Background

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to tackle the injustices of poverty, inequality, and climate change on a global scale. Working with our broad network of experts, host governments and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. UNDP has been working in Afghanistan for more than 50 years on climate change and resilience, gender, governance, health, livelihoods, and rule of law.

Following the power shift in August 2021, the situation for the country remains largely uncertain and fragile, with approximately seventy five percent of the population facing multifaceted vulnerabilities affecting their well-being, human security and long-term development while nearly a third of the population are estimated to be acutely food insecure. Over the recent years, international assistance has played a vital role in averting a socioeconomic collapse by providing lifesaving, resilience-building and livelihoods-sustaining assistance to millions of people, hundreds of critical healthcare and educational centers, and tens of thousands of small and medium enterprises, often owned and managed by women. Nevertheless, the humanitarian challenge in Afghanistan is one of the biggest in the world, and basic human needs and priorities remain extremely high. In 2024, 95 percent of households experienced at least one shock of an economic or natural disaster nature such as floods, droughts and others.

To help tackle the pressing challenges for enduring livelihoods and climate resilience, UNDP is designing fit-for-purpose portfolios of programs to create new livelihoods, income opportunities, basic services and to build resilience against climate-induced natural calamities that continue to haunt millions of households in the country.

Afghanistan remains one of the most gender-unequal countries in the world, with women facing systemic challenges hindering their access to education and employment opportunities in the public sector and restricting their participation in public life. UNDP remains committed to women”s empowerment through capacity-building initiatives, livelihoods and self-employment/employment support, enhancing gender-responsive decision-making at community level, and supporting local communities to include women, in line with UNSCR 1325 (Women, Peace, and Security).

The Policy, Innovation and Knowledge Unit (PIKU) is a center of research and policy excellence within UNDP Afghanistan, collaborating with others to undertake quality analysis to support the development of innovative, evidence-based development solutions in the country context. PIKU utilizes cutting edge analytical and modelling tools to navigate and make sense of Afghanistan’s evolving development landscape, and provides rigorous and robust analysis of current conditions and future scenarios.

Our work lies at the heart of policy and programme innovation and development in the Country Office and we work closely across the UN family and with other development partners to link, learn, adapt and innovate, making best use of the combined resources available. Through our work and the knowledge products we produce, we build capacity in Country Office teams to achieve analytical excellence and effective policy and programme development and implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities:

As part of our work in Afghanistan, UNDP conducts research and analysis to inform and guide the development and delivery of programmes and projects. UNDP also engages in evidence-based policy advocacy to affect change, and to impact positively upon the lives of the most vulnerable in the country. The Human Development Specialist will lead the development of knowledge products (KPs) on the extractive industries sector in the country, which was the topic for the 2020 National Human Development Report (HDR). The KPs developed will be high quality and evidence based; used to highlight key developments and challenges in the sector; identify opportunities to affect positive change; and will be framed to reach both a technical and non-technical audience. The Human Development Specialist will work with experts and counterparts from within UNDP Afghanistan, the wider UNDP organisation, and other UN and development agency partners as appropriate to deliver the KPs. Specifically, the scope of work will cover the following key results and functions:

Under the supervision and technical guidance of the UNDP Afghanistan Head of the Policy, Innovation and Knowledge Unit, and in collaboration with relevant Country Office and regional UNDP colleagues, the Specialist will undertake the following:

1.Prepare a technical paper that provides an update on the UNDP Afghanistan National Human Development Report 2020 ‘Pitfalls and Promise – Minerals Extraction in Afghanistan’. This will include the following:

• Review data and analysis available on the current state of the extractive industries sector in Afghanistan since the publication of the report in 2020.
• Review policy and regulatory levers and measures currently operating for the extractives sector in the country. This should include a review of the alignment of current policy frameworks with international environmental, social and human rights standards including a review of the National Climate Strategy, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) in Afghanistan.
• Review secondary data and sources on biodiversity risks in mining regions of the country where available and linked pollution and climate impacts.
• Consolidate existing knowledge on the investment environment for the extractive industries sector, including carrying out interviews with key informants as required.
• As far as is possible, chart revenue and expenditure pathways for the extractive industries sector in the national budget and discuss how these may affect current and future potential growth trajectories.
• Engage with UNDP colleagues working on the extractive industries sector globally. Become familiar with key UNDP positioning and messaging on the extractive industries sector, social and environmental safeguarding, and human development focused interventions to manage the extractive industries sector sustainably.[1]
• Prepare the technical paper for peer review and refine the paper following the review process.

