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UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

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 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 are estimated to be acutely food insecure. 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 centres, 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, 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 community level, and supporting local communities to include women, in line with UNSCR 1325 (Women, Peace, and Security).

The Climate Change, Energy and Environmental Management portfolio focuses on advancing Afghanistan’s climate resilience and energy sustainability in a fragile and under-developed context. The portfolio team works to influence climate change management strategies, adaptation plans, and address gaps in environmental assessments, greenhouse gas inventories, and hazard mapping. These efforts aim to create a comprehensive understanding of the country’s climate risks and vulnerabilities, paving the way for targeted interventions, technology transfer, and improved environmental governance. UNDP invests in a range of community-based infrastructure (dams, chek dams, irrigation systems, flood protection systems, afforestation initiatives, etc.) to enhance community resilience to climate change and natural hazards, and engages with local communities to develop disaster risk reduction frameworks and early warning systems. UNDP climate priorities align with UN Strategic Framework of Afghanistan where climate change, environmental degradation, poverty, and human rights violations among others is a cross-cutting pillar approach that builds the resilience of the most vulnerable and address the drivers of humanitarian needs, development reversals, and conflict and instability in Afghanistan.

Given limited access to global climate funds, such as GCF and the Adaptation Fund, the portfolio team strives to lobby for and explore alternative financing avenues, including private sector engagement and innovative models like private partnerships to help mobilize resources. The team also advocates for donor collaboration to unlock critical funding from global vertical funds as well as traditional and non-traditional financing sources. The team addresses emerging priorities, including renewable energy and extractive industries, by working with a range of actors, including the private sector, and fostering partnerships to fill critical knowledge and resource gaps. Ultimately, the portfolio seeks to deliver sustainable, scalable solutions for Afghanistan’s adaptation and mitigation needs.

Position Purpose:

Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Portfolio Manager, the Deputy Portfolio Manager will provide support to ensure that climate resilience, environment and energy interventions fully achieve the targets of Transitional Country Programme Strategy (TCPS) and substantially contribute to meet the priorities for the country.

The Deputy Portfolio Manager will, together with the Portfolio Manager and the team, work with relevant UN agencies, development partners, donors and a range of national/sub-national organizations in the identification, design and implementation of multi-year interventions within the thematic areas of the portfolio, including programmes promoting conflict-sensitive resilience and recovery, climate adaptation, environmental management and access to sustainable sources of energy for basic and productive uses. The Deputy Portfolio Manager will support efforts to ensure that UNDP interventions contribute to progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and support resilience building. In particular, the portfolio is expected to contribute significantly to SDG 7 on Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 13 on Climate Action, and SDG 15 on Life on Land and SDG 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth. The Deputy Portfolio Manager will support the Portfolio Manager in ensuring that gender mainstreaming remains central to the entire portfolio with targeted activities that help enhance the coping capacities of women to climate change and natural disasters while fostering economic / livelihoods resilience building of Afghan women. The Deputy Portfolio Manager will also be required to support the Portfolio Manager’s work across the UNDP programme areas to build synergies for deeper impact and to ensure that interventions reach the most vulnerable segments of the population including youth, Internally Displaced People, Returnees, women and poor households. The Deputy Portfolio Manager will support the Portfolio Manager in working closely with the Programme Management Support Unit as well as the Operations team of the Country Office for the smooth implementation of the programme and to ensure compliance with corporate requirements.

Additionally, the position will support the Portfolio Manager in the engagement and collaboration with national, international and regional partners, donors, UN Agencies, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), private sector and civil society organizations, UNDP’s regional and global teams, vertical funds (Green Climate Fund, Global Environmental Facility) etc. to leverage assets and expertise, share knowledge, mobilize partnerships and resources, and build advocacy platforms.

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 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.

Duties and Responsibilities

Ensure effective pipeline development and portfolio management:

• Support the development and management of a high-impact portfolio, including the effective administrative and technical work, and the adherence to policies, 
  standards and guidelines.
• Advise and support the Portfolio Manager for the project’s financial delivery under the portfolio.
• Advise and support the Portfolio Manager to provide administrative oversight such as efficient use of resources, financial performance against AWP/budget, timely preparation of donor reports
• Ensure the coordination and preparation of project initiation plans, project documents and project proposals under the climate resilience, environment and energy portfolio, draft and review documents as needed to ensure consistency within the portfolio and compliance with UNDP practices and donor contractual obligations.
• Monitor the implementation by project teams to ensure that all projects are aligned and comply with corporate standards. including Results-Based Management (RBM), Social and Environmental Standards (SES), Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) and Grievance Redressal Mechanism (GRM) and with effective reporting.
• Ensure the proper closure of projects within the portfolio, ensuring compliance with UNDP standards.
• Contribute to the negotiation process of the climate resilience, environment and energy portfolio contribution agreements.
• Contribute to the coordination of the contribution agreements management process including the facilitation of any clearance process, due diligence, and recording process (DMS, Quantum, internal database, etc.)
• Monitor and report on the pipelines and resource mobilization of the portfolio.
• Ensure the contribution receipt and facilitate the payment requests to the donors.

