Project Analyst, Shifting to Zero Waste Against Pollution (SWAP) project (Open to Tier 1 & 2 applicants only).

Description

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

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Within the full UNDP scope of UNDP’s portfolio, the organization delivers integrated solutions to the interconnected environmental and social challenges of climate change, disasters, biodiversity loss, energy transition including access and efficiency, public health, food security, and chemicals and waste pollution – while advancing development priorities on governance, prosperity, and resilience. 

UNDP supports countries to identify the right mix of policies, institutions, and financial frameworks to scale up climate and nature action, reducing chemical and waste pollution. UNDP helps translate global commitments under the Paris Agreement, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the Montreal Protocol, Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm Conventions and other international accords into effective local action, harnessing new ideas to tackle the financing challenge and supporting just and sustainable transitions that leave no one behind.

The Planet Hub is a key strategist, architect, enabler, and implementer that supports the achievement of the Strategic Plan 2026-2029 of UNDP. The Planet Hub drives UNDP’s vision of a world where economies and ecosystems thrive together — where energy systems are clean and accessible, nature is protected and restored, communities are resilient to climate impacts, and pollution is minimized. 

Cooling, Circularity & Pollution Prevention (C2P) is a key pillar in the Planet Hub which focuses on greening the supply chain of various industries and products to eliminate harmful chemicals, reducing plastic and waste pollution, and promoting sustainable cooling and circular economy. The team manages the portfolio of UNDP for the Multilateral Fund of the Montreal Protocol, providing policy and technical support on projects funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in the Chemicals and waste focal area, and relevant bilateral projects[1]. 

UNDP’s Sustainable Finance Hub (SFH) draws on a critical mass of UNDP expertise, initiatives, and partnerships to support the mobilization and leveraging of resources for the SDGs, Paris Agreement and Global Biodiversity Framework. It works through four service offers: public finance for the SDGs, private finance for the SDGs, integrated national financing frameworks and the SDG Finance Academy. SFH is an integral part of both the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) and the Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy (BERA), as well as part of the Global Policy Network (GPN). The Hub serves as a connector, broker and global coordinator among internal and external actors; curates and manages UNDP’s catalogue of service offers on SDG financing to governments, investors and companies, via country offices, to significantly enhance the scale and impact of UNDP’s work. UNDP’s Sustainable Finance Hub (SFH) sits at the core of the GPN and brings together expertise, initiatives and partnerships that mobilize and align public and private resources for sustainable development, climate action, biodiversity conservation, and pollution elimination.

In December 2024, UNDP’s global project Shifting to Zero Waste Against Pollution (SWAP) Initiative was approved by the GEF. SWAP aims to reduce chemical pollution in the value chain, and improve resource efficiency, by supporting pilot cities in emerging economies and Least Developed Countries towards a zero-waste vision in line with green chemistry, circular economy, and waste hierarchy principles for sustainable production and consumption. The comprehensive approach of the Initiative will be implemented in five cities: Freetown (Sierra Leone), Kocaeli (Türkiye), Montevideo (Uruguay), Tunis (Tunisia) and Tianjin (China). The global component of SWAP is implemented by the C2P pillar (Planet Hub) in cooperation with the SFH. In line with UNDP’s broader integrated finance approach, SWAP will also seek, where relevant, to connect city-level financing needs with wider national financing and planning processes, including financing strategies, Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs), Development Finance Assessments (DFAs), and Country Platforms, as appropriate. This is consistent with the Sevilla Platform for Action initiative on Integrated Finance for Climate, Nature and Development.

The SWAP Initiative will establish a Zero Waste Finance Platform to connect local public and private stakeholders with investors, Public Private Partnerships (PPPs), and fiscal/financial incentives for circular economy solutions. SFH plays a leading role in developing, testing, and scaling financial instruments and enabling frameworks under SWAP, in close collaboration with the Planet Hub. Where relevant, the Platform will also help connect municipal zero-waste investments with broader country-level financing frameworks and priorities, including those reflected in development, climate, and biodiversity strategies. The Project Analyst for the Shifting to Zero Waste Against Pollution (SWAP) project will support both the global SWAP project implementation and the Zero Waste Finance Platform.