2. Prepare a short policy brief on a human development focused approach to the extractive industries sector in Afghanistan, updating the key messaging in the Afghanistan NHDR 2020. This will require the following:

• Consolidate the key findings from the technical paper into an accessible narrative.
• Undertake engagement with key stakeholders on the technical paper and identify key policy messages, particularly relating to the impact on women, vulnerable groups and social and environmental safeguarding concerns.
• Prepare a policy brief (and agreed accompanying materials) that updates key challenges, future trends, UNDP’s offer and possible future programming orientation, and development of recommendations to enhance equitable benefit sharing and participation in decision making.[2]  The policy brief should be of publishable quality.

3. Support the Head of PIKU and Country Office staff to socialise key messaging and engage on the KPs within Afghanistan, and globally. This will include, but is not restricted to, the following:

• Contribute to the development of communications material.
• Support UNDP leadership to prepare for, and deliver, policy messages and engagement to media, donors and partners, de facto authorities and other stakeholders.
• Disseminate the findings and recommendations of the research on behalf of UNDP, as required and under the direction of the Resident Representative.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Achieve Results:	LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
Think Innovatively:	LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
Learn Continuously:	LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
Adapt with Agility:	LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
Act with Determination:	LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
Engage and Partner:	LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
Enable Diversity and Inclusion:	LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

 

Cross-functional and technical competencies:

Thematic Area	Name	Definition
Business Direction     & Strategy	Futures and Foresight	Ability to look at information from the past and present, identify patterns and trends and use them to inform decision making with a long-term view. Being sensitive and able to scan horizons and pick up weak signals of change, explore their potential implications and assess their impact and urgency. Using creativity and imagination to communicate insights in compelling and engaging ways to challenge current mental models; ability to develop scenarios, speculative designs to present future visions or by making it experiential. Being able to facilitate debate and discussion about possible futures; help people to feel comfortable with the discomfort of uncertainty.
Business Development	Knowledge Generation	Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.
Business Management	Communication	Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels
Business Management	Working with Evidence and Data	Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform, and model data to discover useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making.
2030 Agenda: Planet	Climate	Climate Strategies and Policy: Inclusiveness.
2020 Agenda: Prosperity	Inclusive Growth	Extractive Industries.

             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Economics, Environmental Management, or a related Social Science or Environmental Degree.
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• An Advanced, PhD level qualification would be an added advantage, as would additional post graduate level qualifications and training in areas relevant to the assignment.

Experience:

• A minimum of 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of work experience in undertaking similar assignments, in the field of applied economic, social and/ or environmental research and policy advocacy.

Skills:

• Proven relevant experience as the primary contributor to research papers in the fields of extractive industries, or environmental economics studies.
• Experience of working on extractive industries, or closely related topics, in a developing country context are required.
• Excellent analytical and report writing skills are required.
• Demonstrable ability to manage all aspects of a research and writing assignment to completion are required.
• Demonstrable communication and policy advocacy skills are required.

Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section:

• Ability to apply economic and predictive analytical modelling methods would be an advantage.
• Experience of working with UNDP, or other UN agencies, would be an advantage.
• Experience of working in the South Asia region, and specifically in Afghanistan, would be an advantage.
• Knowledge of social and environmental safeguarding measures for the extractive industries sector, would be an advantage.

Required languages:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is a requirement.
• Knowledge of a regional language (Dari, Pashtu) would be an advantage.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

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

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