Risk Specialist

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet. UNDP has been working in Afghanistan for more than 50 years on climate change and resilience, gender, governance, health, livelihoods, and rule of law. Under the broader framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and in close coordination with other UN agencies, UNDP is supporting the Afghan people’s aspiration for peace, prosperity, and sustainability. UNDP is currently implementing its flagship crisis response programme, ABADEI (Area Based Approach to Development Emergency Initiatives), as part of the ongoing UN-led response to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and the breakdown of Afghanistan’s economy following the August 2021 shift in power. The rapidly shifting political and security landscape in Afghanistan has produced significant impacts on both immediate and long-term development and peace in the country. Over 550,000 people have fled their homes due to the conflict between 1 January and 9 August 2021, bringing the total number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to 3.5 million (9% of the total population). In addition, at least 30,000 people are estimated to be leaving the country each week. The country is experiencing fragility and faces challenges on multiple fronts including COVID-19, poverty, food insecurity, climate disruption, and impacts on the economy. These developments have dramatically altered the landscape in which the United Nations operates, producing challenges to ongoing projects, and operations as well as the ability to progress towards sustainable development goals articulated in Agenda 2030.

As articulated in the UNDP Strategic Plan 2022-2025, accelerating and scaling development impact, building resilience and human security include preventive/early action and effective response to the crisis. Within the UNDP Global Policy Network, the Crisis Bureau (CB) guides UNDP’s corporate crisis and fragility-related strategies and vision for crisis prevention, response and recovery. The Bureau has the responsibility for support prevention, crisis response, resilience, recovery and peacebuilding work under the auspices of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. At the country level, UNDP works with international partners, the UN Country Team and national implementing partners to launch and deliver a comprehensive, risk-informed crisis response programme composed of interventions, inter alia, in the areas of socio-economic resilience and recovery as well as maintenance of key health services.

To support the efforts of the Afghanistan country office in key areas related to reorienting its programme and responding to the current situation on the ground, the Crisis Bureau is providing key support and capacities to strengthen UNDP’s team in Afghanistan, in close collaboration with UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific (RBAP).

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the UNDP Head of the IRMU or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV Risk Specialist will:

Key Duties and Accountabilities:

1.) Risk assessment and analysis

•Identify, assess, and manage programme and operations risks. This includes the ability to analyse and interpret complex information, accurately identify issues and trends, make appropriate judgments, and provide relevant recommendations for minimizing risk. •Conduct desk reviews of relevant documentation including profile and other information provided and supplemented, as well as conducts his/her research on due diligence to make specific recommendations to UNDP and UN participating agencies in the implementation of ABADEI strategy. •Gather, analyze, or evaluate information from a variety of public sources, investigation reports, law enforcement, geographic information systems and other sources to complete risk profiles. •Ensure compliance with sanctions regimes and policies on Anti Money Laundering/Combating Terrorist Financing. •Provide risk reporting to meet risk assessment analysis needs. •Communicate risk standards and processes and provide hands-on risk management support to UNDP and its partners.

2.) Audit and Investigation Support

•Review cases of suspected malpractice brought to the attention of IRMU and any other problems with the programme implementation, including assessing fraud and corruption risks. •Provide overall support to partner/programme and country office audit. •Liaise with internal and external audit and investigation bodies by availing information resulting from risk analysis and assessments. •Conduct due diligence and verification of documents and processes.

3.) Partnership Building

•Build and maintain a partnership with key internal and external stakeholders including the UN, donors and other funds and programmes, including regulatory bodies. •Facilitate risk management dialogue and discussions with compliance, programme and operations colleagues in UNDP and other UN system organisations. •Promote collective risk management and risk-sharing approaches and practices.

4.) Information Management

•Create, collect and analyse information across different sources to undertake risk assessment and analysis. •Demonstrating high ethical standards and competence in managing the receipt and management of information which at times may be sensitive, and/or subject to information security classifications and caveats.
•Handle and manage information in compliance with the organization’s policies in place

5.) Learning and knowledge sharing

•In coordination with the IRMU team, contribute to the development and enhancement of the risk management program and other technical assistance products (guidance notes, etc.) to support capacity building •Facilitate and deliver risk management learning curricula to the UNDP, ABADEI participating UN organizations, NGOs, and other partners. •Draw lessons and best practices which contribute to the continuous improvement of UNDP CO risk management support. •Contribute to developing SOPs and protocols of the Unit.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

•Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and taking an active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); •Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; •Provide annual and end-of-assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
•Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; •Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; •Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Results/Expected outputs:

•As an active [insert name Host Agency] team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNDP and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:

The Risk Specialist is responsible for assisting the Integrated Risk Management Unit in implementing the risk management regime, through the provision of risk analysis and support in implementing a robust and dynamic in implementing UNDP Adaptive Risk Management Strategy. •Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment •A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed

•Professionalism: •Integrity: •Due Diligence: •Teamwork and respect for diversity: •Commitment to continuous learning: . •Planning and organizing: •Communication – Crisis and reputational risk: •Flexibility: •Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNDP’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values. •Digital & Innovation – Data Privacy and digital ethics: •Digital & Innovation – Data Engineering: •Information Management & Technology – IT Security Management: •Risk Management: Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks.

risk management, audit and finance, project management with international/governmental organisations and highly volatile experience is required •Knowledge of international standards on risk management (ISO31000, The Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), Enterprise Risk Management or relevant standards) is required. •Excellent interpersonal, communicative and persuasion skills •Previous experience and knowledge in investigation/intelligence, audit, and fraud examination are desirable •Proven track record of building and sustaining effective partnerships among different stakeholders •The ability in providing high-quality service delivery is required •Proven experience and qualification in the design, implementation and evaluation of training programs and initiatives.

The successful applicant will be living within the UN-protected compound (UNOCA) in Kabul. Accommodation will be provided by UNDP. A detailed induction will be provided to the successful applicant on living conditions in the duty station about the security situation, access and air travel, climate, alcohol use, cost of living, accommodation options, availability of food/water/electricity, medical facilities, banking facilities, communications infrastructure, etc.