Project Assistant

PROJECT CONTEXT

The aim of the project “Strengthening the production of vaccines and pharmaceuticals in Senegal” (UNIDO ID 230283) is to enhance the capacity of Senegalese manufacturing companies, including local pharmaceutical manufacturers and Institut Pasteur du Dakar, to produce quality-assured essential medicines and vaccines, reduce compliance on imports and improve access to regional population to pharmaceutical products. 

• UNIDO will bring its decades-long experience to bear in Senegal, initially in conducting comprehensive baseline ecosystem assessments of the national pharmaceutical industry, including the policy framework, incentives, infrastructure, regulatory and procurement systems, to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The assessments will help the country gain a better and more nuanced understanding of the sector’s status, market dynamics, regulatory frameworks, and technological capabilities. UNIDO will specifically use its considerable convening power and proven ability to foster linkages between the various stakeholders from the public and private sector, global public health institutions, financing institutions, global regulatory bodies, mature industries in the developed world, and academia.
• The main target groups for this project are public institutions such as the Delivery Unit and SMEs from Senegal associated with the pharmaceutical manufacturing ecosystem. UNIDO’s interventions are based on a systemic and holistic approach that involves all key stakeholders, from policymakers, regulators, industry, to market intelligence companies, multi-lateral organizations and technical partners, and donors. The project will aim to coordinate the activities of different players at national, regional, and continental levels. Specifically, UNIDO will support the DU in mobilizing and aligning inter-ministerial coordination between, for example, finance, health, trade, and industry as a crucial intervention in Senegal. The main project counterparts are the Pharmaceutical Delivery Unit (DU) of MSAS, National Regulatory Agency (ARP), National Supply Pharmacy (SEN-PNA), National Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision of the Project Manager and in close cooperation with the project team in the HQ and field location, the National Project Assistant provides clerical/administrative support to the project implementation and is responsible for the following key functions:

• Perform general administrative tasks such as arrangements for meetings, events, study tours, trainings and workshops.
• Provide logistical support to international consultants, national consultants, and visiting UNIDO staff members and in organizing meetings, study tours and workshops at the field level and travel requests and expense reports when required
• Monitor disbursements, commitments and budget allocations and availability for the projects.
• Consult to clarify the application of new financial and procurement rules and procedures, TC guidelines and other instructions Collect and compile all data and documents for bi-annual reports, annual reports, service providers’ reports and other reports as required.
• Keep track of project budget expenditures; follow-up on status of contracts for the local project team, provide information on the project, draw the supervisor’s attention to problems encountered.
• Maintain project equipment inventories (both paper and electronic asset management) and ensure appropriate use.
• Prepare/compile relevant documents and when applicable using SAP, initiate and follow up on actions related to trainings and study tours, purchase of equipment/goods and services, travel requests/claims, recruitment, visa applications, and deal with all related inquiries in coordination with the project team at HQ. Process all payments through relevant accounts and liaise with project team in the country and UNIDO HQ to clear all payments in a timely manner.
• Prepare/compile relevant documents and when applicable using SAP, initiate and follow up on actions related to trainings and study tours, purchase of equipment/goods and services, travel requests/claims, recruitment, visa applications, and deal with all related inquiries in coordination with the project team at HQ.
• Assist with on boarding of new project personnel.
• Assist in drafting regular and/or ad-hoc reports on project activities.
• Carry out ad-hoc assignments and research activities, as required.
• Maintain all project related files (both paper and electronic) and databases related to work.

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Education: Completed higher secondary education (high school diploma or equivalent), is required. Formal administrative/secretarial/clerical training or equivalent, is desirable.
• Credit towards total working experience may be considered on a year by-year- basis, up to maximum of four years, for a higher degree education (including first university degree or equivalent diploma and/or master’s degree), in a relevant field to the post.

Technical and Functional Experience:

• A minimum of six (6) years of work experience in the related fields of the post, is required.
• Experience in office procedures and practices, preferably within the UN system or in a multicultural environment, is desirable.
• Experience in project administration, accounting and finance, providing support to managerial/professional staff and using administrative skills to assist in the execution of project development and implementation of work, is desirable.
• Experience and proficiency in using Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint), internet, is required.
• Experience with SAP or similar ERP software is desirable.
• Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Fluency and/or working knowledge of  French is required.

Source: https://careers.unido.org/job/Dakar-Project-Assistant/993889355/