[1] https://www.undp.org/chemicals-waste

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Support SWAP global project coordinator technically, as part of the Project Management Unit (PMU):

• Support the Project Manager in day-to-day management and oversight of project activities; communicate and coordinate with the responsible party / parties in the global component of the SWAP initiative;
• Contribute in the preparation of progress reports (including the annual Project Implementation Report to the GEF, or PIR). Provide inputs to the PIR and help coordinate the coordination of inputs from various national components into the single, comprehensive SWAP annual PIR to be submitted to the GEF;
• Coordinate and organise various project meetings, including regular calls with the project coordinators (global and national ones) and assistants, and regular meetings of the technical advisory committee at global level. This includes scheduling, agenda drafting, delivery, minutes taking and report drafting;
• Ensure all project documentation (progress reports, consulting and other technical reports, minutes of meetings, etc.) are properly maintained in electronic copies in an efficient and readily accessible filing system (shared repository), for when required by the Project Steering Committee, Technical committees, UNDP, project consultants and other PMU staff;
• Assist in preparing and reviewing draft reports, knowledge products (including communications strategy and dissemination), presentations and materials.
• Prepare presentations, briefing notes, and reports;
• Help with translation, proofreading and editing of documents; 
• Support internal communication needs and ensure flow of information and dissemination of material amongst project team and partners as needed; 
• Conduct research on partners, initiatives and donors as and when needed, including on due diligence processes;
• Provides inputs to the drafting and coordinate the approval process for different types of agreements, Contributions, Financing, Responsible Party Agreements, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) making sure they comply with their respective UNDP guidelines, and for clearance by the C2P Programme Management Unit.

b) Manage procurement processes of the SWAP Global Component in coordination with the BPPS Planet Hub C2P pillar Programme Management Support team, with emphasis on:

• Hiring of consultants through all procurement methods (GPN Roster, Competitive Processes, etc.), reviewing Terms of Reference, making sure they comply with all Procurement guidelines;
• Procurement of Goods/Services;
• Amendments / Extensions of contracts;
• Elaboration and update of procurement plans;
• Preparation and update of procurement reports for accurate tracking of processes; 
• Provision of guidance and support on supplier profile creation;
• Ensuring full compliance of procurement activities with UN/UNDP rules, regulations, policies, and strategic priorities through effective internal controls and properly used client–oriented procurement management system.

c) Support Hiring Processes for SWAP’s global component

• Liaise with BPPS C2P HR focal point for BPPS-related PSA contract processes, ensuring appropriate documentation is provided timely;
• Request Amendments of PSA contracts and support termination processes when applicable;
• Elaborate and maintain an accurate and updated PSA contract database for the SWAP project with main contract details.

d) Coordinate Travel Processes of SWAP global component

• Prepare and update Travel Plans for the PMU, for submission to the C2P Programme Management Support team;
• Create and update Travel Profiles as required;
• Monitor timely processing of travel requests and travel claims by the PMU and experts;
• Lead all Project Events and Workshops logistical processes with guidance of the SWAP global project coordinator – (venue selection, caterings, accommodations, participants’ travels, etc). These will need to adhere to UNDP Greening Moonshot principles for organising events, in view of minimizing environmental impacts

e) Coordinate administrative processes for SWAP (global component), including budget revisions:

• Perform duties in full compliance with UNDP financial regulations and rules, policies and standard operating procedures, including internal controls:
  • Implement financial strategies, and adapt processes and procedures in full compliance with UNDP rules, regulations, policies, and recording and reporting systems 
  • Perform duties in full compliance with UNDP financial regulations and rules, policies and standard operating procedures, including internal controls;
  • Stay up to date of latest updates and requirements coming from UNDP POPP and GEF rules updates.

f) Ensure that administrative requirements for the implementation of the SWAP initiative are fulfilled:

• In coordination with the SWAP Global project coordinator and the C2P Programme Management Support team, prepare budget revisions in Quantum and PIM+ for the SWAP’s global component;
  • Set up and maintain document control procedures and a document filing system, including for supporting documentation for financial reviews, continuously integrating relevant new information/data;
  • Assist in managing requests for day-to-day financial administration;
  • Maintain the internal expenditures control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed; transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Quantum;
  • Take timely corrective actions on unposted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers;
  • Budget checks for requisitions, Purchase Orders and vouchers;
  • Process and track payments of IPSA’s, service vendors, consultants;
  • Review and verify financial transactions, activities, and documentation; taking corrective actions as needed and reporting any unusual activities;
  • Monitor the proper functioning of the financial resources management system for office and programmatic budgets and resources in Quantum and PIMS+;
  • Creating requisitions, implementing budget and project award revisions; and project status; determination of unutilized funds, maintaining the internal expenditures control system;
  • Tracking, monitoring and reporting on the use of project resources;
  • Monitor budget of SWAP’s global component on regular basis and point out irregularities to Project Manager
  • Ensure all project information in PIMS+ database are correct and up to date at all times.
  • In coordination with C2P Programme Management Support team, coordinate payments for:
• Consultants;
• IPSA (retainer) contract holders;
• Contractors and Responsible Parties (as needed);
• Other.

