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.

Afghanistan is currently in a two-year transition period that will last until the departure of the international security forces by the end of 2014. This transition phase will be followed by a phase of transformation of 5 years, according to the Tokyo Conference. The Ministry of Interior Affairs (MoIA) 10-Year Vision sets the strategic framework for ministerial reform and Afghan National Police (ANP) professionalization during the so-called decade of transformation. As part of the MoI-driven reform supported by the International Community, ministerial functions (policy-making, budgeting, goal-setting planning and controlling) shall be separated from the policing agencies resulting in a new architecture of the entire Ministry of Interior.

LOTFA Phase VI consists of three distinct pillars:

• (Pillar 1) police remuneration, infrastructure and equipment;
• (Pillar 2) capacity development and gender; and
• (Pillar 3) community policing (Police-e-Mardumi).

The new strategic MoIA architecture described above has generated fundamental changes in what areas and how Law and Order Trust Fund for Afghanistan LOTFA will further engage in the policing sector, and will affect each of the three pillars in substantial ways. Within this context, internal reorganization of the programme pillars began in April 2013 upon approval of the LOTFA Steering Committee (20th March 2013). During 2013 LOTFA has evolved into a more substantive platform with an expanded capacity in components of development for consolidated sustainability of the established systems and processes, and a separate community policing component for decentralized support to the police towards more effective service delivery. Further, increased efforts have been made by LOTFA and MoIA to strengthen joint planning, the intent of which is to help MoIA to assume ownership of LOTFA-supported activities.

Late in 2013 the MoIA and UNDP, in coordination with LOTFA donors, have agreed to extend Phase VI until 31 December 2014 with the main objective to fully operationalize LOTFA management changes and streamline elements of innovation, taking into account current and perspective needs of the MoIA.

LOTFA has commenced engagement in a police professionalization process which links directly to the policy requirements and priorities of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GoIRA). The challenges facing the Afghan National Police are those of an organization in transition from a dominant counterinsurgency orientation to one capable satisfying the broader needs of Afghan society. This transition will not be easy as Afghanistan is a nation living with both war and peace where the need to respond to threats from an established insurgency remains a priority but with the growing recognition that communities living in peace need to be policed differently to those under pressure from war. 

LOTFA’s Police professionalization program addresses this issue through four major activities:

• Community Oriented Policing (COP) Framework established and operationalized;
• Police services in targeted districts are strengthened to improve safety and security;
• Police technical capacity for core policing functions is improved through formal training;
• Convicted criminals undertake sentences under humane conditions and supported to re-enter the community.

Attaining the objectives of Pillar-III requires the extension of Pillar-III’s activities beyond the capital of Kabul into the provinces. Under the guidance of the Pillar-III manager, the Field Coordinator shall be tasked with establishing Pillar-III’s presence at the provincial level in collaboration with other UN agencies and supporting the implementation of the above components.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Field Coordinator in collaboration with other Pillar-III advisors, administrative and operational units in the Ministry of Interior Affairs, LOTFA Pillars, UNDP and other agencies and partners will perform the following key functions:

Field offices operational and capacitated to monitor, support, and report on Pillar-III’s activities:

• In collaboration with UNDP and other UN agencies, establish and support the management of field offices in targeted provinces;
• Recruit, coach and manage a competent team of national officers at the provincial and district level;
• Develop and implement a capacity development plan for the staff in the field offices;
• Represent Pillar-III and the LOTFA priorities in key coordination meetings;
• Provide accurate progress reports, social and security analysis, and recommend how the project can position itself to better serve the interests of the community;
• Interact as required with development partners, government officials as well as other UN system colleagues and external partners to ensure that the Pillar-III representatives kept abreast of important developments affecting the LOTFA Programme;
• Ensures dissemination and thorough follow-up on decisions and policies taken by the Manager and Advisors in Pillar-III;
• Develop the Risk and Mitigation matrix for Pillar-III;
• Collaborate with the respective Advisors in Pillar-III for project field visits and missions undertaken, including identifying major meetings and preparation of briefing documentation.

