Finance Assistant

Following the power shift in August 2021, the situation for the country remains largely uncertain and fragile, with approximately seventy percent of the population facing multifaceted vulnerabilities affecting their well-being, human security, and long-term development. While nearly 20 million people are estimated to be acutely food insecure, women and girls are increasingly stripped of their rights to education, employment, and free participation in public life that will have irreversible socioeconomic consequences. Over the recent years, the international humanitarian assistance has played a vital role in averting a socioeconomic collapse by providing lifesaving, resilience-building, and livelihoods-sustaining assistance to millions of people, hundreds of critical healthcare and educational centers, and tens of thousands of small and medium enterprises, often managed by women. Nevertheless, the humanitarian challenge in Afghanistan, which is one of the biggest in the world, and basic human needs and priorities remain extremely high. In 2024, 95 percent of the households experienced at least one shock of an economic or natural disaster nature such as floods, droughts, and others.

To help tackle the pressing challenges of rebuilding livelihoods and climate resilience, UNDP is designing fit-for-purpose portfolios of programs to create new livelihoods, income opportunities, basic services, and to build resilience against climate-induced natural calamities that continue to haunt millions of households in the country.

Afghanistan remains one of the most gender-unequal countries in the world, with women facing systemic challenges hindering their access to education and employment opportunities in the public sector and restricting their participation in public life. UNDP remains committed to women's empowerment through capacity-building initiatives, livelihoods, and self-employment employment support, enhancing gender-responsive decision-making at community level, and supporting local communities to include women, in line with UNSCR 1325 (Women, Peace, and Security).

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. This is a recognition of the interconnected nature of development risks and crises that the world is facing and that calls for assembling multidisciplinary teams for an integrated and systemic response. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across issues, units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

As a trusted, long-term partner of The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund, GF), UNDP’s value proposition lies in providing an integrated package of development solutions to strengthen institutions to deliver health services. Through its contributions as interim Principal Recipient and provider of technical assistance in over 53 countries since 2003, UNDP’s provision of integrated policy, implementation and capacity development support to countries has yielded significant health and development results in challenging operating environments. In Afghanistan, UNDP is the interim Principal Recipient (PR) for HIV, tuberculosis, malaria and health systems, with a budget of approximately $70 million.  For effective implementation of the Global Fund resources, UNDP Afghanistan has established a Program Management Unit (PMU), which is responsible for the day-to-day overall programme management, risk management, policy guidance, financial accountability, procurement of goods, including health products and services, strengthening of the national pharmaceutical and laboratory supply chain systems.

Under direct supervision of the Finance Specialist, the Finance Assistant will provide financial management, general administrative support, and capacity building. This will be done in accordance with UNDP rules, policies and procedures, the grant agreement, and corporate agreements with the GF, and working in partnership with national and provincial stakeholders, Sub-recipients (SRs) and close coordination with the GF (including Local Fund Agent), technical partners and UN entities, and the GF/HST. 

Support administration of the Global Fund Grant budget focusing on achievement of the following results:

• Support an efficient financial flow process and timely payments of the goods and services required by SRs for the implementation of the Programme activities. 
• Prepare detailed budget information of the Global Fund approved components. 
• Follow up on the budget execution Sub-recipients (SRs) and other implementing partners. 
• Prepare monthly account reconciliation. 
• Prepare budget revisions, as required and maintain updated the projects information in Quantum. 
• Support the design of a reporting system for internal and GF needs and prepare periodic reports as required. 
• Support preparation of project financial reports in compliance with the Global Fund requirements and the periodic Disbursements Requests to be submitted to the Local Fund Agent/Global Fund for the replenishment of the PR account.
• Analyse and provide reasons for the budget variances between the actual and budgeted expenditures.
• Prepare for annual audits of PR and SRs as required by the GF and ensure that external auditors have all relevant information. Follow up on audit reports to ensure that recommendations in audit reports are implemented. 
• Effect payments using Quantum, ensuring accuracy of computation and completeness of supporting documentation and preparing for payments (check and bank transfer) 
• Maintenance of the internal expenditures control system which ensures that vouchers processed are matched and completed, transactions are correctly recorded and posted; travel claims, and other entitlements are duly processed. 
• Presentation of information on the status of financial resources as required. 
• Maintenance of the proper filing system for finance records and documents

Assist proper cash management system functioning focusing on achievement of the following results: 

• Timely and accurate preparation of cash reconciliations 

Support facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the PMU focusing on the following results:

• Organization of training for the operations/programme/projects staff on financial management.
• Synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices in financial management.
• Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.

Institutional Arrangement:

The Finance Assistant will work under the overall guidance of the Finance Specialist to ensure the provision of effective and efficient financial management activities.