General
Description of assignment title
Finance Assistant
Assignment country
Afghanistan
Expected start date
25/03/2023
Sustainable Development Goal
17. Partnerships for the goals
Volunteer category
National UN Youth Volunteer
DoA reserved for persons with disabilities
No
Host entity
UNDP
Type
Onsite
Duration
12 months (with possibility of extension)
Number of assignments
1
Duty stations
Kabul
Details
Mission and objectives
UNDP has been working across Afghanistan for more than 50 years on challenges related to climate change and resilience, gender, governance, health, livelihoods and rule of law. Guided by the government and its Development Councils, our work is fully aligned with the Afghanistan National Peace and Development Framework and National Priority Programmes, and is carried out in close coordination with partner UN agencies under the One UN Framework. As the UN’s development network, we connect the Afghan government and people with the resources and information they need to drive their own development according to their own priorities, as well as to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Context
UNDP’s role is to help fortify development outcomes among local communities, government partners, and the private sector, using the SDGs as both a destination and a guide. Through the SDGs, a transformative shift from a war economy to a peace economy is possible, helping Afghanistan to meet its global commitments, its internal targets (such as those set by the Afghanistan National Peace and Development Framework-ANPDF), and, most importantly, the expectations and ambitions of the Afghan people. While this bold vision demands investments from UNDP, among all development actors, UNDP Afghanistan Country Office is providing insights on understanding and overcoming multidimensional poverty. UNDP’s perspective is that meaningful poverty alleviation requires a different development approach – one that monitors and attempts to affect the systemic interplay of socioeconomic factors, regional differences, and shifts in the political economy. To deliver this value proposition, the CO needs to ‘raise the bar’ on its development policy expertise and engage national and local policy makers on disrupting the complex systems contributing to intractable poverty. This UNV assignment is part of a new office structure with UNDP Afghanistan, which is designed to support a more integrated and collaborative way in supporting Afghanistan achieve sustainable development and sustainable peace. The Country Office has aligned the new office structure with the thematic vision of the emerging Country Programme and designed new ways of working that will facilitate more collaboration across the office, create the foundations for more sub-national level work and higher delivery and emphasize learning and support to national staff capacity development.
Task description
Under the direct supervision of Finance Specialist and overall management of Head of Unit, the National UN Volunteer will Ensures implementation of operational strategies and procedures, focusing on achievement of the following results: • Provide accounting and finance support. • Ensure full compliance of financial activities and records with UNDP rules, regulations, policies, and procedures. • Processing of financial documentation (vouchers, GLJEs, supporting documents, etc.) and maintaining internal expenditures control system by ensuring that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted in Quantum, travel claims, and staff entitlements are duly processed. • Timely corrective actions on unposted vouchers, including the vouchers with budget check errors, match exceptions, unapproved vouchers. • Presentation of information on the status of financial resources as required. • Management of cash receipts and petty cash. • Proper receipting of goods and services and establishment of accruals. • Ensure that an orderly and systematic filing system is maintained in the finance unit for efficient and timely retrieval of files. Maintenance of the proper filing system, including hard and soft copy ones, for financial records and documents. Retrieve files or documents as necessary. • Print, scan vouchers and financial documents. 1. Support project planning and annual workplan formulation. • Prepare inputs to formulation of annual workplans. • Provide inputs to detailed implementation plans. • Assist in formulation of budgets. • Assist in formulation of procurement and HR plans. • Assist in revision of annual workplans, periodic revisions of procurement/HR plans ensuring that plans are updated in a timely manner. 2. Support timely and effective project implementation according to plans and in compliance with Country Office Standard Operating Procedures. 3. Provide administrative support to the project for efficient project management, according to UNDP procedures. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country. • Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities. • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc. • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.
Eligibility criteria
Age
18 – 26
Nationality
Candidate must be a national or legal resident of the country of assignment.
Requirements
Required experience
1 years of experience in Finance, HR, operations, or administration, or other relevant programmes; experience with document and management is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organization; Excellent oral and written English skills; • Excellent attention to detail; • Strong organizational skills; • Strong communication and coordination skills; • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners; • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel; • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management is an asset • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; • Have affinity with, or interest in, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.
Area(s) of expertise
Economics and finance, Administration, Human resources
Driving license
–
Languages
English, Level: Fluent, Desirable Dari, Level: Working knowledge, Desirable Pashto, Level: Working knowledge, Desirable
Required education level
Secondary education
Competencies and values
• Professionalism • Integrity • Teamwork and respect for diversity • Commitment to continuous learning Communication • Flexibility • Accountability • Communication • Empowering Others • Integrity • Planning and organizing • Self-Management
Other information
Living conditions and remarks
As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. Entitlement; Entry lump sum: (onetime payment)USD 400 Volunteer living allowance: (per month)USD 624 Exit allowance ( for each month served, paid on successful completion of the assignment): USD 50. Medical and life insurance Cigna private insurance. Leave Entitlements; • Uncertified Sick Leaves: 7 days • Certified Sick Leave: 30 days • Maternity Leave: 16 weeks • Paternity Leave: 10 days leave • Training and leaning Leave: 10 days