Project Management Support Analyst- Grants Management

Specific responsibilities and duties include, but are not limited to: 

Grants Management & Administration:

● Support all grant making processes, including the following;

• Inviting Proposals- participate in the pre-proposal meetings and attend to clarification questions;

• Proposal submission and management- Play one of the required roles of proposal opener and /or proposal receiver;

• Proposal evaluation and review- Be a member of  proposal evaluation committee ;

• Conduct capacity assessments of IPs;

• Process the Requests for awards and award amendments;

• Grant Support Agreements administration, ensuring that grantees adhere to the conditions of the grant support agreements;

• Follow the Key Resources- Grants Community of Practice guidance and ensure that all organizational policy is complied with (Operation  Instructions);

● Coordinate the delivery  of work plans, including monitoring delivery of milestones to ensure adherence to project timelines;

●  Monitor the implementation of approved IPs plans (including theestablishment of milestones) within tolerances set by the project;and escalate issues to the Grants Management Specialist

●  Alert the Grant Management Specialist (as required) of any deviations from the IPs work plans;

● Support management and updating of  the risk register for the IPs’ grants;

● Conduct  monitoring visits and spot checks of the IPs;

Procedures:

● In support of the Grants Management Specialist, providing inputs on  progress towards the overall project objectives into all mandatory reports;

● Maintain and update all the Grants Management folders, as required;

● Coordinate with the Grants Management Specialist to support the Project Manager, Deputy Project Manager and Project Support Officer to ensure that all expenditure comply with UNOPS Financial Rules and Regulations (FRR);

● Support the Grants Management Specialist to ensure that deliverables are met and grants disbursements done on time;

● With guidance of the Grants Management Specialist, conduct due diligence and capacity assessments of Grantees;

● Check all Grantees documentation to ensure that Grantees meet all conditions before disbursements are done;

● Conduct rapid market verifications to ensure that Grantees submitted invoices are in line with market trends;

● Support/ monitor the delivery of capacity building plans, ensuring that all laid down procedures;

are followed;

Stakeholder Management:

● Keep track of developments in project operational areas and advise the Grants Management Specialist on any emerging opportunities and threats/issues that may impact the achievement of WERP private sector grants objectives and overall project outcomes;

Knowledge Management:

● Participate in the relevant Communities of Practice;

● Support the Grants Management Specialist in documenting and maintaining lessons learnt from the IPs grants for the purposes of knowledge sharing and continuous improvement in the delivery of similar activities;

Impact of Results

The effective and successful achievement of results by the Grants Management – Project Management Support Analyst directly impacts on the development and performance of the project. It confirms UNOPS’ role as a key and trusted partner to the World Bank, and UNOPS’ position as a critical service provider, in all challenging work environments. Given the current political and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, this project would support the urgent repositioning of AFCO and strengthen UNOPS presence and visibility in Afghanistan, raising the profile of UNOPS  in the global humanitarian context. 

Monitoring and progress controls will be in accordance with work plans that the Supervisor and incumbent will prepare at the beginning of the assignment.  

a. Education

• Advanced University Degree in any of the following: Business Administration, Entrepreneurship or SME development, Agricultural Economics, Economics,  Accounting and Banking  and Procurement is required.

• University Degree (bachelor’s degree / first level) with a combination of 2 additional years of relevant professional experience will be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree

• A relevant combination of academic credentials and/or industry certifications and qualifying

• experience may be accepted in lieu of the education requirements outlined above.

b. Work experience 

• Past experience in grants management/administration/procurement  is required;

• 2 years of experience in the implementation of development projects in a project/programme

• management or support role is desirable;

• Past experience in business plan development and/or business analysis is highly desirable

• Experience working with the private sector is a distinct advantage;

• Competent in the use of all commonly used computer software – spreadsheet and other computer programmes;

• Knowledge of the UN system and familiarity with UNOPS procedures is an advantage;

• Good communication and facilitation skills and ability to engage with all levels of business from micro businesses to larger companies

c. Languages

• Proficiency in English and Dari/Pashto are required.