Project Associate

Organization
UNDP
Location
Tunisia
Job Type
Full-time
Deadline for Applications
10/22/2025
Where to Apply
https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/job/29360
Tags
Full-time

Background

The Green Growth and Jobs Accelerator Project (GGJAP) is one of three projects under the Danish-Arab Partnership Programme (DAPP), funded and managed by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. GGJAP is part of DAPP’s youth employment and entrepreneurship program. UNDP implements GGJAP, which is part of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Arab States’ (RBAS) regional youth portfolio.

The GGJAP is being implemented in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia, building on UNDP’s work and experience in implementing the SDG Accelerator methodology for SMEs, which directly supports sustainable business development and green growth in SMEs. The SDG Accelerator is part of UNDP’s Impact Venture Accelerators (IVA) service offering. IVAs represent a practical approach to helping companies design products/services, business models, and business plans that contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The objective of the Green Growth and Jobs Accelerator Project is to support established entrepreneurs and SMEs—at least some of which are youth-led—to accelerate green growth in their businesses. In this way, the project aims to support the local transition to a green and sustainable economy and to foster the creation of green jobs for young people.

Each year, two five-month accelerators are implemented in each of the four participating countries. Each accelerator includes a cohort of 25 carefully selected SMEs. Each participating company will develop one or more green growth business plans, also integrating concrete ways to create jobs for young people—whether through the implementation of the business plan, as a lever for its realization, or ideally both.

Under the leadership and supervision of the UNDP Arab States Bureau’s regional youth portfolio, the Country Offices (COs) in the four participating countries implement the Accelerators at the national level. They rely on their established local networks of relevant stakeholders, in a sector-neutral manner, including SMEs. Implementation is carried out in close collaboration with a consulting firm that assists the CO teams throughout the Accelerator process, providing technical assistance as well as strategic advice for business growth. This strategic advice includes developing business plans for new eco-friendly products and services, implementing greener production or operating processes, and/or integrating specific standards that enable certain companies to access new markets.
Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the GGJA Project Manager, the Project Associate is responsible for performing the following responsibilities and tasks:

Support the coordination and implementation of project activities:

  •  Support coordination with the Regional Youth Project Portfolio team.
  • Support the facilitation of stakeholder engagement and dialogue with relevant external partners for project implementation
  • Support the supervision and management of local accelerators, including monitoring the implementation of activities and expenditures, as well as supporting project coordination efforts with the consultants mobilized:
  • Contribute to the review of structured reports on the progress of SME cohorts and the processes for documenting progress made.
  • Conduct follow-up visits to SME sites.
  • Support the review of project data collection at the national level.
  • Collect data and tools needed to be used in the development of communication materials.
  • Participate in meetings with local DAPP secretariats composed of representatives of projects within the framework of the Danish-Arab Partnership Programme on Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship.
  • Support UNDP Tunisia’s work on Green Growth: thematic dialogues, events, joint initiatives, youth awareness and engagement, identification of programmatic opportunities, etc.
  • Support links with UNDP Tunisia program initiatives on SDG Impact and Financing, Social Entrepreneurship and impact-oriented support for SMEs.
  • Map and assess the readiness of small businesses established under the various UNDP programmes to participate in the project and be included in the SME cohorts.
  • Prepare and contribute to the development of budgets, purchasing plans and processes.
  • Identify and collect relevant information and other documents, analyze and compile data for further use in project management.
  • Support the organization and coordination of meetings, training sessions, workshops, conferences and project events and prepare meeting reports and minutes, as required.
  • Ensure full compliance of activities with UNDP rules, regulations and procedures.

 

Result 1: Accelerators

Established entrepreneurs and SMEs, at least 10% of which are youth-led, will receive intensive support for five months through the Green Growth and Jobs Accelerator. Young entrepreneurs will follow the same pathway as other businesses. The main objective of Outcome 1 is to support these businesses in developing their business and creating green jobs for young people.

Support the implementation of activities related to result 1:

  • Support the implementation of two 5-month accelerators each year between 2025 and 2027 in close collaboration with consulting firms mandated to implement the activities.
  • Support the SME recruitment process for accelerators through, among other things, mapping, research and outreach activities.
  • Contribute to facilitating green growth advisory services to individual SMEs in accelerator cohorts.
  • Ensure project coordination with the appointed consulting firm.
  • Participate in coordination meetings with the UNDP Regional Bureau on the advancement of SMEs
  • Support the collection of data and evidence on SME outcomes.
  • Ensure the coordination of young people involved in the youth4sustainability program and their participation in accelerators as well as in supporting SMEs.
  • Support the collection of data, knowledge and information for the UNDP Arab States Regional Youth Platform (NextGenYouth Platform).

