Project Specialist

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 build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet. UNDP has worked in Afghanistan for over 50 years on climate change and resilience, gender, governance, health, livelihoods, and the rule of law. Under the broader framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and in close coordination with other UN agencies, UNDP supports the Afghan people’s aspiration for peace, prosperity, and sustainability. UNDP is currently implementing various projects, 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. 

In Afghanistan, UNDP plays a crucial role in addressing the complex issues of displacement that affect millions of internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, and refugees. UNDP implements targeted area-based programming which integrates community development plans that address displacement impacts, access to resources, basic services, and social cohesion, while also focusing on women/economic empowerment and regional business development to stabilize local economies.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and International Organization for Migration (IOM)has developed a joint programme, “Afghanistan Community Resilience Programme” (ACRP) to address the complex challenges posed by climate change and displacement in Afghanistan. This Joint Programme aims to mitigate the impacts of both rapid and slow-onset climate changes on livelihoods and displacement risks. It focuses on building resilient livelihoods, enhancing agricultural productivity and diversity, improving market linkages and value chains, strengthening community preparedness for climatic shocks, promoting ecosystem balance, and reducing water scarcity risks.

Through the ACPR, the tripartite partnership will create synergies and leverage the combined expertise and ongoing initiatives of the three agencies to strengthen Afghanistan’s resilience against the socioeconomic impacts of the poppy ban and related climate and displacement issues.

The interventions will be coordinated through activity sequencing, geographic targeting, and outcome alignment, utilizing the existing resources and expertise of the partner organizations. Joint efforts will include baseline data collection, monitoring, evaluation, learning, and knowledge sharing and reporting. The initiative will also integrate with ongoing and planned projects to maximize impact and create synergies.
 

Position Purpose

Under the overall guidance of the Deputy Resident Representative (Programme) and the day-to-day supervision of the Project Manager for CBARD, the Project Specialist will be responsible to ensure the direction of project activities and the achievement of project targets and results in close coordination with the relevant programme and project units, including the relevant area managers in UNDP Afghanistan Country Office. S/he plans project activities and inputs, manages the day-to-day implementation of the project, and supervises project experts and personnel and provide guidance to regional teams on implementation of project activities.
Specifically, the scope of work will cover the following functions:

• Ensure day-to-day project management, including financial and administrative oversight for the delivery of the ACRP’s activities.
• Coordinate effectively with participating UN Organizations (FAO and IOM) and manage communications and reporting to donors.
• Promote complementarity and synergies with other ongoing initiatives in targeted operational locations.
• Ensure harmonized implementation approaches across regional operational areas as part of the initiative.
• Document and disseminate lessons learned and knowledge products, while supporting development communications and results-based monitoring, evaluation, and learning.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across
interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration to equalize the visibility of all three agencies.

• Lead the preparation and implementation of the Project’s detailed annual work plans (AWPs), procurement plan and M&E plan, in alignment with the project goals and objectives.
• Ensure the mobilization of the required inputs and resources (financial, human resources and other necessary logistics) to achieve high-quality delivery of UNDP specific project activities and outputs in alignment with overall project objective, goals and outcomes through an effective implementation plan and close coordination with relevant UNDP units and project teams.
• Develop the scope of works and oversee the recruitment and supervision of service providers and responsible parties for timely and quality implementation of the project activities.
• Develop and finalize Memorandum of Agreements, Responsible Party Agreements, or other relevant legal instruments with relevant entities.
• Ensure quality assurance of the delivery of UNDP specific project activities – through the substantial and technical review of the deliverables of the project staff members, consultants, and other service providers.
• Establish adequate monitoring procedures and systems throughout project activities in close collaboration with the UNDP Afghanistan relevant units to ensure robust monitoring and evaluation, data analysis and reporting as per the CO’s Standard Operating Procedures and in alignment with the Donor’s requirements. 
• Ensure acquaintance with the project design, special conditions of the multi-party contribution agreement to ensure adherence to the specific donor requirements and expectations.
• Ensure close coordination and collaboration with all relevant CO units for the development and implementation social and environment safeguards and other plans that may be deemed necessary.
• Ensure robust coordination with all relevant stakeholders to develop and apply transparent beneficiary selection criteria to ensure that the right beneficiaries are selected and receive the support they deserve.
• Establish and implement a very clear grievance redress mechanism and make sure all targeted beneficiaries are fully acquainted with how they can raise their grievances without any fear of retaliation.
• Ensure effective gender mainstreaming throughout the project activities, work plans, budgets, reports, research, analyses and, where specifically relevant, analyzed in detail.
• Ensure responsible management of the Project resources, maintaining financial integrity, and ensure effective use of all project resources.
• Provide quality and timely financial reports, as per UNDP financial rules and regulations.
• Ensure updated project’s inputs in the CO’s enterprise management system (Quantum) project reports and activities, including but not limited to the transparency dashboard, risk log, project setup (outcomes, outputs, activities, and budgets) and ensure regular update on the project activity results.
   

