UNDP AFG – Programme Officer (NOA) – 8 Positions

Contract

This is a NO-A contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 1 years of experience, depending on education. More about NO-A 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 Programme Analyst will work under the guidance of the Programme Manager and the direct supervision of the Area Manager. S/he works in close collaboration with the Programme Management Unit (PMU) team, the CO teams, technical advisors and experts, UN agencies, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors, and civil society to help implement ABADEI programme. S/he provides quality technical support to partners in his or her area of work. The Programme Analyst 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 be responsible for the following:

• Supporting the development of ABADEI programme activities from design through implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
• Establishing and maintaining strategic partnerships and supporting resource mobilization.
• Ensuring provision of top-quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management.

1. Support the development of ABADEI programme activities from design through implementation, monitoring and evaluation focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Conduct a thorough analysis and research of the political, social, and economic situation in the country and collaborate with the PMU team in the preparation/revision of project documents, AWP and other documents as necessary.
• Identify opportunities for new programme/project development including joint programming with UN agencies.
• Ensure coordination and networking with clients, stakeholders, and programme partners.
• Collaborate with the Country Office to align ABADEI programme with UNDP global and regional initiatives, policies and knowledge products.
• Provide leadership with technical guidance in planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, ensuring that results are delivered in accordance with the work plan, standards, allocations, framework and rules and regulations.
• Support effective application of RBM tools, the establishment of management targets, and monitoring achievement of results.
• Monitor work plan implementation, ensure it is on track, and support resolution of bottlenecks working with PMU and CO.
• Take a lead role in planning and carrying out programme monitoring and preparing periodic and ad hoc reports including the annual report, donor reports, ROAR and IWP.
• Ensure programme reviews and evaluations take place, manage the reviews and evaluation process and take a lead in preparing management response.
• Support audit exercises and coordinate with the team to provide responses.
• Analyze, research, and provide inputs for preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, and identify opportunities to initiate new projects.
• Ensure capacity building of implementing partners, and organize relevant trainings and orientations.
• Work in coordination with Gender Mainstreaming Specialist to conduct analysis and research of the gender dimension of ABADEI programme and collaborate in the preparation/revision of programme documents, AWP and other documents.
• Ensure coordination and networking with UN agencies, clients, stakeholders, and programme partners.

2. Establish and maintain strategic partnerships and supports resource mobilization focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Support resource mobilization for ABADEI programme.
• Act as a focal point from PMU to develop a coordination mechanism that allows sharing of information and harmonizes the work carried out by different partners.
• Conduct research and analysis of information on existing and new partners.
• Contribute to the implementation of CO partnerships and resource mobilization strategy.
• Develop ideas and concepts for possible areas of cooperation, and identification of funding opportunities for ongoing and new programme and projects.
• Support working relationships and creates programmatic linkages with relevant UN Agencies and counterparts as guided by the supervisor.
• Represents UNDP at external meetings within his/her area of programming.

3. Supports the provision of high-quality technical support and facilitation of knowledge building and management, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned directly linked to ABADEI programme.
• Coordinate and ensure best practices and lessons learned are taken into consideration while developing work plans and programme strategies.
• Ensure that lessons learned from ABADEI programme are captured and recorded into the CO knowledge pool.

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 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline.

Think Innovatively:

LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements.

Learn Continuously

LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback.

Adapt with Agility

LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible.

Act with Determination

LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident.

Engage and Partner

LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships.

Enable Diversity and Inclusion

LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination.

Cross Functional and Technical Competencies

Partnership Management

RESOURCE MOBILIZATION: Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to meet funding requirements.

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

Programme and Policy

EFFECTIVNESS: Programming principles & standards and development effectiveness principles.

Business Management

MONITORING: Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results.

EVALUATION: Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks - Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.

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 Development Studies, Political Science, Economics, Environmental Science, Social Sciences, Law, Public Administration, Peacebuilding or related field or
• Bachelor’s Degree in the relevant field with an additional two (2) years of relevant experience will be given due consideration in lieu of Master’s degree.

Relevant Experience:

• Minimum of one (01) years’ relevant experience is desirable with Master’s degree or three (03) years with a Bachelor’s degree of progressively responsible experience in programme / project management in international development organizations, bilateral development agencies and/or international NGOs.

Required Skills:

• Knowledge of Results-Based Management methodologies is required.
• Proven ability to work effectively in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams.
• Proven programme management experience with sound knowledge of all aspects of the project cycle (design, implementation, monitoring & evaluation) is required.
• Experience of fundraising, resource mobilization and donor relations would be an asset.
• 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.
• Experience from previous UN assignments and/or multilateral and bi-lateral aid organizations would be an asset.
• Strong interpersonal and written and oral communication skills.

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.