UNOPS is hiring a Grants Management Specialist in Kabul, Afghanistan, on a mid-level, open-ended ICA contract, and applications close on 09 November 2026. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed this role, which oversees grant management, financial monitoring and portfolio performance for the Afghanistan Water Emergency Relief Project.
What Is the Purpose of This Grants Management Role?
The role exists to ensure effective grant and financial management, monitoring and oversight of the Afghanistan Water Emergency Relief Project (WERP), promoting accountability, compliance and quality implementation. It supports implementation partners and project teams in delivering sustainable water supply and solar-powered irrigation solutions to drought-affected communities across Afghanistan.
The vacancy also describes the post as Grants Management Procurement Specialist and Procurement Specialist (Grants Management). Its holder ensures the quality, transparency and accountability of grant-funded activities, strengthens monitoring and evaluation systems, and builds the capacity of implementation partners.
UNOPS in Afghanistan Since 1995
UNOPS has maintained an active presence in Afghanistan since 1995, 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. Its current priorities include:
🛠️ Managing large-scale cash-for-work programmes
📦 Procuring emergency supplies
📡 Providing inter-agency coordination, communication and accountability support
The Asia Pacific Regional Picture
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.
The region works with key stakeholders to strengthen partnerships and maximize impact through five main operating units, providing agile, client-focused service delivery across sectors including infrastructure, health, procurement and project management:
🏔️ Afghanistan (AFCO)
🛕 Myanmar (MMCO)
🌏 South Asia Multi-Country Office (SAMCO)
🏝️ East Asia and Pacific Multi-Country Office (EAPMCO)
🩺 Asia Regional Health Cluster (ARHC)
Who You Will Work With
Under the overall guidance of the Senior Project Manager and in close coordination with project team members, you will perform a variety of interrelated activities, with a focus on high quality and accuracy of work. You will also engage with other project partners and stakeholders in all aspects of grant management services and general financial management. These include:
🔧 Relevant technical counterparts
🤲 Grant Delivery Partners at country level
🏢 UNOPS HQ, Legal and Financial Units
Building the Monitoring and Evaluation System
A key responsibility is supporting the Senior Project Manager in developing a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation (M&E) 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 the type of capacity building and training that can most adequately address them.
You will also be responsible for 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.
Grant Management Duties
✍️ Work closely with the Senior Project Manager and project teams on timely preparation and quality management of grant agreements
🔍 Provide advice and quality support to the project in evaluating proposals and making recommendations
📰 Support the project in reviewing Grantees' narrative reports
📨 Prepare other narrative reports and submit them to the project manager and donor periodically
Financial Management Duties
🧾 Work closely with project team members on the review of Grants budget and financial reports
🚨 Lead on financial monitoring of the Project, identification of operational and financial problems, and development of solutions
🔀 Provide support and advice to project team members on budget reallocation requests from Implementation Partners or analysis of financial reports
🗓️ Provide support and advice in planning, budgeting and monitoring of the portfolio, tracking the use of financial resources
🕵️ Provide substantive support to the project team in coordination of audit reports and Grantees' Financial Capacity Assessments (Due Diligences)
Monitoring Grants in the Field
👀 Work closely with the Senior Project Manager on monitoring grants
✅ Assist and advise Project Team members on developing field monitoring checklists and reporting templates for grantees
🏅 Assist in the active assessment of portfolio performance with a view to quality assurance, and support the quarterly quality assurance process
Knowledge Building and Knowledge Sharing
💻 Assist the project in harnessing the latest available knowledge on technology for grants management
📖 Provide quality advice and support to the project team on periodic review and update of the Project Operational Manual, reflecting best practices
📂 Lead on updating necessary SOPs, guidelines and templates
🏫 Assist in providing training and technology transfer to project personnel, and advise on good grant management practices
🌱 Contribute to the dissemination and sharing of best practices and lessons learned for development planning and knowledge building
💡 Provide feedback, ideas and internal knowledge about processes and best practices, and utilize productivity
General Team Support
🤝 Work in close collaboration with project teams and build a collaborative team spirit
❓ Support the Senior Project Manager and project team in responding to relevant queries, extracting and analyzing information accordingly
🖥️ Draft inputs such as talking points, slide decks, blog entries and other informational or operational demands, in coordination with other team members
⚠️ Contribute to identifying Risk, Lessons Learned and Issues
➕ Perform other responsibilities as may from time to time be requested by the Senior Project Manager
Education Requirements
🎓 An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in international relations, international development, economics, finance, business administration or a related field is required
📚 A Bachelor degree in combination with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree
How Much Experience Is Required?
