Overexploitation of marine resources is a major global issue and a key driver of changes in the marine environment. Excessive fishing is caused by a variety of inter-acting factors, including the growing global demand for seafood.  Growing demand for seafood is driven by complex interactions of several factors, including population growth, diet diversification in industrialized countries, growing emphasis on seafood as a healthy and nutritious food, rising income and a related change in diet preferences in developing countries, rapid urbanization and the associated increase in demand of more processed and higher value added products, increased trade, improved distribution channels, and transformations in the food distribution and retail sectors.

To bridge this gap Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) and WWF initiated the concept of fisheries improvement projects (FIPs). A FIP is a collaborative effort of the value chain stakeholders (from fishermen to retailers) to improve the sustainability of the fishery. FIPs give an opportunity to fisheries that cannot be certified or do not wish to be certified to benefit from their efforts. FIPs can be complementary to MSC certification by supporting fisheries improvement before entering the assessment process.

Hence, project’s objective is to contribute to the transformation of the market by mainstreaming sustainability in the value chain of important seafood commodities from developing countries, improving emerging tools such as corporate sustainable purchase policies and FIPs, motivating changes in national fisheries policy for improved fisheries administration, and generating learnings to be shared worldwide. This, considering that overfishing is in part the result of market pressure because of growing seafood demand. Market tools have been used to motivate that the demand focuses on sustainable sources, however sustainable seafood products are still a small share of the market.

The project will allocate GEF resources strategically to:

1.     engage major seafood buyers in the main world markets (EU, Japan, US) into responsible sourcing, providing tools to prepare and implement sustainable seafood sourcing policies,

2.     adapt the concept of green commodities platforms (currently used in agriculture) to the seafood value chain, implement public-private sustainable marine commodities platforms in Costa Rica, Ecuador, Indonesia and Philippines to generate experience that could be used in other countries,

3.     support the stakeholders of these platforms to develop practical experience with fisheries improvement projects and upgrade existing tools for FIP implementation and monitoring, and,

4.     upgrade existing information platforms to facilitate access to reliable material to value chain stakeholders in support of sound decision making, and capturing, documenting and disseminating the learnings of the project.

The project target fisheries include tuna fisheries in the Pacific Ocean, Mahi Mahi (dorado) and large pelagic fish in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, Indonesian snapper, Filipino octopus, and blue swimming crab fisheries in Indonesia and The Philippines. The project is an inter-regional intervention. Market engagement and knowledge management are global components. The sustainable marine commodities platforms and FIPs will be implemented, using a participatory approach, in Costa Rica, Ecuador, Indonesia and Philippines.

Given this background, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Philippines, as implementing partner of the project ‘Global Sustainable Supply Chains for Marine Commodities’, with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as implementing agency of the Global Environment Facility, requires a Project Clerk to support the implementation of this project.

Under the direct supervision of the National Platform Officer and the overall guidance of the National Platform Coordinator, the Project Clerk will be responsible for general project administration, day-to-day office activities, and liaison with counterparts. S/he will provide comprehensive secretariat support to the project senior staff, including drafting correspondence, taking of minutes, arranging and organizing project events, making travel arrangements and related tasks.

• Be responsible for day-to-day project correspondence, information sharing, and filing ensuring that appropriate follow-up actions are taken;
• Support in organizing field visits and travel;
• Logistics support for meetings, workshop, training, and seminars;
• Support to organizing meetings workshops, trainings and events (preparing minutes, drafting and sending out invitations, agenda and drafting follow up actions);
• Perform other tasks as assigned by the National Platform Officer.

• Day-to-day payments with full compliance of relevant guideline and proper recording of disbursement and all financial transactions;
• Petty cash is operated and handled smoothly.

