Project Management and Monitoring Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women, established in July 2010, is the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The organization was created as part of the UN reform agenda to consolidate resources and mandates for greater impact on gender equality and women's empowerment. UN Women merges and builds on the work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system, focusing exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment. The organization operates globally, with a significant presence in various countries, including Afghanistan, where it addresses the severe restrictions faced by women and girls in public life due to ongoing humanitarian and economic challenges. UN Women Afghanistan is committed to supporting Afghan women and girls through its Country Office in Kabul and sub-offices in Balkh, Bamyan, Herat, Kandahar, and Nangarhar, focusing on five programmatic pillars: Integrated Programming and Localization, Women’s Civil Society, Policy and Research, Economic Resilience and Empowerment, and Coordination, Access and Humanitarian Response.

Job Overview:
The Project Management and Monitoring Specialist will play a crucial role in enhancing the quality assurance, compliance, and performance monitoring of the Country Office’s programme portfolio. Reporting to the PMSU Manager and under the guidance of the Deputy Country Representatives, the specialist will provide technical surge capacity to strengthen and standardize programme partner management and monitoring processes. This position emphasizes technical quality assurance and compliance oversight with UN Women policies, guidance, and procedures. The specialist will support the Programme Appraisal Committee (PAC) process and facilitate structured capacity development for both UN Women personnel and programme partners, focusing on monitoring, data collection, and results-based management. The role also involves mentoring a national position to ensure sustainable knowledge transfer and institutional continuity, ensuring compliance with UN Women policies while enhancing partner management systems and monitoring across the Afghanistan Country Office.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support Capacity Development for UN Women Programme Teams: Identify capacity development needs and design structured sessions for UN Women Programme Teams on partner selection and management processes. Compile and develop standardized onboarding materials for new staff.
• Capacity Development for Programme Partners: Identify needs and deliver orientation sessions for Programme Partners on UN Women partner agreement requirements, monitoring standards, data collection ethics, beneficiary data management, and risk management expectations. Guide partners in developing Performance Monitoring Frameworks (PMFs) and data collection tools.
• Technical Oversight of Programme Partner Selection and Agreements: Provide guidance and quality assurance for partner selection and agreement amendments, reviewing performance monitoring frameworks and compliance documentation.
• Strengthening Programme Partner Management and Monitoring: Review partner agreement management documentation, develop compliance tracking tools, and provide technical support on risk assessments and mitigation measures.
• Manage Local Programme Appraisal Committee (LPAC): Oversee LPAC processes for partner agreements and donor projects, ensuring compliance and documentation quality.
• Institutional Strengthening and Knowledge Transfer: Establish internal knowledge repositories and mentor personnel to ensure sustainability of systems and processes. The incumbent will also perform other duties as necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a Master’s degree or equivalent in Social Sciences, Political Science, Development, Public Administration, Gender, or a related field. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree. A project/programme management certification (such as PMP®, PRINCE2®, or MSP®) is an added advantage. Candidates must demonstrate at least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in project management within an international organization or national NGO, including experience in programme partner management, results-based management, and monitoring. Experience in applying organizational policies and compliance frameworks to partner agreement management is essential, along with experience in developing data collection tools and providing technical guidance to multi-functional teams. Experience in gender equality or related thematic areas is desirable.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree or equivalent in relevant fields such as Social Sciences, Political Science, Development, Public Administration, or Gender studies. Alternatively, a first-level university degree with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted. A project/programme management certification is considered an asset.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in project management, particularly within international organizations or national NGOs. Candidates should have experience in programme partner management, results-based management, and monitoring, as well as applying organizational policies and compliance frameworks to partner agreements. Experience in developing data collection tools and providing technical guidance to teams is highly desirable, along with experience in gender equality and women's empowerment.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, enhancing communication and collaboration within diverse teams and with various stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The position is based in Kabul, Afghanistan, and may involve travel to sub-offices in other regions. The role is full-time, and candidates should be prepared for a dynamic work environment that requires adaptability and a commitment to UN Women’s values and standards. The organization emphasizes diversity and inclusion, ensuring that all employment decisions are based on qualifications and organizational needs. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks, including verification of academic credentials and employment history.