JOB HIGHLIGHT

Supporting AD programme success through seamless support and operational excellence.

ABOUT THE REGION

The UNOPS Global Portfolios Office (GPO) brings together diverse expertise to help partners deliver impact worldwide. With hubs in New York, Geneva, and Vienna, and expert teams operating globally, GPO leads multi-regional initiatives that advance sustainable development, climate action, and peacebuilding - including in some of the world’s most challenging environments. By leveraging our collective expertise and global networks, GPO supports UNOPS’ strategic priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals across more than 130 countries. We work closely with major global partners - including governments, international financial institutions, and UN agencies - to deliver a wide range of services, such as project management, fund management, hosting services, and HR support.

ABOUT THE COUNTRY/MULTI-COUNTRY OFFICE

Not Required - part of GPO/NYPO

JOB SPECIFIC CONTEXT

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian and development projects. Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations.

The Sustainable Development Cluster (SDC) supports diverse partners with peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development operations. It was formed by combining the following portfolios: Grants Management Services (GMS), UN Technology Support Services (UNTSS), Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio (DSIP). It provides Services to partners' programmes that are designed, structured, and managed with a global perspective and primarily serving partners headquartered in New York. The SDC has a footprint of approximately 125 countries.

UNOPS has signed a Global Agreement with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to operationally support the implementation of their mandate through the provision of Human Resources services.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), an office under the UN Secretariat, was established in 1997 to assist member states in their efforts to combat illicit drugs, crime, and terrorism, and is one of the partners under UNTSS.

Headquartered in Vienna, Austria, UNODC operates globally to support the development and implementation of policies and programmes that address a wide range of issues, including drug trafficking and abuse, organized crime, corruption, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, cybercrime, and terrorism prevention. Through research, policy advice, capacity-building, and technical assistance, UNODC works to strengthen justice systems, promote international cooperation, and uphold the rule of law and human rights in the fight against transnational threats.

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.

ROLE PURPOSE

The Programme Management Support Officer provides technical support for the implementation of project activities related to market development, trade promotion, certification, and private sector engagement. The incumbent contributes to strengthening value chains, facilitating market access, supporting certification processes such as ISO and organic certification, and fostering partnerships with stakeholders in compliance with UNODC standards and procedures.

FUNCTIONS / KEY RESULTS EXPECTED

• 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.
• Promote gender-responsive, inclusive, and sustainable approaches across all AD market related interventions.
• Performs other duties as may be reasonably required and in line with the incumbent's scope of services above.

SKILLS

Agriculture, Business Networking, Documentation, Market Development, Planning, Private Sector, Project Implementation, Reporting, Stakeholder Engagement

COMPETENCIES

Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organisational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion. Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles. Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role). Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries. Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements. Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving. Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

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 REQUIREMENTS

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.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Language Proficiency Level Requirement

• English Fluent Required
• Pashto Fluent Required
• Dari Fluent Required

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.

Terms and Conditions

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Position Title

Programme Management Support Officer

Job Category

Project & Programme Management

Duty Station(s)

Kabul

Seniority Level

Associate

ICS Level

ICS 08

Contract Type

ICA - LICA - Specialist - Regular

Contract Level

LICA 8

Posting Start Date

22-Oct-2026

Posting End Date

05-Nov-2026

Duration

Six months (with possibility of extension subject to fund availability)