Programme Management Support Officer

UNODC in Afghanistan operates to identify and address aspects of the drug and crime situation in the country. This is done through evidence-based advocacy in the policy arena; providing reliable information on opium poppy cultivation, production, prices, and drug users; and through implementation in the field by providing effective alternative livelihoods to farmers dependent on poppy cultivation as well as drug demand and harm reduction support to people affected by drug dependence. Afghanistan has long been a major source of illicit opium production, making UNODC's work particularly important for both national and regional stability.

UNODC's Alternative Development (AD) Programme aims to prevent resumption of illicit crop cultivation, crime prevention and prevention of illegal migration/ Smuggling of Migrants (SOM) as well as Trafficking in Persons (TIP) of members of farming communities due to lack of alternative livelihoods. 

The programme supports rural communities affected by poppy cultivation with capacity building support through training; exposure visits; exchange programmes; provision of tools and equipment; distribution of quality seeds and fertilizer; installation of improved irrigation systems; and marketing support.

The UNODC AD Programme is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly as a key instrument for addressing illicit drug cultivation and promoting sustainable livelihoods in drug-producing countries through UNGA Resolution 68/196 (2013) and the UN Guiding Principles on AD, which designate UNODC as the principal UN entity providing policy, technical, and operational support in this area. The UNODC AD Programme offers an integrated platform that bridges UNODC's normative, research, and operational mandates. Through evidence generated from illicit-crop monitoring, socioeconomic assessments, and livelihood analyses, the programme designs targeted interventions that address the root causes of illicit crop cultivation.

UNODC’s AD Programme in Afghanistan operates as part of the broader United Nations Country Team (UNCT) response and is coordinated within the UN’s strategic planning and development architecture for Afghanistan. 

Furthermore, it complements the comparative advantages of other UN agencies by serving as a nexus between counter-narcotics objectives and rural development, food security, economic recovery, gender equality, and climate resilience efforts under the broader UN Country Team response in Afghanistan.

Under the overall supervision of the UNODC Representative and under the direct supervision of head of AD programme, the Programme Management Support Officer will support the implementation of UNODC's AD Programme in Afghanistan, particularly contributing to market development, trade promotion, certification, and private sector engagement. The Programme Management Support Officer will carry out below duties and responsibilities.

• Support the AD Project Management Office (PMO) Specialist and project team in the planning, design, and implementation of programme activities related to market development, trade promotion, certification, and private sector engagement at national and sub-national levels.
• Assist in the development and implementation of annual work plans to ensure timely delivery of project outputs.
• Support the preparation of community-based AD project concepts, proposals, and interventions in close consultation with target communities and relevant stakeholders.
• Contribute to market assessments and value chain analyses studies to identify market opportunities, constraints, and potential interventions for programme beneficiaries.
• Facilitate the establishment of market linkages between input suppliers, producers, cooperatives, traders, exporters, Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) and Afghanistan Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AWCCI) and other relevant stakeholders.
• Support business and product development, branding, packaging, quality assurance, certification, marketing, and compliance with national and international market standards.
• Work with certification bodies for acquiring certificates for the target SMEs and with financial institutions, business development service providers, and trade promotion organizations to facilitate sustainable business opportunities and market access.
• Monitor project implementation activities, ensuring compliance with project objectives, work plans, donor requirements, and UNODC policies and procedures.
• Contribute to the preparation of technical reports, progress reports, quarterly reports, annual reports, donor updates, briefing notes, lessons learned, case studies, success stories, and other programme documentation.
• Participate in coordination meetings, stakeholder consultations, workshops, training events, and joint UN or partner missions as required.
• Undertake regular field visits and travel to project locations for monitoring, beneficiary consultations, market assessments, and evaluation purposes.
• Maintain effective working relationships with counterparts, community representatives, development partners, private sector stakeholders, and implementing partners.
• Performs other duties as may be reasonably required and in line with the incumbent's scope of services above. Promote gender-responsive, inclusive, and sustainable approaches across all AD market related interventions.

Education:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Economics, Agricultural Economics, Marketing, Enterprise Development or other relevant discipline with 2 years of relevant experience OR
• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Business Administration, Economics, Agricultural Economics, Marketing, Enterprise Development, or other relevant disciplines with 0 years of relevant experience is required. 

Experience: 

Required

●     Experience in agriculture value chain development, trade promotion, and market access initiatives.

●     Relevant work experience in project management or related areas.  

Desired: 

• Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in a developing country is desired.
• Experience of working with developmental programmes/projects is desired.

Interested and qualified applicants are requested to apply online via following link:

Programme Management Support Officer - 4933 - UNOPS