NGOs Capacity Building and Grants Management Specialist (NPSA10)

Background
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
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 end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet. UNDP has been working in Afghanistan for more than 50 years on climate change and resilience, gender, governance, health, livelihoods, and the rule of law. Under the broader framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and in close coordination with other UN agencies, UNDP supports the Afghan people's aspiration for peace, prosperity, and sustainability. UNDP is currently implementing its flagship crisis response programme, ABADEI (Area Based Approach to Development Emergency Initiatives), as part of the ongoing UN-led response to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and the breakdown of Afghanistan's economy following the August 2021 shift in power.

The World Bank Project aims to operational NGOs with a view toward enhancing their basic service delivery. The Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Capacity Building Support Project in Afghanistan will enhance the capacity of non-governmental implementation partners to deliver quality basic services to the most vulnerable people in the communities Along with the International Development Association (IDA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will implement the project, with the World Bank (WB) acting as the administrator of the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF). The Project will build capacity for a total of 400 NGOs and CSOs across the eight regions and 34 provinces of Afghanistan. The implementation period is planned for 24 months.

The World Bank-funded project on capacity Support for NGOs and CSOs in Afghanistan aims to assist NGOs/CSOs in the short to medium term and to enhance their capacity to strengthen local networks, and to empower and integrate community members, especially the most vulnerable, including women and girls. After the political transition, about 120,000 aid workers left the country, and NGOs and CSOs have been suspending their activities, discontinuing their operations, or closing due to a lack of resources and funding. At the same time, new NGOs and CSOs are emerging under the new operating environment. Boosting the capacity of NGOs and CSOs is a critical step toward activating their operations, and toward ensuring outreach to communities in an inclusive and context-sensitive manner while reflecting lessons learnt and new realities on the ground after the political transition.

The proposed project (Capacity Support for NGOs and CSOs in Afghanistan) aims to support NGOs/CSOs in the short to medium term and to enhance their capacities to strengthen local networks, and to empower and integrate community members, especially the most vulnerable, including women and girls
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the overall guidance of the ABADEI Programme Manager and direct supervision of the CSO/NGOs Capacity Building Project Manager, the NGOs Capacity Building and Grants Management Specialist will undertake assigned functions to ensure that the key results are shown in the project reporting requirements, in the smooth running and implementation of the capacity building program, and in the small grants component and other project outcomes.

The incumbent will undertake the following tasks in order to ensure the success of the project:

Provide overall technical support to the selected NGO’s/CSO’s capacity development and community engagement activities.
Supervise, closely track, and monitor the activities of contracting firms, CSOs, and NGOs and provide necessary technical inputs.
Monitor Sub-grants program to selected NGOs and CSOs and facilitate Low -Value grants (LVGs) evaluation process, selection, and implementation of grants)
Knowledge sharing and monitoring, reporting and capacity building.
To undertake any other duties as required

Provide overall technical advice and support to the selected NGO’s/CSO’s capacity development activities

Facilitate and coordinate the capacity development activities of the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and non-government organizations (NGOs) in close collaboration with the contracting firm and Project Manager
Support and facilitate the consolidation of mapping, needs assessments, and the development of curricula and other capacity development programmes, with the contracting firm.
Support the contracting firm and Project Manager with the establishment of institutional baselines and the subsequent monitoring of progress and consolidation of results.
Coordinate the work of the consulting firm, including participating in the development of Terms of Reference (ToRs) in line with UNDP policies and procedures, work with the procurement unit to finalize and advertise the RFP, and hire the contracting firm for the capacity-building activities.
Provide feedback to the contracting firm, as appropriate, on reviews and monitoring undertaken in relation to capacity development issues.
Work closely with the relevant project staff to capture and analyze capacity-related information.
Provide assistance, with the organization of national/regional training workshops and other capacity-development-related events, to the consulting firms.
Participate in regional meetings and other management meetings in order to ensure consistency in processes and the enhancement of mutual learning.

