The mentorship will focus on strategic business growth, leadership skills, financial planning, and overcoming gender-specific barriers in entrepreneurship. By fostering a supportive peer network, the mentorship program will also help build long-term relationships among women entrepreneurs, strengthening their confidence and capacity for business leadership. Over time, this will contribute to increasing the number of women entrepreneurs successfully scaling their businesses and taking on leadership roles in Uzbekistan’s economy.

The project will also drive systemic change by improving the research, policy advocacy, and broader entrepreneurial ecosystem for women entrepreneurs. By conducting in-depth research on the needs of women-led businesses, including access to finance, markets, and resources, the project will provide evidence-based recommendations to policymakers and financial institutions. This will create a more supportive ecosystem for women entrepreneurs, resulting in improved access to finance, mentorship, and market opportunities.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Associate is responsible for providing administrative, financial, and operational support to ensure the project’s effective and efficient execution. This includes managing day-to-day financial transactions, supporting project procurement, assisting in financial reporting, and ensuring compliance with UNDP's operational and financial guidelines. The Project Associate will work closely with the Project Specialist and project team members to facilitate budget tracking, financial reporting, and administrative coordination.

The Project Associate will work under the direct supervision of the Project Specialist, and provide financial services to ensure high quality, accuracy and consistency in work. The Project Associate will work closely with national partners, the operations and program departments of the UNDP office and will have the following roles and responsibilities:

Support the project team to ensure effective project planning and implementation

Be responsible for logistics, travel arrangements, and hiring project staff, in accordance with corporate rules and UNDP requirements.
Encouraging understanding and promotion of gender equality among project staff and partners.
On the basis of consultations with the Project Specialist and the UNDP Operations, carry out the procurement in accordance with the rules and procedures of the UNDP.
Preparation of all financial and administrative documents required for project implementation in accordance with UNDP rules and procedures.
Preparation of all financial and administrative documents related to the implementation of the project in accordance with UNDP rules and procedures, budgeting of costs and obligations for the project.
Preparation of quarterly and annual budget plans for recruiting staff; execution and storage of financial statements, and maintenance of the monitoring system for recording the corresponding expenses, balances, payments and other data on daily financial activities and preparation of reports.
Assist project personnel, experts and consultants in matters of financial costs, advance payments, transportation costs and other financial and administrative costs, preparation and authorization of payments for the services provided.
Preparation of detailed cost estimates, participation, if necessary, in budget analysis and forecasting to support the financial operations of the project, alignment of all accounts within the required time frame.
Processing, updating the list and keeping records of intangible assets in accordance with UNDP requirements.
Execution of duties of a cashier, responsibility for the distribution of the project-based cash flow, keeping records of the cash book and payment orders of regional divisions.
Analyzing potential administrative and financial issues and taking the necessary steps to ensure that sufficient resources are available to carry out the tasks assigned to the project.
Identifying effective measures to optimize the use of project resources.
Ensuring full compliance of administrative and financial processes and financial reporting with the UNDP requirements, policy and strategy.

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.

Provide support to the effective monitoring, evaluation, and reporting on progress of project implementation

Monitoring of vacations of project employees, checking the correctness and appropriate filling of the monthly report card on the presence at the workplace, vacations, absences at the workplace due to illness, etc.
Collect, analyze and present information for monitoring and evaluation of project implementation against project targets as well as for audit purposes. Identify gaps in implementation and provide support in bridging those gaps in consultation with supervisor and partners.
Assist in the organization of field and study visits, missions, workshops, roundtables, and conferences within the project.

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 Project Specialist and in close collaboration with relevant project partners, the Project Associate will be responsible for the implementation of the project activities. The Project Associate will provide operational services, ensuring high quality, accuracy and consistency of work. Project Associate works in close collaboration with the Government counterparts, project, operations, and Programme’s staff in the UNDP CO to exchange information and ensure consistent service delivery and undertake day-to-day responsibility for operational and thematic support services for the satisfactory achievement of the project component outputs.

Qualified female candidates are encouraged apply.

Competencies

Core competencies:

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 and technical competencies:

Business direction & strategy

Business Acumen
- Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome.
- Ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks. Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization.

Business Development

Knowledge Facilitation
- Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation, contribution, and exchange.

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 the customer service strategy. Look for ways to add value beyond clients' immediate requests.
- Ability to anticipate the client's upcoming needs and concerns.

Finance

Budget Management
- Ability to support budgetary aspects of the 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.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Secondary education is required. Or
A university degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, Environment, or similar areas will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.

Experience:

Minimum of 7 years (with a high school diploma) or 4 years (with a bachelor’s degree) relevant work experience, preferably in project administration, is required.
Experience in financial management, administration, or accounting, preferably within an international organization or development project setting, is required.

Desired skills:

Prior experience managing budgets, handling procurement processes, and ensuring compliance with financial policies is desired.
Experience liaising with government agencies, donors, and partners.
Skilled in preparing reports, presentations, and project briefs to support decision-making and knowledge sharing
Proficiency in the use of computer software applications, particularly MS Excel, is an asset.
Demonstrated experience in the use of information and communication technology as a tool and resource is desired.
Experience in handling web-based management systems is an asset.

Languages:

Fluency in English and Uzbek is required.
A good command of Russian is desired.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.

Project Associate [Open to internal and external applicants]