UN Women: Programme Associate, N-PPSA-7, Jalalabad, Afghanistan, National Personnel Partner Service Agreement

Background:

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. Placing women’s rights at the center of all its efforts, UN Women leads and coordinates United Nations System efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

Afghanistan is one of the world’s most complex emergencies, and the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Afghan people are grappling with the impact of conflict, poverty, economic decline, and natural disasters. In this context, Afghan women and girls face unique vulnerabilities and require urgent support as gender inequality is interwoven with conflict dynamics and humanitarian needs. It is essential that Afghan women and girls can continue to shape the development of their country, and that their gains are protected. UN Women remains fully committed to supporting Afghan women and girls and to putting them at the center of the global response to the crisis in Afghanistan.

UN Women has been in Afghanistan for two decades. UN Women’s programming approach is informed by analysis of the political, economic and humanitarian situation, risks to and capacities of partner organizations, and needs of Afghan women and girls. UN Women Afghanistan currently has five key programme priorities: (1) Integrated Programming and Localization, (2) Women’s Civil Society Unit; 3) Policy and Research; 4) Economic Resilience and Empowerment and 5) Coordination, Access and Humanitarian Response. UN Women Afghanistan operates through its main office in Kabul and five sub-offices located in the provinces of Balkh, Bamyan, Herat, Kandahar and Nangarhar.

Given the importance of sub-national level engagement in support of Afghan women and girls in the current crisis context, the UN Women Afghanistan Country Office has sub-national presence in five Sub-Offices in Balkh, Bamyan, Herat, Kandahar and Nangarhar. The five Sub-Offices support UN Women coordination, advocacy, and programming efforts at the Sub-National level.

Reporting to the Head of Sub-Office, the Programme Associate will assist with the delivery of UN Women programmes/projects at the Sub-Office level by analyzing results achieved during implementation and supporting appropriate application of systems and procedures. S/he will work in close collaboration with the UN Women Programme and Operations teams in the Afghanistan Country Office, Regional Office and HQ (as required), De facto Authorities (DfA), and civil society partners in the Eastern Region ensuring successful UN Women programme implementation at the Sub-Office level. The Programme Associate contributes to research, financial management, and programme implementation including providing necessary operational, administrative and programmatic support.

Provide advanced administrative and logistical support to the formulation and management of programmes:

• Provide advanced administrative support and inputs in the preparation of work plans, budgets, and proposals on implementation arrangements for the Sub-Office;
• Provide technical guidance to the country offices and executing agencies on routine delivery and reporting of programme supported activities and finances;
• Coordinate the collection of information for the audit of programmes/ projects and support implementation of audit recommendations.
• Contribute to the development or update of standard operating procedures, guidelines, checklists, templates and business processes in programme and project management.
• Review programme data from programmes/ projects for ACO website; and
• Identify sources and gather and compile data and information for documents, guidelines, speeches and position papers.

Provide advanced administrative support to the financial management of the Sub-Office

• Create projects in Quantum system, prepare budget revisions, revise project awards and status; and determine unutilized funds and the operational and financial close of a project;
• Monitor budget preparation and the finances of programmes/projects; prepare periodic reports; finalize FACE forms;
• Review financial reports; prepare non-PO vouchers for development projects;
• Maintain internal expenditures control system; post transactions in Quantum system;
• Create requisitions in Quantum system for development projects; register good receipts in Quantum system; and
• Prepare and follow up of cost-recovery bills in Quantum system.

Provide advanced administrative support to the Sub Office:

• Oversee all logistical, administrative and financial arrangements for organization for meetings, workshops, events, and missions;
• Oversee travel arrangements for the sub office, including travel requisitions and claims;
• Prepare public information materials and briefing packets; and
• Liaise with high level officials on administrative issues;
• Prepare and assemble briefing materials and prepare PowerPoint and other presentations; contribute inputs to the materials; and

Provide administrative support to Resource Mobilization:

• Prepare cost-sharing and other agreements; follow up on contributions within the Sub-Office and ACO resource mobilization efforts; and
• Organize, compile and process information from donors, Sub-Office and Afghanistan Country Office, and programme teams, as inputs to various databases and documents.

Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing:

• Support synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices related to programme management and finance; and
• Coordinate the organization of training for the office personnel and partners on programme and operations related issues.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Competencies :

Core Values:

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect for Diversity.

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
• Accountability;
• Creative Problem Solving;
• Effective Communication;
• Inclusive Collaboration;
• Stakeholder Engagement;
• Leading by Example.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Values and Competencies Framework:

Functional Competencies:

• Strong knowledge of programme management
• Ability to create, edit, synthesize and present information in clear and presentable formats
• Ability to administer and execute administrative processes and transactions
• Ability to provide input to business process re-engineering, elaboration and implementation of new data management systems
• Ability to manage data, documents, correspondence and reports information and workflow
• Excellent financial and budgeting skills
• Excellent IT skills

Minimum Qualifications

Experience:

• Completion of secondary education is required.
• ⁠Bachelor’s degree in business or public administration is desirable.

Experience:

• At least 7 years of progressively responsible experience in administration or programme management/support is required.
• Experience in working in a computer environment using multiple office software packages is required.
• Experience in supporting a team is required.
• ⁠Experience in the use of a modern web-based ERP System, preferably Oracle Cloud, is desirable.

Language:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Fluency in Pashto/Dari is required.
• ⁠Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable (French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish).

Statements :

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.

Diversity and inclusion:

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)

Note: Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form, including the sections on education and employment history, are completed. If all sections are not completed the application may be disqualified from the recruitment and selection process.