District work-plans developed and implemented in coordination with key partners:

• Develop internal Field Annual Work Plan translating strategies and approaches developed by Pillar-III’s components into concrete and synchronized action at the district level;
• Based on the strategy developed for police professionalization, support the development of district level road-map for implementing change process;
• Support the development of the community safety process for Afghanistan including conducting quick district surveys on safety and security, organize joint problem solving sessions between the police and the community, and the development of a District Safety Plan within the framework of local governance;
• Conduct training workshop in collaboration with other Pillar-III units for key state and non-state actors involved in the community safety process;
• Support the development of training material for community safety and policing;
• Support the development of project proposals by state and non-state actors for the implementation of solutions that strengthen police services while building trust, partnership with the community, and accountability;
• Implement, oversee and monitor projects and requests to ensure the delivery of timely activities within budget,
• Identify and develop synergies with other programmes and projects at the district level;
• Establish and maintain partnerships with key state and non-state actors;
• Attend meetings with the PM and all levels of staff, including development partners, and prepare relevant notes for file, meeting minutes, action points, etc.

Monitoring mechanism in place for police professionalization, crime and violence:

• In collaboration with LOTFA M&E Unit, develop Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for activities of Pillar-III annual work-plan;
• In collaboration with LOTFA M&E Unit, develop common monitoring plan for police professionalization and measure the level of crime and violence;
• Establish a system to collect and manage data on police professionalization;
• Analysis data and provide accurate status report on (i) the level of violence and crime, and (ii) police professionalization in target districts;
• In collaboration with the M&E Unit in LOTFA and the Rule of Law Cluster in UNDP, support evaluation missions, and data collection and analysis relevant to the UNDAF, the Country Programme Document and other corporate assessments related to Pillar-III activities.

Management of the Field Coordination unit, coordination, and reporting:

• Develop close working relationships with relevant GOL and UN Corrections Advisory Unit (CAU) counterparts and relevant national and international NGOs, including ICRC, and relevant international actors, including the other UN Office on Drugs and Crime, and UNAMA.

• Demonstrated managerial competence and ability to manage performance of subordinates such as delegating appropriate responsibility and decision making;
• Solicit inputs by genuinely valuing others ideas and expertise and willing to learn from others, place team agenda before personal agenda;
• Conduct independent research and analysis, identify issues, develop lessons learned, identify best practices, formulate options and make recommendations;
• Demonstrated ability to provide leadership and take responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives into substantive work; commitment to the goal of achieving gender balance in staffing.
• Coordinate regularly with the Pillar-III Manager, including providing updates on programmatic problems and developments;
• Support and act in accordance with final group decision even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position, and shares credit for team accomplishments and accept joint responsibility for team shortcomings;
• Prepare background materials, talking points, updates, and reports used by UNDP in preparing reports, speeches, briefings, and testimony to articulate UNDP/ LOTFA engagement on corrections system and aspects of corrections reform;
• Perform other tasks as requested by the Pillar-III Manager.

• Field offices operational and capacitated to monitor, support, and report on Pillar-III’s activities;
• District work-plans developed and implemented in coordination with key partners.

Competencies

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

• Fully proficient computer skills and use of relevant software and other applications, e.g. word processing, spreadsheets, internet, PP, database packages etc.;
• Experience with web-based management systems;
• Ability to work with a wide cross-section of partners including Government, donors, I/NGOs and community-based organizations;
• A team player and self-starter able to inspire and influence action;
• Mature judgment combined with a proactive, resourceful and energetic approach to problem solving;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; and
  
• Strong organizational and time management skills;
• Ability to handle confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner.
• Capacity to work under pressure and to meet strict deadlines;
• Demonstrated behavior of professional and personal ethics, transparency and openness;
• Willingness to undertake regular field visits and interact with different stakeholders, especially with primary stakeholders.

Required Skills and Experience

• Master degree in International Development, Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Sciences, Police Academy or related field.

• 5 years of relevant national and international experience in coordinating, programming, reporting, research and analysis;
• Hands-on experience in design and implementation of monitoring mechanism including data management and analysis;
• Prior experience in similar post-conflict context is an advantage;
• Prior work experience with UNDP is highly desirable;
• Establishing inter-relationships among international and national organizations and national governments;
• Proven track record and experience in reporting and communicating results, and developing programme and project planning documents;
• Sound judgment with proven ability to work effectively under minimum supervision.

• Fluency in English required; 
• Excellent writing skills in English.

• Interested and qualified international candidates should apply on-line through the UNDP Jobs site at UNDP Afghanistan Vacancy Announcement and please ensure that to fill up and upload Personal History Form-P.11 which is available at UNDP Personal History Form (P.11 Form);
• 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;
  
• Successful candidates must be prepared to start work within 6 weeks of the offer of appointment;
• Qualified female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.