BACKGROUND
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
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By submitting a job application, the applicant confirms to have understood and consented to UNDP contacting the applicant’s prior employers, during UNDP’s recruitment process, to request any such information on sexual misconduct.
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 the 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 percent of the population facing multifaceted vulnerabilities affecting their well-being, human security, and long-term development, while nearly a third of the population is estimated to be acutely food insecure. Women and girls are increasingly stripped of their rights to education, employment, and free participation in public life, which will have irrevocable socioeconomic consequences. 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, and 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 the community level, and supporting local communities to include women, in line with UNSCR 1325 (Women, Peace, and Security).
The Sustainable Livelihood and Resilience portfolio adopts a holistic approach to addressing Afghanistan’s complex challenges, emphasizing human development as an overarching objective. It prioritizes safeguarding lives, enhancing resilience to shocks, and supporting livelihoods. This portfolio bridges macro-level interventions in socio-economic development, trade and financial systems with localized interventions, focusing on resilience-building, access to finance, livelihood creation, social cohesion, and equitable access to essential services. Guided by the country office management, the portfolio adopts solutions adjusted to the unique context in Afghanistan while also ensuring alignment with the SDGs, especially SDG 5 and 10, by integrating gender equality, reducing inequalities, and fostering sustainable development.
Collaborating with UN agencies, donors, and national stakeholders, the team designs and implements multi-year, conflict-sensitive interventions that enhance livelihoods, access to finance, private sector recovery, economic resilience, and access to basic services and infrastructure. By promoting financial inclusion, essential services infrastructure, and private sector engagement, the portfolio supports Afghan communities’ capacity to withstand economic, social, and environmental shocks. Gender mainstreaming and targeted activities for vulnerable groups, including women, youth, and internally displaced persons, are central to the portfolio’s objectives. Through strategic partnerships and compliance with corporate standards, the portfolio strives to create inclusive and sustainable solutions to meet Afghanistan’s basic human needs.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
The Private Sector Specialist will work across various activities of the Sustainable Livelihood and Resilient Portfolio. The Specialist will provide overall strategic advice on private sector development, programme implementation, and monitoring of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), access to finance, microfinance, banking and digital payments’ related work of the portfolio while overseeing activities across the country program and regional offices. The PS Specialist will lead the implementation of the UNDP’s MSME and access to finance strategies working closely with partner UN Agencies, Technical Advisors and Experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors, civil society, and the private sector to deliver on results in this critical area.
S/he will provide technical support and input to other programmatic activities on enterprise development designed and implemented by UNDP. The incumbent will support UNDP participation in Private Sector Group under Doha-III process as required. The PS Specialist will be based in Kabul with regular field visits to other regions.
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.
Key duties and accountabilities include:
Provide strategic advice on private sector, access to finance, Islamic Finance and MSME development:
Contribute to the development and implementation of the UNDP strategies on MSME and enterprise development in Afghanistan to foster growth and recovery from the devasting economic situation in the country Develop strategic partnerships with private sector actors, local financial institutions (including commercial banks, microfinance organization and mobile money operators) seek opportunities for collaboration and function as a liaison between the program and the private sector Advise on new project ideas and interventions and develop concept papers, MoUs and proposals for potential funding and collaboration on private sector development Provide input and advice to all projects with MSMEs, access to finance and digital payments components as the focal for all Private Sector related work in the program Ensure that the interventions under the MSME strategy contribute to the overall Country Programme Document (CPD) outcomes and Sustainable Livelihood and Resilience Portfolio objectives within the framework of inclusive markets creation in line with UNDP regional and global strategies Recommend new and innovative implementation modalities using existing or new partnerships with private firms for MSME promotion and private sector developmentLead impactful implementation of the Afghanistan ‘’Access to Finance Project:
As the Project Manager will oversee the implementation, monitoring, and overall management of the Afghanistan Access to Finance (A2F) Project. The role will involve ensuring that the project achieves its intended outcomes, which are aligned with UNDP’s Country Office’s goals and the development priorities of Afghanistan. The following functions will be attributable to the work of the Project Manager for the A2F Project. Lead the day-to-day management of the A2F Project, including planning, budgeting, and execution of project activities. Ensure the timely and efficient delivery of project outputs, as specified in the project document, while adhering to UNDP rules, policies, and guidelines. Develop and manage work plans, resource allocation, and performance monitoring frameworks. Monitor and mitigate risks in alignment with the project’s Risk Register. Provide technical guidance on access to finance solutions, including Islamic finance products, credit guarantees, and digital payment ecosystems. Support the development and operationalization of financial instruments, including innovative financing models tailored to MSMEs and women entrepreneurs. Provide advice and technical support to Afghan banks, microfinance institutions (MFIs), and other financial intermediaries to enhance their capacity and service delivery including on the topics of Islamic Finance and Sharia-compliance Maintain policy dialogue with the De facto authority’s (DFAs) for the purpose of project implementation, including the Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB, Central Bank), Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and other national institutions. Lead implementation efforts with UNCDF and the Afghan Credit Guarantee Foundation (ACGF) on credit guarantees for the participating national financial institutions. Facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogues to improve financial inclusion and access to credit, with a focus on underserved groups. Update and implement monitoring and evaluation frameworks to track project progress, outcomes, and impacts. Prepare high-quality progress reports, technical briefs, and policy notes to share with donors, stakeholders, and senior management. Use data-driven insights to refine project strategies and ensure alignment with broader development objectives. Support resource mobilization efforts to scale the impact of the A2F Project. Develop and present concept notes, proposals, and partnership strategies to potential donors related to access to finance project activities and results.Contribute to the Private Sector Working Group (PSWG)under the Doha-III process:
