Economically, Cameroon plays a pivotal role in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC). The country embraces abundant natural resources, including; oil and gas, mineral ores, and agricultural products such as coffee, cotton, coca, maize and cassava. Despite these resources and wealth, the country still faces challenges. According to UNIDO’s Industrial Analytics Platform, Cameroon is ranked 101st out of 132 countries for its performance toward the achievement of SDG-9 industry-related targets. Cameroon tends to lag behind other economies in terms of the level of technological adoption in the industry consequently leading to low performance in other indices measuring competitiveness like value-added per capita, which is ranked at 113th place in the world, and underperforming the average of not only the middle-income industrial economies but also African countries. For this reason, the development needs to foster technological innovation and technical capacity building of key industrial actors, including the private sector, is highlighted in the latest UNSDCF which has been set as a strategic guide outlining the collective vision and response of the UN system to Cameroon’s national development priorities during the 2022–2026 period.
As the specialized UN agency, UNIDO has identified that there are impending development needs to assist Cameroon in promoting the technological upgrade and national quality assurance systems to maximize the developmental potential of the Cameroonian key trade products, as well as minimize the loss of values along with the post-harvest processes and crop management. Therefore, this project responds to an existing need and demand of the value chain actors and institutions to develop their capacity to comply with the market requirements and for the increased added value that will open new opportunities for strengthening the overall industrial and trade competency of Cameroon. The overall objective of the proposed project (ID: 230340) is to contribute to the realization of sustainable trade competence of key Cameroonian products and international business partnerships by enhancing advanced technologies, innovation, and product quality assurance capacity.
FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager and in close cooperation with the project team in the HQ and field location, the Junior Team Assistant provides assistance and general administrative support to the implementation of the project, and is responsible for the following key functions:
Perform general administrative tasks such as ordering office supplies, following up on budget queries, making various reservations as required, placing purchase requisitions, researching for information and reference material, organizing requests for formal editing, translation, layout, graphic design and arranging for printing services as well as the publication of documents, if and when necessary;
Using SAP, when required, make arrangements for travel, prepare travel authorizations, ensuring that visas, security clearances, vaccination certificates, Laissez-Passer etc. are valid and in order. Assist in completing back-to-office mission reports and claim forms;
Respond to moderately complex information requests and inquiries as necessary, as well as refer queries to appropriate personnel for handling;
Assist in organizing the logistics for meetings prepare the necessary background documents and agendas’, liaise with counterparts on attendance assist in the preparation of presentation materials, book meeting rooms and take notes at meetings, if required;
Keep track of pending matters, flagging deadlines and bringing urgent and important items to the attention of the supervisor;
Maintain an up-to-date filing system (both hard copy and electronic);
Perform any other related duties as assigned.
MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Education: Completed higher secondary education (high school diploma or equivalent), is required. Formal administrative/secretarial/clerical training or equivalent, is desirable.
Technical and Functional Experience:
A minimum of three (3) years of work experience in the related fields of the post, is required.
Experience using Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel), internet search engines, is required.
Experience with office procedures and practices, preferably within the UN system or in a multicultural environment, is desirable.
Experience with SAP or similar ERP software is desirable.
Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English and French is required. Fluency and/or working knowledge of another official UN language is desirable.
