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 and subsequent early recovery and stabilization.
Energy poverty affects the quality of lives of women and men differently in varying degrees and impacts their health, employment, and many basic services. Currently, the demand for energy in the country far exceeds its supply, the transmission and distribution grid are unreliable, and load shedding and outages of electricity supply are common. Many provinces are not connected to the grid and are therefore largely served through local diesel generating units that increase the costs of supply. Thus, lack of access is linked to affordable energy and impedes economic, social and educational opportunities for the poor and rural residents.
The Federal Republic of Germany has made available funds to the project “Sustainable energy services for education and health in Afghanistan (SESEHA)” of UNDP through KfW, Germany’s State-owned Investment and Development Bank. The key objective of the project SESEHA is adoption of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures in public facilities (primarily in health and education sectors) for sustained delivery of essential services for basic human needs in Afghanistan. This proposed project will contribute to better energy access and enables improvements in basic energy supply services in the stated sectors.
The project is aligned with UNDP’s signature solution on Energy and is further conceptualized in the priority area of sustained essential services of the UN’s Strategic Framework for Afghanistan 2023-2025 that directly contributes to the two outcomes: Outcome 1: By the end of 2025, more people in Afghanistan, particularly the most vulnerable and marginalized, including women and girls have their basic human needs progressively met through the sustained delivery of essential services. Outcome 2: By the end of 2025, people in Afghanistan, especially women, youth, and other marginalized groups, and those at risk of being left behind benefit from a more equitable, inclusive, sustainable, and resilient employment-rich economy and shared economic opportunities with enhanced productive capacities for improved livelihoods and decent work.
UNDP is striving to ensure its procurement function and practices are an integral part of UNDP’s competitive advantage as a development partner of choice. This requires placing more attention on strategically integrating procurement at the project design stage, stimulating innovation in specifications and technologies, and adopting more sustainable production and consumption practices that align with UNDPs sustainable development goals. Sustainable procurement means making sure products, services, and purchases are as sustainable as possible with the lowest environmental impact and most positive social results. In implementing UNDP strategic procurement priorities, Country offices will strive to use flexible methods for high-value/low-risk and timely delivery that meet the needs of its clients and key stakeholders.
The Procurement Analyst will work under the direct supervision of the CO Procurement Specialist. The Procurement Analyst a team member of the CO Procurement Unit responsible for effective delivery of procurement services related to the project to obtain best value for money. S/he analyses and interprets financial results and regulations and provides solutions to a wide spectrum of complex issues related to procurement. The procurement analyst promotes a collaborative and client-focused, quality and results-oriented approach in the Unit.
The Procurement Officeworks in close collaboration with Operations, Programme and SESEHA project team in the Country Office, Region, and UNDP HQ as well as with vendors and Government officials, to successfully deliver procurement services, provide solutions to complex procurement issues, and provide advisory support.
Elaborate and manage implementation of innovative and sustainable procurement strategies and policies that are in alignment with principles of fairness, integrity and transparency to achieve best value for money.
- Ensure full compliance of procurement activities with UNDP rules, regulations, policies, and strategic priorities through effective internal controls and properly used client –oriented procurement management system.
- Map SESEHA Project procurement business processes, and effectively manage workflows in Procurement Unit.
- Discuss procurement strategies and plans with the project and other stakeholders and donors to ensure mutual alignment.
- Conceptualizes, elaborates and implements strategic procurement in the Project including sourcing strategy, supplier selection and evaluation, quality contract management, contract administration, contract appraisal, cost reduction strategies, customer relationship management, e-procurement, and performance measurement.
Manage and guide procurement processes for SESEHA Project
- Ensure timely and duly preparation of procurement plans for the office and projects, and monitor their implementation.
- Manage implementation of proper monitoring systems, mechanisms and controls for procurement processes that cover RFQ, ITB or RFP, receipt of quotations, bids or proposals, and negotiation of certain conditions of contracts in full compliance with UNDP rules and regulations.
- Review and certify submission of documents to internal procurement review committees (CAP, RACP and ACP).
- Ensure management of procurement contracts and perform delegated responsibilities in e-procurement for Purchase Orders approval.
- Implement the internal control system that ensures purchase orders are duly prepared, dispatched, and corrected on a timely basis when there are errors or other problems.
- Implement harmonized procurement services and analyze new opportunities for joint procurement for UN agencies in line with the UN reform.
- Verify procurement of products and services for the project implementation.
- Effectively coordinate project procurement needs with the CO procurement unit for timely delivery.
- Analyses and evaluates procurement plans of the projects to harmonize strategies and ensure appropriateness and consistency across the Programme.
Introduce and implement strategic sourcing strategy and e-procurement tools to find best values in marketplace and align purchasing strategy to project and CO goals.
- Develop and manage rosters of suppliers.
- Elaborate supplier selection and evaluation criteria, and quality and performance measurement mechanisms.
- Develop Long-Term Agreements/Frameworks Agreements for more efficient category management.
- Manage and implement e-procurement system in SESEHA Project
Facilitates procurement knowledge building and knowledge sharing in CO, Region, UNDP and UN
- Organize procurement training for the operations and project staff including contract management to effectively deliver results on the ground.
- Organize procurement training for vendors on e-procurement modules.
- Synthesize lessons learned and best practices in procurement.
- Make sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
- Share information on cross-cutting areas and collaboration opportunities to achieve greater economies of scale.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
- Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline.
- Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements.
- Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback.
- Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible.
- Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident.
- Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships.
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination.
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
Procurement
- Strategic Sourcing: Knowledge of strategic sourcing concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations.
- Contract Management: Knowledge of contract management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations.
- Data Analysis: Ability to extract, analyze and visualize procurement data to form meaningful insights and aid effective business decision making.
- Stakeholder Management: Ability to work with incomplete information and balance competing interests to create value for all stakeholders.
Business Direction & Strategy
- System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
Business Management
- Risk Management: Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks
- Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, or Finance is required. or
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in above listed fields of study, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
- CIPS level 3 is a requirement for this position. If certification is not available at the time of recruitment, it should be obtained within one year.
- CIPS level 2 is required at the time of recruitment.
- Minimum of 2 years (with master’s degree) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in procurement of various categories of goods and/or services and/or civil works at the national or international level in public sector procurement management.
- Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advanced knowledge of web-based management systems such as ERP.
- Experience and solid knowledge on result-based management and project implementation is desirable.
- Demonstrated experience in procurement of renewable energy and/or energy efficiency projects and /or civil works.
- Previous experience with UN/UNDP managed projects
- Experience in working with international organization or international community.
Required Languages:
- English, Pashtu and/or Dari