Project Assistant

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to tackle the injustice 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 the planet. UNDP has been working in Afghanistan for more than 50 years on climate change and resilience, gender, governance, health, livelihoods, and the rule of law.

Following the power shift in August 2021, the situation for the country remains largely uncertain and fragile, with approximately seventy percent of the population facing multifaceted vulnerabilities affecting their well-being, human security, and long-term development. While nearly 20 million people are estimated to be acutely food insecure, women and girls are increasingly stripped of their rights to education, employment, and free participation in public life that will have irreversible socioeconomic consequences. Over the recent years, the international humanitarian 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 managed by women. Nevertheless, the humanitarian challenge in Afghanistan, which is one of the biggest in the world, and basic human needs and priorities remain extremely high. In 2024, 95 percent of the 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 of rebuilding 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).

As a trusted, long-term partner of The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund, GF), UNDP’s value proposition lies in providing an integrated package of development solutions to strengthen institutions to deliver health services. Through its contributions as interim Principal Recipient and provider of technical assistance in over 53 countries since 2003, UNDP’s provision of integrated policy, implementation and capacity development support to countries has yielded significant health and development results in challenging operating environments. In Afghanistan, UNDP is the interim Principal Recipient (PR) for HIV, tuberculosis, malaria and health systems, with a budget of approximately $70 million. For effective implementation of the Global Fund resources, UNDP Afghanistan has established a Program Management Unit (PMU), which is responsible for the day-to-day overall programme management, risk management, policy guidance, financial accountability, procurement of goods, including health products and services, strengthening of the national pharmaceutical and laboratory supply chain systems.

The Project Assistant works in close collaboration with the operations and project teams in the PMU in ensuring successful implementation and oversight of GF programme activities. 

Duties and Responsibilities

• Support the project team to ensure effective project C19RM planning and implementation
• Support implementation and follow up of approved activities under C19RM component of the Z-grant with respective implementing partners in compliance with UNDP/GF rules and procedures and in line with signed grant agreement, budget and performance framework;
• In consultation with respective programs and departments, support implementing partners, for results-based implementation of programme activities, in accordance with the action plans and within established budgets.

Provides effective administrative support to management of the C19RM focusing on the achievement of the following results:

• Support procurement of the commodities under the grant with the relevant programs
• Ensure proper control of the supporting documents for the payments jointly with procurement and finance sections.
• Raise requisitions, track expenditures, prepare monthly and quarterly financial expenditure reports, and register of goods receipt in Quantum.
• Provide administrative support for the preparation and facilitation of relevant events, including workshops and trainings under the C19RM.
• Risk based monitoring of implementing partners’ program and financial reporting to ensure quality data, compliance with financial rules to avoid misuse of grant funds;
• Ensure that the set targets and activities are implemented in a timely manner to achieve the expected results;
• Participation in audit of the project, respond to audit queries, develop action plans to address audit recommendations and ensure timely implementation of audit recommendations

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

• Assist in dissemination of best practices for the management and implementation of C19RM component of the Z-grant at the local level.
• Organize trainings for the operations/ projects staff.
• Proactively undertakes regular monitoring of project sites; independently as well as jointly with partners and providing reports; Proactively conducts regular visits to SRs to follow up implementation, identify bottlenecks and prepare recommendation to the programme officer.
• Regularly participate in meetings and other TWG meetings
• Support monthly/quarterly coordination meetings with implementing partners and national counterparts for performance reviews and adjustments as needed;
• Jointly working with other departments within the PMU to ensure synergism of the efforts for better implementation of Z-grant.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Secondary education is required. Or
• University degree in Public Health, Social Sciences, Medicines or any related development field would be desired, but it is not a requirement.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years (with high school diploma) or 2 years (with bachelor’s degree) of experience in management support in public health programs is required.

Required  skills and competencies

• Experience in public health management (specifically COVID, HIV/AIDS, TB and/or malaria)
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advanced knowledge of web-based management systems.
• Desired additional skills and competencies
• Knowledge and experience working in the UN or UNDP rules, regulations, policies and procedures is an asset.
• Experience in working with a multi-cultured group of people and systems in high-pressure environments would be an asset.
• Experience working in challenging operating environment is an asset.
• Experience and strong knowledge of Global Fund’s rules, policies and procedures and reporting to the Global Fund is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and managing effective partnerships with government and civil society organizations in the area of health and development programmes is desired.
• Experience in building capacity of national stakeholders in the area of health and development programmes is desired.
• Experience working in/with international donor-funded health projects would be an asset.
• Required Language(s) (at working level)
• Fluency in English is required.
• Fluency in Dari and/or Pashto is required.

Source: https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1/job/24071