Programme Specialist – Social and Environmental Standards and Accountability (Homebased) [Open to Tier 0, 1 & 2 applicants]

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

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 planet. UNDP has been working in Afghanistan for more than 50 years on climate change and resilience, gender, governance, health and livelihoods.

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 are estimated to be acutely food insecure. 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 centres, 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, 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 community level, and supporting local communities to include women, in line with UNSCR 1325 (Women, Peace, and Security).

Programme implementation is overseen by the Deputy Resident Representative for Programme with support from the Programme Management Support Unit (PMSU) which serves as the independent internal quality assurance mechanism separate from project design and implementation. The main priorities of this unit are to ensure quality programme design, effective Results Based Management, Programme coherence, appropriate application of social and environment safeguards, compliance with corporate policies and procedures throughout the programme cycle, and proper programme financial management. PMSU works in close collaboration with the country office Operations on efficiency and compliance related to delivery, finance and audits. 

The Head of PMSU oversees a Capacity Building Team that provides integrated programme and project‑level technical expertise in the areas of Social and Environmental Standards (SES), gender equality and women’s empowerment, and Cash‑Based Interventions (CBI). The team supports risk‑informed programme and project design, quality assurance, and the monitoring of effective implementation. The Capacity Building Team comprises the Programme Specialist – Social and Environmental Standards and Accountability, the Programme Specialist – Gender, Peace and Social Cohesion, and the Programme Specialist – Cash-Based Programming and Resilience. The post of the Programme Specialist on SES and Accountability falls under the Capacity Building Team and contributes to PMSU’s quality assurance and risk management functions by strengthening the application of Social and Environmental Standards, accountability mechanisms, and safeguard compliance across the UNDP Afghanistan programme portfolio, thereby supporting risk-informed, high-quality programme delivery and corporate compliance. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Strengthen the Application of SES under Area-Based Approach to Development Emergency Initiative (ABADEI)  and Country Office Programmes and Projects.

• Review and approve new Social and Environmental Screening Procedures (SESP) and enhance the quality of SESP screenings for all ABADEI and CO projects. 
• Monitor the implementation of existing SESPs and provide guidance to projects. 
• Follow up on the targeted management plans for each project. 
• Review infrastructure packages to ensure that SES aspects are adequately reflected. 
• Track the number of moderate, substantial, and high-risk projects that implement recommended SES management plans. 
• Build capacities of UNDP CO and regional/sub-regional office staff, relevant Implementing Partners and Responsible Parties, Grantees and Third-Party Monitors on SES principles, processes and procedures.

Ensure the implementation of Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRM) across all projects and strengthening Stakeholder Response Mechanisms (SRM) 

• Coordinate and oversee the handling of GRM cases from receipt, resolution, monitoring and registering in the online GRM dashboard.  
• Maintain the GRM dashboard with timely and quality data. Provide analysis of the GRM data. 
• Prepare knowledge management documents and lessons learned reports on GRM.  
• Conduct GRM capacity building sessions for all staff, vendors and Responsible Parties. 
• Strengthen SRM case management and resolution by proactively overseeing potential cases and raising awareness of the SRM process. 

Provision of SES Oversight and Advisory Support 

• Support the development, implementation, and periodic review of Country Office SES implementation arrangements, including clarity of roles, responsibilities, and capacity requirements. 
• Provide advisory services and second‑layer quality assurance for SESP screening, risk identification, and clearance, particularly for high‑risk, complex, or strategically significant interventions. 
• Guide, review, and quality-assure Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA), Strategic Environmental and Social Assessments (SESA), and targeted assessments, ensuring methodological soundness and context sensitivity. 
• Provide oversight and technical advice on SES risk management instruments, including Environmental and Social Management Frameworks (ESMFs), Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs), labor and working conditions measures, SEA/SH risk mitigation, and community health and safety plans, and incident reporting and response mechanisms.
• Provide SES advisory and technical support for cases under audit, review, or investigation by the UNDP Office of Audit and Investigation (OAI) and Social and Environmental Compliance Unit (SECU). 
• Guide the establishment and strengthening of project‑level GRMs addressing social and environmental impacts and ensuring alignment with corporate social and environmental safeguards requirements.

