Operations Specialist, LoGo Project (Re-advertisement)

UNDP supports stabilization, state building, and governance and development priorities in Afghanistan. UNDP support, in partnership with the Government, the United Nations system, the donor community and other development stakeholders, has contributed to institutional development efforts leading to positive impact on the lives of Afghan citizens. Over the years UNDP support has spanned such milestone efforts as the adoption of the Constitution; Presidential, Parliamentary and Provincial Council elections; institutional development through capacity-building to the legislative, the judicial and executive arms of the state, and key ministries, Government agencies and commissions at the national and subnational levels. UNDP has played a key role in the management of the Law and Order Trust Fund, which supports the Government in developing and maintaining the national police force and in efforts to stabilize the internal security environment. Major demobilization, disarmament and rehabilitation and area-based livelihoods and reconstruction programmes have taken place nationwide. UNDP Programmes in Afghanistan have benefited from the very active support of donors. UNDP Afghanistan is committed to the highest standards of transparency and accountability and works in close coordination with the United Nations Mission in Afghanistan and the UN system as a whole to maximize the impact of its development efforts on the ground.

Organizational Context:

Local Governance Project-Afghanistan (LoGo) is a new project, building upon the lessons from UNDP’s Afghanistan Sub-National Governance Programme (ASGP). Through LoGo project, the Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG) and UNDP will jointly address the top three priorities of IDLG which are: 1) service delivery; 2) accountability; and 3) clear functions and mandates. The project builds on a new theory of change aimed at improving service delivery by enhancing the accountability and transparency of the local governments to the women and men of Afghanistan and building the capacity of the local governments to plan, budget and monitor service delivery effectively with the aim of increasing the legitimacy of the government and the trust between the state and society.

The GIRoA, with UNDP support, will focus on the following areas:

• Subnational state institutions, (Provincial Governor Offices, District Governor Offices, Provincial Sector and Technical Services department, Provincial Council, Provincial Development Committees, Moustafiats, Department of Economy), enhance their capacities in outreach, planning, monitoring and budgeting for accountable and transparent service delivery.  
• Municipalities deliver services in a more accountable and participatory manner
• Accountability of local governance enhanced through civil society oversight organizations/groups.
• Central level government institutions develop and implement policy guidelines which improve local government accountability and service delivery.

The project will work with the relevant government ministries that cover subnational planning and budgeting, monitoring and evaluation and representative bodies as well as civic society.  These include the Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG), the Ministry of Economy (MoEc), and the Ministry of Finance (MoF) and ensuring complimentary with the other programmes, especially USAID, GIZ, UN Habitat and the World Bank.

• Oversee operational management of the project staff at national and sub-national levels and Provide support to Project Planning and AWP formulation;
• Ensure the project implemented timely and effectively according to plans and in consistency with CO SOP;
• Ensure that the project is administered timely and effectively as per UNDP procedures;
• Facilitate knowledge building and management.

Oversee operational management of the project staff at national and sub-national   levels and Provide support to Project Planning and AWP formulation by focusing on the following results:

• Provide financial analysis and oversight for all resources of LOGO and advice to the Project Manager;
• Supervise the Finance Associate;
• Provide inputs to formulation of AWPs;
• Provide inputs to detailed implementation plans;
• Assist in formulation of budgets for the project;
• Assist in formulation of procurement and HR plans for the project;
• Assist in revision of AWPs, periodic revisions of procurement/HR plans ensuring that plans are updated in a timely manner and in close coordination with UNDP Country Office (Programme, HR and Procurement Teams).

Ensures the provision of Operations and Administrative Support, by focusing on the following results:

• Initiate procurement actions for ICs, goods, works and services and recruitment of SC actions according to HR and procurement plans. Prepare requests for recruitment and contracting in UNDP format and according to CO SOP;
• Compile supporting documents for procurement and recruitments processes and ensure that supporting documents are complete and in line with the SOP;
• Create e-requisitions in ATLAS to initiate procurement processes; ensure the accuracy of the COA of the e-requisition; follow up with Project Manager for approval. Revise e-requisitions as necessary;
• Promptly follow up with CO units on pending actions (procurement, recruitment, travel, transportation etc);
• Create e-requisitions for travel and prepare TAs; submit and follow up with UNDP CO Travel Unit (according to SOP);
• Prepare payment requests and submit to CO (according to SOP). Ensure accuracy of COA of all payment requests;
• Prepare receipts in ATLAS.

Ensures that the project is administered timely and effectively as per UNDP procedures, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Arrange work plan of drivers and supervise its implementation. Ensure that vehicle logs are properly maintained;
• Oversee the orderly maintenance of project premises including furniture, space and equipment. Ensure that UNDP assets are properly marked;
• Monitor leave of local and international project personnel and maintain updated and correct records and online systems;
• Notify CO HR promptly on separation of project staff;
• Provide monthly update of current assets sheet. Implement transfer of assets in close coordination with the CO Administrative Services Unit;
• Implement security arrangements in the project premises under supervision of UNDP CO Security Team;
• Maintain project supplies and initiate procurement of supplies as necessary;
• Facilitate the periodic asset, inventory and supplies physical count by the Counting Teams;
• Coordinate ICT support to project with the UNDP CO. Coordinate support with ICT helpdesk;
• Maintain filing system for the project.

Facilitates knowledge building and management, focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Ensure that the project systematically builds capacities of Implementing Partners through Introduction of innovation and best practices, access to knowledge and expertise and promote their application to project implementation;
• Promote teamwork, information sharing and collaboration within the Project Team and between the Project Team and the CO Programme;
• Promote skills development of project staff through coaching and mentoring;
• Ensure capturing and disseminations of lessons learnt during project implementation;
• Facilitate the Project’s representation and/or participation in international knowledge networks to draw on and share best practice and lessons learned for application in Afghanistan.

Impact of Results:

The key results have an impact on the overall effectiveness of UNDP´s development results in Afghanistan. The efficient and timely achievement of project´s results will strengthen UNDP’s position as a strong and reliable development partner and satisfaction on the part of the development partners in the country. Specifically:

• Qualitative inputs provided to formulation of AWP, budget and procurement and HR plans;
• Project inputs implemented in a timely manner; timely initiation and prompt follow of procurement and recruitment processes; correct COAs applied to e-requisitions; payments initiated timely and RDPs prepared correctly;
• Project vehicles utilized correctly and efficiently; project premises and assets maintained orderly; leave monitoring performed in an integral manner; project supplies managed economically; MORSS implemented in project premises.

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office;
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.

Development and Operational Effectiveness

• Ability to support strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
• Solid knowledge in financial resources and human resources management, contract,    Asset, procurement, information and communication technology, general administration.

Management and Leadership

• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and   responds positively to feedback; 
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Demonstrates good conflict resolution skills;
• UNDP Certification programmes Prince2, Procurement, HR, Accounting and Finance.

Education:

• Master or Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Finance, Economics or related field.

Experience:

• With Master’s degree 2 years of experience and with Bachelor’s degree 4 years relevant of experience in finance, operations and management of staff at national or international organizations required;
• Knowledge of UNDP ATLAS an asset;
• Experience in establishing inter-relationships among international organization and national governments;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web based management systems.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in written and spoken English plus local Afghan languages (Dari and/or Pashtu).

Important applicant information

All posts in the SC categories are subject to local recruitment.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Workforce diversity

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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