Grants & Finance Specialist
Organizational Context
The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Asia Pacific Regional Office oversees operations across 17 countries, focusing on infrastructure, health, procurement, and project management. The Afghanistan Country Office (AFCO) specifically supports life-saving initiatives and basic needs, including managing cash-for-work programs and emergency procurement. This role is within the Private Sector Resilience Program (PSRP), a World Bank-financed initiative aimed at strengthening Afghan MSMEs.
Job Purpose
The Grants & Finance Specialist will ensure the effective management of grants and financial operations for the Private Sector Resilience Program (PSRP) in Afghanistan. This involves developing and implementing grant mechanisms, overseeing fund flows, budgets, expenditures, and partner controls. The role contributes to the program's objectives by ensuring sound financial management, fiduciary oversight, and risk mitigation. The Specialist will collaborate with the Program Manager and project teams to guarantee compliance with UNOPS and World Bank requirements, optimize resource utilization, and support overall project financial planning, monitoring, and forecasting. The position also involves managing dedicated grants personnel and conducting on-site monitoring.
Responsibilities
The Grants & Finance Specialist is responsible for comprehensive grant management, including preparing and managing Calls for Proposals, evaluating submissions, and administering grant activities with implementing partners. This includes providing guidance, coordinating due diligence, reviewing partner documentation, and managing grant award processes. The role involves monitoring partner activities against work plans and budgets, facilitating resolution of grant-related issues, and coordinating assurance activities like audits and spot checks. Financial management duties encompass establishing financial arrangements, consolidating budgets, monitoring expenditures and cash flow, reviewing payment requests, and reconciling financial reports. The Specialist will also lead capacity assessments and provide training to implementing partners on financial management and PSEA, while also contributing to knowledge management, risk identification, and compliance with UNOPS and donor regulations. Stakeholder communication and program development are also key aspects of the role.
Work Experience
Required experience includes project/programme management with a focus on private sector development, grant management, or economic development in complex environments. Desired experience involves making grants to private sector entities, developing complex grants, working with the World Bank or similar institutions, and experience in fragile, conflict, and violence (FCV) contexts.
Skills
Capacity Building, Grant Monitoring, Risk Management, Stakeholder Management, Strategic Planning, Team Leadership, Finance Management