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 programmed have taken place nationwide. UNDP Programmed 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 Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and the UN system to maximize the impact of its development efforts on the ground.

Under the guidance and supervision of the Operations Manager and direct supervisor, the National Consultant ensures effective execution of financial services and processes in CO and transparent utilization of financial resources. The consultant promotes a client-oriented approach consistent with UNDP rules and regulations. The consultant works in close collaboration with the operations, programmed and projects’ staff in the CO and with UNDP HQs staff for resolving finance-related issues and information exchange.

Duties and Responsibilities

SCOPE OF WORK AND DELIVERABLES

  • Implementation of operational and financial management strategies;

  • Administration of budgets and cost-recovery system;

  • Accounting. Finance and administrative support;

  • Global payroll;

  • CO cash management;

  • Facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing.

  • Ensures implementation of operational and financial management strategies, adapts processes and procedures focusing on achievement of the following results:

  • Full compliance with UN/UNDP rules and regulations of financial processes, financial records and reports and audit follow up; implementation of the effective internal control framework.

  • CO finance business processes mapping and elaboration of the content of internal Standard Operating Procedures in Finance in consultation with the direct supervisor and office management.

  • Provision of inputs for implementation of cost-saving and reduction strategies in consultation with the office management.

  • Preparation of cost sharing and trust fund agreements follow up on contributions within the CO resource mobilization efforts.

Ensures administration of budgets and functioning of the optimal cost-recovery system focusing on achievement of the following results:

  • Preparation and modifications of budgets for UNDP management projects, follow-up with HQs on ASL for management projects;

  • Presentation of researched information for planning and status of financial resources of the CO;

  • Sending project budget to KK if authorized by the Senior Management (can be done only based on signed project documents and project budgets);

  • Timely preparation of cost-recovery bills in Atlas for the services provided by UNDP, implementation of the income tracking system and follow up on cost recovery.

 Provides accounting and administrative support to the Finance Unit and performs Global payroll functions focusing on achievement of the following results:

  • Proper control of the supporting documents for payments and financial reports for NEX projects; preparation of all types of vouchers; Pay Cycle and payments execution;

  • Proper receipting of goods and services and establishment of accruals;

  • Approval of vendors in Atlas (if a senior member of the Finance team);

  • Global payrolls processing in Atlas;

  • Maintenance of the internal expenditures control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Atlas; payrolls are duly prepared and processed; travel claims, MPOs and other entitlements are duly processed;

  • Timely accounts closure;

  • Timely corrective actions on unposted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers. Timely response to HQ requests to resolve financial data issues;

  • Timely corrective actions on erroneous data in Atlas. Preparation of financial reports as required;

  • Maintenance of the Accounts Receivables for UNDP projects and follow-up with partners on contributions, deposits creation in Atlas and their application to AR pending items;

  • Timely VAT reimbursements, payment of GLOC by the Government.

Ensures proper CO cash management functioning focusing on achievement of the following results:

  • Alternate to Finance Associate (ICS-7) for timely review of cash position for local accounts to ensure enough funds on hand for disbursements. Timely identification and recording of receipts for income application;

  • Alternate to Finance Associate (ICS-7) for daily review of zero-balance account bank statements in Atlas to monitor Imprest level; identification and recording of contributions;

  • Preparation of monthly UN exchange rate report to Treasury;

  • Timely and accurate preparation of bank reconciliations;

  • Alternate to Finance Associate (ICS-7) for timely preparation of monthly cashflow forecast for use by Operations Manager/ Finance Analyst. Liaison with UN Agencies to obtain estimate of their cash requirement;

  • Initiation of bank transfers and deals in Atlas;

 Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the CO focusing on achievement of the following results:

  • Organization of trainings for the operations/ projects staff on Finance.

  • Synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices in financial management.

  • Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Expected Outputs, Deliverables:

The National Consultant Support to Finance will:

  1. Provide technical assistance and support to the OFMO Technical Specialists in close coordination with the Operations Manager, direct supervisor and Finance team;

Submit monthly and ad-hoc reports during the consultancy period.

Institutional Arrangements:

  • The National Consultant will be reporting to the office daily during office working hours, reporting to the direct supervisor and Operation Manager, OFMO

  • The National Consultant will submit a monthly report to her/his supervisor on activities of support during this period;

  • The OFMO will provide the consultant with office space, IT equipment (mobile phone, sim card & laptop) as well as security equipment (Handheld Radio, PPE) and office transportation;

Duration of the Work:

  • The National Consultant Finance Support to OFMO shall work for maximum 66 working days (3Months) on 5 days a week, 40 hours max per week.

Duty Station:

  • Kabul, Afghanistan.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

  • Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Treats all people fairly without favouritism.

Functional Competencies:

  • Knowledge Management and Learning;

  • In-depth practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues;

  • Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside of UNDP.

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 openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
  • Ability to lead effectively, mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills;
  • Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
  • Remains calm, in control and good humoured even under pressure;
  • Proven networking, team-building, organizational and communication skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Part-qualified ACCA (ADVANCED DIPLOMA IN ACCOUNTING AND BUSINESS)

Experience:

  • Two years of progressively responsible finance experience is required at the national or international organizations;

  • Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel etc.) (Mandatory);

  • Advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, experience in handling of web-based management systems.

Language Requirements

Fluency in English and local languages of Dari/Pashtu is required.

Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments:

The contractor shall submit a price proposal as below:

  • Daily Fee – The contractor shall propose a daily fee, which should be inclusive of the consultant’s professional fee, local communication and transportation costs. The number of working days for which the daily fee shall be payable under the contract is 40 working days;

The total professional fee, shall be converted into a lump-sum contract and payments under the contract shall be made on submission and acceptance of deliverables under the contract in accordance with the schedule of payment linked with deliverables.

Evaluation Method and Criteria:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

  • Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and;

  • Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Technical Criteria weight 70%

Financial Criteria weight 30%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Technical Criteria 70 points

Technical Proposal (30 marks)

  • Technical Approach & Methodology (20 marks) – This explain the understanding of the objectives of the assignment, approach to the services, methodology for carrying out the activities and obtaining the expected output, and the degree of detail of such output. The Applicant should also explain the methodologies proposed to adopt and highlight the compatibility of those methodologies with the proposed approach;

  • Work Plan (10 marks) – The Applicant should propose the main activities of the assignment, their content and duration, phasing and interrelations, milestones (including interim approvals by the Client), and delivery dates. The proposed work plan should be consistent with the technical approach and methodology, showing understanding of the TOR and ability to translate them into a feasible working plan.

Qualification and Experience (40 marks) [evaluation of CV, shortlisting]

  • Relevant education (15 marks);

  • Experience relevant to the assignment (25 marks).

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications in one single PDF document:

  • Duly accomplished Confirmation of Interest and Submission of Financial Proposal Template using the template provided by UNDP (Annex II); as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references

  • Personal CV indicating all experience from similar projects,.