Develop SES Capacities and Facilitate Learning 

• Develop, adapt, and contextualize SES guidance notes, tools, and templates to support effective implementation across the Country Office programme and projects. 
• Design and deliver scaled and tailored SES training programmes, including training of trainers, for UNDP personnel, Responsible Parties, engineers, contractors, grantees, vendors, and Third‑Party Monitors. 
• Support institutionalization of SES capacity within the Country Office through mentoring, communities of practice, and learning‑by‑doing approaches. 
• Monitor global and regional developments in SES and recommend relevant innovations or tools for Country Office application. 
• Document SES good practices, challenges, and lessons learned, and facilitate knowledge exchange within UNDP and with partners. 

Ensure SES Coordination, Advocacy, and External Engagement 

• Coordinate on SES matters with UN agencies, development partners, donors, and other stakeholders to promote coherence and complementarity of standards and approaches. 
• Advocate internally for consistent, risk‑informed, and conflict‑sensitive application of SES across all programmes and projects.
• Lead SES awareness‑raising and engagement activities with Implementing Partners, Responsible Parties, service providers, contractors, and other stakeholders.
• Support Country Office senior management in engagement with donors, partners, and affected communities on SES‑related issues, including accountability mechanisms (GRM, SRM, SECU). 
• Engage in regional and global SES networks and communities of practice, contributing to peer learning and UNDP’s leadership role on safeguards. 
• Engage in regional and global SES networks and communities of practice, contributing to peer learning and UNDP’s leadership on safeguards in fragile and crisis settings.
• Identify common SES risks, capacity gaps, and implementation challenges across the Country Office portfolio and propose strategic actions to address them. 
• Coordinate closely with regional and headquarters SES experts, including the GPN SES network, to ensure consistent interpretation and application of SES policy.

Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing, and advocacy relevant to the assigned thematic areas. 

• Identify capacity building needs and opportunities. Ensure appropriate training, project workshops and other relevant activities are organized and implemented in a consultative manner, involving technical experts and stakeholders that may include the government, private sector, NGOs, donors, and/or academia. 
• Ensure project reports capture results, lessons learned and good practices for possible wider application. 
• Participate in and ensure sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice on development and project related issues. Support establishment of knowledge platforms for the project, facilitate innovative mechanisms for dissemination of knowledge from the project, and develop knowledge resources and products to share with project partners and to support UNDP’s engagement in this area.  
• Promote advocacy for UNDP’s work and opportunities for collaboration in addressing development trends in coordination with the project partners, stakeholders, and UNDP communications staff.  

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization. 

Institutional Arrangement: The SES Specialist will work under the guidance and supervision of the Head of Programme Management Support Unit (PMSU) with matrix reporting to the Project Manager (ABADEI). 

Competencies

Core Competencies

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies  Cross-Functional Competencies

• Business Management
  • Results-based Management
    Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.
  • Risk Management
    Identify and organize action around reducing, mitigating and proactively managing risks
  • Monitoring & Evaluation
    Ability to systematically monitor results of strategies, programmes, and activities with a view to make sure that they are being implemented effectively; Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback and reporting on the consistency or discrepancy between planned activities and programme management and results. Ability to make independent judgment of the management and results of strategies, programmes and activities based on set criteria and benchmark, keeping in mind the needs and concerns of client, current and upcoming. Knowledge and understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks, concepts, methodologies, systems, processes, and tools. Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks. Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.
• 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

Technical Competencies

• 2030 Agenda: Engagement and Effectiveness
  • Effectiveness
    Social and Environmental Standards
  • Effectiveness
    Programmatic Risk Management and Analysis
  • Effectiveness
    Project Quality Assurance

  Minimum Qualifications of the Successful IPSA Min. Education requirements

• Advanced University degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Environmental Studies, Social Sciences, International Development or related fields is required. Or
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination of an additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.

Min. years of relevant work experience

• Minimum of 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant professional work experience in implementing environmental and social safeguards is required, including experience in the application and oversight of accountability mechanisms such as Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRM) and Stakeholder Response Mechanisms (SRM )

Required skills

• Demonstrated experience in applying SES policies into programmes and projects is required.
• Demonstrated experience in providing capacity building of personnel and partners on SES is required.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and working knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, as well as experience in the handling of web-based management systems is required.

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

• Relevant experience in producing various reports on environmental and social screenings, assessments and management plans is desired.
• Demonstrated experience working in crisis/post-crisis settings is an asset.
• Experience from previous UN assignments and/or multilateral and bi-lateral aid organizations would be an asset.
• Experience and knowledge of Results-Based Management methodologies would be an asset.

Required Language(s)

• Fluency in English is required.

Professional Certificates

• N/A

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

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.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

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