UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet. UNDP has worked in Afghanistan for over 50 years on climate change and resilience, gender, governance, health, livelihoods, and the rule of law. Under the broader framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and in close coordination with other UN agencies, UNDP supports the Afghan people’s aspiration for peace, prosperity, and sustainability. UNDP is currently implementing its flagship crisis response programme, ABADEI (Area Based Approach to Development Emergency Initiatives), as part of the ongoing UN-led response to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and the breakdown of Afghanistan’s economy, following the August 2021 shift in power.

In Afghanistan, UNDP plays a crucial role in addressing the complex issues of displacement that affect millions of IDPs, returnees, and refugees. As part of the ABADEI programme, UNDP implements targeted area-based programming which integrates community development plans that address displacement impacts, access to resources, basic services, and social cohesion, while also focusing on economic empowerment and regional business development to stabilize local economies.

UNDP’s active participation in the Durable Solutions Working Group (DSWG), led by the UN Resident Coordinator, exemplifies its commitment to collaborative problem-solving. This group, including key UN agencies and other partners, coordinates efforts to support Afghanistan’s National Solutions Plan and the Reintegration Response Plan, addressing the needs of returning Afghan refugees and host communities with substantial funding requirements. UNDP is also a co-lead for the DSWG on data integration and management.

Additionally, UNDP has intensified its partnership with UNHCR within the Sustainable Solutions for Afghan Returnees (SSAR) framework. This collaboration focuses on the Priority Areas of Return and Reintegration (PARR), employing a Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) nexus approach to promote integrated development initiatives.

Given the vast scale and complexity of these challenges, it is crucial for UNDP to bolster its capacity to devise and implement strategies that effectively meet both the immediate and longer-term needs of IDPs and returnees. By ensuring integrated and sustainable solutions, UNDP aims to strengthen community resilience through effective coordination and robust partnerships with the DSWG as well as SSAR.

The Durable Solutions Specialist will continue to advance UNDP’s existing best practices and lessons from its projects to build on the work in the Nexus Approach moving the development agenda from humanitarian aid to more longer term development agenda.

Against the above background, under the guidance and supervision of the ABADEI Programme Management Specialist, with regular coordination with the Head of the Programme Design Unit the Durable Solutions Specialist will be instrumental in enhancing UNDP’s response to displacement challenges in Afghanistan by leading the design and implementation of initiatives that promote durable solutions in Afghanistan. The Durable Solutions Specialist will play a critical role in strengthening the engagement with the Durable Solutions Working Group (DSWG), expanding partnerships with UNHCR, and integrating durable solutions into broader country programs and projects.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

• Promote UNDP’s strategic engagement with DSWG
• Provide technical advice and support programme development and implementation on durable solutions
• Partnership Development with UNHCR
• Resource mobilization and advocacy
• Document case studies and lessons learned and develop practical guidance tools

Promote UNDP’s strategic engagement with Durable Solutions Working Group (DSWG)

• Serve as the primary contact for all durable solutions initiatives, including the DSWG, ensuring effective coordination and seamless integration of these efforts into UNDP’s broader programming strategy.
• Assist UNDP’s senior leadership by facilitating their active and informed participation in the DSWG, preparing briefing materials and strategic insights to enhance their contributions.
• Represent UNDP at DSWG-related technical meetings, spearheading the facilitation of information sharing and collaborative planning and programming through the DSWG platform.
•  Guidance to Regional Offices focusing on enhancing their understanding of DSWG priorities and fostering effective collaboration in planning, programming, and coordination efforts aligned with UNDP’s broader strategic objectives.
• Provide strategic guidance and support to UNDP regional project offices, enhancing their engagement with Regional DSWGs in planning, programming, and coordination efforts.

