Afghanistan: Programme Management Officer

Nov 27, 2017 | UN Environment
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The United Nations Environment is the United Nations systems designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus, by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. UN Environment's, Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and advisory services for the implementation of environmental policy and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. This post is located in the Post-Conflict and Disaster Management Branch (PCDMB) of the Ecosystems Division.  Under the overall supervision of the Operations Manager, Post Conflict and Disaster Management Branch (PCDMB), and UN Environment, Regional Office for Asia Pacific, the incumbent will perform the following duties: 

Responsibilities

A. Representation:
  1. Attend and actively participate in UN Country Team (UNCT), Security Management Team (SMT), Programme Management Team (PMT) and other UN fora meetings as the representative of UN Environment. 
  2. Act as the United Nations Environment Programme, Post Conflict and Disaster Management Branch’s (PCDMB) focal point in Afghanistan including with donors and other national and international partners. 


B. Security:
  1. Act as the Afghanistan security focal point for United Nations Environment Programme Kabul office. 
  2. Liaise with the UNDSS on all security and safety matters. 
  3. Make security and safety-related operational decisions in relation to United Nations Environment Programme staff, assets and systems, as and when circumstances require it. 


C. Programme Implementation:
  1. Supervise the implementation/execution of the United Nations Environment Programme’s overall programme in Afghanistan in a professional and efficient manner. 
  2. Manage the United Nations Environment Programme’s project portfolio in Afghanistan, including the project recruitment, management and supervision of national and international United Nations Environment Programme staff and consultants. 
  3. Ensure the active participation of United Nations Environment Programme in all UNCT initiatives, including the development of the UNDAF, Integrated Strategic Framework, Programme Criticality Review and related UN development planning framework activities. 
  4. Regularly communicate with the main project partners, including the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA), Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL), and the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA). 
  5. Liaise and coordinate with other United Nations Environment Programme’s divisions and branches, as required. 
  6. Oversee the preparation and organization of all United Nations Environment Programme missions to Afghanistan including travel, accommodation, site visits and meetings. 


D. Monitoring and Evaluation:
  1. Prepare and periodically update the work plan of the Afghanistan programme. 
  2. Provide regular reports on the state of security and progress of the projects as well as on important political and environmental developments of interest to United Nations Environment Programme. 
  3. Ensure lessons learned are documented and followed in the implementation of key project activities. 
  4. Ensure a functioning Monitoring and Evaluation and Reporting system across United Nations Environment Programme’s project portfolio. 
  5. Ensure Accountability framework is in place and functioning 


E. Donor Relations:
  1. Prepare documents and presentations for fundraising purposes, and in participate in donor meetings as required. 
  2. Prepare communications materials for United Nations Environment Programme’s outreach activities including presentations, speeches, press releases, and display boards. 


F. Human Resource Management:
  1. Effectively coordinates actions relative to the administration of human resource activities, e.g., recruitment, placement, promotion 
  2. Oversee performance appraisal, job classification reviews, separation of staff members, training, etc., ensuring consistency in the application of UN rules and procedures.
 

Competencies

  • PROFESSIONALISM – Excellent knowledge of environmental management tools. Knowledge of the structure and policies of national environmental authorities. Knowledge of United Nations and UN humanitarian and development framework. Knowledge of Afghanistan, its history, political setting, and environmental challenges. Ability to identify strategic issues, opportunities and risks. 
  • PLANNING AND ORGANIZING - Proven ability to work under pressure and to use limited resources effectively, conducting risk analysis and applying contingency measures to adjust plans and resources effectively. 
  • TEAMWORK - Ability to operate effectively across organizational and country boundaries; Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic work environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; Proven ability to collaborate with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; Excellent interpersonal skills demonstrated by the ability to lead and gain assistance and cooperation of others in a team endeavor.
 

Education

Advanced university degree (Masters degree or equivalent) in environmental or political sciences or related field. A first university degree in combination of two years professional and academic qualifications may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. 

Work Experience

 A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in international environmental projects, with at least five (5) years working with governments and civil society in developing country field environments. Proven experience with different aspects of project management including development, planning, implementation, evaluation and supervision of environmental experts and donor relations is required. Exposure to climate change adaptation initiatives, environmental resilience approaches, and management of GEF projects would be advantageous. 

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Working knowledge of Pashto or Dari are an asset. Knowledge of other official UN languages is an additional asset. 

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview. 

United Nations Considerations

 According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity, including but not limited to, respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to, whether they have committed or are alleged to have committed criminal offences or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law. 

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the At-a-Glance on "The Application Process" and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The screening and evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications, including but not limited to, their education, work experience, and language skills, according to the instructions provided on inspira. Applicants will be disqualified from consideration if they do not demonstrate in their application that they meet the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations. Applicants are solely responsible for providing complete and accurate information at the time of application: no amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to a reference-checking process to verify the information provided in the application.

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