Background

In line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), United Nations Sustainable Development Framework (UNSDF) and UNDP’s Country Programme Document (CPD), UNDP Sri Lanka developed a Portfolio, prioritizing SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, to implement Governance and Peacebuilding related projects.

The SDG 16 Portfolio is dedicated to supporting Sri Lanka’s development trajectory by addressing governance challenges, enhancing inclusivity, and strengthening institutions and promoting social cohesion. The Portfolio aims to enhance people-centered services, strengthen rule of law, enhance accountability, and strengthen Sri Lanka’s resilience to future challenges. UNDP prioritizes building space, capacity, and trust including for marginalized and vulnerable groups, ensuring their participation in policymaking and decision-making processes to meet their needs.

The Portfolio intervenes across four interrelated pillars: Pillar 1 – Voice and Representation, Pillar 2 – Rights and Justice, Pillar 3 – Strong and Efficient Institutions, and Pillar 4 – Social Cohesion. Each pillar includes dedicated projects aimed at addressing specific governance challenges within its thematic area.

In addition, The Portfolio attends to new emerging issues, including the investment in cross-cutting areas such as support for persons with disabilities, human rights, gender equality, youth empowerment, innovation, data and digitalization, and capacity development.

UNDP has been supporting the Parliament of Sri Lanka for more than a decade, contributing to improved ability of the legislature to deliver people-centered services and enabling the public to effectively engage in parliamentary proceedings and processes. It also has a special focus on mainstreaming gender, supporting women’s political participation and promoting youth participation in legislative processes. Whilst advancing public participation, representation, and ownership in the development trajectory through robust civic engagement & social dialogue, ensuring the “leave-no-one-behind” agenda is incorporated, including language and disability mainstreaming is also a key priority.

Against this backdrop, UNDP aims to recruit a Project Associate to assist the implementation of projects supporting the Parliament of Sri Lanka, while also providing support to the overall UNDP SDG16 portfolio. The role is expected to liaise with all the development partners supporting parliamentary development initiatives and in overall coordination with relevant internal and external stakeholders. The Associate will be based at the Parliament majority of its time.
Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Associate will be directly supervised and report to the Media and Parliament Specialist – UNDP and under the overall guidance of the Policy Specialist & Team Leader – Inclusive Governance.. The Project Associate will also liaise with other teams in UNDP.

Ensure effective implementation of projects and achievement of quality results pertaining to UNDPs support to the Parliament of Sri Lanka:

• Support day-to-day project implementation, including engaging external consultants and partners.
• Development of annual workplans and/or revision work plans in collaboration with colleagues and partners.
• Organizing public events such as training programmes, workshops, outreach and awareness-raising campaigns, seminars, and event-related communications.

Strengthening strategic partnerships and advocacy

• Strengthening and maintaining relationships between UNDP and other development agencies and Parliament actors.
• Strengthening partnerships with civil society organizations.
• Contribute to research, reporting and communications-related work in support of UNDP’s work with the Parliament of Sri Lanka, including compiling best practices from other countries
• Develop communication and advocacy messages, strategies, and materials.

Support knowledge building, knowledge sharing and reporting

• Provide support to capacity building activities, including the design and delivery of tools, materials for workshops, or platforms.
• Preparation of project progress reports and end of project reports including associated monitoring and evaluation activities.
• Provide support in the dissemination and sharing of relevant data and lessons learned. Keep pulse on emerging best practices nationally, regionally, and internationally.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
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

Core Functional and Technical competencies:

General (across the functions)

• Event planning and execution. Ability to plan, manage, and execute of public and private events to ensure that they support and amplify individual communications and advocacy initiatives, as well as UNDP’s overall brand and mandate.

Business Management

• Communication. 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

Partnership Management

• CSO engagement. Knowledge and understanding of CSOs and the ability to engage with CSOs

2030 Agenda: Gender

• Gender. Inclusive governance and women’s participation and representation

2030 Agenda: Peace

• Governance. Parliamentary development

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Secondary Education (GCE A/L) is required. OR
• A university degree (bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in Development Studies, Social Sciences, Political Science, Law, Gender Equality, or any other relevant area will be given due consideration but it’s not a requirement.

Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years (with secondary education) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) in related areas such as development, public administration, Law, gender equality, or another relevant field is required.
• Experience in development, governance, public administration, civil society or related sector.
• Experience working with national institutions would be an asset
• Experience in policy and programming support of governance processes an advantage
• Experience working with CSOs, or public consultation processes will be an asset
• Experience in analysis of the political, social, and economic trends developments will be an asset
• Experience with UNDP/UN system or other development actor would be an advantage

Required languages:

• Working knowledge of Sinhala and/or Tamil with excellent English communication skills.

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.

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.