Programme Management Specialist (Aid Architecture Coordination)

Project Information

In support of the new aid architecture for Afghanistan, the Afghanistan Coordination Group (ACG) has formed five Strategic Thematic Working Groups (STWG) to provide strategic oversight and guidance over three pillars of the new strategic framework for Afghanistan, focusing on basic human needs: (1) Sustaining Essential Services, (2) Economic Opportunities and Livelihoods, (3) Gender and Human Rights. These STWG are a core component to bring together relevant stakeholders from donors’ side, multilateral financing platforms, humanitarian actors, UN and NGOs to improve the quality and coherence of policy dialogue and funding/strategic priorities and operation under the three pillars of the new strategic framework for Afghanistan. 

UNAMA has been tasked to provide coordination and secretarial functions to this new aid coordination architecture. Against the above mentioned, UNAMA is looking to fill two positions for Pillar 1 and 3 to support chairs of relevant STWGs (Health & Education; Gender & Human Rights), ensure effective functioning of the STWGs as well as close collaboration within and across pillars. S/he will liaise with and coordinate relevant bilateral, multilateral, foundations, and Non-State Actors (NSAs), namely civil societies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to foster coordination across relevant sectors in Afghanistan to avoid duplication of interventions, enhance harmonization, and ensure synergies.

Job-Specific Information

Selected candidates will be part of an integrated team within the Aid Coordination and Effectiveness Section/Resident Coordinator’s Office of the UN in Afghanistan and carry out following functions:

• Plans and facilitates liaison and coordination with the Afghanistan Coordination Group and other stakeholders of relevant Strategic Thematic Working Groups within assigned pillar

• Sets up meetings, prepares agendas and draft and distribute minutes of the discussions for the joint pillar, relevant STWG and the thematic sub-groups

• Reaches out to all the stakeholders and follows up on the action points of STWG meetings.

• Provide strategic and operational input to the co-chairs to keep them informed and updated.

• Maintains regular contact with relevant authorities when required/decided in STWG and its co-chairs

• Keeps sectoral partners informed of relevant developments and ongoing activities

• Ensures linkages to relevant UN mechanisms at national, regional and HQ level, including close collaboration with relevant humanitarian clusters

• Ensures cross-linkages with other STWGs as relevant; across pillars and with other relevant established groups, such as the Education Development Partners’ Group (DPG)

• Provides substantive support for strategic planning and coordination of STWG and ensures collaboration within assigned pillar and cross-linkage with the other two.

• Plans and facilitates the development, maintenance and sharing of knowledge and intelligence with STWG members

• Plans and facilitates the design, formulation, implementation, monitoring and reporting of joint programmes and programming processes for use in joint resource mobilization for STWG

• Provides inputs for briefing papers and discussion points on issues related to STWG

• Contributes to knowledge management of the STWG

• Ensures that monthly and quarterly coordination reports are prepared

• Prepare and distribute minutes of the coordination meetings 

• Performs other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor(s).

a. Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in business or public administration, sustainable development, social sciences, education or related areas. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

b. Work experience 

• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in strategic planning, coordination, sustainable development policy, project/programme management or resource mobilization in the context of development cooperation or related areas is required.

• Analytical ability, practical problem-solving skills and resourcefulness in performing varied tasks in the area

• Demonstrated skills in coordination, retrieving, gathering and obtaining information from various sources

• Sound organizational skills and ability to prioritize and deliver assignments in a timely manner often under severe time pressures

• Demonstrated initiative in developing practical approaches that improve efficiency and effectiveness of the project

• Strong interpersonal skills and commitment to work in a team-oriented, multi-cultural environment

c. Languages

• Fluent oral and written skills in English

• One of the national language (Pashtu or Dari) is desirable

Contract type: Staff
Contract level: P3
Contract duration: One (1) year initially, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time.
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and it is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, or disability.
  
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  
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