Project Assistant

Organization: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Duty Station: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Job Type: Full-time
Posted: 1 July 2026

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Background

The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, Natural Resources and Livestock (MAINL), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is implementing the project “Safeguarding Zanzibar’s Forest and Coastal Habitats for Multiple Benefits,” funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The six-year project (February 2026 – February 2032) aims to:

• Strengthen biodiversity conservation.
• Promote sustainable land-use practices.
• Enhance climate resilience in Zanzibar.

The project consists of four major components:

1. Strengthening biodiversity policies and institutional frameworks.
2. Improving management of Protected Areas (PAs) and Community Forest Management Areas (CoFMAs).
3. Promoting knowledge management and gender mainstreaming.
4. Monitoring and evaluation in line with GEF and UNDP requirements.

To support successful implementation, UNDP is recruiting a Project Assistant to provide administrative, financial, procurement, and logistical support.

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Key Responsibilities

1. Project Planning & Implementation Support

• Support implementation of project activities according to approved work plans.
• Assist in preparing Annual Work Plans (AWPs), budgets, and implementation schedules.
• Compile project information for planning, monitoring, and reporting.

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2. Financial Management & Reporting

• Support budget tracking.
• Prepare payment requests.
• Monitor advances and liquidations.
• Track budget utilization and report variances.
• Assist in preparing:
  • Quarterly reports
  • Annual reports
  • GEF financial and narrative reports

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3. Procurement & Asset Management

• Support implementation of the Annual Procurement Plan (APP).
• Assist with procurement processes, including:
  • Technical specifications
  • Solicitation documents
  • Vendor follow-up
  • Contract tracking
• Maintain procurement records.
• Support inventory and asset management.

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4. Monitoring, Documentation & Compliance

• Maintain complete and accurate project documentation.
• Keep updated:
  • Risk logs
  • Issue logs
  • Action trackers
• Monitor project progress against planned indicators.
• Ensure documentation complies with UNDP policies and is audit-ready.

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5. Reporting & Corporate Requirements

Provide support in preparing:

• Project Steering Committee (PSC) reports
• GEF Project Implementation Reports (PIR)
• Other corporate reporting requirements

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6. Coordination & Administrative Support

• Provide secretariat support during meetings and workshops.
• Prepare:
  • Agendas
  • Meeting materials
  • Minutes
  • Follow-up action matrices
• Coordinate travel and logistics for project staff, consultants, and stakeholders.
• Maintain stakeholder databases and communication records.

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7. Knowledge Management

• Maintain organized project records.
• Support training and capacity-building activities.
• Capture lessons learned and best practices.

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8. Other Duties

Perform additional duties assigned within the functional profile to support efficient project implementation.

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Core Competencies

Successful candidates should demonstrate the ability to:

• Achieve Results
• Think Innovatively
• Learn Continuously
• Adapt with Agility
• Act with Determination
• Engage and Partner
• Promote Diversity and Inclusion

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Technical Competencies

Knowledge and experience in:

• Data collection and analysis
• Digital literacy
• Customer and stakeholder management
• Communication
• Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)
• Budget management
• Event and meeting coordination
• Project administration

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Qualifications

Education

Applicants must possess either:

• Secondary Education (required), or
• A Bachelor’s Degree in one of the following fields (an added advantage):
  • Project Management
  • Environmental Studies
  • Natural Resources
  • Administration
  • Development Studies
  • Related disciplines

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Experience

Applicants should have:

• Five (5) years of relevant experience with Secondary Education, or
• Two (2) years of relevant experience with a Bachelor’s Degree.

Relevant experience includes:

• Project administration
• Logistics
• Monitoring & Evaluation
• Operations
• Related project support functions

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Required Skills

Candidates should have:

• Proficiency in:
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Other Office applications
• Experience using web-based management systems.
• Strong spreadsheet and database skills.

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Desired Skills

Experience in any of the following is an advantage:

• Working with Government institutions.
• Working with UN agencies.
• Donor-funded projects.
• Financial reporting.
• Monitoring and Evaluation tools.
• Project management.
• Procurement procedures in national or international organizations.

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Equal Opportunity

UNDP is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity and inclusion. Recruitment decisions are based solely on merit, qualifications, and suitability for the position.

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Safeguarding

UNDP maintains a zero-tolerance policy against:

• Harassment
• Sexual harassment
• Exploitation
• Abuse of authority
• Discrimination

Successful candidates will undergo the necessary background and integrity checks.

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Additional Information

• UNDP may select more than one candidate from this recruitment process.
• Applications may also be retained for future vacancies with similar requirements.
• Candidates are encouraged to use Artificial Intelligence responsibly during the recruitment process in accordance with UNDP guidance.
• UNDP does not charge any fees at any stage of recruitment.

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How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their applications through the official UNDP online recruitment portal by following the application link provided in the vacancy announcement.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY