UNDP AFG – Technical Associate – Livelihood (NPSA6) – 8 Positions

Contract

This is a NPSA-6 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Personnel Services Agreement. It is normally only for nationals. It usually requires 6 years of experience, depending on education. More about NPSA-6 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 planet. UNDP has been working in Afghanistan for more than 50 years on climate change and resilience, gender, governance, health, livelihood, 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 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 livelihood 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 market, small businesses and livelihood opportunities with 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.

The Technical Associate (Livelihood) will work in close coordination with Livelihood Officer in ABADEI program and be responsible for providing technical support to livelihood component. S/he works under the guidance and supervision of the Program Manager ABADEI and in close collaboration with team members. The incumbent will also work closely with partners, UN Agencies, technical advisors and experts, and civil society to help implement livelihood activities.

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 to ensure the success of the project:

• Support effective design and implementation of livelihood interventions in ABADEI program.
• Provide support in developing partnerships and ensure coordination with implementing partners and relevant stakeholders including UN agencies.
• Contribute to knowledge management and information sharing in ABADEI program team.

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

• Provide technical support to implement livelihood activities in line with the ABADEI program strategy including stakeholder consultation, community participation so as to operationalize activities.
• Provide technical inputs to develop suitable livelihood options for vulnerable communities.
• Support to prepare capacity development materials on livelihood; provide technical support in conducting capacity building initiatives.
• Generate new ideas and approaches, consolidate best practices from the field and propose effective ways of doing things.
• Monitor program implementation of partners (contractors, consultants, grantees) in accordance with agreements, work-plans, deliverables and timelines.
• Ensure timely and quality progress by partners in line with agreed templates and schedules; review reports; provide feedback to UNDP and partners.
• Oversee implementation of livelihood-related components in the region to ensure delivery of all the targets with desired outputs.
• Establish and maintain network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up to date on partnership related issues.
• Coordinate with partners and stakeholders in the process of implementing livelihood initiatives.
• Assess and evaluate funding proposals from potential partner organizations maintaining quality and consistency.
• Support UNDP’s positioning as effective partner in livelihood and job creation.
• Support to develop specific livelihood activities for women and ensure integration of gender issues and concerns in livelihood programming.
• Keep track on financial and expenditure records related to livelihood activities if required.
• Identify operational and programmatic challenges in relation to livelihood work and propose solutions.

2. Provide support in developing partnerships and ensure coordination with implementing partners and relevant stakeholders including UN agencies, focusing on achievement of the following:

• Support capacity building of local partners, organize relevant orientations and trainings for local partners.
• Identify potential organizations to engage with in the targeted areas and contribute to build a network.
• Act as the UNDP/ABADEI livelihood focal person in the region to develop support a coordination mechanism that allows to share information and to harmonize 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:

• Collect information related to infrastructure work and provide inputs for the preparation of substantive briefs.
• Identify and document best practices and lessons learned from infrastructure interventions.
• Assis in producing publicity materials on infrastructure 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 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

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

Engagement & Effectiveness

EFFECTIVENESS: Ability to support budgetary aspects of work planning process, drawing and management of team budgets.

Prosperity

RECOVERY SOLUTIONS AND HUMAN MOBILITY: Development and Mine Action (for people's livelihood).

RECOVERY SOLUTIONS AND HUMAN MOBILITY: Sustainable Livelihood Diversification/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****:

• High School Diploma or Bachelor’s degree in in economics, social sciences or related fields.

Relevant Experience:

• Minimum of 6 years with High School Diploma or 3 years with Bachelor’s degree of relevant experience in the design and implementation of employment/livelihood recovery projects/programme.

Required Skills:

• Previous experience of working with community-based NGOs is required.
• Knowledge on result-based management and project implementation is required.
• Good analytical skills and writing skills.
• Experience working in conflict or transition context 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.
• 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.