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.

The National Area-Based Development Programme (NABDP) is one of the national priority programmes of the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD), supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). NABDP commenced as a joint initiative of the MRRD and UNDP in 2002, with the goal of contributing to a sustainable reduction of poverty and an improvement of livelihoods in rural Afghanistan. NABDP Phase II focused on support to local governance, poverty reduction, and institutional capacity development, whilst linking with the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS) and the Agricultural Rural Development Sector Strategy (ARDSS) frameworks. 

NABDP Phase III began in July 2009, was recently extended by one year and will now run until June of 2015.

The three main thrusts of Phase III are:

• (i) Institutions strengthened at the district level to independently address priority local needs;
  
• (ii) Rural poor have improved access to key services; and
• (iii) Stabilization in less secure regions. The design builds upon the successes of the first two phases and is flexible enough to take on an experiential learning approach in response to the constantly changing development landscape and development space.

 In regards to the implementation of NABDP, UNDP employs a National Implementation Modality (NIM) with MRRD being the Implementing Partner. There is a National Project Director from the Government side who has oversight responsibility and the National Project Manager who reports to both the National Project Director and UNDP Senior Deputy Country Director. There is also a Project Management Board, consisting of the leadership of both UNDP and MRRD as well as all the project donors and this is the overall body that provides guidance and leadership to the project.

The project falls under the UNDP Afghanistan Sub National Governance (SNG) Cluster and a respective UNDP CO Programme Unit provides oversight and support to the project implementation.

Note:

UNDP Afghanistan 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 Afghanistan at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and education requirements.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of and reporting to UNDP Senior Deputy Country Director and under direct supervision of the Project Manager the Communication Specialist (Reporting-NABDP) undertakes duties and responsibilities that are focused on project reporting, communication, public outreach and capacity building.

Summary of Key Functions:

• Ensure that information and data from the field is captured, documented, analyzed and reported in a results-based and timely manner;
• Ensure effective communication, advocacy and knowledge management;
• Implement standardized reporting mechanisms, and ensure effective & timely reporting with due consideration to the quality assurance of donor reports;
• Contribute to the proposals development process.

Ensure that information and data from the field is captured, documented, analyzed and reported in a results-based and timely manner:

• Monitor implementation of the Annual Work Plan through regular collection and analysis of information;
• Prepare analytical reports, using relevant information available from project to advise the Project Manager on the implementation of the Annual Work Plan;
• Advise the Project and stakeholders on the progress of the Annual Work Plan and contribute to analysis of deviation between planned and actual achievements;
• Encourage common data collection strategies between and within projects where appropriate;
• Continuously review information available on indicators and targets to assess progress and identify constraints and gaps in implementation.

Ensure effective communication and knowledge management and story-telling efforts focusing on achievement of the following results:

• In coordination with the UNDP Communication Unit identify, document and disseminate success stories, achievements, lessons learned and document recommendations to be integrated into broader knowledge management efforts;
• Contribute to the implementation of Knowledge Management and Learning Strategy;
• liaise with   development   partners, especially   government stakeholders and partners for exchange of information and promote partnership;
• Create, maintain and update the project summary in accordance with the standard template;
• Supervise and prepare the content for the project web site, ensuring consistency of the materials;
• Use social media to reach out the stakeholders to share projects results and achievements;
• Prepare press-releases, video documentaries and other visibility materials.  

Implement standardized reporting mechanisms, and ensure effective & timely reporting with due consideration to the quality assurance of donor reports:

• Under the guidance of Project Manager and in coordination with the project team review, assess and report on all dimensions of project components;
• Facilitate compilation of data and information from different project components for development of comprehensive project reports;
• Ensure that programme and donor-funded project reporting processes are systematized;
• Ensure that all project periodic reports i.e. monthly, quarterly, annual, final and donor specific reports comply with the standard formats;
• Ensure that reports are developed using the most professional business writing and
• formatting with comprehensive analytical presentation of information;
• Develop clear and concise reports and power-point presentations for various meetings, workshops, conferences, etc., including the Project Board meetings and donor briefings;
• Develop different   standard reporting   formats for collection of project related information from the field, including project progress and monitoring reports besides formats for collection of project success stories in consultant with UNDP Communications Unit;
• Communicate with donors for collection of feedback on quality of reports for future quality improvement, in coordination with the project and UNDP Programme Unit,
• Build capacity of national staff in reporting and communication.

Contribute to the proposal development process:

• Review reports submitted by regional and provincial offices and maintain information for use in proposal development;
• Assist with information in formulation and drafting of project proposals, log-frames, budgets and work-plans for submission to donors;
• Perform other tasks and responsibilities assigned by the supervisor.

The key results have an impact on contributing to the overall success of the project in achieving its targets and outputs. In particular, the key results have an impact on the design, operation and programming of activities, creation of strategic partnerships as well as reaching resource mobilization targets.

Competencies

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda:
Analysis and creation of messages and strategies

• Creates effective advocacy strategies;
• Performs analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses.

Results-Based Programme Development and Management:
Contributing to results through provision of information

• Provides information for linkages across programme activities to help identify critical points of integration;
• Provides information and documentation on specific stages of projects/programme

• Provides background information to identify opportunities for project development and helps drafting proposals;
• Participates in the formulation of project proposals.

Building Strategic Partnerships:
Level 2: Identifying and building partnerships

• Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to UNDP's mandate and strategic agenda;
• Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners;
• Promotes UNDP's agenda in inter-agency meetings.

Innovation and Marketing New Approaches:
Developing new approaches

• Seeks a broad range of perspectives in developing project proposals;
• Identifies new approaches and promotes their use in other situations;
• Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking;
• Makes the case for innovative ideas from the team with own supervisor.

Resource Mobilization:
Implementing resource mobilization strategies

• Analyzes information on potential bilateral donors and national counterparts to recommend a strategic approach;
• Identifies and compiles lessons learned;
• Develops a resource mobilization strategy at the country level.

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing:
Developing tools and mechanisms

• Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches;
• Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise:
In-depth knowledge of the subject-matter

• Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines;
• Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge;
• and seeks to develop him/herself professionally;
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
• Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines;
• and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments.

Advocacy for UNDP's Goals:
Analysis and creation of messages and strategies

• Performed analysis of political situations and scenarios, and contributes to the formulation of institutional responses;
• Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for global advocacy work and adapts it for use at country level.

Client Orientation:
Contributing to positive outcomes for the client

• Anticipates client needs;
• Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider;
• Demonstrates understanding of client's perspective;
• Solicits feedback on service provision and quality.

• Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents;
• Building support and political acumen;
• Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation;
• Building and promoting effective teams;
• Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication;
• Creating an emotionally intelligent organization;
• Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards;
• Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning;
• Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member;
• Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking.

Required Skills and Experience

• Master's Degree in Communication, Economics, Political Sciences, Social Sciences or related field;
• Prince2 training and certification, RMG.

Experience and Certification:

• 5 years of professional work experience at the national or international level in design, planning, monitoring and reporting in large scale development projects;
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web based management systems.

Language:

• Fluency in English language;
• Knowledge of duty station languages will be assets.

Note:

Interested and qualified International 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  

Successful candidates must be prepared to start work within 6 weeks of the offer of appointment.

Qualified female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.