UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with a broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet. UNDP has been working in Afghanistan for more than 50 years on climate change and resilience, gender, governance, health, livelihoods, and the rule of law. Under the broader framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and in close coordination with other UN agencies, UNDP supports the Afghan people’s aspiration for peace, prosperity, and sustainability. UNDP is currently implementing its flagship response Programme, ABADEI (Area Based Approach to Development Emergency Initiatives), as part of the ongoing UN-led response to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and the breakdown of Afghanistan’s economy following the August 2021 shift in power.

Country Office success in its delivery of UNDP programmes is dependent on ensuring an adequate security framework is in place. The Country Office security team, in collaboration with UNDP Security Office and regional security staff, reinforces to enable ongoing delivery of UNDP programmes, particularly in insecure and unstable environments. Specifically, the security team ensures the integration and mainstreaming of security risk management into Country Office operations, including incorporation of security considerations into the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of all country office projects and programmes.

Under the strategic guidance and supervision of the Resident Representative (RR) the Senior Field Security Specialist (Senior FSS) provides leadership in ensuring adequate security risk management is in place in a large and/or complex country to enable its effective delivery of UNDP programme and the safety/security of all UNDP personnel, assets, and facilities within the country. The Senior FSS ensures the mainstreaming of security and security costs into all programming processes at the country office level as well as for individual projects; and maintains a security network of international and national security personnel.

The Senior FSS will supervise the Country Office security team and/or staff; and works in close collaboration with UN Department of Security and Safety (UNDSS), security partners in other UN agencies, national and local security counterparts, counterparts in Diplomatic missions, NGOs, municipal/civic/religious and traditional leaders to exchange information and implement security programs.  UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

• In consultation with the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) in the Country Office, support, and conduct security risk management for the for UN Security Management Systems (SMS) and UNDP Programmes.
• Ensure the mainstreaming of security and security costs into all levels of programme design; oversee implementation and delivery through the substantive monitoring of ongoing and future projects, programmes, and costs; and provide innovative and proactive support, direction and solutions in highly complex situations where required.
• Play a key role in contributing to the UN SMS-wide security risk management process in designated/security area. Ensure security support needs are identified and provided based on review of possible impacts of potential security factors and trends on UNDP planning, programme design and delivery as well as the possible impact of programme design on stability and security.
• Conduct security risk assessment of operations in the districts and regions where UNDP projects are implemented; and identify security risk priorities and ensure appropriate risk mitigation measures are implemented.
• Implement person-centered security risk management approaches in Country Office where security assessments and resultant security measures and procedures are guided by a nuanced evaluation of specific threats or vulnerabilities in a country facing conflict, political unrest, or other volatility.
• Assist and provide substantive inputs to UNDSS in preparing the security risk management process and other country security documents of country/areas where UNDP staff, dependents and equipment are present.

Work in collaboration with the UN Department of Security and Safety (UNDSS) and lead the country office security team to ensure that UNDP procedures conform to the UN security framework. 

• Provide inputs and assist UNDSS in establishing, maintaining and updating country specific security and contingency plans in accordance with the UN Security Policy Manual (SPM) as well as assist on security aspects of developing and updating emergency business continuity plans for the country office in concert with the UN Country Team business continuity plan and guidance from the Regional Security Advisor.
• Ensure that all UNDP personnel are included in the Security Plan of the respective country offices being prepared by the UNDSS, which will include working in collaboration with HR and other relevant units to maintain and incorporate in those Security Plans an updated list of all UNDP personnel.
• Formulate and test UNDP specific security and contingency plans and support the testing of CO Business Continuity Plans.
• Ensure the development and delivery of security orientation and training to UNDP personnel on security guidelines and procedures, security awareness a country.
• Coordinate with UNDSS in implementation of fire safety, first aid, and radio communications training for the appropriate staff members.
• Provide oversight and monitor of security compliance of UNDP personnel, operations and equipment and advise on selection and procurement of appropriate security equipment.

• Produce security reports as required by the Country Office and the Security Office in a timely and efficient manner.
• For all security related incidents involving UNDP staff and eligible dependents, coordinate with the Department of Safety and Security (DSS) to ensure processes are in place in country office to support 24-hour response, and immediately report such incidents to the UNDP Security Office and UNDSS in the country.
• Establish internal communication systems and ensure UNDP communications are integrated into the appropriate UN Security Emergency Communications System.
• Liaise and coordinate activities of partner organizations and counterparts in the planning, preparation, and execution of missions, ensuring the safety and security of UNDP staff as the highest priority.
• Maintain a security network of international and national security personnel. Participate as a member of the security cell established by DSS in country and participate in inter-agency security coordination efforts.
• Contribute to knowledge networks and professional communities.

• Support the implementation of physical security and security risk management measures for UNDP premises; and when delegated to undertake task, provide security management oversight of common premises.
• Conduct periodic security assessments of UNDP premises and equipment and advise on shortfalls in security preparedness with recommended improvements and solutions as well as their implementation.
• Represent UNDP security interests in any common premises that UNDP occupies in the country ensuring that staff safety and security are primary considerations.

• Core Competencies:

Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands

Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

• Core Competencies:

Business Management – Portfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment.

Business Direction & Strategy – System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Business Management – Operations Management: Ability to effectively plan, organize, and oversee the Organization beyond processes in order to convert its assets into the best results in the most efficient manner.
Knowledge of relevant concepts and mechanisms.

Security Services – Security advice, planning and coordination:   Ability to provide with authoritative advice and guidance on security management, plan and coordinate security activities.

Security Services – Security information management:   Analytical capabilities to process diverse security information and develop recommendations.

Security Services – Security risk management:   Ability to assess threats and risks, identify and oversee implementation of mitigation measures, including ability to design and test security plans.

Security Services – Physical/premises security design, implementation and management:   Ability to conduct accurate premises assessments on UN facilities to ensure appropriate mitigation measures are in place. Ability to design, support the implementation and test physical security systems for UNDP premises.