The Area-Based Approach to Development Emergency Initiatives (ABADEI) Project has been designed as a response to the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan upon a call of the UN Executive Committee Working Group for Afghanistan. The ABADEI Strategy is a tailored area-based integrated programming approach to support basic human needs, complementing short-term humanitarian life-saving assistance with the safeguarding of livelihoods and the strengthening of community resilience. It is centered around addressing worsening poverty and vulnerability, supporting community resilience and social cohesion, and enabling the rehabilitation of small-scale infrastructure vital for basic human needs. It supports the creation of immediate sources of income through cash-for-work, cash for market, small businesses and livelihood opportunities with particular focus on agri-business and regenerative agriculture infrastructure and services (critical for food security) that are under threat. It is sensitive to the chronic and newly emerging vulnerabilities of Afghan women and girls and aims at providing them assistance in a manner that does not exacerbate their susceptibility to violence and deprivation of opportunities and rights.
Duties and Responsibilities
The incumbent will undertake the following to ensure the success of the project:
- Support effective design and implementation of infrastructure activities in the ABADEI program
- Provide support in developing partnerships and ensure coordination with implementing partners and relevant stakeholders including UN agencies.
- Contribute to knowledge management and information sharing in the ABADEI program team.
Support effective design and implementation of Infrastructure activities in the ABADEI program, focusing on achievement of the following results:
- Take a lead in the identification of the infrastructure related activities;
- Conduct technical surveys and feasibility studies of the selected infrastructure projects. Prepare technical designs, including drawings, specifications, and Bill of Quantities and ensure International and National Standards/Norms (IBC) for quality and safety;
- Assume responsibility for the implementation of the established UNDP practices for Cash for Work activities, Social and Environmental Screening (SES) and GRM; provide quality assurance and compliance of the infrastructure related activities. Ensure designs/deliverables are compliant with scope of work and contract requirements;
- Ensure regular monitoring of the infrastructure projects and Report immediately the gaps or findings from activities in the ground to Supervisor and implementing partner/ contractor for resolving the issue;
- Assist in the preparation of the bidding documents and evaluation reports related to procurement; Assist in contract management.
Provide support in developing partnerships and ensure coordination with implementing partners and relevant stakeholders including UN agencies, focusing on achievement of the following:
- Support capacity building of local partners and implementing partners, organize relevant orientations and trainings for local partners.
- Identify potential organizations to engage with in the targeted areas and contribute to build a network.
- Act as the UNDP/ABADEI infrastructure focal person in the respective region to develop and support a coordination mechanism that allows to share information and to harmonize the work carried out by different partners.
- Provide engineering support to other projects and programmes in case of need.
- Support working relationships and create programmatic linkages with relevant UN Agencies and counterparts, as guided by the supervisor.
Contribute to knowledge management and information sharing in the UNDP country office
- Collect information related to infrastructure work and provide inputs for the preparation of substantive briefs and advocacy initiatives.
- Identify and document best practices and lessons learned from infrastructure interventions.
- Assist in producing publicity materials on infrastructure work including success and lessons learned.
- Promote exchanging ideas, lessons learned with respect to technical, social and considerations.
- Promote smooth work relationship at regional level, counterpart staff and other relevant bodies and report to direct Supervisor periodically.
- Writing technical reports as per UNDP approved formats.
Promote Gender-Responsive Infrastructure Design, Implementation, monitoring and reporting.
- Ensure designs and construction activities reflect the diverse needs of women, men, girls, boys, and persons with disabilities.
- Apply gender analysis during site assessments to identify accessibility, safety, and usability barriers for all genders, especially women and girls.
- Incorporate gender-sensitive features such as lighting, sanitation, and privacy elements in public infrastructure in consultation with women and girls.
- Innovate and apply gender lens based on the project’s comparative advantage, such as men engagement activities for Gender Equalities within the Project Scope.
- Conduct gender-awareness sessions, facilitate inclusive training, and promote safe feedback channels for women’s input and participation to ensure meaningful “Do No Harm”.
Perform other duties within your functional profile as assigned and deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the office
- Institutional Arrangement
The Technical Associate for Infrastructure will work in close coordination with the PMU team and be responsible for providing technical support to Infrastructure component. S/he works under the guidance and supervision of the respective Area Manager. The technical associate will also work closely with partners, UN Agencies, technical advisors and experts, and civil society to help implement infrastructure activities.
Competencies
Core
Achieve Results:LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadlineThink Innovatively:LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements Learn Continuously:LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedbackAdapt with Agility:LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confidentEngage and Partner:LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationshipsEnable Diversity and Inclusion:LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
Thematic AreaNameDefinitionDigital & InnovationData analysisAbility to extract, analyse and visualize data (including Real-Time Data) to form meaningful insights and aid effective decision makingPartnership managementEmerging partnershipsAbility to engage with emerging partners, develop and manage a strategy and develop approaches to developing and managing these new strategic partnershipsInformation Management & TechnologySolutions ArchitectureAbility to design and manage the Information system architecture supporting corporate business processes. Design integration strategies and approaches to integrate of one or more applications or services to maintain a coherent and effective IT architecture. Knowledge of ISO 20000 and IT operations. The Open Group TOGAF9 or Open CA, ITIL Master certification, or DevOps or similar certification desirable.Business ManagementCommunication
Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience
Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels
Knowledge GenerationKnowledge GenerationAbility to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for content, or responsive to a stated need.Knowledge FacilitationKnowledge FacilitationAbility to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally.
