Forced displacement and migration have been an enduring characteristic of Afghanistan for many decades, as populations rely on mobility to manage chronic crisis due to conflict and insecurity, resulting in socio-economic disruptions. For instance, approximately 866,672 people were newly displaced in 2021. While, widespread conflict ended, Afghanistan is in a devastating economic crisis. In consequence, an urgent imperative to address immediate lifesaving needs but also exploring solutions to address forced displacement, the vulnerabilities of the population and enhancing community resilience is needed.

The severe economic contraction, an alarming unemployment rate of 40 per cent, combined with at least 400,000 new labour market entrants annually, disproportionately large population of youth (60 per cent of total population), a population growth rate of 3 per cent (among the highest in the world), a multi-ethnic and multilingual society have placed massive pressure on severely overstretched resources. The result is a complex and multi-faceted crisis that generates and amplifies existing community tensions and animosities, resulting in significantly degraded protection environment for all persons of concern, particularly women and girls and persons belonging to minority groups.

Situation of women and girls continues to remain a challenge in Afghanistan since women’ s access to employment, education, freedom of movement and the enjoyment of other basic rights, are restricted.  Furthermore, the demographic profile of Afghanistan, characterized by a disproportionately large population of youth, compounds existing challenges and underscores the urgency of addressing the aspirations of Afghanistan’ s young people. Also, rural-urban migration due to lack of services in rural areas prompting continued population movement further compounds pressure on urban centers. As per the 2022 HNO/HRP, we entered 2022 with unprecedented levels of need amongst ordinary women, men and children of Afghanistan and 24.4 million people in humanitarian need – more than half the population.

Above mentioned challenges compound protection risks and limit reintegration prospects for returnees, which often results in harmful coping mechanisms (e.g., child labour, early and forced marriage, labour exploitation, debt, onward migration, etc.) and secondary displacement.

While conflict and insecurity remained the primary drivers of displacement in 2021, with the end of large-scale conflict after August 2021, natural disasters, climate change and other environmental risks will become more recurrent disruptors, frequently contributing to displacement and heightened vulnerability.

Between 2002 and 2021, nearly 5.3 million refugees voluntarily repatriated to Afghanistan with UNHCR’s assistance while the return trends remain low in the past few years including 1,576 refugee returnees in 2022 so far. Full and impactful inclusion of returning refugees into national development planning and programming is essential to enable their sustainable reintegration which will in turn solidify and fortify the broader stabilization efforts. In addition, there are currently 67,200 refugees and asylum seekers in Afghanistan. Most of this group were displaced from Pakistan to Afghanistan in 2014 and settled in areas of Khost and Paktika provinces. Small numbers are residing in urban areas of Kabul and other cities. Refugees constitute one of the most vulnerable populations in the country. They face significant legal challenges since that the National Law on Asylum still has not been enacted. On the other hand, increasing number of IDPs (nearly 1 million in 2021 and 2022(up to July) started to return to their places of origin mainly after August 2021.

UNHCR provides protection and finds solutions to the refugee and IDP situation in Afghanistan building upon the ongoing consultations within the context of the Support Platform for the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees (SSAR) and the Global Compact on Refugees. In addition, UNHCR is the lead agency for Protection and ES/NFI (Emergency Shelter and Non-Food Item) clusters and CCCM WG, providing technical guidance and coordinating humanitarian response.

The Senior Programme Assistant would normally receive guidance from more senior programme staff in the operation/bureau/division. The incumbent may receive indirect guidance from other sections and units relevant to the country/region programme(s). UNHCR Manual, Operations Plans, UN and UNHCR financial/budgetary rules and regulations will guide the work of the Senior Program Assistant.

S/he is expected to have contacts within the organization and outside the duty station, as well as with partners and other stakeholders to collect information, monitor programme activities and implement administrative requirements. The incumbent is expected to work in line with the multi-functional team (MFT) approach as defined within the Program Manual, ensuring the participation of relevant stakeholders in all phases of the Program Management Cycle.

1. Duties

• Provide administrative assistance and support in routine services and activities within Programme thus better able to meet the needs of persons of concern.
• Assist in organizing and documenting the selection of partners in accordance with the policy on selection and retention of partners, ensuring due diligence to meet the requirements of projects.
• Provide support to ensure partnership agreements are established in a timely manner, regularly monitored and reported on, in compliance with established guidelines and procedures included in the framework for implementing with partners.
• Guided by the MFT approach, support the development and implementation of monitoring plans for activities implemented through partnerships and those under direct implementation in line with Programme Manual and programming instructions.
• Contribute to the review and analysis of operations plans, mid-year and year-end reports, ensuring quality assurance and compliance with established policies, guidelines, procedures and standards. Generate and maintain records of implementation rate (performance progress and expenditures) on a regular basis.
• Assist in ensuring compliance with issuance of audit certificates for partners in line with the Policy on Risk-Based Project Audits.
• Use UNHCR’s corporate tools (e.g. Focus Client, Global Focus Insight and FOCUS Reader, MSRP) for core activities related to planning, budgeting, implementation and reporting, generating data for evidence-based programmatic decisions and analysis.
• Actively contribute to UNHCRs programming of community of practice and continuously contributing to improvements of programming tools and processes.
• Perform other related duties as required.

For G5 - 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1 year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher.

Essential

Demonstrated experience in Programme Management, Operation Management Cycle and related processes. Knowledge of Results Based-Management. Computer skills (in MS office) including advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, data management, etc).

Desirable

Completion of UNHCR Learning Programmes or specific training relevant to function of the position including Programme Management – Level 1. E-tutoring of PM1, Framework for Implementing with Partners Learning Programme. Experience in programme management training and capacity building activities.

Functional Skills

PG-Programme Management (project formulation, programme cycles and reporting standards)

PG-Results-Based Management

DM-Database Management

PG-Programme Analysis

IT-Computer Literacy

For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

The management of the advertised openings in this announcement is in line with UNHCR Recruitment and Assignment Policy (RAP).

The vacancies are open to eligible internal and external applicants.

• Internal applicants are requested to submit their applications through Workday – Menu – Career. It is important that applicants update their Profiles (languages, education and prior working experience) before submitting their applications.
• External applicants are requested to submit their applications through the UNHCR Careers -  Careers (myworkdayjobs.com). You will need to create an account as “New User” and then click on “My Account Information”. Complete the application and submit it.