You need at least 5 years of experience (or more depending on academic credentials) in grant management, international cooperation and/or project management.
Experience That Strengthens Your Application
The following experience and abilities are desired:
🏭 Private sector engagement, particularly in developing partnerships with private companies and facilitating collaboration between private operators, local communities and public institutions
🌾 Agricultural or rural development projects, particularly those involving irrigation, agricultural value chains, rural livelihoods, or the delivery of infrastructure and services to farming communities
🧭 Working in Afghanistan, with 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 and knowledge of grant management
🗣️ Demonstrable experience in Partnership Management and communication
♻️ Experience working with environmental issues such as plastic pollution
🕊️ Experience in the development and humanitarian sector, or working with Private Sectors, UN, Donors and NGOs
🗂️ Additional experience of project support functions (finance, human resources, procurement and logistics)
⌨️ Strong computer skills, including internet navigation and office applications (Google Workspace/MS Office)
Skills and Language
The vacancy lists these skills: Auditing, Budget Analysis, Data Analysis, Financial Reporting, Grant Monitoring, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, Risk Assessment, Stakeholder Management, and Finance Management.
Fluent English is required.
The Competencies UNOPS Looks For
🔭 Develops and implements sustainable business strategies, thinks long term and externally to positively shape the organisation, and anticipates the impact of future decisions and activities on other parts of the organisation
🧡 Treats all individuals with respect, responds sensitively to differences, upholds organisational and ethical norms, maintains high standards of trustworthiness, and is a role model for diversity and inclusion
👥 Acts as a positive role model contributing to team spirit, and collaborates and supports the development of others; people managers also motivate, direct and inspire others using appropriate leadership styles
🎯 Understands the impact of their own role on all partners, always puts the end beneficiary first, and builds and maintains strong external relationships
🏁 Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action to accomplish a goal, shows concern for quality, takes initiative on opportunities, and understands that responsible use of resources maximizes impact on beneficiaries
🌀 Is open to change and flexible in a fast-paced environment, adapts to changing circumstances, reflects on experiences, performs consistently under pressure, and pursues continuous improvement
🧠 Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions, takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks, and applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving
💬 Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner, listens actively, proactively shares knowledge, and handles conflict effectively by finding common ground
Contract and Position Details
📍 Duty station: Kabul
🏷️ Job category: Procurement & Logistics
📊 Seniority level: Mid Level
🔢 ICS level: ICS 10
📝 Contract type: ICA - IICA - Regular
🪜 Contract level: IICA 2
⌛ Duration: Ongoing ICA, open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance
Contract Terms to Note
📉 For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
🎒 For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (around 4 hours) in your own time before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during the contract, and you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers.
📜 All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks.
🌍 All personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
Selection, Background Checks and Accommodation
🕛 Applications must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date; applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
📞 Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments.
🚫 UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
🛑 UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
🛂 UNOPS conducts background checks on all potential personnel, and recruitment is contingent on the results of such checks.
🔒 UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment. Background checks are conducted for all final candidates, and by applying you acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
♿ If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, inform the human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
Diversity and Fair Selection at UNOPS
UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Its workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations and abilities, and it strives to foster an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. It is committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcomes diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
Browse more roles like this one among the job opportunities on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
What project does the UNOPS Grants Management Specialist work on?
The role supports the Afghanistan Water Emergency Relief Project (WERP). The project delivers sustainable water supply and solar-powered irrigation solutions to drought-affected communities across Afghanistan.
How much experience do I need for this job in Kabul?
At least 5 years of experience are required, or more depending on academic credentials, in grant management, international cooperation and/or project management. Experience in private sector engagement and in agricultural or rural development is desired.
Can I apply with a Bachelor's degree?
Yes. A Master's degree or equivalent is the requirement, but a Bachelor degree combined with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in its place.
What type of contract does UNOPS offer for this post?
The post is an ICA - IICA - Regular contract at IICA 2 level, ICS 10. The duration is an ongoing, open-ended ICA, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.
Which languages are required?
Fluent English is required. The vacancy does not list any other language requirement.
Who does this role report to?
The role works under the overall guidance of the Senior Project Manager, in close coordination with project team members. It also engages with Grant Delivery Partners at country level and internally with UNOPS HQ, Legal and Financial Units.
Does UNOPS charge candidates during recruitment?
No. UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
What time do applications close?
Applications must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on 09 November 2026. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
Deadline
⏳ 09 November 2026
Links
Apply: https://careers.unops.org/careersmarketplace/Login?jobId=4958
Job description: https://careers.unops.org/careersmarketplace/JobDetail/Grants-Management-Specialist/4958
