Background Information – UNOPS

UNOPS – an operational arm of the United Nations – supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by successfully implementing its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management, and human resources.

Working with us

We are proud of our people. With a wealth of knowledge and skills in various disciplines – engineering, finance, human resources, ICT, leadership, project management, procurement, and more – they help tackle some of the biggest challenges of our time. Their work around the world supports progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

At UNOPS, we offer a range of short- and long-term opportunities in various environments and duty stations – from Denmark and Kenya to Mexico, Switzerland, Myanmar, Senegal, Uganda, and many more.

Diversity

With over 5,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,400 personnel recruited on behalf of our partners, spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced and diverse labor force — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs. We continually strive to maintain our gender-balanced workplace. We encourage qualified underrepresented groups as per UNOPS Gender, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy to apply for our vacancies.

Job Summary
Afghanistan

With more than 20 years of experience in the country, UNOPS Afghanistan focuses on providing maximum support to the people of Afghanistan through the delivery of projects and services that improve the lives of people in need. The UNOPS Afghanistan Country Office (AFCO) serves as an organizational mechanism to deliver a range of projects for which UNOPS has been designated as the implementation agency. At present, UNOPS AFCO activities cover a range of sectors including humanitarian, basic human needs, cash for work, infrastructure, development, procurement and HR services.

The functional objective of UNOPS AFCO is to contribute to improving the lives of girls, boys, men and women living in Afghanistan. The aim of UNOPS AFCO is to provide efficient and cost-effective implementation services on behalf of all our partners to support the humanitarian response and development of the country. UNOPS AFCO’s mission is to exceed the expectations of all stakeholders in the delivery of AFCO services, at all times, in all places, in all circumstances, in order to improve the lives of Afghans in need.

Job Requirements
Job Specific Context
UNOPS is the Principal Implementing Agency (PIA) for the Private Sector Resilience Project (PSRP), financed by the World Bank (IDA and ARTF), a project designed to support access to finance and capabilities of MSMEs in selected value chains. This is a Home-based retainer position with missions to Kabul, Afghanistan, open to both national and international applicants.

Role Purpose
The Financial Sector Compliance Advisor will serve on an on-call, milestone-driven retainer basis. The Advisor provides senior technical leadership and policy guidance to the project team and implementing partners. The Advisor provides expert guidance to the PIU, commercial banks, and FSPs to improve international compliance standards, lower transaction barriers for exporters, design targeted capacity-building programs to improve FSPs’ AML/CFT compliance and restore direct international correspondent banking relationships.

Functions / Key Results Expected
1. Technical Advisory

Serve as the principal technical expert on trade finance support and financial systems for the PSRP project.

Provide expert advice and guidance to the Senior Programme Manager (SPM) and project team on relevant areas of the project.

Contribute to the planning of knowledge generation activities and knowledge products to inform activities in support of financial sector in Afghanistan.

Stay abreast of the latest developments, including regulatory changes at the global and national levels, relevant for financial sector development in Afghanistan.

2. Implementation Support

Lead technical diagnostic reviews of the compliance architecture, risk-management systems, and AML/CFT controls of eligible Afghan FSPs and commercial banks.

Design capacity-building plans to help domestic banks adopt international financial standards and safely re-establish international correspondent banking networks.

Provide technical support and/or advisory to Afghan export firms, business chambers, and trade associations to navigate international payment compliance and trade documentation requirements.

3. Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination

Liaise and advise PSRP’s implementing partners on technical matters related to financial sector development.

Under the guidance of the SPM, liaise closely with technical stakeholders in the World Bank and IFC (particularly the Task Team Leads or their delegated technical representatives) on technical matters.

Ensure the PSRP is adequately represented and contributes to wider discussions and working groups on financial sector development; engage in technical meetings and workshops with stakeholders and the donor.

Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders to ensure effective collaboration and project success.

Work with financial service providers to identify obstacles to expanding foreign correspondent relationships and areas to support risk management processes.

Coordinate with other project implementing agencies working on microfinance and credit guarantees to ensure complementarity and cross-component learning of activities.

4. Technical Review

Review and provide technical input on terms of reference (ToRs), tender documents, and proposals for the procurement of specialized technical services.

Review and provide technical input on terms of reference, evaluations and other technical documents related to the contract management of PSRP grantees.

Review and provide technical inputs on deliverables from suppliers of specialised technical services contracted under the project, including but not limited to research and analysis work on Islamic insurance schemes (takaful), credit information sharing systems and digital finance expansion.

Oversee, review, and guide the work of suppliers providing specialized technical assistance to financial service providers to improve financial integrity processes.

5. Knowledge Sharing and Capacity Building

Contribute to knowledge sharing and capacity building initiatives within UNOPS and with project partners.

Develop and deliver training programs and workshops on private sector development topics.

Document and disseminate lessons learned and best practices from the project, facilitate knowledge exchange and learning events among project stakeholders.

Conduct field visits to project and partner sites to assess the effectiveness of interventions and provide on-site technical assistance.

Support the development of monitoring and evaluation frameworks to track project outcomes and impact.

Contribute to the preparation of project reports, briefs, and presentations for internal and external audiences.

Support the identification and assessment of potential private sector partners for project implementation.

Provide technical input into the design of new private sector development projects and initiatives.

Ensure gender and social inclusion considerations, and the adoption of sustainable and environmentally responsible practices, are integrated into all aspects of project design and implementation.

Skills
Capacity Building, Economic Development, Financial Advisory, Investment Advisory, Market Analysis, Policy Analysis
Competencies
Education Requirements
Required

Master’s degree in Finance, Commercial Law, International Trade, Banking, Economics, Business Administration, or related field with a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience; OR

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Commercial Law, International Trade, Banking, Economics, Business Administration, or related field with a minimum of 9 years of relevant experience.

Desired

An industry-recognized certification in financial compliance (e.g., Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist – CAMS) is highly desirable.

Experience Requirements
Required

Minimum 7 years of experience in trade facilitation, financial sector regulatory reform, business advocacy, or banking compliance is required.

Experience in designing or implementing AML/CFT compliance frameworks, risk assessments, or correspondent banking solutions is required.

Experience in conducting high-quality market research and policy analysis related to financial sector development, including the preparation of comprehensive reports and policy recommendations is required

Desired

Experience in financial sector development in fragile and conflict-affected contexts.

Experience in Afghanistan or other conflict-affected countries.

Understanding of the economic, political, and social context of Afghanistan, with specific knowledge of the challenges and opportunities for financial sector development.

Experience in developing and delivering training programmes.

Language Requirements
Language Proficiency Level Requirement
English Fluent Required

Submission Guideline
Please click on the below link for actual vacancy announcement to see the complete details and submission guideline as this is only an attempt for attracting female applicants for gender parity in organization. Please make sure you fill your profile/application properly with all relevant details in order to be considered for the next stage of recruitment/selection.

https://careers.unops.org/careersmarketplace/JobDetail/4844

Email / Application Form: https://careers.unops.org/careersmarketplace/JobDetail/4844