Grants Management Specialist

The Asia Pacific Regional Office, based in Bangkok, Thailand, provides strategic leadership and oversight for UNOPS operations across 17 countries, ensuring high performance, operational excellence, and alignment with organizational goals. Operations currently span Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Pacific Islands. Across these countries, we work closely with key stakeholders to strengthen partnerships and maximize impact through five main operating units: Afghanistan (AFCO), Myanmar (MMCO), South Asia Multi-Country Office (SAMCO), East Asia and Pacific Multi-Country Office (EAPMCO), and the Asia Regional Health Cluster (ARHC). Through these entities, we provide agile, client-focused service delivery across diverse sectors - including infrastructure, health, procurement, and project management - supporting the implementation of sustainable development solutions across the region.

Since 1995, UNOPS has maintained an active presence in Afghanistan, delivering efficient, agile services in support of both humanitarian response and development efforts. Prior to August 2021, the Afghanistan Country Office (AFCO) implemented projects across a broad range of sectors, including infrastructure, procurement, capacity building, and environmental protection. In response to evolving humanitarian needs, AFCO has shifted its focus to supporting life-saving initiatives and basic human needs. Current priorities include managing large-scale cash-for-work programmes, procuring emergency supplies, and providing inter-agency coordination, communication, and accountability support.

Under the overall guidance of the Senior Project Manager and in close coordination with the Project team members, the incumbent is responsible for performing a variety of interrelated activities, with focus on high quality and accuracy of work. The Procurement Specialist (Grants Management) will also be engaging with other project partners and stakeholders in all aspects relating to grant management services and general financial management. This includes relevant technical counterparts, Grant Delivery Partners at country level and internally with UNOPS HQ, Legal and Financial Units. 

A key responsibility of the incumbent will be to support the Senior Project Manager in developing a comprehensive monitoring & evaluation system through which project related data and results can be compiled and assessed. The M&E system will also assist UNOPS and the World Bank in identifying key implementation challenges for Implementation Partners and type of capacity building and training can be designed to most adequately to address the challenges identified. 

The GMS will be responsible for the internal knowledge management and communication of results, lessons learnt and best practices for the benefit of other UNOPS projects in the area of Grant Management Support.  

To ensure effective grant and financial management, monitoring, and oversight of the Afghanistan Water Emergency Relief Project (WERP), promoting accountability, compliance, and quality implementation. The role supports implementation partners and project teams in delivering sustainable water supply and solar-powered irrigation solutions to drought-affected communities across Afghanistan.

1. Grant Management 

1. Work closely with Senior Project Manager and project teams on timely preparation and quality management of the grant agreements; 

2. Provide advice and quality support to the project in evaluating proposals and making recommendations;

3. Support the project in reviewing Grantees narrative reports; 

4. Preparing other narrative reports and submitting to the project manager and donor periodically.

2. Financial Management 

1. Work closely with the project team members on review of Grants budget and financial reports;

2. Lead on financial monitoring of the Project, identification of operational and financial problems, and development of solutions;

3. Provide support and advice to the project team members on budget reallocation requests from Implementation Partners or analysis of financial reports;

4. Provide Support and advice in planning, budgeting and monitoring of the portfolio, tracking the use of financial resources;

5. Provide substantive support to the project team in coordination of audit reports and Grantee’s Financial Capacity Assessments (Due Diligences).

3. Monitoring and Evaluation

1. Work closely with Senior Project Manager on monitoring grants;

2. Assist and advice Project Team members on developing field monitoring checklists and reporting templates of grantees;

3. Assist in the active assessment of portfolio performance with a view to assure quality assurance, support the quarterly quality assurance process.

4. Knowledge building and Knowledge sharing: 

1. Assist project in harnessing latest available knowledge on technology for grants management;

2. Provide quality advice and support to the project team on periodic review and update of the Project Operational Manual and to reflect best practices;

3. Lead on updating necessary SOPs, guidelines and templates;

4. Assist in providing training and technology transfer to project personnel and advice on good grant management practices, 

5. Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for development planning and knowledge building.

6. Provide  feedback, ideas, and internal knowledge about processes and best practices and utilize productivity.

5. General Support 

1. Working in close collaboration with project teams and build collaborative team spirit;

2. Support the Senior Project Manager and project team to respond to relevant queries; extract and analyze information accordingly;

3. Draft inputs such as talking points, slide decks, blog entries and other type of informational/operational demands in coordination with other team members;

4. Contribute to identifying Risk, Lessons Learned and Issues;

5. Perform other responsibilities as may from time to time be requested by the Senior Project Manager

Required

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) international relations, international development, economics, finance,business administration or a related field is required.

• Bachelor degree in combination with additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Required

• At least 5 years of experience (or more depending on academic credentials) in grant management, international cooperation and/or project management related m

Desired

• Experience in private sector engagement, particularly in developing partnerships with private companies, and facilitating collaboration between private operators, local communities and public institutions.
• Experience in agricultural or rural development projects, particularly those involving irrigation, agricultural value chains, rural livelihoods, or the delivery of infrastructure and services to farming communities.
• Experience working in Afghanistan and familiarity with the Afghan private sector, including its key actors, business environment, and opportunities and challenges for private sector engagement in agricultural and rural development.
• Demonstrated skills in dealing with large databases and spreadsheets.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct financial and budget analysis. 
• Demonstrable exposure to development topics, knowledge of grant management.
• Demonstrable experience in Partnership Management and communication.
• Experience working with environmental issues such as plastic pollution is desired.
• Experience working in the development and humanitarian sector/working with Private Sectors, UN, Donors, NGOs is desired.
• Additional experience of project support functions (finance, human resources, procurement & logistics) is desired.
• Strong computer skills, including internet navigation and office applications (Google Workspace/MS Office)

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