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 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 the 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 is estimated to be acutely food insecure. Women and girls are increasingly stripped of their rights to education, employment, and free participation in public life, which will have irrevocable socioeconomic consequences. 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 centers, 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, and 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 the community level, and supporting local communities to include women, in line with UNSCR 1325 (Women, Peace, and Security).
The Sustainable Livelihood and Resilience portfolio adopts a holistic approach to addressing Afghanistan’s complex challenges, emphasizing human development as an overarching objective. It prioritizes safeguarding lives, enhancing resilience to shocks, and supporting livelihoods. This portfolio bridges macro-level interventions in socio-economic development, trade and financial systems with localized interventions, focusing on resilience-building, access to finance, livelihood creation, social cohesion, and equitable access to essential services. Guided by the country office management, the portfolio adopts solutions adjusted to the unique context in Afghanistan while also ensuring alignment with the SDGs, especially SDG 5 and 10, by integrating gender equality, reducing inequalities, and fostering sustainable development.
Collaborating with UN agencies, donors, and national stakeholders, the team designs and implements multi-year, conflict-sensitive interventions that enhance livelihoods, access to finance, private sector recovery, economic resilience, and access to basic services and infrastructure. By promoting financial inclusion, essential services infrastructure, and private sector engagement, the portfolio supports Afghan communities’ capacity to withstand economic, social, and environmental shocks. Gender mainstreaming and targeted activities for vulnerable groups, including women, youth, and internally displaced persons, are central to the portfolio’s objectives. Through strategic partnerships and compliance with corporate standards, the portfolio strives to create inclusive and sustainable solutions to meet Afghanistan’s basic human needs.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
The Private Sector Specialist will work across various activities of the Sustainable Livelihood and Resilient Portfolio. The Specialist will provide overall strategic advice on private sector development, programme implementation, and monitoring of Micro , Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), access to finance, microfinance, banking and digital payments’ related work of the portfolio while overseeing activities across the country program and regional offices. The PS Specialist will lead the implementation of the UNDP’s MSME and access to finance strategies working closely with partner UN Agencies, Technical Advisors and Experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors, civil society, and the private sector to deliver on results in this critical area.
S/he will provide technical support and input to other programmatic activities on enterprise development designed and implemented by UNDP. The incumbent will support UNDP participation in Private Sector Group under Doha-III process as required. The PS Specialist will be based in Kabul with regular field visits to other regions.
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 the 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.
Key Duties and Accountabilities include:
Ensure the provision of inputs on private sector, access to finance, Islamic Finance and MSME development initiatives:
Provide technical guidance and support to the Afghanistan ‘’Access to Finance Project ‘’:
Actively contribute to the Private Sector Working Group (PSWG) under the Doha-III process:
Coordination and implementation of activities under the Digital Payment portfolio:
Contribute to knowledge management and support communication efforts related to private sector development activities:
Other Duties:
Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities:
QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
Experience, Knowledge, and Skills:
Languages:
COMPETENCIES
Core Competencies:
People Management Competencies:
Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies:
Business Management: Partnerships Management
Business Direction & Strategy: System Thinking
Business Management: Portfolio Management
Partnership management: Resource mobilization
2030 Agenda: Engagement and Effectiveness: Private sector resource mobilization
2030 Agenda:Prosperity: Recovery Solutions and Human Mobility
Business Direction & Strategy: Business Acumen
Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
UNDP Disclaimer for FTA/TA International Posts
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.
Scam warning
The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.
Misconduct Disclosure Scheme
UNDP participates in the Scheme for the disclosure of safeguarding-related misconduct in recruitment processes within the humanitarian and development sector (Misconduct Disclosure Scheme).
In line with this Scheme, UNDP will contact previous employers of job applicants to request information about any investigations or findings of misconduct concerning allegations of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment (sexual misconduct) against the applicant, during or after their employment.
By submitting a job application, the applicant confirms to have understood and consented to UNDP contacting the applicant’s prior employers, during UNDP’s recruitment process, to request any such information on sexual misconduct.