Ensure strategic oversight, compliance and quality assurance:

• Monitor the implementation modalities and timeframes of the portfolio to ensure compliance with UNDP practices and the donor contractual obligations.
• Oversee the portfolio reporting obligations, issue early-warnings and provide technical guidance on UNDP and donor obligations.
• Apply an adaptive management approach by monitoring progress towards results and risks to enable necessary course-corrections, including the identification of implementation challenges.
• Proactively anticipate, detect, and regularly monitor risks and propose applicable mitigation strategies.
• Oversee the tracking and reporting on audit-related processes, partner agreements, contract implementation, and flag any issues requiring management attention and action.
• Ensure that all portfolio, programme and donor narrative and financial reports comply with UNDP practices and donor contractual obligations.
• Provide guidance to implementing partners, responsible parties and project personnel on project implementation, as well as policies and procedures.
• Oversee the quality assurance appraisals and assessments of the portfolio and act as the quality assessor, as needed.

Ensure partnership building, external relations, coordination and resource mobilization:

• Ensure maintain and strengthen relationships with partners, including donors and specialized UN agencies and UNAMA, as well as civil society, to foster strategic collaborations on portfolio initiatives.
• Support the coordination of strategic advocacy initiatives to gain support from UN agencies, development partners, governments, civil society, and think tanks for resilience, climate, and energy programs.
• Act as a focal point for donor contractual communications and foster effective working processes with the donor counterparts.
• Build cross-functional relationships within UNDP to strengthen donor partnership and engagement around climate resilience, environment and energy initiatives.
• Ensure the effective functioning of the portfolio governance bodies from a programmatic and a strategic perspective through timely and efficient communication of information with partners.
• Advise and support in the efforts to pursue resource mobilization, including the identification and follow-up on strategic opportunities from traditional and non-traditional donors for implementation of the portfolio.

Facilitate the building and sharing of knowledge:

• Facilitate knowledge building and sharing within the country office, highlighting achievements, lessons learned, and methodologies for addressing challenges.
• Analyze and document lessons learned and recommendations for policy dialogue, public advocacy and future programming and organize dissemination of learning also with partners.
• Contribute to knowledge networks, thematic discourse and signature programme areas of UNDP.
• Encourage project teams to actively participate in knowledge networks and create a conducive work environment to maximize the learning potential for the team members.
• Promote programmatic learning by recording, codifying and sharing insights and takeaways during and after implementation.

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: Supervises Programme Analyst and Programme Associate.
 

Competencies

Core:

Achieve Results: LEVEL 3

• Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have 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 complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3

• Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

People Management: UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated here .

Cross-Functional & Technical:

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

Business Direction and 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

Business Management - Results Based Management:

• Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools

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 - Project Management:

• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals

2030 Agenda: Peace - Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive Institutions:

• Conflict Sensitivity

2030 Agenda: Peace Planet: Nature, Climate and Energy:

• Climate Change Adaptation: Climate Change and Health
   

Education:

• Advanced University degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Development Studies, Environment/Natural Resources Management, Climate and Energy 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:

• Minimum of five (5) years (with master’s degree) or seven (7) years (with a bachelor’s degree) of professional experience at the national and international level in the areas of climate, environment, sustainable energy, resilience, and recovery programmes required.
• Relevant working experience the UN/UNDP and/or international organizations is desired.
• Demonstrated experience in developing tools and methodologies to follow-up on projects and/or increase operational efficiency is desired.
• Knowledge and experience in risk management is desired.
• Demonstrated experience in translating legal/contractual obligations to simple concepts and guidance notes is desired.
• Demonstrated experience in network management arrangements with NGOs, Private Sector, academia; UN agencies and international agencies including donors is desired.
• Demonstrated experience in eco-system management approaches is desired.
• Knowledge and experience of UNDP and UN system policies and programming is desired.
• Experience in Resource Mobilization is required.

Language:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Fluency in Dari and or Pashtu is required.
   

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Interested applicants can apply by clicking the link below or by copying and pasting the link into their browsers to access the application for the post.

Deputy Portfolio Manager (Climate Change, Energy and Environmental Management) (Nationals Only) - UNDP Careers

Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders) 

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.  

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status. 

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