The UNESCO Natural Sciences Program in Viet Nam provides supports in the freshwater, marine, ecological, earth and basic sciences, while at the same time promoting science, innovation and technology and capacity-building in the sciences and engineering.
The UNESCO Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP), founded in 1975, is a long-term programme executed in successive eight-year phases. IHP is the only United Nations intergovernmental programme devoted to water research, management, and related education and capacity development. In Vietnam, UNESCO has been implementing the IHP IX: Science for a Water Secure world in a changing environment in 2022-2029, to assist strengthening national capacity in addressing water security and climate change challenges in new context.
Within the framework of IHP IX, UNESCO Vietnam has been implementing projects in the freshwater field including the project “Groundwater resources in the Greater Mekong Sub-region: Collaborative management to increase climate change resilience” funded by The Adaptation Fund (ADF). The project will be implemented in the sub-Mekong region (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam) during 2024-2028. The project is in the preparation phase for kick-off in early 2024.
UNESCO Hanoi Office is looking for the position of Senior Project Assistant for Natural Science Unit, to support the projects' implementation. The position is for Vietnamese nationality only and will work on fulltime basis at UNESCO Country Office in Hanoi.
The post's level: SC 6. The position will possibly be extended upon fund availability and the performance.
Key assignments
Under the overall authority of the UNESCO Representative to Vietnam, the direct supervision of the Chief of Natural Science Unit and closely work with National Project Officer, the Senior Project Assistant will support for the IHP’s projects’ implementation, specifically be responsible for the following assignments:
Provide daily support for the projects’ preparation phase in Vietnam, including the technical kick-off workshops, fact findings missions, planning meetings etc. as appropriate.
Provide daily support for the program/project team in planning, implementing the project’s activities for the components in Vietnam.
Provide support in administration of project, notably in procurement, recruitment and logistics related to the project execution, drafting and following up on correspondence/memos, preparing and organizing events/meetings and workshops, taking notes and preparing minutes of meetings and workshops, arranging for missions and making travel arrangements, providing interpretation and translation support, preparing/handling the procurement and contracts, administration of contracts and contract’s tracking, providing inputs for reports, and collect information and literature (including journal articles, newspaper articles, reports etc.) on the topics relevant to the project.
Compile and maintain the filing related to the project (hard copies and soft copies on the office server) and relevant databases for program/projects for the use in the planning, analysis and evaluation of project operations; present data in narrative or graphic formats, as required. This includes files for the natural science program and project activities, consultant roster, contract management files and reports.
Work closely with national/provincial partners for effective implementation of the project activities in compliance with UNESCO standard operating procedures;
Support the program/project team, as needed, in communicating and managing consultants and service providers;
Coordinate and assist translation of documents, and provide interpretation during the meetings when required;
Assist the projects’ team in monitoring the overall implementation of project activities, and compile statistic, M&E data and analysis for progress/interim/final narrative reporting of the projects.
Support project team in financial management and monitor expenditure progress of the project on a regular basis for internal and donor reports, carbon tax reporting and financial reports etc.
Coordinate the editing, design, printing, and dissemination of various publications, and participate in relevant advocacy, outreach and communication activities related to the project.
Coordinate with the project team, the natural science team and the Communication Officer and collect their inputs for the UNESCO Vietnam website, Facebook and press releases etc.
Perform any other tasks as deemed appropriate.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Bachelor’s degree in environment, natural resources management, public administration, business, management, finance and/or other relevant fields;
Work experiences
At least 4 years of relevant work experiences in programme/project support, financial, and/or administrative service acquired at the national level, and/or in natural resources/water/climate change/environment related projects/programmes.
