Background Information - UNOPS

UNOPS – an operational arm of the United Nations – supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by successfully implementing its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management, and human resources.

Working with us

We are proud of our people. With a wealth of knowledge and skills in various disciplines – engineering, finance, human resources, ICT, leadership, project management, procurement, and more – they help tackle some of the biggest challenges of our time. Their work around the world supports progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).


At UNOPS, we offer a range of short- and long-term opportunities in various environments and duty stations – from Denmark and Kenya to Mexico, Switzerland, Myanmar, Senegal, Uganda, and many more.

Diversity

With over 5,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,400 personnel recruited on behalf of our partners, spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced and diverse labor force — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs. We continually strive to maintain our gender-balanced workplace. We encourage qualified underrepresented groups as per UNOPS Gender, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy to apply for our vacancies.

 Background Information - Afghanistan

Afghanistan

With more than 20 years of experience in the country, UNOPS Afghanistan focuses on providing maximum support to the people of Afghanistan through the delivery of projects and services that improve the lives of people in need. The UNOPS Afghanistan Country Office (AFCO) serves as an organizational mechanism to deliver a range of projects for which UNOPS has been designated as the implementation agency.  At present, UNOPS AFCO activities cover a range of sectors including humanitarian, basic human needs, cash for work, infrastructure, development, procurement and HR services. 

The functional objective of UNOPS AFCO is to contribute to improving the lives of girls, boys, men and women living in Afghanistan. The aim of UNOPS AFCO is to provide efficient and cost-effective implementation services on behalf of all our partners to support the humanitarian response and development of the country. UNOPS AFCO’s mission is to exceed the expectations of all stakeholders in the delivery of AFCO services, at all times, in all places, in all circumstances, in order to improve the lives of Afghans in need. 

 Background Information - Job-specific

Project Information

UNOPS is implementing the Verification of Claims and Expenditures Project (VCEP) to conduct a verification of outstanding claims from contractors, consultants, suppliers and project management offices for the works and services completed in Afghanistan under ADB-financed and administered projects prior to 15 August 2021. Concurrently, UNOPS is also requested to be the grant recipient and the executing agency to the follow-on Payments of Verified Expenditures Project (PVEP). The PVEP will be executing payments to contractors, consultants, and suppliers for the verified claims and expenditures for works and services performed before 15 August 2021 under the existing ADB-financed sovereign projects, based on verification results under the VCEP. 

Key project stakeholders are the financier of the proposed project, working level staff of Afghanistan De-facto Authority ministries, contractors, consultants, and suppliers (both international and local).

Job-Specific Information

UNOPS is seeking an Intern in order to assist in project management support responsibilities of the payments of the verified expenditures and claims. The intern joins the PVEP team as an equal member and is offered a good mix of support work and independent assignments with substantial responsibility. The Intern will be working under the direct supervision of the Project Management Support Specialist (PMSS), and overall direction from the Senior Project Manager. 

 Functional Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Project Implementation

• Familiarize with relevant matters relating to finance, human resources, procurement and other support functions in compliance with established procedures, SOPs and the UNOPS policies and regulations.

• Ensure that project records and other relevant documents are properly maintained and updated in the internal systems.

• Support in the compilation, consolidation and analysis of relevant project data during quarterly assurance tasks.

• Assist in the preparation of project reports and updates.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Financial and Procurement Management

• Ensure the eligibility of incoming project payment requests and their compliance with UNOPS FRR and the project agreement.

• Compile all the appropriate and complete supporting documents to be used for preparation of payment requests. 

• Raise requisitions for project procurements of goods and services, and prepare Receipt and Inspection Reports (RIR) for goods received.

• Familiarize with procurement of goods and services for the project; collaborate with the Procurement team and other relevant units to facilitate and expedite the project procurement activities.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Operational and Logistical Support

• Handle routine project logistics functions and escalate issues to the supervisor with possible recommendations for the course of action.

• Issue equipment and supplies to the project teams and maintain updated project inventory records.

• Assist in maintaining a sound project assets and expendables management and control system per UNOPS’ Asset Management policy.

Learning Objectives 

It is expected that by the end of the assignment, the intern will have hands-on experience, growth opportunities, and improved capacity in effective and efficient project management support in the following areas: 

• Project procurement, logistics and other operational activities

• Documents management and reports preparation

• Collaboration and Communication

• Additionally, the intern would also be conversant with UNOPS financial rules and regulations as well as other relevant policies and guidelines.

 Education/Experience/Language requirements

a. Education and qualifications

• To be eligible for this particular internship with UNOPS, the candidate must have graduated in the past four years in the following areas: Finance, Management, Business/Public Administration, or other relevant discipline.     

• Computer literacy is required and may include skills such as: Advanced Excel / Google Sheet skills Powerpoint / Google Slides skills, advanced Word / Google Docs skill.                                    

b. Work Experience 

• No specific professional experience is required for this position; however, familiarity with general operations is an advantage.

c.  Languages

• Fluency in English – both written and oral

• Fluency in Dari and Pashto – written and oral

IMPORTANT: It is highly encouraged that applicants submit a Cover Letter with their CV that outlines their motivation for participating in this internship.

Please click on the below link for actual vacancy announcement to see the complete details and submission guideline as this is only an attempt for attracting female applicants for gender parity in organization. Please make sure you fill your profile/application properly with all relevant details in order to be considered for the next stage of recruitment/selection.

https://jobs.unops.org/pages/viewvacancy/VADetails.aspx?id=29275