Job Identification: 25739
Posting Date: 14 May 2025, 08:36 a.m.
Application Deadline: 22 May 2025, 05:59 a.m. (Paris time)
Type of Contract: Full-time individual consultancy
Duration: Initial six months
Location: Home-based, with travel to Kabul, Afghanistan
Agency: UN Women
Job Category: International Opportunities
Function: Humanitarian Action
Background and Context
UN Women, grounded in the principles of equality and human rights outlined in the Charter of the United Nations, works tirelessly to eliminate discrimination against women and girls, promote their empowerment, and advance gender equality across all sectors. Since 2002, UN Women has been operational in Afghanistan—initially as UNIFEM until 2010—addressing one of the world’s most complex emergencies. The ongoing crisis in Afghanistan is characterized by multi-layered conflict, increasing poverty, economic downturns, and natural disasters, all exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
As detailed in the Humanitarian Response Plan 2022, over half of Afghanistan’s population—more than 24 million people—are projected to require humanitarian assistance, with a significant portion facing crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity. Afghan women and girls are particularly vulnerable, as gender inequality remains intertwined with conflict and humanitarian challenges. The recent setbacks in women’s rights following the Taliban’s return to power threaten the limited progress achieved over two decades, placing women and girls on the frontlines of this ongoing crisis.
In response, UN Women Afghanistan continues to implement programs within the humanitarian-peace-development nexus, aligned with its Strategic Note (2018-2022). The organization’s work focuses on four thematic areas: Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action; Ending Violence Against Women; Women’s Economic Empowerment; and Women’s Leadership and Participation. It leverages its five provincial Sub-Offices and collaborates with inter-agency initiatives such as the Joint UN efforts and the Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan (STFA).
The Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) is a global partnership that mobilizes resources to support local women’s organizations, fostering peace and responding effectively to humanitarian crises. In Afghanistan, WPHF plays a critical role in empowering women-led organizations and promoting gender-responsive humanitarian action, amplifying women’s voices in conflict-affected regions.
To enhance operational efficiency and ensure the effective implementation of WPHF activities, UN Women seeks to engage a full-time international consultant. The consultant will provide essential administrative, monitoring, and evaluation support, reporting to the GIHA Programme Manager and working closely with the WPHF Secretariat, grantees, and key partners. The position is home-based but includes an initial four-week mission to Kabul for stakeholder coordination, onboarding, and administrative setup.
Scope of Work and Responsibilities
Administrative Support
- Provide logistical and administrative assistance to WPHF activities, ensuring smooth operations.
- Support partnership management processes, including contract management, risk assessments, reporting, and disbursements, in line with UN Women policies.
- Maintain and update administrative records, facilitating efficient documentation and filing systems.
Financial and Grant Management
- Assist in tracking the financial aspects of WPHF grants, ensuring timely fund disbursements and accurate financial reporting.
- Support the preparation of financial reports, ensuring compliance with UN Women’s financial regulations and procedures.
- Liaise with grantees to facilitate administrative requirements such as audits and compliance checks.
Coordination and Liaison
- Act as a key communication link between implementing partners and UN Women, ensuring timely information exchange and follow-up.
- Organize and coordinate virtual and face-to-face meetings, including preparing minutes and action points.
- Oversee coordination efforts with UN Women sub-national programme staff to facilitate quality implementation, monitoring, and reporting by partners.
- Support donor reporting by collecting relevant administrative and programmatic data.
- Lead Afghanistan’s inputs into the global annual report for WPHF.
Technical Assistance and Capacity Building
- Provide technical support to partners in implementing program activities, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives.
- Foster relationships with external stakeholders to support the expansion and sustainability of the WPHF program.
- Identify opportunities for capacity building, designing and facilitating training sessions on monitoring, reporting, and other relevant topics.
Monitoring and Reporting
- Assist in collecting, organizing, and analyzing data related to WPHF’s monitoring and evaluation efforts, including financial and programmatic results.
- Prepare monthly progress reports highlighting achievements, challenges, and recommendations.
- Support tracking of key performance indicators (KPIs) related to administrative and programmatic functions.
Consultant’s Work Environment and Travel
This consultancy is primarily home-based, offering flexibility while supporting WPHF operations in Afghanistan. An initial four-week mission to Kabul is required to facilitate stakeholder engagement, onboarding, and administrative arrangements. Future missions may be scheduled based on program needs. The consultant is expected to work during Afghanistan’s working hours (Sunday to Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Kabul time).
Core Competencies and Values
Core Values
- Integrity
- Professionalism
- Respect for Diversity
Core Competencies
- Awareness and sensitivity around gender issues
- Accountability
- Creative problem solving
- Effective communication
- Inclusive collaboration and stakeholder engagement
- Leading by example
Functional Competencies
- Strong skills in program formulation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation
- Knowledge of Results-Based Management (RBM)
- Understanding of UN administrative and financial procedures
- Ability to interpret data, draw logical conclusions, and prepare recommendations
- Knowledge of gender equality issues within humanitarian and disaster risk reduction contexts
For further information, applicants are encouraged to review UN Women’s Values and Competencies Framework.
Qualifications and Experience
Educational Background
- A Master’s degree or equivalent in social sciences, human rights, gender/women’s studies, international development, or related fields is required.
- A first-level university degree combined with at least two additional years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a master’s degree.
- Certification in project or program management is an advantage.
Work Experience
- At least two years of progressively responsible experience in development program or project implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation, donor reporting, or capacity building.
- Experience working on gender equality issues within humanitarian or disaster risk reduction settings is an asset.
- Experience liaising with government agencies or donors is beneficial.
Languages
- Fluency in English is mandatory.
- Knowledge of Dari or Pashtu languages is desirable.
Application Process
Candidates interested in this opportunity should submit their applications before the deadline. The selection process involves reviewing applications, assessing qualifications, and conducting interviews as needed. The consultant will be engaged based on their skills and experience relevant to the scope of work.
This role offers an important opportunity to contribute to gender equality and humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan through strategic support and capacity building, impacting women’s empowerment and peacebuilding initiatives in a complex and challenging environment.
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