Result 2: Financing of SMEs

Many target businesses in the Accelerator will require venture capital to realize their green growth business plans. UNDP acts as a facilitator, connecting these businesses with relevant financial institutions that provide capital to SMEs, both domestically and internationally. UNDP also uses the SDG Investor Maps to identify investment supply and demand in countries. Through the Accelerator, targeted businesses in need of financing will also receive support to strengthen their capacity to present their green growth business plans to potential investors and financiers. The overall objective of Outcome 2 is to ensure that the targeted businesses’ green business solutions are accelerated through improved access to finance.

  • Support the implementation of activities related to result 2:
  • Support the GGJA Project Manager in mapping and research activities related to sustainable finance and risk finance providers in Tunisia and the region, relevant to accelerator SMEs.
  • Support the connection of SMEs with relevant investors and financing providers.

Result 3: Learning Modality

In the Arab region, young entrepreneurs and businesses using digital platforms and technologies, as well as taking advantage of digital payment opportunities, are growing rapidly. Outcome 3 will aim to strengthen the capacity of entrepreneurs and SMEs to seize these new digital growth opportunities, through a targeted learning modality . This modality will include five online training courses focused on:

  • Sustainable development and the green transition of businesses,
  • Impact Measurement & Management (IMM) for SMEs
  • Access to financing.
  • Digitalization

Support the implementation of activities related to result 3 

  • Support the review of online course content to ensure alignment with the local context.
  • Participate in design sessions and provide input relevant to local contexts with the team responsible for developing the Learning Modality.
  • Support awareness raising and facilitation of dialogues with relevant stakeholders and networks.
  • Support the Green Growth and Jobs Accelerator Project Manager in developing the strategy and process for disseminating training courses to national partners, business support agencies, Project 1 partners, as well as businesses supported through other UNDP initiatives.
  • Contribute to the integration of learning materials into stakeholder channels, curricula and platforms to ensure wide adoption and use of online training materials.
  • Contribute to co-creation and reflection on the best approach to use the Regional Youth Project Platform (NextGenYouth Platform) to create a network, share knowledge, download resources, and connect young job seekers to SMEs.
  • The incumbent performs other tasks deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

 

Skills

Fundamentals
Achieving Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and tracks work, pays attention to detail, delivers quality work on time.
Continuously Learning: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is a pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements.
Continuously Learning: LEVEL 1: Open-minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback.
Adapting with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, manages ambiguity and uncertainty constructively, is flexible.
Acting with Purpose: LEVEL 1: Shows initiative and motivation, able to deliver calmly in the face of adversity, confident.
Engaging and Collaborating: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding for others, builds positive relationships.
Fostering Diversity and Inclusion LEVEL 1: Appreciates and respects differences, aware of unconscious bias, confronts discrimination

Soft and Technical Skills
Partnership Management Relationship Management Being able to collaborate with a wide range of 
public and private partners, and to establish, maintain or strengthen working relationships, trust and mutual understanding.
Organization Management Communication Communicate clearly, concisely and unequivocally, both in writing and orally; adapt messages and choose communication methods according to the audience. Know how to manage internal and external communication, through the media, social networks and other appropriate channels.
Communications Social Media Management Ability to represent and promote the UNDP brand within virtual communities and networks 
Digital Design Thinking • Solve problems by putting people first, and visualizing and implementing ideas to improve them through an iterative process of development and testing. 
• Strong sense of empathy, and ability to put oneself in someone else’s shoes, and understand needs, capacities, preferences, motivations, (everyday) experiences from different perspectives as well as cultural, social, economic and political contexts.
• Ability to identify and challenge preconceived ideas, biases (cognitive and social) and dominant thinking patterns by defining new perspectives and frameworks that help redefine the problem, the solution and the range of possibilities.
•Be able to work with incomplete and ambiguous information, points of view, constraints, divergent needs, and synthesize them into viable, feasible and useful solutions.

Audit and Survey – Survey Concepts, processes and purchasing management Mastering purchasing processes and management

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

A high school diploma or bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, business development or related fields will be considered, but is not required.

Experience:

Minimum of 6 years (with a high school diploma) or 3 years (with a bachelor’s degree), of relevant progressive experience in project management support and coordination.

Required languages: 
Fluency in French and Arabic, both written and spoken, is required.
Good professional knowledge of written and spoken English is desirable.

Required skills:
– Previous experience in project management support.
– Previous experience in logistics management and event coordination. 

Other desirable skills:
– Previous experience in project implementation/field coordination related to SME support is an asset 
– Advanced computer skills, including word processing (Word), spreadsheets (Excel) and the ability to quickly learn new applications.
– Experience in previous UN missions and/or multilateral and bilateral aid organizations would be an asset.

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.