The Incumbent together with the CO Policy and Knowledge Unit will lead UNDP’s engagement with the Private Sector Working Group (PSWG), providing technical expertise on access to finance, livelihoods, entrepreneurship, trade, and private banking. The following functions will be attributable to this work:
Engage and coordinate on behalf of UNDP technical support to the Private Sector Working Group (PSWG), ensuring UNDP’s priorities and expertise in access to finance, livelihood, entrepreneurship, trade and private banking. Provide technical inputs to discussions at PSWG on improving the business regulatory framework and promoting equal access to financial services, especially for women-owned businesses and marginalized groups. Contribute to identifying binding constraints and proposing actionable solutions for reducing barriers to domestic and international markets and trade. Support UNDP efforts in developing and suggesting strategies for PSWG and recommendations for increasing women’s participation in the private sector, including targeted access-to-finance initiatives and capacity-building programs. Identify opportunities to leverage Islamic financial tools to benefit underserved communities and align with cultural practices. Share insights and best practices on private sector development and access to finance, drawing from UNDP’s work on Islamic finance, credit guarantees, digital payments, entrepreneurship support and trade facilitation. Facilitate data collection and analysis to inform PSWG actions, including assessments of challenges faced by Afghan businesses and women entrepreneurs. Collaborate with PSWG members to develop initiatives aimed at fostering job and livelihood creation, particularly through MSMEs, vocational training, and entrepreneurship programs. Identify critical infrastructure and public service improvements needed to support private sector development and provide recommendations to PSWG members for action.Lead effective coordination of Digital Payment portfolio:
Lead the design and implementation of digital and mobile payment solutions within the country office and the Access to Finance Project to enhance financial inclusion, particularly for women and marginalized communities. Develop strategies to integrate digital payment systems within existing financial infrastructures, promoting interoperability and user adoption. Engage with national and international stakeholder on development of national payment infrastructure and standards such as Afghanistan Payment System (APS). Facilitate partnerships between financial service providers on APS to expand the reach and effectiveness of digital payment solutions. Coordinate capacity building and training initiatives for financial institutions and end-users to promote the adoption and effective use of digital and mobile payment platforms. Coordinate the development of educational materials and campaigns to raise awareness about the benefits and security of digital payments. Regularly report on progress, challenges, and lessons learned to the senior management and other engaged team in the country office to inform future strategies and interventions.Facilitate knowledge management and communication of project activities:
Develop research notes, synthesize technical reports, and concept papers related to access to finance, Islamic finance and private sector and MSMEs development in Afghanistan to inform internal as well as external stakeholders Identify opportunities for capturing and sharing knowledge, and disseminating information about major progress and results of the program Document challenges, lessons learnt, best practices, case studies, stories and project results achieved during implementation Actively contribute to the establish to formal and informal forum comprising individuals from the relevant industries and sectors to ensure information/knowledge sharing and dissemination Develop writeups for UNDP website, knowledge networks and communities of practice in the form of articles, and concept papers Ensure media coverage for activities outlined in the work plan and as agreed with the donor in coordination with the comms unit.Other Duties:
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities:
Supervise Project Admin/ Finance Associate (NPSA).QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
Advanced University degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Economics, Finance or Business Administration or related field is required. OR A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above-mentioned fields, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.Experience, Knowledge, and Skills:
Minimum of seven (7) years (with master’s degree or equivalent) or nine (9) years (with bachelor’s degree) of increasingly responsible professional experience in economic development and/or private sector development programmes is required. Substantive knowledge and practical experience in private sector development in an emergency context is an asset. Experience of working for the development of the private sector, MSMEs, microfinance and banking preferably in crisis context such as Afghanistan is desired. Demonstrated ability to work with technology partners for innovative implementation measures is an asset Track record of successful project management experience preferably with at least 7 years within the UN, World Bank, or international donor community would be an asset. Strong knowledge of economic reform, business climate, Islamic Finance, preferably working in countries undergoing economic reconstruction and social transition in a post-conflict situation is asset. Strong background in Humanitarian Development and Peace Nexus is desired. Experience and knowledge of UNDP policies and procedures preferred especially about the UNDP private sector development strategy would be an added advantage. Experience in regional economic and political projects is desirable. Knowledge of Afghanistan and regional programmes will be an asset. Knowledge and expertise in UNDPs mandate is an advantage Good knowledge of humanitarian response, prior experience in challenging and complex humanitarian response is desirable. Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and working knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, as well as experienced in the handling of web-based management systems is required.Language Requirements:
Fluency in oral and written English is required.COMPETENCIES:
Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have a 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 the complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of a diverse workforce and champion inclusivityPeople Management Competencies:
UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies:
Business Management: Partnerships Management
Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.Business Direction & Strategy: System Thinking
Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.Business Management: Portfolio Management
Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization's programmes and projects in line with its strategic objectives and capacity. Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives with regular activities for optimal return on investment. Knowledge and understanding of key principles of project, programme, and portfolio management.Partnership management: Resource mobilization
Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs programmes /projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to meet funding requirements.2030 Agenda: Engagement and Effectiveness: Effectiveness
Programming (PPM) policies and proceduresProgramme and Policy: Recovery Solutions and Human Mobility
Socio-economic impact assessmentBusiness Direction & Strategy: Business Acumen
Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome Ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organization
Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
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