UNDP AFG – Livelihood Specialist (NPSA11)

Contract

This is a NPSA-11 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Personnel Services Agreement. It is normally only for nationals. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education. More about NPSA-11 contracts.

Background

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 ABADEI Strategy is a tailored area-based integrated programming approach to support basic human needs, complementing short-term humanitarian life-saving assistance with the safeguarding of livelihoods and the strengthening of community resilience. It is centered around addressing worsening poverty and vulnerability, supporting community resilience and social cohesion, addressing climatic vulnerability and enabling the rehabilitation of small-scale infrastructure vital for basic human needs. It supports the creation of immediate sources of income through vocational skills training, cash-for-work, cash for the market, small businesses and livelihood opportunities with a particular focus on agri-business and regenerative agriculture infrastructure and services (critical for food security) that are under threat. It is sensitive to the chronic and newly emerging vulnerabilities of Afghan women and girls and aims at providing them assistance in a manner that does not exacerbate their susceptibility to violence and deprivation of opportunities and rights.

In this context, the Livelihoods Specialist will work across UNDP’s ABADEI program and be responsible for providing technical support to the livelihood’s component. S/he works under the guidance and supervision of the Programme Manager ABADEI and in close collaboration with team members. The Livelihood Specialist will also work closely with partners, UN Agencies, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors, and civil society to help implement livelihood activities. S/he will be based in Kabul with regular field visits.

Duties and Responsibilities

ONLY CURRENT AFGHANISTAN NATIONALS AVAILABLE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND WILLING TO TRAVEL IN KABUL AND THROUGHOUT VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN AFGHANISTAN, ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION. ALL OTHER APPLICANTS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

The incumbent will undertake the following functions:

• Ensuring effective design and implementation of livelihood interventions in ABADEI Programme.
• Development of strategic partnerships and ensuring coordination with implementing partners and relevant stakeholders including UN agencies.
• Contribute to knowledge of both management and information sharing in the UNDP country office.

1. Ensuring effective design and implementation of livelihood interventions in ABADEI Programme, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Develop and provide technical support in livelihood activities, and initiatives in line with the ABADEI Programme strategy including necessary preparation of design, technical support, stakeholder consultation, preparation of terms of reference, concept notes, action plan, to operationalize activities.
• Develop suitable livelihood options for the development of resilient livelihood for vulnerable communities.
• Design capacity development materials on livelihoods; provide technical support in conducting capacity building initiatives and prepare guidelines and tools.
• Generate new ideas and approaches, consolidate best practices, and propose effective ways of doing things.
• Monitor program implementation of partners (contractors, consultants, grantees), in accordance with agreements, work plans, deliverables and timelines.
• Prepare monitoring and reporting templates and provide technical advice to implementing partners to ensure progress and quality.
• Ensure timely and quality progress and financial reporting by partners in line with agreed templates and schedules; review reports; and provide feedback to UNDP and partners.
• Oversee implementation of livelihood-related components to ensure delivery of all the targets with desired outputs.
• Organize and facilitate training, information-sharing, and knowledge-sharing events on the initiative, as well as thematic expert exchange on livelihoods.
• Establish and maintain a network of partners and relevant stakeholders for general information sharing, and to remain up to date on partnership-related issues.
• Analyse and select materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders.
• Assess and evaluation funding proposals from potential partner organizations, maintaining quality and consistency.
• Support UNDP’s positioning as an effective partner in livelihoods and job creation.
• Develop specific livelihoods activities for women and ensure integration of gender issues and concerns in livelihoods programming.
• Keep track of financial and expenditure records related to livelihood activities if required.
• Identify operational and programmatic challenges in relation to livelihood work and propose solutions.

2. Development of strategic partnerships and ensure coordination with implementing partners and relevant stakeholders including UN agencies, focusing on achievement of the following:

• Analyze information related to livelihood work and provide inputs for the preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation and identification of opportunities for initiating new projects.
• Ensure capacity building of local partners and organize relevant orientations and trainings for local partners.
• Support resource mobilization for UNDP’s livelihoods activities under ABADEI Programme.
• Identify potential organizations to engage within the targeted areas and contribute to building a network.
• Act as the UNDP/ABADEI livelihood focal person to develop a coordination mechanism that allows to sharing information and harmonizes the work carried out by different partners.
• Support working relationships and create programmatic linkages with relevant UN Agencies and counterparts, as guided by the supervisor.

3. Contribute to knowledge management and information sharing in the UNDP country office:

• Document best practices and lessons learned.
• Contributes to UNDP knowledge networks (global and regional), where applicable.
• Proactively share information within the UNDP country office.
• Identify and document best practices and lessons learned from livelihood interventions.
• Assist in producing advocacy materials on livelihoods work, including success and lessons learned.

Perform other duties within your functional profile as assigned and deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the office.

Competencies

Core Competency

Achieve Results:

LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.

Think Innovatively:

LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.

Learn Continuously

LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.

Adapt with Agility

LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.

Act with Determination

LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.

Engage and Partner

LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.

Enable Diversity and Inclusion

LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

Cross Functional and Technical Competencies

Partnership Management

EMERGING PARTNERSHIPS: Ability to engage with emerging partners, develop and manage a strategy and develop approaches to developing and managing these new strategic partnerships.

Business Direction & Strategy

EFFECTIVE DECISION MAKING: Ability to take decisions in a timely and efficient manner in line with one’s authority, area of expertise and resources.

2030 Agenda: Prosperity

RECOVERY SOLUTIONS AND HUMAN MOBILITY: Digital innovations in adapting employment, livelihoods (incl. cash handouts) and provision of basic services.

RECOVERY SOLUTIONS AND HUMAN MOBILITY: Economic Recovery.

Required Skills and Experience

UNDP STRONGLY ENCOURAGES QUALIFIED WOMEN TO APPLY FOR AVAILABLE POSITIONS FOR WHICH THEY MEET THE STATED MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS.

Application Requirement

All Applicants MUST complete and attach the UNDP Personal History-P-11 Form (found here) to their applications in the vacancy site.

Submission of personal resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV) will not be acceptable and candidates who fail to attach the above required P-11 form will not be considered.

Min. Education requirement****:

• Master’s degree in Economics, Social Sciences, Community Development or related area is required or
• Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Social Sciences, Community Development or related area with additional 2 years of relevant experience will be given due consideration in lieu of a Master’s Degree.

Relevant Experience:

• Minimum of seven (07) years with a Master’s degree or nine (09) years with a Bachelor’s Degree with relevant experience in the design and implementation of employment/livelihoods recovery projects/Programme.

Required Skills:

• Previous experience of working with community-based NGOs is required.
• Solid knowledge of result-based management and project implementation is required.
• Good analytical skills and writing skills is required.
• Experience working in conflict or transition contexts is required.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and working knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, as well as experience in the handling of web-based management systems is required.
• Experience from previous UN assignments and/or multilateral and bi-lateral aid organizations would be an asset.

Language Requirements:

Proficiency in English is required – both written and oral.

Fluency in local language of duty station Dari and/or Pashto is required.

ONLY CURRENT AFGHANISTAN NATIONALS AVAILABLE FOR EMPLOYMENT AND WILLING TO TRAVEL IN KABUL AND THROUGHOUT VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN AFGHANISTAN, ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION. ALL OTHER APPLICANTS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.