UN Women has been working in Afghanistan since 2002 (as UNIFEM until 2010). Afghanistan has emerged as one of the world’s most complex emergencies. The crisis dynamics in the country are multi-layered, and Afghanistan’s people are facing the devastating effects of successive decades of conflict, increasing poverty, economic decline and natural disasters, all of which are amplified by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. As per the Humanitarian Response Plan 2022, 24.4 million Afghans – more than half of the country’s estimated population of 42 million – are projected to be in need of humanitarian assistance in 2022, with a staggering 55 per cent of the population expected to face crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity.
In this context, Afghan women and girls face unique vulnerabilities as gender inequality is interwoven with conflict dynamics and humanitarian needs. Women’s fundamental rights have been continually threatened since the Taliban takeover and the limited gains made over the past twenty years are now at risk of being erased – and at worst regressed. The contest around gender norms remains at the center of the political, peace and security landscape in Afghanistan, putting women and girls at the frontlines of this crisis. Responding to this crisis, the UN Women Afghanistan Country Office (ACO) is consolidating its programming under the humanitarian-peace-development nexus, anchored in the Country Office Strategic Note (2018-2022), and continues to deliver on its triple mandate across four thematic areas: 1) Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action; 2) Ending Violence Against Women; 3) Women’s Economic Empowerment; and 4) Women’s Leadership and Participation. UN Women ACO thereby capitalizes on its five Sub-Offices located in the provinces Balkh, Bamyan, Herat, Kandahar and Nangarhar respectively, and is part of inter-agency Joint UN initiatives, such as the Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan (STFA).
Reporting to the Gender in Humanitarian Action (GiHA) Programme Manager (P4), the Programme Analyst (P2) contributes to the effective management of UN Women programmes in the CO by providing substantive inputs to programme design, formulation, implementation and evaluation. The Programme Analyst guides and facilitates the delivery of UN Women programmes by monitoring results achieved during implementation and ensuring appropriate application of systems and procedures and develops enhancements if necessary. The Programme Analyst works in close collaboration with the programme and operations teams, UN Women Regional Office and Headquarter staff, multi and bi-lateral donors and civil society organizations, ensuring successful UN Women programme implementation under portfolio.
Duties and Responsibilities
Contribute technically to the development of programme strategies in the area of humanitarian action in Afghanistan
Provide substantive inputs to the design and formulation of programme/project proposals and initiatives
Provide advice on contextualizing/ localizing programme documents, country strategies, and knowledge products
Identify areas for support and intervention related to the humanitarian programme
Provide substantive technical support to the implementation and management of the humanitarian programme
Provide technical inputs to the annual workplan and budget
Support implementation of regional programme activities
Support the coordination of the call/request for proposals, including the organization of technical review committees, and capacity assessment of partners
Review and evaluation proposals from partners
Review, coordinate and monitor the submission of implementing partner financial and narrative reports
Provide technical assistance and capacity development humanitarian programme partners
Provide technical and policy support to the country office in developing and strengthening projects/programmes in humanitarian action
Maintain relationships with national partners to support implementation and expansion of the humanitarian programme
Identify opportunities for capacity building of partners and facilitate technical/programming support and trainings to partners, as needed
Participate in capacity assessment to identify capacity building needs of stakeholders
Provide technical inputs to the monitoring and reporting of the humanitarian programme
Monitor progress of implementation of activities and finances using results-based management tools
Undertake field visits to monitor performance of commitments by implementing partners and ensure programme objectives are being met
Draft reports on monitoring missions, programme results, outputs and outcomes
Provide substantive inputs to the preparation of donor and UN Women reports relating to humanitarian action
Provide substantive technical inputs to the management of people and finances of the humanitarian programme
Monitor budget implementation and make budget re-alignments/revisions, as necessary
Provide substantive inputs to financial reports
Provide substantive inputs to building partnerships and resource mobilization strategies
Support the development of partnerships and resource mobilization strategies, including analyzing and maintaining information and databases
Prepare relevant documentation such as project summaries, briefing notes, speeches and donor profiles
Participate in donor meetings and public information events, as delegated
Provide technical support to inter-agency coordination on humanitarian action to systematically integrate gender and social inclusion
Provide substantive technical support to the GiHA Programme Manager on inter-agency coordination related activities
Represent UN Women in inter-agency coordination related activities by attending meetings/events, participating in groups and committees, as needed
Advocate for the engagement and participation of local organizations and civil society networks in humanitarian coordination mechanisms
Provide substantive inputs to advocacy, knowledge building and communication efforts
Develop background documents, briefs and presentations related to gender in humanitarian action
Coordinate and organize advocacy campaigns, events, trainings, workshops and knowledge products
Contribute to the development of knowledge management strategies, methodologies, and products on gender in humanitarian action
Support the development of advocacy strategies and oversee their implementation
Support UN Women’s participation in policy dialogues on issues related to humanitarian action as necessary
Identify best practices and lessons learned to guide programme improvement and strategy planning
Key Performance Indicators
Timely and quality substantive inputs to programme development, workplans and budgets
Quality and timely inputs to tracking, monitoring and reporting of programme results and finances
Quality and timely technical assistance
Quality of knowledge and advocacy products
Adherence to UN Women standards and rules
Relationship with partners and stakeholders
Enhanced best practices and lessons learned documented and circulated
Required Skills and Experience
Education and certification
Master’s degree in social sciences, political sciences, policy, humanitarian action, human rights, gender/women's studies, international development, or a related field is required
A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree
A project/programme management certification would be an added advantag
Experience
At least 2 years of progressively responsible work experience in humanitarian or development programme/project implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation, donor reporting and capacity building
Technical experience in inter-agency coordination, preferably in humanitarian action
Experience engaging diverse stakeholders, including civil society organizations and/or donors is an asset
Experience working in the UN System is an asset
Language Requirements
Fluency in English is required
Knowledge of another UN official working language is an asset
