Programme Management Specialist (TFMU)

The Fund serves as an inter-agency mechanism to enable donors to channel their resources and coordinate their support to the UN joint programmes initially developed using the Area-Based Approach to Development Emergency Initiatives (ABADEI) Strategy, which was anchored under the UN Transitional Engagement Framework (TEF). Current programming is guided by the United Nations Strategic Framework for Afghanistan (UNSFA), a successor document to the TEF -it serves as the strategic planning framework for the United Nations in Afghanistan. The Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan has a two-tier decision-making and coordination structure, comprised by the Steering Committee (chaired by the DSRSG/UN Resident Coordinator) and the Technical Coordination Working Group (TCWG). The Fund is administered by the UNDP Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTF Office), acting as the Administrative Agent. The Trust Fund Management Unit (TFMU) is the Fund Secretariat for STFA: it is the entity responsible for the operational functioning of the Fund and provides technical and management support to the Steering Committee. TFMU is currently administered by UNDP, but TFMU reports directly to the UN Resident Coordinator, ensuring a clear firewall between UNDP as a Participating UN Organization (UNDP Programme) and TFMU. Such differentiation (UNDP Programme vis-à-vis TFMU), and TFMU’s close cooperation with RCO are critical features to ensure objective and transparent allocations to Participating UN Organizations and avoid perceptions of potential conflicts of interest.

Under the direct supervision and overall guidance of the Trust Fund Manager, the Programme Management Specialist will be responsible to lead the effective management of STFA programme portfolio and programmatic pipeline and will support. The Programme Management Specialist will be guided by the ‘Delivering as One’ approach This function will include coordinating the quality assurance of ‘Delivering as One’ initiatives under existing joint programme documents; provision of technical guidance and recommendations to Trust Fund Manager on the configuration of the existing programme portfolio (i.e. whether new programmatic initiatives or programmatic revisions are required; or whether existing initiatives should be extended or brought to a close, etc.); the review/QA of new programmes or projects; the coordination of project or programme revision processes; etc. The Programme Management Specialist will also support other strategic functions for the Fund, including preparations for SC meetings, partnerships building and knowledge management. He/she will work in close collaboration with M&E Team (ensuring lessons learned from monitoring activities feed into programmatic design and ongoing implementation), Finance Team (ensuring adequate budgeting and allocation processes are followed through), Participating UN Organizations, the Resident Coordinators’ Office and other stakeholders as guided by the Trust Fund Manager, strengthening STFA’s positioning as an effective and efficient funding vehicle.

The Programme Management Specialist will be responsible to (1) ensure that STFA programme portfolio and programmatic pipeline are fit-for-purpose and effectively managed; (2) support the Trust Fund Manager in the running of the Trust Fund Management Unit, including, inter alia, with respect to planning, team management and communication activities; (3) contribute to expand and enhance the partnerships between TFMU and other stakeholders within and outside the UN, and to strengthen STFA’s positioning as an effective and efficient funding vehicle; and (4) Enhance knowledge management in support of STFA’s objectives. 

Under the overall guidance of the Trust Fund Manager, the Programme Management Specialist will work in close collaboration with the M&E Team (ensuring, inter alia, that lessons learned from monitoring activities feed into programmatic design and ongoing implementation, and that relevant design considerations feed into oversight functions); Finance Team (ensuring, inter alia, that adequate costing, budgeting and allocation processes are followed through during design, revision processes), Participating UN Organizations, the Resident Coordinators’ Office and other stakeholders as suggested by the Trust Fund Manager.

