National Program Officer - MOIA Payroll

UNDP Afghanistan

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Master's Degree

Multi Location ()

Full Time

673

About UNDP Afghanistan

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.

Job Summary

UNDP Global Mission Statement:

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP is on the ground in 166 countries, working with national counterparts on their own solutions to global and national development challenges.

Organizational context:

UNDP is committed to augmenting the capacity of the GIROA to administer Rule of Law and improve security and justice service-delivery for all Afghan citizens. As the lead Rule of Law institution in the country, improving the ability of the Ministry of Interior Affairs (MOIA) to fulfill its mandate remains critical to the overall stability of Afghanistan and its people. As the UN’s primary development agency, and a longstanding development partner to GIROA’s Rule of Law and Security sector, UNDP Afghanistan plays a leading role in facilitating institutional reform and development of MOIA.

UNDP has operated the Law and Order Trust Fund for Afghanistan (LOTFA) since 2002. LOTFA was created to support the establishment, payment, equipment and training of the police force in Afghanistan. The central goal is to support the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIROA) in achieving a paid, professional Afghan National Police (ANP) and staff of the General Directorate for Prison and Detention Centres (GDPDC) that deliver essential services to the Afghan people for improved public trust, safety and security and to support improved rule of law enforcement.

Based on consultations conducted between UNDP, the GIROA and donors during 2017, a growing view emerged that the scope of LOTFA should be expanded to include the entire justice chain (police, courts and prisons) and cover all institutions across the entire Rule of Law sector, with an increased focus on anti-corruption. Simultaneously, the LOTFA structure has been revised to bring it more in line with international standards and best practices on Trust Fund management and administration.

The new Trust Fund Terms of Reference (TOR) and Strategic Framework have been approved by the LOTFA Steering Committee in November 2018. The Fund’s Strategic Framework defines the strategic objectives that are organized according to the four established ‘Thematic Windows’, i.e. 1) Security, 2) Justice, 3) Anti-Corruption and 4) MOIA Payroll.

Under the overall guidance of the Head of the Rule of Law Unit and direct supervision of the Programme Management Specialist of Payroll Window, the National Programme Officer is responsible for management of UNDP programme within the Payroll Window of LOTFA.

The National Programme Officer is responsible for supervising and leading programme support staff, coordinating activities of the projects’ staff. The National Programme Officer works in close collaboration with the operations team, programme staff in other UN Agencies, UNDP HQs staff and Government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and civil society ensuring successful UNDP programme implementation.

UNDP Global Mission Statement:

Organizational context:

Duties & Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

Effective programmatic assurance and operational oversight;
Creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy;
Management of the CO programme;
Provision of top quality policy advice services to the Government and facilitation of knowledge building and management.

Ensures effective programmatic assurance and operational oversight with the focus on focusing on achievement of the following results:

Monitors and performs quality control on project implementation to ensure that projects are implemented in line with UNDP rules and procedures and the project document. Performs assurance tasks specific to the different stages of the UNDP programme and project management cycle as per POPP.
Maintains overview of project level monitoring systems, tools and approaches and ensures that these are in line with UNDP's corporate policies and CO approaches. Ensures that ATLAS information is correct and corresponds with UNDP's quality standards.
Ensures that project implementation plans are formulated and updated. Organises regular reviews to track implementation, inform the project managers/Rule of Law unit on the progress in project execution (programme and financial) and coordinate revisions and corrective action;
Monitors the implementation and revisions of the project M&E plans. In cooperation with the LOTFA M&E Unit ensures that project's monitoring mechanisms are designed and implemented according to CO standards and the POPP;
Controls quality of AWP and project revisions, ensures that activities, targets and benchmarks have been formulated according to POPP and meet the programmatic standards and agreements with the partners (IP and donors). Ensures that proposed changes are supported by sufficient justification for project and budget revisions. Checks that documentation is prepared according to POPP and UNDP programme SOPs;
Reviews project reports (quarterly, annual and final) and ad-hoc documents to ensure that project reports are consistent with donor agreements, POPP and CO standards are met, and ensures their submission to donors;
Ensures that project evaluations, mid-term reviews and audits are organised according to the agreed schedule. Coordinates inputs and finalises documentation such as ToRs, work plans and time plans for evaluators and auditors. Coordinates with the project team for organization;
Monitors the follow-up on, and implementation of recommendations resulting of evaluations;
Develop and review all documentation prior to submission to the Project Board.

