PROJECT ASSOCIATE - SUSTAINABLE MARITIME TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM, FIJI

INTRODUCTION TO GGGI

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. To learn more please visit about GGGI web page. 

GGGI's program in the Pacific supports green growth and climate action across different sectors in five GGGI members countries - Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Vanuatu - as well as other partner countries in the Pacific. Since 2015, GGGI's work in Pacific renewable energy and green cities sectors have included projects in the transport sectors. As part of GGGI’s rapidly growing project portfolio in sustainable transportation, GGGI will implement a 4-year regional program that started in December 2024 to help decarbonize the maritime sector in Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu.

GGGI has developed the project, “Decarbonizing the maritime sector through low-carbon maritime transport roadmap and MRV systems for Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu”, to support the preparation, enabling, financing, and roll-out of low-carbon maritime transportation projects as a part of a low-carbon maritime transport roadmap in Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu, including the design of an Alternate Marine Power (AMP) pilot initiative along with monitoring, reporting and verifying (MRV) systems. Together with the Governments of Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu, GGGI will assess and determine the most appropriate location with conditions that are best suited to implement the pilot initiative. The AMP pilot initiative and MRV systems design are informed by a larger policy study, feasibility studies, and integrated planning to phase in and enable investments in low-carbon maritime transportation for Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu. 

To support the effective, efficient, and successful implementation of the project, GGGI seeks a Project Associate based in Suva, Fiji. The Project Associate will play a crucial role in coordinating program activities, supporting stakeholder engagement, and ensuring the smooth operation of the program across all three participating countries.

This position reports to the Senior Project Officer - Sustainable Maritime Transportation Program Lead  in Suva, Fiji, and will work closely with the Project Officers based in Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu to achieve the program's objectives.

PURPOSE

The Project Associate will assist in maintaining project documentation, organizing meetings, workshops, and training sessions, and support monitoring project deliverables against established timelines and budgets. The role also involves supporting communication across the project team, government counterparts, and external stakeholders to ensure effective project coordination.

Additionally, the Project Associate will support the team to ensure that project activities are monitored and evaluated in line with GGGI’s standards and that lessons learned are integrated into ongoing project implementation.

ENGAGEMENT

• Facilitate communication between team members, government counterparts, and external stakeholders to ensure effective project coordination.
• Identify operational challenges and other factors that may impact the consistent and timely delivery of project milestones and propose and implement solutions.
• Engage with project teams to ensure smooth coordination of logistics, timely submission of reports, and effective use of resources.
• Advise project teams and management on potential remedial actions to address delays, budgetary variances, or resource constraints.
• Propose solutions to enhance project quality and help ensure on-time delivery while maintaining budget compliance.
• Assist in the development of project deliverables and presentations for internal and external stakeholders.
• Coordinate with external stakeholders to ensure smooth execution of project activities, including workshops, meetings, and training sessions.

DELIVERY

• Support the Project Officers in ensuring that all project activities are implemented according to the established timelines and deliverables.
• Place initial screening and controls on project spending, procurement requests and contract issuance.
• Assist in the preparation and submission of periodic project reports, including technical progress, financial updates and other project documentation.
• Coordinate logistical arrangements for all project-related events, including stakeholder meetings, workshops, and training sessions.
• Ensure proper documentation and record-keeping of project activities, including reports, meeting minutes, and communications.
• Assist in tracking and reporting on project milestones, ensuring that activities are completed on time and within budget.
• Consolidate financial documentation, verify data and ensure data entry and document consistency from spending and expenses of specific project/output management.
• Support the preparation and submission of project reports, including progress updates, financial reports, and technical documentation.

REQUIREMENTS

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental studies, Climate Change, Public Policy, Sustainable Development, or a related field.
• A minimum of 3 years of professional experience in project coordination or support, preferably within the areas of climate change, environmental sustainability, or development projects.
• Proven experience working with government institutions, international organizations, or non-governmental organizations (NGOs), particularly within the Pacific Islands region, is highly desirable.
• Strong English written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Fiji Nationals are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), with experience in managing project documentation and reporting.

FUNCTIONAL

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritize work, and meet deadlines.
• Proven ability to support project coordination activities, including logistics, budget monitoring, and report preparation.
• Experience in organizing meetings, workshops, and training sessions, including coordinating logistics and managing event-related documentation.
• Familiarity with project management tools and methodologies to track milestones and deliverables.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ensuring accuracy in project documentation, financial tracking, and reporting.

CORPORATE

• Demonstrate alignment with GGGI’s mission and values of inclusivity, sustainability, and green growth.
• Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment and build productive relationships with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Commitment to promoting an organizational culture of transparency, respect, and partnership.
• Ability to communicate clearly and collaborate with diverse teams to achieve project goals.
• Exhibit a proactive and problem-solving approach in addressing project-related challenges

WORKING CONDITIONS

The PROJECT ASSOCIATE is an X6 national grade level in GGGI's salary scale. Determination of base salary is subject to candidate's experience, academic background, and internal equity. GGGI provides 15% of base salary towards retirement plan/long-term savings, 27 days of annual leave, and private health insurance that covers dental and vision.

GGGI is committed to providing a work environment that is sufficiently flexible to accommodate diverse life-cycle challenges and assist staff members to achieve a better balance between work and personal/family commitments, thus ensuring high performance, long-term productivity, and well-being of staff members.