• Operation of software and produce reports to assist the GMC project;
• Prepare project inventory, update project files, dispatch letters, recording of incoming and outgoing mails, and record of capital and non-expendable goods;
• Proper recording, marking and coding of fixed assets and also maintain records of office supplies;
• Procurement of office supplies and other expendable items;
• Maintain proper records of staff leave, monthly timesheet, travel, consultants and other stakeholders;
• Maintain record of donors, partners, stakeholders and others to ease for correspondence;
• Maintenance of office equipment and other equipment;
• Support in organizing administrative works smoothly.

Demonstrates integrity and fairness by modeling UN values and ethical standards;

Displays cultural and gender sensitivity and adaptability;

Treats all people fairly and without favoritism; and

Shows strong corporate commitment. 

Technical/Functional

Project Management

Ability to plan, organize, and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

Execute & Learn: Execute & Learn: Perform defined tasks

Report Writing

Ability to prepare quality reports

Execute & Learn: Performs defined tasks efficiently and deepens knowledge of area of work

Accounting (General)

Knowledge of accounting concepts, principles, regulations, and policies and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations

Execute & Learn: Performs defined tasks efficiently and deepens knowledge of area of work

Budget Management

Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets.

Technical Assistance: Performs defined tasks efficiently and deepens knowledge of area of work

Internal Reporting and Accountability

Ability to create internal reporting and accountability processes and standards

Execute & Learn: Performs defined tasks efficiently and deepens knowledge of area of work

Quality Assurance

Ability to perform administrative and procedural activities to ensure that quality requirements and goals are fulfilled

Execute & Learn: Performs defined tasks efficiently and deepens knowledge of area of work

Service Delivery Coordination

Ability to coordinate and deliver services in line with service level agreements and standards of excellence in UNDP

Execute & Learn: Performs defined tasks efficiently and deepens knowledge of area of work

Stakeholders Management

Ability to manage multiple stakeholders and balance often contradictory expectations, building and maintaining relationships

Execute & Learn: Performs defined tasks efficiently and deepens knowledge of area of work

Procurement

The ability to acquire goods, services or works from an outside external source

Execute & Learn: Performs defined tasks efficiently and deepens knowledge of area of work

Logistics

Knowledge of logistics operations, principles and methods, and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations

Execute & Learn: Performs defined tasks efficiently and deepens knowledge of area of work

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, Economics, and/ or other related fields.

Experience:

2 years of relevant experience in field administrative assistance, administrative and technical assistance in Fisheries Sustainability projects, training support, procurement and logistics, preferably for international development organization/s.

Experience in UN Agencies and UN processes is an advantage.

Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.);

Language Requirements:

Good working knowledge of English and Filipino.

UNDP is committed to gender equality in its mandate and its staffs and encourages. Further, UNDP is a United Nations organization whose staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, neutrality and impartiality. This includes respect for and commitment to human rights, diversity, and non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. UNDP staff are expected to uphold these values at all times, both at work and outside.

UNDP has zero tolerance of harassment, discrimination, sexual abuse, abuse of authority and exploitation.

Job adverts (Please remember to mark local positions as “Open for Filipino Nationals Only”

To start the application process, applicants are required to register at http://jobs.undp.org by creating a personal profile and completing UNDP Personal History Form. Please note that UNDP only accepts degrees from accredited educational institutions. Only applications received throughhttp://jobs.undp.org will be considered and applications received after closing date will not be considered. Due to the large number of applications received for UNDP Philippines vacancies, only applicants short-listed for written test and interview will be contacted.

General Information

UNDP is committed to gender equality in its mandate and its staffs and encourages applications from qualified candidates and persons with disabilities.

UNDP is a United Nations organization whose staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, neutrality and impartiality. This includes respect for and commitment to human rights, diversity, and non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. UNDP staff are expected to uphold these values at all times, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for UNDP jobs.

UNDP has zero tolerance of sexual abuse, abuse of authority and exploitation.

 Important information for US Permanent Residents (‘Green Card’ holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: 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.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Scam warning

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

 The United Nations does not charge fees at any stage of the recruitment process (application, testing, interviewing, etc.). The United Nations does not concern itself with information related to bank accounts.

Contract Duration: 6 Months