Grants & Finance Specialist

The Asia Pacific Regional Office, based in Bangkok, Thailand, provides strategic leadership and oversight for UNOPS operations across 17 countries, ensuring high performance, operational excellence, and alignment with organizational goals. Operations currently span Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Pacific Islands. Across these countries, we work closely with key stakeholders to strengthen partnerships and maximize impact through five main operating units: Afghanistan (AFCO), Myanmar (MMCO), South Asia Multi-Country Office (SAMCO), East Asia and Pacific Multi-Country Office (EAPMCO), and the Asia Regional Health Cluster (ARHC). Through these entities, we provide agile, client-focused service delivery across diverse sectors - including infrastructure, health, procurement, and project management - supporting the implementation of sustainable development solutions across the region.

Since 1995, UNOPS has maintained an active presence in Afghanistan, delivering efficient, agile services in support of both humanitarian response and development efforts. Prior to August 2021, the Afghanistan Country Office (AFCO) implemented projects across a broad range of sectors, including infrastructure, procurement, capacity building, and environmental protection. In response to evolving humanitarian needs, AFCO has shifted its focus to supporting life-saving initiatives and basic human needs. Current priorities include managing large-scale cash-for-work programmes, procuring emergency supplies, and providing inter-agency coordination, communication, and accountability support.

The Private Sector Resilience Program (PSRP) is a flagship Series of Projects (SOP) financed by the World Bank (IDA and ARTF) designed to strengthen the resilience and job creation potential of Afghan Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), with a particular focus on women, youth, and returnees.. 

The Grants & Finance Specialist will be responsible for developing and implementing grant mechanisms and supporting the effective financial and operational management of grant-funded activities. The role will oversee matching grants, fund flows, budgets, expenditures, payments, financial reporting and partner controls, while also supporting overall project financial planning, monitoring, forecasting and reporting. The Specialist will work closely with the Program Manager, Finance and project teams to ensure compliance with UNOPS and World Bank requirements and effective use of project resources.

The grants and finance specialist will be required to travel to project areas for monitoring and supervision purposes. 

To ensure effective grant management, stakeholder engagement, sound financial management, fiduciary oversight and risk mitigation of the Private Sector Resilience Program (PSRP), contributing to the program's objectives and managing dedicated grants personnel.

1. Grant Management

• Preparing and managing the Call for Proposals (CFP), conducting and managing the submission and evaluation of proposals as per the UNOPS policies.
• Manage day-to-day administration of grant management activities and the implementing partners.
• Communicate with and provide guidance to implementing partners on grant-related matters in collaboration with the project team.
• Coordinate due diligence processes, including capacity assessments and protection from sexual exploitation and abuse capacity assessment (PSEA) and monitoring associated action plans.
• Review and consult on implementing partner documentation and work plans, budgets, and results frameworks. Facilitate orientation sessions and routine dialogue with implementing partners.
• Coordinate the timely preparation and processing of grant award requests, amendments and implementing partner agreements, in consultation with relevant legal and other advisors, and ensure compliance with UNOPS legal, financial and policy requirements.
• Follow up and work with project teams to monitor the implementation of implementing partner activities based on the approved work plan, budget and results framework and track the start and completion dates of activities and proactively highlight activities with risk and delays to senior management
• Establish and maintain effective and professional working relationships with implementing partners and facilitate timely resolution of grant-related issues.
• Coordinate and follow-up on implementing partner assurance activities, such as routine monitoring, financial spot checks, audits, and evaluations. Facilitate the sharing of lessons learned between implementing partners.
• Establish and manage effective information flows between the implementing partners and team through consistent and consolidated reporting using dashboards providing a clear overview of grant performance, progress, risks and key issues
• Coordination of the process of the operational closure of implementing partner grants and UNOPS project closure
• Preparing and managing the Call for Proposals (CFP), conducting and managing the submission and evaluation of proposals as per the UNOPS policies.
• Manage day-to-day administration of grant management activities and the implementing partners.
• Communicate with and provide guidance to implementing partners on grant-related matters in collaboration with the project team.