Facilitates creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy in cooperation with the Management Support and Business Development Team focusing on achievement of the following results:

Development of partnerships with the UN Agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society in the specific thematic areas based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and donors’ priorities.
Assist in the development and strengthening of national and local institutions and processes for strengthening rule of law and security in Afghanistan.
Analysis and research of information on partners and donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for initiation of new projects, active contribution to the overall office effort in resource mobilization.
Synthesis of proposals and provision of inputs to the development and implementation of a donor intelligence strategy, RM strategy, under the supervision of direct supervisor. Implementation of strategies
Analysis and assessment of CO opportunities for resource mobilization in the respective area.
Identification of opportunities in the country based on partner-specific intelligence and the competitive landscape and where the CO competency strengths overlap with partner/client needs.
Analysis of key development and sectoral policies currently being discussed and implemented in the country and key donors willing to support these policies.
Identification of emerging sources of funding; assessment of their current usage and potential for the future.
Participation in the development of specific donor fund-raising strategies and approaches.
Conduct Competitive Landscape Analysis of partners, their priorities and characterization of their relationships/partnerships.

Ensures effective management of the CO programme within the thematic areas assigned focusing on quality control from formulation to implementation of the country programme achieving the following results:

Effective application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets (BSC) and monitoring achievement of results;
Facilitates research, analysis and assessments on specific and topical rule of law and security sector issues;
Development/preparation of the ROARs/IWPs and indicators as well as project updates in ATLAS and the corporate planning system. Including regular monitoring of CO delivery.
Initiation of a project, presentation of the project to PAC, closure and evaluation of projects.
Programme Officer can perform functions of Manager Level 1 in Atlas for POs and vouchers approval, participates in recruitment processes for projects.
Financial and substantive monitoring and evaluation of the projects, identification of operational and financial problems, development of solutions.
Participation in audit of NIM projects.
Evaluation of the programme impact. Monitoring and analysis of the programme environment, timely readjustments in portfolio
Aggregate reports and briefing notes are regularly prepared on activities, outputs and outcomes.

Ensures provision of top quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:

Identification of sources of information related to policy-driven issues. Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to programme country policy goals.
Coordinates and supports assessment of capacity gaps and functions, particularly in the area of rule of law and security in Afghanistan.
Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
Organization of trainings for the operations/ projects staff on programme issues.

Impact of Results

The key results have an impact on the success of country programme within specific areas of cooperation. 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.

Job Requirements

Education:

Master's Degree or equivalent in Law, Political Sciences, Social Sciences, Business Administration, Public Administration, International Development or related field.

Experience:

5 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in programme and project management, as well as in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects, including provision of relevant technical advisory services;
Experience with government, UN and donor agencies in Afghanistan is an advantage;
Experience working in the area of democratic governance, peacebuilding, rule of law, security sector public administration/civil service reform is an advantage;
Demonstrated experience managing large programme/projects and/or monitoring, evaluation and reporting is an asset.

Language:

Fluency in English and Dari/Pashto languages is required.

Competencies

Core

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work

Level 5: Creates new and relevant ideas and leads others to implement them

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow

Level 5: Plans and acts transparently, actively works to remove barriers

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

Level 5: Models high professional standards and motivates excellence in others

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Level 5: Gains trust of peers, partners, clients by presenting complex concepts in practical terms to others

Delivery

Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

Level 5: Critically assesses value and relevance of existing policy / practice and contributes to enhanced delivery of products, services, and innovative solutions

Functional/Technical

Complex Adaptive Systems

Knowledge of complex adaptive systems and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations