| Job Location: | Kabul |
|---|---|
| Nationality: | National/International (any) |
| Category: | Strategy-Planning |
| Employment Type: | Full Time |
| Salary: | |
| Vacancy Number: | VA No. 2133 |
| No. Of Jobs: | 1 |
| City: | Home based |
|---|---|
| Organization: | UNOPS |
| Years of Experience: | Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible experience in private sector development, investment promotion, policy advisory, or economic policy in developing countries |
| Contract Duration: | until 31 July 2026 |
| Gender: | Male/Female |
| Education: | Master's degree in Economics, Business Administration, Finance, or related field with a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience; OR Bachelor's degree in Economics, Business Administration, Finance, International Studies, or related field with a minimum |
| Close date: | 2026-02-26 |
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.
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.
Job Specific Context
THIS ROLE IS OPEN FOR BOTH NATIONALS AND INTERNATIONALS
This position will support the UNOPS Afghanistan Office in the development and implementation of a new project focused on supporting the private sector in the country. The project aims to support value chains, business support services, and private sector advisory services to foster a robust private sector ecosystem in Afghanistan.
UNOPS Afghanistan is seeking to recruit one or more Private Sector Development Senior Advisors with specific expertise in value chain resilience, incubation services, private sector advisory, and/or related fields. This recruitment is open to both national and international applicants.
In-person missions to Afghanistan, possibly including outside of Kabul, may be required.
Role Purpose
The Private Sector Development Senior Advisor will provide expert advice and support to the UNOPS Afghanistan Office in the development of a project supporting the private sector in the country. The consultant will work remotely to support project design, concept development, and stakeholder engagement, ensuring alignment with project objectives and donor priorities. The consultant will work under the supervision of the Head of Programmes with day-to-day coordination with focal points from the Partnerships Development Unit.
Functions / Key Results Expected
Project Development Support
Provide advice to the UNOPS Afghanistan team in the development of comprehensive project documents, aligned with the donor’s requirements and objectives.
Participate in and, where delegated, represent UNOPS in meetings with the donor and other stakeholders as applicable during the project development process.
Contribute to the refinement of project components, ensuring they are technically sound, financially viable, and aligned with the needs of the Afghan private sector.
2. Value Chain Resilience
Provide advice for and support the identification and establishment of value chain linkages, especially in the manufacturing and agribusiness sectors.
Provide technical guidance on the selection of businesses of varying sizes to link in key value chains.
Identify and develop support mechanisms for select value chains, such as standards implementation, equipment upgrades, and processing capacity enhancements.
Identify and develop support mechanisms for select value chains, such as standards implementation, equipment upgrades, and processing capacity enhancements.
3. Incubation Services
Assess relevant business support initiatives and develop recommendations for possible development of accelerator programs.
Participate in and lead discussions with business support initiatives and similar stakeholders, and support the development of project implementation arrangements and relevant agreements with such initiatives and stakeholders.
Advise on measures to de-risk investments.
4. Private Sector Advisory
Engage with relevant stakeholders to gather insights on the private sector ecosystem in Afghanistan.
Provide guidance on the strategy for private sector advisory, including advocacy, to inform project activities and ensure alignment with private sector needs.
5. Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination
Facilitate communication and coordination between UNOPS Afghanistan, the donor/s, and other relevant stakeholders as requested.
Organize and participate in stakeholder consultations to gather feedback on project design and implementation strategies.
Skills
Economic Development, Market Analysis, Policy Analysis, Private Sector, Public-private Partnerships, Stakeholder Engagement, Strategic Planning, Teamwork, Markets in Financial Instruments Directive
Education Requirements
Required
Master's degree in Economics, Business Administration, Finance, or related field with a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience; OR Bachelor's degree in Economics, Business Administration, Finance, International Studies, or related field with a minimum of 9 years of relevant experience.
Desired
Relevant certifications in private sector development or investment promotion
Experience Requirements
Required
Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible experience in private sector development, investment promotion, policy advisory, or economic policy in developing countries
countries, including at least 3 years in fragile and conflict-affected contexts.
Proven track record of designing and implementing successful private sector development initiatives.
Extensive experience in stakeholder engagement and partnership building with senior representatives from the private sector, government, and international donor communities.
Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyze complex socio-economic issues, identify opportunities for private sector growth, and develop innovative solutions.
Experience in value chain analysis and development, particularly in the manufacturing and agribusiness sectors.
Note: UNOPS is seeking advisors with expertise in one or more of the areas listed above. Applicants should highlight their specific area(s) of expertise in their application.
Desired
Relevant certifications in private sector development or investment promotion
Experience working with International Financial Institutions (IFIs) on private sector development projects.
Experience in capacity building and knowledge transfer.
Experience in public-private partnerships and investment promotion programs.
In-depth knowledge of the operational modalities, strategic priorities, and financing instruments of major IFIs (e.g., World Bank, ADB, IFC) related to private sector development.
Strong understanding of the economic, political, and social context of Afghanistan, with specific knowledge of the challenges and opportunities for private sector development.
Demonstrated experience in conducting high-quality market research and policy analysis related to private sector development, including the preparation of comprehensive reports and policy recommendations.
Language Requirements
Language Proficiency Level Requirement
English Fluent Required
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.
