Operations Assistant

Details

Mission and objectives

UNDP has been working across Afghanistan for more than 50 years on challenges related to climate change and resilience, gender, governance, health, livelihoods and rule of law.
Guided by the government and its Development Councils, our work is fully aligned with the Afghanistan National Peace and Development Framework and National Priority Programmes, and is carried out in close coordination with partner UN agencies under the One UN Framework.
As the UN’s development network, we connect the Afghan government and people with the resources and information they need to drive their own development according to their own priorities, as well as to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Context

UNDP has been working across Afghanistan for more than 50 years on challenges related to climate change and resilience, gender, governance, health, livelihoods, and rule of law.
Guided by the government and its Development Councils, our work is fully aligned with the Afghanistan National Peace and Development Framework and National Priority Programmes and is carried out in close coordination with partner UN agencies under the One UN Framework.
As the UN’s development network, we connect the Afghan government and people with the resources and information they need to drive their own development according to their own priorities, as well as to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Afghanistan is facing multiple crises such as COVID-19, the impacts of drought and floods, and rapidly increasing poverty and food insecurity. On top of this, since the return of the Taliban to power, after the 15th of August 2021 and given the increasing numbers of internally displaced people, the operational and programmatic context for UNDP in Afghanistan has changed significantly. The level of programmatic and institutional risk is now much higher and hence saving livelihoods is critical for reducing the demand for humanitarian aid and emergency relief. The gradual development progress made over the last 20 years, including gains in the achievement of human rights, education, gender equality, health, social protection, and livelihoods, are at risk of being lost, especially for women and other vulnerable groups. These factors not only impact the economy, human security, and social cohesion, but are potential drivers of further conflict and violent extremism.
UNDP has contributed to the gradual expansion of development investments across the country. From this experience we have seen that neither a one-size-fits-all approach, nor a fragmented sector-based approach has been effective. An integrated, innovative, and highly flexible approach is needed, one that puts people first, targets the most vulnerable and meets local needs by focusing on saving livelihoods, the fundamental underpinning of UNDP’s Integrated Local Socio-Economic Recovery and Community Resilience building efforts. UNDP’s knowledge and experience are being drawn on to develop and implement an immediate approach to local socio economic and social recovery and community resilience building in Afghanistan through the development emergency approach called as Area Based Approach to Development Emergency Initiatives (ABADEI).

Task description

Under the overall guidance from the General Operations Specialist, and direct supervision of the Asset Management Analyst, the Operations Assistant will undertake the following tasks:
• Assist the operations in the Country Office (CO) in accordance with UNDP rules and regulations and policies and strategies Provide professional expertise and technical support to the General Services Unit.
• Creation of e-requisitions and receiving goods and services in Quantum for General Services Unit.
• Ensures maintenance of common services/office space management to ensure integrated activities on common services and implementation of the UN reform;
• Receiving, inspecting, and verification of all incoming equipment, furniture, and supplies and scheduling deliveries to users.
• Tagging all furniture/equipment upon receipt from the supplier. Update non-expendable property inventory record and track movement of furniture pieces.
• Support the annual physical inventory verification exercise by checking the accuracy of records and the location of the property.
• Preparation of inventory certification and reports as required.
• Ensure that managers sign off on the physical count and correctness of the inventory system database.
• Organization of arrangement of shipment and transportation of equipment either by air, sea or Land.
• Liaising with freight forwarders on shipment and maintaining the shipment Log.
• Support the Bi-annual physical inventory verification exercise to ensure accuracy of records and location of property ensure that managers sign off on the physical count and correctness of the inventory system database.
• Support to the management on physical assets disposal. Documentation preparation for submission to CAP; follow up on request and liaise with requesting unit and maintenance for disposal action.
• Maintain inventory list for cleaning materials for CO and villages, inspect and receive the delivery of new inventories update regularly goods received and issuances in the inventory report.
• Provide support to the admin unit on raising e-requisition, billing management and back-stopping admin assistants.
• Any other tasks assigned by Supervisor.
Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:
• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day).
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country.
• Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results, and opportunities.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers.
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.