• Ensure regular and productive communications and coordination with FAO and IOM to ensure coherence, complementarities, and synergies during implementation of different Agencies specific activities. 
• Ensure the preparation and implementation of the steering committee meetings through engagement with all relevant stakeholders to ensure the preparation of quality materials including preparation of the presentation of new plans and deliverables that may require review and approval of the project steering committee meeting.
• Keep track of resolutions of the project steering committees and ensure coordination with other participating Agencies for timely implementation of the recommendations of the steering committee meetings.
• Liaise with other participating Agencies to ensure coordinated engagement with the donor ensuring sufficient visibility of all the parties involved in the implementation of project activities as per the agreed upon branding, communication, and visibility plan.
• Coordinate with other participating agencies to receive and consolidate their inputs for financial and technical reports as per agreed reporting timelines and any other ad hoc reporting that may be necessary as per the need.
• Ensure coordinated collection, analysis and dissemination of lessons learned, success stories and other knowledge related products.
• Ensure that joint mission plans are developed in coordination with participating agencies for the donor visits to equalize the visibility of all three agencies.
   

• Mapping of on-going similar interventions active in the same operational areas.
• Organize formal and informal coordination meetings with key actors on the ground to ensure complementarities and synergies with other relevant on-going interventions active in the same operational areas.
• Promote coordination, dialogue, and good practice knowledge sharing among stakeholders.
   

• Coordinate with stakeholders, including UN agencies, DFA, I-NGOs, and CSOs, to establish a harmonized approach and prevent conflicting messaging during similar activities.
• Facilitate the development of standard manuals and templates for key themes, such as good agronomic practices, farmer field schools, post-harvest handling and storage, disaster risk reduction, and early warning systems.
• Promote information sharing and cross-learning to adjust ongoing plans and programs as needed.
   

• Oversee the creation and implementation of a template for collecting and sharing success stories that highlight project achievements.
• Ensure feedback is gathered from diverse beneficiaries to foster continuous improvement.
• Identify the best communication channels for effectively disseminating lessons learned and knowledge products generated by the projects.
• Synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices; and human-interest stories to maximize the project visibility.
• Promote accountability through effective programme results reporting (monthly, quarter, and annual progress and financial reports) to the UNDP management.
• Establish suitable monitoring mechanisms and undertake regular monitoring and reporting on work progress, risks and constraints; updates the implementation plan as required.
   

• Core Competencies:

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 & Technical competencies

Business Management & Results-based Management: Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools .

Business Direction & Strategy System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Business Management & Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and control resources, procedures, and protocols to achieve specific goals.

Business Direction, Strategy & Business Acumen: Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome Ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization.

Partnership Management & Relationship Management: Ability to engage with a wide range  of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding.

Communication Advocacy Strategy & Implementation: Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies leading to impactful change.

Business Development & Knowledge Generation: Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. 

• Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situation.

Business Management & Portfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization’s programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment. 

• Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management.