The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between states. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival(www.cites.org).
The MIKE programme was established by the CITES Conference of the Parties to monitor levels of illegal killing of elephants at more than 80 conservation areas spread across 47 elephant range States in Africa and Asia, with the goal of providing reliable information and building capacity for the management of elephant populations. The MIKE Central Coordination Unit is primarily responsible for the implementation of the MIKE Programme. The position is a project position located in Nairobi, Kenya under the overall supervision and guidance of the Coordinator, MIKE Team.
Within delegated authority, the Finance & Budget Officer will undertake the following duties:
Responsibilities
1. PROGRAMME PLANNING:
- Reviews, analyses and participates in the preparation of the programmes’ plan and its revisions on the basis of discussions with donors and partners as well as planned and ongoing projects, taking into account the relevant resolutions and decisions of the CITES Conference of the Parties.
- Provides substantive support to relevant expert bodies as well as the governance bodies of the MIKE programme in their review of both short- and long-term financial planning.
- Ensures legislative mandates and donor requirements are accurately translated into the programme’s plan and associated budgets.
2. BUDGET PREPARATION:
- Prepares, reviews, analyses and finalizes cost estimates and budget proposals, in terms of staff and non-staff requirements.
- Reviews, analyses and provides advice on programme budget/financial implications to the CITES Secretariat in light of additional mandates.
- Provides support and advice to managers in the elaboration of resource requirements for budget submissions.
- Provides advice and support to relevant expert bodies and governance structures associated with the Convention and the MIKE Programme in their budget review; assists in securing approval from the CITES Parties.
3. BUDGET ADMINISTRATION:
- Prepares allotments, including redeployment of funds when necessary, ensuring appropriate expenditures.
- Monitors budget implementation and recommends reallocation of funds as necessary.
- Monitors expenditures to ensure that they remain within authorized levels.
- Reviews requisitions for goods and services to ensure (a) correct objects of expenditure have been charged, and (b) availability of funds.
- Administers and monitors extra-budgetary resources, including review of agreements and cost plans, ensuring compliance with regulations and rules and established policies and procedures.
- Prepares budget performance submissions.
- Prepares and reviews budget performance reports and provide advice on the finalization of these reports, analyzing variances between approved budgets and actual expenditures.
- Provides substantive support to expert bodies as well as the governance structures of the Convention and the MIKE programme.
4. GENERAL:
- Keeps up-to-date on documents/reports/guidelines that have a bearing on matters related to programme budgets, ensuring compliance with intergovernmental recommendations and decisions as well as with United Nations policies and procedures.
- Approves financial transactions in accordance with the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations, analyses and reconcile accounts, proposes/implements solutions with respect to new and non-routine financial transactions.
- Undertakes actions related to procurement and logistics (including consultants), organization and coordination of meetings and conferences, including the compilation, verification and distribution of documents and other materials.
- Undertakes actions related to implementing partners including ensuring compliance with contractual obligations in relation financial reporting, recording keeping, audit, procurement and management of assets, conducting reviews and spot checks on reported costs and ensuring funds are provided as required.
- Heads the administrative services of the programme and supervises the relevant staff as required.
- Supports the Finance Management Officer of the CITES Secretariat as required.
- Undertakes special projects and/or other related duties as required.