2. Financial Management

• Establish and maintain effective financial management arrangements for grants and related project activities, in coordination with the Program Manager and Finance.

• Support the preparation, review and consolidation of grant budgets and relevant project financial plans, ensuring alignment with approved work plans, results frameworks and financing arrangements.

• Monitor grant expenditures, commitments, budget utilization, cash-flow requirements and financial forecasts, identifying variances and emerging financial risks.

• Review grant payment requests, budgets, financial provisions and amendments, ensuring compliance with approved agreements, payment schedules and UNOPS requirements.

• Monitor advances, expenditures, liquidations and outstanding balances, and follow up with implementing partners on financial issues and overdue submissions.

• Review implementing partner financial reports for completeness, accuracy and compliance with approved budgets and grant agreements, and reconcile reported information with UNOPS records.

• Prepare consolidated project financial information, dashboards and management reports, highlighting budget utilization, expenditure, forecasts, variances and key financial risks.

• Prepare consolidated project financial information, dashboards and management reports, highlighting budget utilization, expenditure, forecasts, variances and key financial risks.

• Prepare regular project financial reports with inputs from relevant focal persons and manage their finalization and submission, including preparation and submission of disbursement requests.

• Provide financial inputs to project and donor reporting, financial reviews and project closure, ensuring consistency between financial information, implementation progress and reported results.

• Lead the review, monitoring and updating of the UNOPS implementing partner capacity assessment and PSEA capacity assessment, incorporating best practices and assessment tools.
• Organize and deliver IP capacity development and training in financial and organisational management and PSEA.
• Provide day-to-day help and guidance to the IPs and coordinate with the Project Team to ensure IP understanding of, and compliance with, these standards.
• Provide IPs with the required assistance in developing or strengthening their internal guidelines and policies to guide their project financial management and organisational activities and to ensure accountability.
• Standardize, to the extent possible, IP capacity development efforts by UNOPS.

4. Knowledge Management and Innovation

• Keep abreast of and incorporate latest/best practices, approaches and technology to enhance the programme delivery and results.

• Institutionalise and share best practices and lessons for corporate development planning and knowledge building.

• Draft Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to align grant operations with changing environments.

• Lead the planning, implementation and organization of strategic capacity building of project personnel, implementing partners, clients and stakeholders especially in the field of grant management.

• Coordinate with the UNOPS Infrastructure and Project Management Group (IPMG) and AFCO peers for tailoring good practices to meet the specific needs of UNOPS Afghanistan.

5. Risk Management and Compliance

• Identify and assess potential risks associated with grant implementation, and develop mitigation strategies in coordination with the project team.

• Ensure compliance with UNOPS financial rules and regulations, procurement procedures, and relevant donor requirements.

• Support regular audits as per agreement with the donor and conduct spot checks of grant activities to ensure accountability and transparency.

• Oversee and ensure the implementation of the FundsChain blockchain platform for transaction traceability from the Bank to end-beneficiaries for transactions involving implementing partners

• Serve as the primary point of contact for grantees, providing guidance and support throughout the grant lifecycle.

• Facilitate communication and collaboration between grantees, UNOPS project team, and other stakeholders.

• Organize regular meetings and workshops to share information, best practices, and lessons learned among grantees.

• Prepare regular progress reports and presentations for senior management and donors on grant activities and outcomes.

7. Program Development and Improvement

• Contribute to the development of new grant programs and initiatives based on identified needs and priorities.

• Evaluate the effectiveness of existing grant programs and recommend improvements to enhance their impact and sustainability.

• Conduct research and analysis on best practices in grant management and private sector development, and incorporate findings into program design and implementation.

Required

• Master’s Degree in Project Management, Business Administration, International Development, or a related field with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience; OR a Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field with a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience.

Required

• Experience in project/programme management, with a focus on private sector development, grant management, or economic development in complex environments is considered relevant

Desired

• Experience making grants to private sector entities and/or developing and managing complex grants.

• Experience working with the World Bank or other international financial institutions.

• Experience in FCV contexts.

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
  

• 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 (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. 
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.