To revitalize Afghanistan’s commercial banking and microfinance, support their conversion to Islamic banking, and facilitate private sector access, particularly women entrepreneurs, to modern Islamic finance products, UNDP Afghanistan introduces a comprehensive and coordinated project with the engagement of the Afghan Credit Guarantee Foundation (ACGF) and UNCDF.

The overall project strategy is to provide technical assistance to revamp Afghanistan’s financial sector to increase its transparency and resilience, as well as eliminate constraints for MSMEs in accessing financial services and digital payment solutions. With the key objective of achieving a well-functioning and fair lending sector safeguarding livelihoods and income-generating opportunities to boost private sector growth, the Project will focus on women’s economic empowerment. It will create an enabling environment for the private sector by contributing to the restoration of liquidity in the banking and microfinance sectors and strengthening the digital payment ecosystem.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Access to Finance Project Manager , the Administrative Associate provides leadership in execution of services in the and supports the design, planning and management of the project. The Administrative Associate promotes a stakeholder and donor oriented  approach consistent with UNDP Afghanistan rules and regulations.The Administrative Associate may supervise and lead the support staff of the project. The Administrative Associate works in close collaboration with the Operations, Programme and other project teams in the CO, UNDP staff in HQs and Regional Hubs, UN Agencies, government partners, and internal specialists to exchange information and resolve programme/complex finance-related issues.

UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

• Ensure full compliance of administrative activities with UN/UNDP rules, regulations, policies and strategies.
• Develop  administrative business processes mapping and elaboration of the internal standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Prepare administrative team results-oriented workplans.
• Elaborate proposals and implement cost saving and reduction strategies in consultations with office management.

Provide support for effective administrative and financial control for the project

• Present thoroughly researched information for planning of financial resources for administrative services.
• Assist in the preparation of budget, audit and other reports; and provide researched information and reports for audit exercises.
• Implement the control mechanism for administrative services, maintain administrative control records such as commitments and expenditures, and ensure compliance with business continuity requirements.
• Review, research, verify and reconcile a variety of data and reports ensuring accuracy and conformance with administrative rules and regulations.
• Review of data integrity in the database, control programme; analyze results and initiate corrective actions when necessary.
• Review travel authorizations, documentation, payments
• Ensure proper planning and tracking of common services budget and of projects’ contributions to the common services account. Submit information on administrative services provided for cost-recovery bills.

Ensure appropriate and required administrative and logistical support is provided to the project.

• Coordinate the provision of reliable and quality office supplies.
• Coordinate and supervise shipments and customs clearance, events management, administrative surveys, transportation services and insurance, space management, and procurement of supplies.
• Provide support for protocol matters, registration of staff, space, coordination with relevant authorities, and other administrative matters.

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: May supervise support staff that might be recruited for the Access to Finance Project.

Business Management

• Customer Satisfaction/Client Management: Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers’ needs; Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy; Look for ways to add value beyond clients’ immediate requests; Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns.
• Communication: 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
• Operations Management: Ability to effectively plan, organize, and oversee the Organization’s business processes in order to convert its assets into the best results in the most efficient manner; Knowledge of relevant concepts and mechanisms

Administration and Operations

• Management of shipments: Knowledge of regulatory frameworks and processes related to management of shipments, including contracting of shipments for staff members who travel on initial appointment, reassignment and repatriation
• Building, facilities & office space management: Knowledge and ability to facilitate the renovation and upgrade of offices including review of complex engineering/architectural drawings; negotiate technical agreements to ensure fully operational building infrastructure and services; design policy & procedure (POPP) for premises and facilities including space standards; manage premises and facilities; validate
• Events management (including retreats, trainings and meetings): Ability to manage events, including venue identification, accommodation, logistics, catering, transportation, and cash disbursements, etc.