UNDP is the leading UN organization addressing poverty, inequality, and climate change, collaborating with experts and partners in 170 countries to create sustainable solutions. In Afghanistan, UNDP has over 50 years of experience in areas such as climate resilience, gender, governance, health, and livelihoods. Working within the framework of the SDGs and alongside other UN agencies, UNDP supports the Afghan people's aspirations for peace and prosperity.

Energy poverty significantly impacts the quality of life for both men and women, affecting health, employment, and access to basic services. Afghanistan faces a critical energy supply shortage, with demand far exceeding supply. The transmission and distribution grid is unreliable, leading to frequent outages. Many provinces rely on costly local diesel generators, limiting access to affordable energy and hindering economic, social, and educational opportunities for the poor and rural residents.

To address these challenges, the Federal Republic of Germany has funded the project “Sustainable Energy Services for Education and Health in Afghanistan (SESEHA)” 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 project aligns with UNDP’s energy solutions and the UN’s Strategic Framework for Afghanistan 2023-2025, contributing to two key outcomes by the end of 2025:

Outcome 1: 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: 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. 

The GIS Assistant, s(he) will undertake the following to ensure the success of the assignment:

• Integrate GIS tools, including the development of data collection and analysis tools
• Engaging in geospatial data management, analysis, and advocacy
• Support the project by facilitating the required information needed in the implementation
• Develop Power BI Dashboards for informed decision making and data visualization

1. Integrate GIS tools, including the development of data collection and analysis tools:

• Develop digital surveys using the Kobo Toolbox platform. 
• Administer the database for assessments working with the team to have reliable and comprehensive assessments.
• Develop GIS tools and create maps for the SESEHA project to support the monitoring and evaluation system.

1. Engaging in geospatial data management, analysis, and advocacy: 

• Perform geospatial analysis to support a systematic analytical approach.
• Develop and maintain geographic databases including satellite imagery and gazetteers. 
• Support the development of the SESEHA project website. 
• Align SESEHA Information Management System (SIMS) in line with the UNDP corporate policies, guidelines, and standards on data and other information-related matters. 
• Assist in developing information products to support scenario development, contingency planning, and the identification of trends and risks. 

1. Support the project by facilitating the required information needed in the implementation:

• Capture the necessary project coordinates related to the sites under UNDP/AFG SESEHA – this includes implemented, ongoing, or new, and store them in the GIS database. 
• Take Google photos and connect the GPS coordinates to the location of the projects and store them in the GIS database to facilitate the implementation of projects. 
• Use the database to produce static and interactive maps with infographics for presentations and reports. 
• Design digital maps with geographic data and other data sources.
• Provide GPS coordinates and maps to facilitate spot checks.
• Create “shapefiles” to merge topographical data with external data by layering external data over a topographical map.
• Produce maps showing the spatial distribution of various kinds of data, including hospitals, and schools.

1. Develop Power BI Dashboards for informed decision making and data visualization:

• Produce Power BI infographics to present the data appealingly and interactively.
• Assist UNDP partners in the assessment to set up the necessary platform to display the data including GeoSmart of UNDP.

1. Other tasks required by the office

• The incumbent is required to take on other duties/projects within the scope of TOR depending on the workload at the time for the efficient functioning of the office.

1. Institutional Arrangement

The GIS Assistant will report directly to the SESEHA Project Manager, UNDP Afghanistan Country office in Kabul. The incumbent will work closely with the other GIS staff based in the project and at the country office as well as with SESEHA project team to support the implementation and management of SESEHA Information Management System (SIMS). S/he will be expected to provide direct support to the SESEHA and relevant stakeholders including UN agencies in using information management applications and procedures. 
 

Competencies

CoreAchieve 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 (insert up to 7 competencies) 

Digital Tech literacyAbility to apply new digital tools or adapting their original use to create new insights, fresh perspectives or develop solutions. Understand the potential as well as the limitations of certain technological developments; being able to identify how technology can add value when it's used as a ""means to an end””Digital Visualization & mapping

Ability to visualize and clarify ideas, processes or (complex) situations by making quick sketches, drawings or using diagrams, illustrations, photos, videos, animations, three dimensional mock-ups to support group dialogues, reflection, ideation, problem solving or decision making. 

Using abstraction, analogical and metaphorical thinking to create compelling visuals, maps, models or embodied thinking that provide new perspectives and help a group of disparate actors to find a common language and develop a shared mental model. 

Ability to quickly grasp the dynamics of a complex system, identify key elements, entities and their relations, create maps or models that help people inside the system, or outsiders, understand its dynamics; being able to swiftly make sense of an undifferentiated mass of information, extract its very essence, and turn that into key messages and visualizations

Business Management Working with Evidence and DataAbility to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making 

Business Development Knowledge Generation

Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations. 

Business Development Collective Intelligence Design

Ability to bring together diverse groups of people, data, information, ideas, and technology to solve problems and design solutions or services. Knowledge and understanding of Collective Intelligence Design principles, methodology and practices. 

Min. Education requirements

• Secondary education is required. Or
• A university degree in Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Geomatics, Surveying Engineering, or Remote Sensing, will be given due consideration, but is not a requirement.

Min. years of relevant work experience

• Minimum of 5 years  (with high school diploma) or 2 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in GIS/Geoinformatics/Remote Sensing or Engineering is required. 

Required  skills

• Demonstrated experience in working with data visualization through GIS is required
• Demonstrated experience in data collection and coordinate field activities is required
• Demonstrated professional expertise in working with statistics and use and maintenance of standard software packages/databases (Excel, Access and other relevant databases) is required.
• Prior experience and knowledge of Afghanistan statistics, data sets, and geography is required.

 Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section

• Information management experience from previous UN assignments and/or multilateral and bi-lateral aid organizations would be an asset.
• Prior UNDP experience, particularly in the applicable job area, is an added advantage.
• Practical use of GIS software, Kobo Toolbox and Power BI is highly desired.
• Proven track record of strong organizational skills and attention to detail is desired.
• Demonstrated ability to present accurate information in a clear, concise and visually engaging manner is an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a challenging, time sensitive, rapidly changing environment, and to work collaboratively with a diverse team.

Required Language(s)

• Fluency  in English is required.
• Fluency in Dari and/or Pashto is required.

Special Notice

Appointment or assignment against these positions is for an initial period of one year. The appointment or assignment and renewal thereof are subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. The United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) is taking efforts to improve gender parity, including full implementation of the UN-wide, and Departmental Gender Strategies. We are committed to providing an inclusive culture and exciting opportunities for women in the security and operations field.

This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. All staff in the General Service and related categories shall be recruited in the country or within commuting distance of each office, irrespective of their nationality and of the length of time they may have been in the country. A staff member subject to local recruitment shall not be eligible for the allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
•Appropriate testing, as determined by the Secretariat may be required.
•Travel within and outside of the country may be required.
•Possession of a valid Afghanistan driver's license is required.

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by himor her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

Please note that candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. The selection process for this job opening will be conducted pursuant to ST/AI/2010/3 on the "Staff Selection System" and include the compliance review process by a review body described in staff rule 4.15.

The Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and administrative issuances governing staff appointments
can be viewed at: http://www.un.org/hr_handbook/English

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term "sexual exploitation" means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term "sexual abuse" means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term "sexual harassment" means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator's working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to
support their participation in the recruitment process.

By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to
temporary positions.

Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on "Manuals" in the "Help" tile of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the
information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

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 ON APPLICANTS' BANK ACCOUNTS.