The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) is a UN Special Political Mission established to assist the state and the people of Afghanistan in laying the foundations for sustainable peace and development. UNAMA was established on 28 March 2002 by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1401. Its original mandate was to support the implementation of the Bonn Agreement (December 2001). Reviewed annually, this mandate has been altered over time to reflect the needs of the country and was extended for six months, on 17 September 2021, by UN Security Council Resolution 2596 (2021).
The Council also requested the Secretary-General to prepare a written report by 31 January 2022 outlining “strategic and operational recommendations for the mandate of UNAMA in light of recent political, security, and social developments” in Afghanistan.
UNAMA is headed by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Afghanistan, Deborah Lyons, who was appointed to the post in March 2020, replacing Tadamichi Yamamoto. Previous SRSG’s were– Lakhdar Brahimi who served from October 2001 to January 2004; Jean Arnault from February 2004 to February 2006, followed by Tom Koenigs from March 2006 to December 2007, Kai Eide from 2008 to 2010, Staffan di Mistura from 2010 to 2011, Ján Kubiš from 2012 to 2014, Nicholas Haysom from 2014 to 2016 and Tadamichi Yamamoto from 2016 to 2020.
Since 2008, and following a directive of the UN Secretary-General, UNAMA is an integrated mission. This means that the Special Political Mission, all UN agencies, funds and programmes, work in a multidimensional and integrated manner to better assist Afghanistan according to nationally defined priorities.
The SRSG is responsible for all UN activities in the country and directly oversees the Security Section, Strategic Communication Service, Human Rights Section, and Peace and Reconciliation. The SRSG’s Chief of Staff oversees UNAMA’s Field Offices.
Two deputy Special Representatives (DSRSG) oversee the main pillars of the mission – political and developmental issues. Included under these pillars are mission sections specializing in issues such as political analysis, reporting, and outreach, and donor coordination, as well as the coordination of UN agencies funds and programmes.
Within delegated authority, the Programme Management Assistant will be responsible for the following duties in
the designated mission area:
• Verifies, compiles, summarizes, and presents basic information/data on specific programmes/project and
related topics or issues of relevance human rights projects and situation in the designated mission area.
• Prepares human rights project documents, especially cost plans/budgets, for completeness and compliance
with relevant rules and procedures prior to submission for final approval and signature; identifies
inconsistencies; distributes project documents to relevant parties upon approval.
• Compiles, summarizes and enters data on human rights project delivery, including case information in
established databases in compliance with established standards.
• Drafts status reports on human rights projects, identifying shortfalls in delivery, budget overruns, etc., and
brings to the attention of management.
• Assists in drafting correspondence on budget-related issues, and prepares and updates periodic reports,
briefing notes, graphic and statistical summaries, accounting spreadsheets, etc.
• Provides general office assistance; logs and routes incoming correspondence; sets up and maintains
files/records; organizes meetings, workshops, etc. with local de facto authorities, civil society organisations,
and human rights defenders; handles routine administrative tasks, such as maintaining attendance records,
assessing telephone billing, etc.
• Performs other related duties, as required.
Education: High school diploma or equivalent is required.
Work Experience: A minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in programme or project administration, technical cooperation or related area is required.
Below experience would be desirable:
Researching and analysing information, including from open sources. Developing and/or implementing projects for communities at risk or population in vulnerable situations. Working with national/international, legal/human rights standards; in human rights monitoring & reporting. Providing training or participating in information-sharing or awareness-raising initiatives. Project management: communications, project monitoring, logistical, budgetary & administrative issues. Working with NGOs, civil society organizations, or as a civil servant.
Amongst skills/knowledge:
Sensitivity to the political, social and cultural environment and ability to adjust behaviors accordingly. Awareness of population diversity and of its needs, including of those in vulnerable situations. Some knowledge of fundamental human rights principles. Awareness of mission mandate. Ability to gather, verify, evaluate information from a variety of sources. Ability to identify new and better approaches to work processes & to incorporate them in daily work. Committed to gender equality.
Languages: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Fluency in oral and written Pashto and Dari is required.
APPLICATIONS:
UNAMA will only accept properly completed and signed Personal History Form (P.11) received by email before the closing date. CVs or Resumes will not be considered nor will late submissions after closing date. Any information provided on the P.11 form will be considered binding. Applicants must accurately complete, sign and date the United Nations Personal History form (P.11) and submit the duly completed signed P.11 by e-mail to: unamava_substantive@un.org.
Important Note: Applicants should copy and paste the Vacancy Announcement (VA) Number which is VA#72/09/2022 into the email subject line when submitting the duly completed and signed P.11 Form and the required documents. Please do not add any other information in the subject line of your email except VA#72/09/2022. Please do not add any additional words or space in the VA Number. Applications received without a VA Number will not be considered.
The selected candidates will be subject to a reference checks process to verify the information provided in the P.11 form.
Only applicants who are short-listed will receive an acknowledgement within four (4) to six (6) weeks from the deadline indicated on the VA. Required documents to be submitted along with the signed and completed UN P.11:
Serving UN staff members: In addition to the completed and signed P.11, scanned copies of two most recent e-Performance Evaluation Reports must be submitted with theapplication.
For External applicants: In addition to the completed and signed P.11, scanned copies of two most recent performance evaluation reports or if not available, two reference letters. If the applications received do not contain the latest two performance evaluation reports candidates must provide a short explanation as to why they are notavailable.
No fee:
The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, or training). The United Nations does not concern itself with information in applicants bank account. Applicants are reminded that the United Nations cannot appoint a person who is the father, mother, son, daughter, brother, or sister of a staff member. For this reason, applicants are required to disclose at the time of their application, whether they bear any of the above relationships to a staff member of UNAMA or any other UN entity which is part of the Secretariat. In addition, selected candidates would be required to complete a family declaration form prior to assuming their duties with the Mission. Failure to disclose any of the above relationships constitutes a material omission, that could lead to termination or dismissal from the United Nations.
unamava_substantive@un.org
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) is a UN Special Political Mission established to assist the state and the people of Afghanistan in laying the foundations for sustainable peace and development. UNAMA was established on 28... Read More