B, Contribute to the implementation of Zero Waste Finance Platform 

a) Support to Financing Instruments and Strategies

• Assist in mapping fiscal and financial incentives (taxes, tariffs, subsidies, Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) mechanisms, Deposit Return Systems (DRS), Public Private Partnerships (PPPs)). Where relevant, this should take into account linkages to broader country financing frameworks and priorities, including Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs), Development Finance Assessments (DFAs), Country Platforms, National Development Plans (NDPs), Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs);
• Contribute to research and drafting for investment plans, financing strategies, and feasibility assessments. This may include identifying entry points for aligning city-level investments with wider national planning and financing processes;
• Collect and analyse data on expenditures for waste systems and cost recovery models;
• Support drafting of case studies and policy notes on financing innovations aligned with SFH’s service offers. Where relevant, these may reflect the integrated finance framing advanced through the Sevilla Platform for Action initiative on Climate, Nature and Development.

b) Partnership and Investor Engagement Support

• Maintain databases of financing partners (International Finance Institutions (IFIs), donors, private investors, impact funds);
• Support preparation of investor roundtables, PPP dialogues, and stakeholder consultations. Where appropriate, these engagements should reflect linkages between zero-waste investments and broader development, climate, and nature objectives at country level;
• Provide logistical and substantive support to national SWAP teams and municipal governments on financing instruments.

c) Facilitate Knowledge, Capacity Building & Communications

• Draft inputs for training materials, workshops, and South-South exchanges;
• Contribute to communication products highlighting financing innovations under SWAP. Where relevant, this may include tracking alignment with broader financing and policy frameworks;
• Prepare briefs and notes to disseminate lessons learned on financing mechanisms.

1. Monitoring & Reporting Support

• Contribute to monitoring finance-related indicators under the SWAP Results Framework;
• Draft inputs for GEF reporting (PIR, MTR, TE) and SFH corporate reporting.

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

Institutional Arrangements

The selected Project Analyst will work closely with the Policy Advisor, Environment and Development Finance and the SWAP global Project Coordinator to discuss and agree on a final detailed work plan, task requirements, working methodology and reporting lines. The Project Analyst will report directly to the SWAP global Project Coordinator with a secondary reporting line to the Policy Advisor, Environment and Development Finance, working in close collaboration with SFH and Planet Hub colleagues and Country Offices implementing SWAP. Finance-related tasks will be undertaken in coordination with relevant SFH and Planet Hub Finance Pillar colleagues to ensure coherence, where applicable, with wider country-level financing processes.

The SWAP global Project Coordinator shall monitor, in coordination with the Policy Advisor (SFH) every stage of implementation of the tasks and shall review the completion of activities and deliverables and approve the deliverables. Throughout the assignment, the selected PSA holder shall participate in the global monthly calls and maintain regular contacts with both the project national teams (a frequency of weekly calls is anticipated) and the SWAP global project management team (ad hoc calls depending on needs).

The Project Analyst shall highlight issues or potential problems she/he foresees that could impact on project progress and/or effectiveness.

The Project Analyst shall be working home-based and will liaise virtually with the SWAP global Project Coordinator as needed.

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 & Technical competencies 

Finance & Budget Management: Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets
Business Management & Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
Partnership management & Relationship management: Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding
2030 Agenda: Partnerships & SDG Finance: Enabling Environment and Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs)
Business Management & Monitoring and Evaluation: Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively; Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results. Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming. Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and
evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools. Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns. 
2030 Agenda: People: Gender and Environment

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Administration, Project Management, Environmental Studies, Finance or related is required. OR
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above-mentioned fields of study, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum two (2) years (with Master´s degree) or four (4) years (with Bachelor´s degree) of professional experience in project management / coordination / support in an international setting
• At least two (2) years of experience using an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software in an international setting
• At least one (1) year working in one of these fields, at the international, national or municipal levels, in public or private sectors: waste management, environmental protection, sustainable finance for development.
• Experience in organisation of international meetings
• Experience in facilitating / supporting an expert group
• Experience in supporting/managing development project
• Experience working with UN/UNDP as a consultant, staff/ PSA holder or partner

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Working knowledge of French and/or Spanish languages is desirable.

Travel

The post is home-based. The expert will be expected to travel to the SWAP-related international meetings/workshops. The venues of these meetings/workshops will be determined during project implementation.

UNDP will cover the cost of travel of the individual to the duty station, as well as their return to their home upon completion of their services. Travel costs are covered only in the event that the function will be undertaken physically in the duty station and excludes working from home arrangement.

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.

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