Organization Mission

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 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.

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).

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. This is a recognition of the interconnected nature of development risks and crises that the world is facing and that calls for the assembling of multidisciplinary teams for an integrated and systemic response.

Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across issues, units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

The Sustainable Energy Services for Education and Health in Afghanistan (SESEHA) Project is implemented by UNDP with the objective of adopting renewable energy (and energy efficiency) measures in public facilities for the sustained delivery of essential services for meeting basic human needs. Project implementation started in January 2023 and is expected to end by June 2028. The targeted sites of the project are public health and educational facilities across 19 provinces. The project is conceptualized in the priority area of sustained essential services of the UN Strategic Framework for Afghanistan 2023-2025 and falls under Portfolio 1 above. It directly contributes to the two outcomes:

Outcome 1: By the end of 2025, more people in Afghanistan, particularly the most vulnerable and marginalized, including women and girls have their basic human needs progressively met through the sustained delivery of essential services.

Outcome 2: By the end of 2025, people in Afghanistan, especially women, youth, and other marginalized groups, and those at risk of being left behind benefit from a more equitable, inclusive, sustainable, and resilient employment-rich economy and shared economic opportunities with enhanced productive capacities for improved livelihoods and decent work.

Key Responsibilities

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Project Manager, the Reporting Expert will carry out the following tasks:
• Monitoring and Reporting:
1. Design and implement data collection and reporting protocols linked to project outcome indicators to support routine high-level project progress reporting.
2. Support the team in monitoring data quality, tracking the progress of activities, and identifying opportunities for staff and IPs capacity building.
3. Perform field visits along with the national reporting officer as per need to ensure the quality of the data gathered by the project and to verify the accuracy of the reported data.
4. Draft reports and analyse data against indicators listed in the logical framework against indicators and AWP target.
5. Interpret outcomes of implementation through data or other evidenced-based sources and provide recommendations as needed.
6. Support the project team in drafting, finalization and implementation of the project’s M&E plan, to effectively track project progress against specific indicators.
7. Draft monthly, quarterly, biannual, and annual reports, in adherence to and compliance with the financing agreement, M&E frameworks, and donor ad-hoc requirements.
8. Continuously monitor and update project risk logs both offline and in the QUANTUM to facilitate informed decision on the project implementation.
9. Assist in the monitoring of milestones and key accomplishments of the project.
10. Support in organizing special events such as donor engagement/joint monitoring, TPM, and evaluation, etc.• Visibility and Communication
1. Support the project to deliver effective external communication including sharing of success stories and highlighting progress to the relevant stakeholders.
2. Conduct a thorough analysis and research of the political, social, and economic situation in the country and collaborate with the Programme Management Support Unit (PMSU) team in preparation/revision of project documents, Annual Work Plan (AWP), and other documents as necessary.
3. Maintain the strategic partnerships and support resource mobilization.
4. Coordination and networking with clients, stakeholders, and programme partners.
5. Coordination and networking with UN agencies, clients, stakeholders, and programme partners.
6. Work closely with project field offices staff, UNDP IRMU/DEU/PMSU, and UNDP Partnership and communication team and other units to ensure related communications materials included information about the project.
7. Collaborate with UNDP Communication Unit to develop, publish and disseminate media-friendly communications products.
8. Write content for both print and Web including the UNDP website, blog, brochures, factsheets, exposures, monthly progress updates within the country office, and newsletter.

• Knowledge Management:
1. Constant communication with the Project Manager, Project Management team, donor, UNDP communication unit, and UNDP staff for implementation of the project communication work plan.
2. Facilitate and support learning agendas, collaboration, learning and adapting, and knowledge management activities; all aimed at facilitating effective collaboration and promoting learning and sharing among stakeholders.
3. Support the preparation of the publication, document case stories and best practices for learning and sharing.
4. Develop knowledge management products on M&E such as handbooks, toolkits for indicators, lessons learned reports, webinars, and others.
5. Network and actively engage with counterparts, communities of practice, and other partners in disseminating learnings and acquiring timely information to M&E policies, tools, and best practices.

Required Skills and Experience

• Minimum of 7 years with a master’s or 8 years with a BA Degree or Relevant experience in solid project management, M&E, RBM, reporting, and communications.
• Previous experience of working with UN/UNDP or INGOs is required.
• Solid knowledge on result-based management and project implementation is required.
• Experience in communications is required.
• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills.
• Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing.
• Good analytical skills and writing skills are required.
• Experience working in conflict or crisis working environments/post-conflict context is required.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.), working knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, PowerBI, and experience in the handling of web-based management systems is required.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development.
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel.
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines.
• Sound security awareness.

Core Competencies

• Accountability
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Creativity
• Judgement and decision-making
• Planning and organising
• Professionalism
• Self-management

Living Conditions

The successful applicant will be living within the UN-protected compound in Kabul. Accommodation will be provided by UNDP. A detailed induction will be provided to the successful applicant on living conditions in the duty station about the security situation, access and air travel, climate, alcohol use, cost of living, accommodation options, availability of food/water/electricity, medical facilities, banking facilities, communications infrastructure, etc.

You can check full entitlements at the duty station at https://app.unv.org/calculator.
The complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos.”