Lead Technical Advisor - Private Sector Development

Organizational Context

UNOPS, through its Afghanistan Country Office (AFCO), acts as the Principal Implementing Agency for the Private Sector Resilience Project (PSRP). This World Bank-financed initiative aims to strengthen the resilience and job creation potential of Afghan micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), specifically targeting women, youth, and returnees, within a challenging humanitarian and development context.

Job Purpose

The Lead Technical Advisor provides critical technical leadership and expert advice to the Senior Programme Manager and project team for the Private Sector Resilience Project (PSRP). This role ensures the effective implementation of the PSRP, aligning all activities with best practices in private sector development, particularly focusing on job creation, private capital mobilization, and supporting livelihoods for women and returnees. The advisor is instrumental in guiding strategic decision-making, fostering robust stakeholder engagement with implementing partners, the World Bank, and other donors, and facilitating knowledge sharing and capacity building initiatives. By staying abreast of the latest trends and contributing to innovative financing mechanisms, the advisor ensures technical excellence and relevance. The ultimate purpose is to maximize the project's impact on strengthening the resilience and growth potential of Afghan micro, small, and medium enterprises, contributing to sustainable development in a fragile context.

Responsibilities

The Lead Technical Advisor serves as the principal technical expert on private sector development for the PSRP project, providing guidance on job creation, private capital mobilization, and initiatives supporting women and returnees' livelihoods. This includes contributing to innovative financing mechanisms and staying updated on best practices. The role involves extensive stakeholder engagement, liaising with PSRP implementing partners, the World Bank, IFC, private sector representatives, and other donor agencies. The advisor ensures PSRP's representation in wider discussions and builds strong collaborative relationships. Key duties also encompass decision-making and technical review, where the advisor assumes UNOPS's position on project bodies, reviews and provides technical input on terms of reference, tender documents, proposals, and deliverables from specialized service providers and grantees, ensuring alignment with good practices and donor requirements. Furthermore, the advisor provides technical support throughout project implementation, monitoring progress, identifying and addressing challenges, and supporting capacity building for partners. The role also emphasizes knowledge sharing and capacity building, developing training programs, documenting lessons learned, conducting field visits, and contributing to monitoring and evaluation frameworks and project reporting. Gender and social inclusion, along with sustainable practices, are integrated into all aspects.

Work Experience

A minimum of 7 years of experience in private sector development, investment promotion, policy advisory, or economic policy is required, including work in fragile and conflict-affected contexts. This must include stakeholder engagement, partnership building, and high-quality market research and policy analysis. Experience in areas like value chain mapping, SME financing, or capacity building in FCV contexts is essential. Desirable experience includes designing private sector development initiatives, public-private partnerships, understanding Afghanistan's context, and delivering training programs.

Skills

Capacity Building, Concept Development, Economic Development, Market Analysis, Policy Analysis, Project Implementation, Public-private Partnerships, Stakeholder Engagement, Strategic Planning.

Explore related opportunities