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 to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

• Provides recommendations to the Trust Fund Manager on processes to strengthen portfolio management and pipeline development under the fund (including, inter alia, with respect to prioritization exercises, calls for proposals, etc. as applicable).
• Provides technical guidance and recommendations to Trust Fund Manager on the configuration of STFA’s programme portfolio[1], to ensure it is ‘fit for purpose’ against the Fund’s TOR and relevant strategic guiding documents. 
• Technically guides Participating UN Organization (PUNOs) on STFA’s pipeline development processes, templates, timelines, and quality criteria, in line with the STFA Operations Manual and UNSDG Guidelines on Joint Programming.
• Leads the review of programmatic/project proposals being submitted to the Trust Fund, in collaboration with TFMU’s M&E and Finance Teams
• Ensures findings and lessons learned from TFMU’s oversight activities (including through Third Party Monitoring Activities) inform pipeline development and programme design. 
• Ensures relevant cross-cutting considerations are effectively streamlined in STFA programme management cycles (including, inter alia, social, and environmental due diligence, application of gender equality marker and risk management).
• Provides trouble-shooting advice and support to ensure the effective implementation of STFA programme portfolio and the development of STFA pipeline.
• Other tasks that contribute to the effective management of STFA programme portfolio and pipeline, as requested by the Trust Fund Manager.

• Advise and support the Trust Fund Manager in the development of Fund’s strategic planning documents and allocation strategies/fund-level guidance documents; and in the review/updates of TFMU’s Project Document, workplans and budgets; STFA Operations Manual and other technical guidance documents, as needed, to ensure they remain fit-for-purpose.
• Provides technical support to the Fund Manager in the preparations required for, and follow up to, STFA Steering Committee and Technical Coordination Working Group (TCWG) engagements - including support in the preparation and review of meeting agendas, supporting documentation, minutes of meetings, etc. 
• Collaborates, as required, in the preparation and submission of relevant reports, including mid-year and annual reports, on STFA activities.
• Ensures appropriate risk management measures are in place (at Fund and programme level), leveraging the existing UN-wide risk management coordination architecture - such as the UN’s Risk Management Team, PSEA Network, etc. - in close collaboration with STFA PUNOs and other TFMU team members.
• Contributes to, and ensures the timely implementation of, communication and visibility plans and activities.
• Represents TFMU, upon request by the Fund Manager, in relevant fora and meetings, including, inter alia, in the Programme Management Team, UN’s Risk Management Team, UN Afghanistan’s Development Pillar, Gender Thematic Working Group, etc., as applicable.
• Contributes to effective team management and provides effective mentoring and coaching to TFMU team members (particularly national personnel, including national female personnel), with a view to developing national capacities and enhancing the overall performance of the unit.
• Other support as requested by the Trust Fund Manager, including, inter alia, backstopping support during the Trust Fund Manager’s absence, or as needed.
   

• Contributes to strengthen the collaboration between TFMU and the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, relevant UNAMA units (including ‘Development Pillar’ units), and to leverage the existing UN coordination architecture in Afghanistan (Programme Management Team, UN Risk Management Team, PSEA Network, Gender Thematic Working Group, etc.) to contribute to STFA’s objectives.
• Facilitates programmatic harmonization and consensus-building among Participating UN Organizations (PUNOs), when required, leveraging the existing UN Coordination architecture when possible. 
• Work with the Trust Fund Manager in strengthening partnerships with existing or potential STFA contributing partners, private sector, INGOs/NGOs, etc. with a view to enhance the positioning of STFA and the advancement of the Fund’s objectives.
• Supports the Trust Fund Manager in resource mobilization efforts, including through innovative modalities (e.g., crowdfunding) and engagements with non-traditional donors (private sector, foundations, etc.) ensuring relevant due diligence policies and procedures are adhered to.
• Other tasks to contribute to strengthen TFMU’s network of partnerships and STFA’s positioning as an efficient and effective funding vehicle.

• Identifies, documents and syntheses good practices and lessons learned from field observations/oversight activities and from engagements with PUNOs and implementing partners, in coordination with the M&E Team
• Contributes to strengthen the evidence-base for future STFA programming, with a view to strengthen the business case for investments in ‘Delivering as One’ initiatives.
• Conducts research and analysis on innovative approaches, methodologies and practices to support programme management. 
• Contributes to the generation of knowledge products under STFA, including knowledge products that can support harmonization and ‘Delivering as One’ modalities of delivery. 
• Provide inputs to commissioning assessments, studies, surveys, etc. as instructed by the Steering Committee, the TCWG or Trust Fund Manager, and reviews the knowledge products resulting from such commissions.
• Other knowledge management tasks as required by the Trust Fund Manager.

• 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 and  Technical Competencies: