Background
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) is part of the United Nations Secretariat dealing with trade, investment, and development issues. The organization's goals are to maximize developing countries' trade, investment and development opportunities and assist them in their efforts to integrate into the world economy on an equitable basis.

UNCTAD has been operating in Afghanistan since 2005 with a focus on the automation and modernization of customs procedures, reforms, and trade facilitation as there was a need of replacing the outdated and manual process of customs clearance with an automated reliable system for the clearance of customs consignments on efficient and effective basis throughout the country. Therefore, considering the rules, regulations and requirements, the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) was developed by UNCTAD for Afghanistan, an integrated customs management system for international trade and transport operations in a modern automated environment. It is a dedicated system developed for the computerized and smooth process of imports, exports, and transit operations at customs. Advanced software applications are designed and developed for customs administrations and the trade community to comply with international standards when fulfilling import, export, and transit-related procedures. Currently, all the Inland Customs Depots (ICDs) and Border Customs Points (BCPs) are covered by the ASYCUDA system with all its relevant and required modules.

The working relations of UNCTAD with the government ceased after 15 August 2021 when there was the political transition to the new government regime. On the other hand, there was a need for humanitarian aid to flow into the country for the vulnerable people of Afghanistan; therefore, UNCTAD worked for designing and developing a dedicated system for exempted and humanitarian goods entering the country for smooth and on-time customs clearance. As a result, the exemption system was developed by UNCTAD to regulate and ease the process of exempted and humanitarian goods imported to the country. The exemption system was subsequently implemented in all the ICDs and BCPs. UNCTAD also established several exemption helpdesk/hotline centers for the ease of exempted and humanitarian goods clearance at custom stations which resulted in the formation of exemption helpdesks in customs headquarters, Kabul ICD, Nangarhar ICD, Mazar ICD, Kandahar ICD, and Kabul Airport ICD for the coordination and cooperation of exempted and humanitarian goods smooth clearance.

Another area in which UNCTAD focuses is the supporting of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through the Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan (STFA) where UNCTAD plays an important role in building their capacities, national-level assessment and surveys and sustaining the ongoing support being provided to the private sector, including to the women-led small businesses, which continue to face the impact of the economic crisis in the region. These resources will be allocated for capacity-building support for MSMEs, promotion of cross-border trade with neighboring and other countries, and conduction of exhibitions for Afghan traders.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Operations Officer the Security Assistant will perform the following key functions:

  • Provide technical support, guidance, and security advice and functions to the UNCTAD team
  • Oversee security evaluations and provide advice on security measures for the residences (Residential Security Measures - RSM) of UNCTAD personnel, as well as on the latest trends and threats to personnel safety and security
  • Provide recommendations regarding effective risk prevention and mitigation measures, including recommendations for possible UNCTAD support needs and improvements
  • Oversee substantive assessment of the security situation in responsibility and ensure adequate collation and verification of security information
  • Maintain close liaison with Regional Security Specialist and participate in UNSMS Security Cell meetings
  • Develop, maintain, manage, and implement the UNCTAD Security Plan in accordance with the UN Security Plan
  • Monitor, manage and implement UNCTAD compliance of the Security Risk Management Measures (SRMM) established for the duty station/s
  • Report security incidents affecting UNCTAD personnel, programmes, offices, and assets
  • Assist in developing and conducting training courses on security awareness, preparedness, mainstreaming, and specialized security functions
  • Any other task as assigned by the supervisor
Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

  • Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNCTAD
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age sensitivity and adaptability

Functional Competencies:

Knowledge Management and Learning

  • Promotes knowledge management in UNCTAD and a learning environment in the office through various examples
  • 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 lead strategic planning, results-based management, and reporting
  • Excellent knowledge of Results Based Management Guide and Toolkit

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
Required Skills and Experience
Education: 
  • At least 12th grade graduate
  • Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Economics, Business Administration, Commercial Law, or similar fields desirable
Experience:
  • At least 6 years of proven work experience in performing and managing security functions of larger organizations, programs, or projects is required or 3 years of relevant work experience with a bachelor’s degree
  • Familiarity with the technical knowledge of security related issues of UN or other international organization
  • Proven experience in forming strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client, and responds positively to feedbacks in security related issues
  • Experience with the international organization, public sector or UN is required
  • Computer literacy: working technical knowledge of Ms. Office package.
Disclaimer
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
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.
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