Background

UNDP supports stabilization, state building, 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.

ASGP Project: Developing sound and functional sub-national governance systems is a vital item on the Afghanistan development agenda. Strengthening institutional capacities and arrangements for sub-national governance and development were priorities approved in the London and Kabul Conferences in 2010. It is increasingly recognized that capacity of sub-national governance and development institutions is key to peace, stability and development of the Afghan people.

UNDP is implementing the Afghanistan Sub-national Governance Programme (ASGP) developing institutional structures and capacities required for effective service delivery at the sub-national level.

ASGP works at the national level with the Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG), and with key government institutions at the sub-national level, namely the Provincial & District Governor’s Office (PGOs & DGOs), Provincial & District Councils (PCs & DCs) and municipalities. The key objective of the ASGP is to strengthen the democratic state and government institutions enabling these to better govern and ensure quality public services delivery at the sub-national level through advocacy, policy advice and capacity development. In the phase I, ASGP had initiated the sub-national governance reform process at national (IDLG), provincial, district and municipal levels. The objective of Phase II is to roll out these reforms comprehensively across the country.

Based on the experience during the Inception Phase of ASGP-II, the implementation strategy of ASGP now consists of support at the national, provincial and municipal levels.

At the provincial level, ASGP aims to implement a sector-wide, provincial approach through the establishment of partnerships with each provincial governor to provide them with additional resources, staffing and equipment for enhanced good governance. Additionally, the Provincial Councils (PCs) are important sub-national institutions at the provincial level, having an important role in strengthening the sub-national governance in Afghanistan inter alia through oversight of public services delivery. The PCs are currently the only representative bodies at the sub-national level, established by means of constitutionally mandated elections. ASGP works closely with the PCs in developing their institutional and organizational capacities. For the advancement of these aims, UNDP is working towards capacity development and implementation partnerships with the Provincial Governor Offices, Provincial Councils, District Government and Municipalities.

A Letter of Agreement (LoA) has been signed between the UNDP and the Provincial Governor Offices (PGO) across the 34 provinces to empower the provincial institutions in taking the lead for implementation of ASGP activities in the provinces and realize their mutual agreed upon objectives. The provincial LoA articulates a framework for implementation of ASGP activities by the benefitting provincial institutions themselves, namely the PGO, the District Governor Offices (DGOs), the Provincial Council (PC) of the province. The LoA is an enabling mechanism for transferring and making available funds to these institutions to carry out ASGP agreed upon activities in the provinces of Afghanistan.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for providing advice and support to sub-national government counterparts and facilitation of knowledge management and learning on local development programming, implementation, and performance measurement focusing on achievement of the following results:
• Provide guidance and technical assistance to sub-national government counterparts in undertaking their basic functions and responsibilities for a more cost-effective delivery of services to the people focusing on achievement of the following results:
• Actively participates in the building of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy focusing on achievement of the following results:
• Manages Provincial Governance Specialists (PGS):
• Participates in advocacy and promotion of awareness of UNDP’s mandate and mission     focusing on achievement of the following results:

Responsible for providing advice and support to sub-national government counterparts and facilitation of knowledge management and learning on local development programming, implementation, and performance measurement focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Provide support to the Provincial Governance Advisor to advise provincial and sub-national administration officials on strategic development planning and implementation towards expanding the local economy and improvement in the delivery of basic services;
• Promote a strong knowledge management culture within ASGP, sub-national and central government partners, and other development partners;
• Research and propose how lessons learned from ASGP activities are recorded, shared and disseminated effectively through various forums and media;
• In close collaboration with the Provincial Governance Specialists, provide support to the RGA to document the provincial and other sub-national government development initiatives, focusing on good practices, lessons learned and any additional knowledge needed to build a management knowledge base within the province and region.

Provide guidance and technical assistance to sub-national government counterparts in undertaking their basic functions and responsibilities for a more cost-effective delivery of services to the people focusing on achievement of the following results:

• In coordination with government counterparts, support the RGA to provide periodic advice in coordinating various development and reform efforts introduced by the central government for sub-national governance entities;
• Assist in developing and fostering an enhanced level of partnership and cooperation between and among the Office of the Provincial Governor, Provincial Councils, directorates, donor agencies, international military organizations and civil society organizations in addressing critical socio-economic development and service delivery requirements;
• Assist with the coordinatation of the preparation of provincial development plans and budgets, consistent with the overall provincial development policies and with the ANDS and other government reform initiatives and policies;

Actively participates in the building of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy focusing on achievement of the following results: 

• Assist in developing and fostering enhanced levels of partnership and cooperation between and among the Office of the Provincial Governor, Provincial Councils, directorates, donor agencies, and civil society organizations to address critical socioeconomic development requirements and service delivery;
• Support the development of partnerships with the UN Agencies, government agencies, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sectors, international military organizations, and civil society organizations in areas based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and provincial priorities;
• Assist the RGA with research on local studies and analysis of information on possible areas of inter-provincial cooperation;
• Oversee the undertaking of selected studies/research on emerging local development concerns that feed into government/development partners processes;
• Support the process of formulating a user-friendly development information system for provincial planning and monitoring of the delivery of basic services;
• Closely collaborates with other technical assistance teams undertaking development and service delivery initiatives within the assigned province or region.

• Responsible for the management of provincial PGS team;
• Coordinates information sharing, planning and reporting amongst PGS team, ASGP programme specialist, government counterparts and key stakeholders.

Participates in advocacy and promotion of awareness of UNDP’s mandate and mission     focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Provide support on policy advocacy for the Millennium Development Goals, Human Development and pro-poor and equitable economic growth by participating in relevant forums, conferences and training;
• Collect and collate information for the production of advocacy papers by provincial staff for presentation at provincial workshops and conferences;

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;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
• Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

• Promotes sharing of knowledge and experience and contributes to UNDP Practice Areas
• Ability to contribute to top quality policy advice services on economic issues;
• In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues;
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in relevant Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.

• Ability to coordinate and participate on strategic planning activities, results-based management and reporting;
• Ability to work with minimal supervision;
• Ability to participate in the formulation and evaluation of development projects.

• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to critical feedback;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complex tasks;
• Encourages risk-taking in the pursuit of creativity and innovative solutions;
• Leads teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;

Required Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree or Bachelor’s degree in Urban , Regional Development, Economics, or Public Administration;
• Relevant work experience in development in a governmental, multilateral or civil society organization in multi-cultural setting preferably in the context of sub-national governance and reform, decentralization or local autonomy;
• With Master’s degree 3 years of experience and with Bachelor’s degree 5 years of experience is required;
•  Professional experience in preparation of presentations and other communication or training tools;
•  Experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of local development projects is desirable
• Fluency in the English and Dari/Pashto.

Interested and qualified national Afghan candidates should apply on-line through the UNDP Jobs site at http://www.af.undp.org/content/afghanistan/en/home/operations/jobs/   and please ensure that to fill up and upload Personal History Form-P.11 which is available at http://www.af.undp.org/content/afghanistan/en/home/operations/jobs/   in the relevant field of the on-line application

Incomplete applications or applications received after the closing date will not be given consideration. Please note that only applicants who are short-listed will be contacted.

For more detailed information about UNDP Afghanistan please visit our website at www.undp.org.af    

Qualified female candidates are highly encouraged to apply