Supervise, closely track and monitor the activities of contracting firms, CSOs, and NGOs and provide necessary inputs

Facilitate mapping, to be conducted by a contracting firm, of currently operating NGOs/CSOs in Afghanistan.
Coordinate with the contracting firm and make sure the methodology and questionnaire are in line with the TORs and the agreed outputs
Provide inputs on the documents/materials related to capacity development needs assessments and to the development of tailored capacity development plans and modules.
Closely track and monitor the activities of contracting firms in order to ensure the activities related to capacity development needs assessments are in line with agreed-upon standards.
Provide inputs on the documents/materials related to CSO/NGO training and capacity-building services, including training materials, pre and post-evaluation forms, manuals and modules.
Closely track and monitor the training services-related activities of the contracting firm to ensure all activities, such as the hiring of highly qualified trainers/consultants, the provision of optimal and interactive training environments and facilities, qualitative evaluation at the end of each training workshop, logistical and administrative functions (related to venues, IT, catering, etc.) are done in a timely manner and per the TOR.
Provide inputs on the documents/materials related to mentoring, coaching and consultation services, such as selection criteria of the targeted NGOs/CSOs, coaching plan, and comprehensive report on coaching for each NGO/CSO etc.
Closely track and monitor the contracted firm's activities related to mentoring, coaching, and consultation services such as CSOs/NGOs-specific coaching and consulting services, performance evaluation for participants from the coaching and selection process, etc.
Coordinate with contracting firm about non-traditional capacity development services (experience-sharing among the local NGOs/CSOs, including international and national/local internships, twinning and case studies) aimed at enhancing the capacities of the targeted NGOs/CSOs through the introduction of new interventions.
Ensure that the contracting firm provides qualified facilitators to work upon request of the Project’s NGO/CSO engagement and capacity development Unit.

Monitor Subgrants programme to selected NGOs and CSOs and facilitate Low -Value grants (LVGs) evaluation process, selection, and implementation of grants)

Ensure that the small grants/low-value grant mechanism is implemented in a timely fashion according to the performance indicators agreed upon within the scope of approved budgets and work plans.
Proactively engage and facilitate all required activities in order to ensure the timely selection, implementation and oversight of the grants.
Work closely with the M&E specialists to ensure that the grantees submit timely reports of their activities in line with UNDP guidelines for reporting.
Ensure the quality assurance of the activities implemented by the grantees through technical review of their deliverables, spot checks and field visits, financial and substantive monitoring and evaluation of the grants, identification of operational and financial problems, and development of solutions.
Prepare and submit reports on the implementation of the grants, on related activities and their impact, and on overall progress and financial aspects.
Update the risk log and identify mitigation measures when required.
In close collaboration with the Project Manager, liaise with the relevant national and international stakeholders.
Lead all the required logistical, contractual and recruitment-related work in order to ensure the timely implementation of the small grants mechanism

Knowledge sharing and monitoring, reporting and capacity building

Systematically and strategically share experience and lessons learnt from the capacity-building activities with team members, as well as with broader UNDP Afghanistan Country Office colleagues and donors.
Develop progress updates as well as lessons learnt and present them at relevant key meetings, including but not limited to the program and donor's meetings.
Perform other related tasks as assigned.

Competencies
Core competencies:

Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process
Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build/maintain coalitions/partnerships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making

People Management competencies:

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:
Business Management

Results-based Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable result
Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
Portfolio Management: Ability to select, priorities and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment
Monitoring: Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results
Operations Management: Ability to effectively plan, organize, and oversee the Organizations’s business processes in order to convert its assets into the best results in the most efficient manner
Communication: 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
Risk Management: Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks

Required Skills and Experience
Education:

Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in Social/ Political Science, Law, Public Administration, Management, Development Studies, or any other related field

Experience:

Minimum of five (05) years with a Master’s or seven (07) years with a BA Degree of relevant experience in Social/ Political Science, Law, Public Administration, Development Studies, Management or any other related field, including solid experience in Capacity Development, Program Management including Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting and Small Grant/low value grant (LVG) management
Relevant skills are required in project/programme management, including solid experience in designing and/or managing small grants/low-value grant mechanisms, CSOs capacity building activities or other similar initiatives
Proven experience in coordinating and managing small grants/low-value grants with UNDP
At least three years of experience in strengthening the Afghan Civil Society Organizations is required.
Earlier experience with the UN, in particular with UNDP, will be preferred.
Demonstrated extensive experience in working with grassroots organizations, NGOs and civil society is required.
Experience working with international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) or international financial institutions (IFIs) is an asset.
Proficient use of MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and the internet is required.
Proven experience in coordinating and managing small grants/low-value grants including progress monitoring
Experience in monitoring and evaluation is an asset.
Experience working with communities and the NGOs/CSOs sector is an asset

Language Requirement:

Excellent writing and speaking skills in English are required.
Fluency in Pashtu or Dari is required