• Design and implement a UNDP engagement strategy that addresses sustainable solutions to forced displacement in coordination with humanitarian assistance to ensure a HDP nexus approach.
• Lead on the integration of Durable Solutions to return, resettlement and reintegration across different programme areas in particular Women’s Economic Empowerment, Women peace and security and livelihoods programming.
• Integrate durable solutions into existing UNDP programmes and operations, and make them accessible and user friendly for national and local organisations providing practical support to those projects working with IDP’s to ensure that are able to support a principled, IDP centred approach. Also ensuring that these initiatives are aligned with broader organizational goals and strategies.
• Strengthen UNDP’s position as a thought leader in developing innovative and effective solutions for the challenges faced by IDPs and returnees.
• Conduct data analytics and policy research, utilizing developmental profiling and assessments to gain a deeper understanding of the realities faced by IDPs, returnees, and their host and affected communities.
• Prepare detailed briefs, analyses, and presentations that communicate the impact and progress of durable solutions initiatives to UNDP senior management, ensuring informed decision-making and strategic alignment..

• Expand and strengthen collaborations with UNHCR, IOM and other relevant entities within the framework of the Sustainable Solutions for Afghan Returnees (SSAR), aiming to create a more cohesive and impactful alliance.
• Prepare and manage all necessary documentation to formalize and implement partnerships with UNHCR, ensuring effective collaboration.
• Collaborate closely with UNHCR to design and implement joint programmes that align with the goals of the SSAR initiative, while also co-leading efforts to mobilize resources for these programmes.
• Engage in and develop joint advocacy strategies with UNHCR and other SSAR partners to promote the SSAR initiative, aiming to enhance visibility and support for the programme’s objectives among stakeholders and the broader public.
• Explore coordination and partnership with IOM and update IOM Durable Solutions lead and Resident Coordinators Office on a regular basis.

• Formulate and execute a comprehensive resource mobilization strategy tailored to advance durable solutions, actively seeking new funding streams and exploring non-traditional sources of financial and logistical support.
• Lead the coordination and preparation of high-quality funding proposals, ensuring they articulate clear objectives, demonstrate potential impact, and fulfill all donor-specific requirements and standards.
• Proactively explore and establish new partnerships, securing financial and in-kind support to enhance the scope and reach of durable solutions initiatives.
• Continuously monitor the progress of resource mobilization efforts, providing detailed reports to stakeholders and ensuring that all activities align with strategic objectives.

• Conduct thorough research and documentation of ongoing and completed durable solutions projects. This involves collecting qualitative and quantitative data, interviewing stakeholders, and analyzing the outcomes to identify best practices and lessons learned.
• Develop practical guidance tools for implementing durable solutions effectively, based on the case studies that highlight successes, challenges, and the impact of various initiatives on local communities.
• Organize and facilitate knowledge sharing on durable solutions for UNDP staff and partners to disseminate the findings from case studies and the usage of guidance tools.

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

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: None

Business Direction & Strategy – Business Acumen: 

• Ability to understand and deal with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome.
• Knowledge and understanding of the operational frameworks in the organisation and ability to make good judgments and quick decisions within such frameworks.

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.

Business Management – Portfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritise and control the organization´s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimising return on investment.

• Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
• Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.

Digital & Innovation – Collective intelligence design: 

• Ability to design, lead or manage processes that help a collective to become smarter together by bringing together diverse groups of people, data, and technology.
• Ability to define and articulate why and how collective intelligence can add value to development programming (understanding problems; finding solutions; decision making and mobilising action; monitoring progress in real time, learning and adapting)
• Being able to integrate different types of data (real-time, ‘ground- truth’ and novel data) to unlock fresh insights. Understand guidelines and principles around data privacy, ethics and protection.
• Increase diversity of inputs – and look beyond the ‘usual suspects’, ability to navigate and manage a variety of actors, appreciate the diversity in perspectives, opinions, expertise.
• Ability to facilitate platforms or sessions where people can contribute by providing their views and ideas independently and freely.
• Being people-centred: ensure people understand and can determine how their data is used. Feed back inputs and insights to empower people, don’t extract data.

Information Management & Technology – IT Project Management: Capacity to manage ICT projects, using IT methodologies and approaches such as agile deployment and/or waterfall system development methods. PMP and PRINCE2 certification or equivalent desirable.

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of another UN language is desirable.
• Knowledge of local language is an advantage.