Programme Finance Officer

General

Description of assignment title: Programme Finance Officer

Assignment country: Marshall Islands

Duty stations: Majuro

Work location: On UN premises

Expected start date: 11/23/2026

Duration: 12 months (with possibility of extension)

Sustainable Development Goal: 3. Good health and well-being

Host entity: UNFPA MHL

Modality: Onsite

Type: National

Volunteer category: Specialist UCoS from Apr2026

Work schedule: Full-time

Number of Assignments: 1

Advertisement end date: 11/11/2026 12:00 AM

Details

Mission and objectives

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s global Strategic Plan (2026-2029) focuses on four interconnected outcomes: (a) Accelerating progress on meeting the unmet need for family planning; (b) Accelerating progress on ending preventable maternal deaths; (c) Accelerating progress on ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and (d) Adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies. These results capture UNFPA’s strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action in the last Decade of Action to achieve Agenda 2030 including the SDGs.

Context

UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact and sustained results and ensure effective external relations, communications, and partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need candidates who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results.

Task description

The Programme Finance Officer contributes to the development and implementation of effective regional and country programmes in the region by providing administrative support to UNFPA’s programmes. As appropriate and under the direction of the Programme Specialist and the International Operations Manager, the Programme Finance Associate will also contribute to research, financial management and operational and procedural guidance.

• provides administrative and financial support in implementation of program activities ensuring full compliance of program and financial processes with UN/UNFPA rules, regulations, policies and strategies.
• provides logistical support to programme implementation.
• provides organizational functions of the office in terms of providing effective communications support to the Sub Regional office, ensuring facilitation of knowledge building and management.

Responsibilities:

• Assist the programme team, in providing support to implementing partners on knowledge management and programme implementation through maintaining an easy reference and friendly access to contacts and mailing lists of partners, key stakeholders, consultants, UN agencies, donor, institutions, individuals, and other contacts.
• Assist in programme formulation and work-plan creation in GPS, maintain and update project profiles, including progress reports and work plan review in compliance with programme implementation guidelines.
• Collate programme related information and procurement needs; support programme personnel in their work plans, monitor and follow-up with Implementing partners on submission of progress and financial reports (e-Face).
• In close collaboration and guidance of the finance team in Suva, support and coordinate the HACT assurance activities (spot check, audits) and support in follow up of any required action.
• Coach implementing agencies on UNFPA financial rules and regulations to be followed, e-Face and on recording non-expendable items supported by UNFPA.
• In close collaboration with the administration team in Suva, follow up on any administrative matters entering the relevant requisition facilitating release of payments, program supplies (inventory) management, assets, leave records and common premises.
• In close collaboration with the administration team in Suva, support arrangement of domestic and international travels for staff and non-staff travels as well as follow up of submission of the mission reports by staff.
• In consultation with relevant staff, initiate draft documents, compile and process logistical, administrative and financial arrangements for meetings, events and workshops organized by the office.
• Receive visitors/officials; take minutes and/or notes, as required; prepare informal translations and act as interpreter as required; answer and screen telephone calls with tact and discretion; Sets up, and effectively maintain and monitors the filing system; sets up a follow up system to reduce repetitive action or filling gaps; manage online database of implementing partners; assist in archiving and maintain up-to-date electronic mailing lists;
• Prepare information and/or briefs, summaries and background documentation required by programme staff for official missions, programme functions, seminars, conferences, events and meetings including arranging audio-visual aids as required, projector and screen, preparing power point presentations and computer-generated visuals such as graphs
• Ensure optimal communication flows within the unit and with entire Sub Regional Office, joint country presence offices and external counterparts, through effective use of written, verbal and electronic communication.
• Perform ad-hoc duties required by the Programme Specialist relating to monitoring and evaluation of the country programme and projects.

Eligibility criteria

Age: 18 - 80

Required experience: 3 years

Nationality: Candidate must be a national, legal resident or hold refugee status in the country of assignment.

Assignment requirements

Relevant experience: 3 years

Languages: English, Level: Working knowledge, Required

Required education level: Bachelor's degree in Public/Business Administration, Finance, Commerce, Accountancy/Chartered Accountancy and related field is preferred.

Competencies and values:

• Accountability
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Planning and organising
• Professionalism
• Self-management

Skills and experience:

• Some experience in research assistance and general understanding of programme support, monitoring and evaluation is desirable.
• Good writing and communication skills with the ability to draft correspondence in a clear, accurate and concise manner.
• Previous experience and knowledge of protocol in the United Nations is an advantage,
• Good interpersonal, planning, organizational and multi-tasking skills.
• Ability to work independently and harmoniously in a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic team environment maintaining tact and discretion in all dealings.
• Computer literacy – Proficiency in the use of MS Office Packages and the Internet.
• Good knowledge of Quantum is an asset.

Area(s) of expertise: Administration, Finance, accounting

Driving license: -

Other information

Volunteerism is understood as a wide range of activities undertaken of free will, for the general public good, for which monetary reward is not the principal motivating factor.

Living conditions and remarks

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) is a Pacific island country where living conditions vary considerably depending on whether you live in the capital, Majuro, the more crowded island of Ebeye, or a remote outer island.

For Marshallese nationals, life is shaped by strong family and community ties, access to government services, the availability of jobs, the high cost of imported goods, and the effects of climate change. The country is classified as an upper-middle-income economy, but that classification does not mean every household enjoys a high standard of living.

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements

Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy

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