Lead Technical Advisor - Private Sector Development

The Lead Technical Advisor provides technical leadership and expert advice to the Senior Programme Manager and project team for the Private Sector Resilience Project (PSRP) in Afghanistan. The role involves stakeholder engagement, decision-making, knowledge sharing, and ensuring effective implementation of private sector development initiatives focused on MSMEs, women, youth, and returnees.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the principal technical expert on private sector development for the PSRP project.
• Provide expert advice and guidance to the Senior Programme Manager and project team on all technical aspects of the project, especially job creation, private capital mobilisation, and initiatives supporting the livelihoods of women and returnees.
• Contribute to the development of innovative financing mechanisms to promote private sector investment in Afghanistan.
• Stay abreast of the latest trends, research, and best practices in private sector development and advise the project team accordingly.
• Liaise and advise PSRP’s implementing partners on technical matters related to private sector development.
• Coordinate with stakeholders including private sector representatives, international organizations, and donor agencies.
• Represent UNOPS in decision-making bodies such as the start-up selection committee.
• Review and provide technical input on terms of reference, tender documents, proposals, evaluations, and deliverables related to project procurement and contract management.
• Provide technical support and guidance throughout project implementation, monitor progress, and address technical challenges.
• Support capacity building of implementing partners and stakeholders in private sector engagement and development.
• 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.
• Conduct field visits to assess interventions and provide on-site technical assistance.
• Support development of monitoring and evaluation frameworks to track project outcomes and impact.
• Contribute to preparation of project reports, briefs, and presentations.
• Support 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 sustainable, environmentally responsible practices are integrated into project design and implementation.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Economics, Business Administration, Finance, or related field with a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience; OR Bachelor's degree in Economics, Business Administration, Finance, International Studies, or related field with a minimum of 9 years of relevant experience.
• Relevant certifications in private sector development or investment promotion (desired).
• Minimum 7 years of experience in private sector development, investment promotion, policy advisory, or economic policy.
• Experience in private sector engagement and development in fragile and conflict-affected contexts.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement and partnership building with representatives from the private sector, government, and donor communities.
• Experience in conducting high-quality market research and policy analysis related to private sector development, including the preparation of reports and policy recommendations.
• Experience in any of the following areas: Value chain mapping and development, Early-stage business acceleration, Start-up and SME financing, Islamic finance and insurance solutions (Takaful), including in FCV contexts, Capacity building for the private sector and NGOs in FCV contexts.
• Experience in designing and implementing successful private sector development initiatives (desired).
• Experience in public-private partnerships (desired).
• Understanding of the economic, political, and social context of Afghanistan, with specific knowledge of the challenges and opportunities for private sector development.
• Experience in developing and delivering training programmes.
• Experience in Afghanistan or other conflict-affected countries.
• Fluent English language proficiency.

Skills

• Private Sector Development
• Investment Promotion
• Policy Advisory
• Economic Policy Development
• Private Sector Engagement
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Partnership Building
• Market Research
• Policy Analysis
• Report Writing
• Value Chain Mapping
• Business Acceleration
• SME Finance
• Islamic Financing
• Takaful Insurance
• Capacity Building
• Public Private Partnerships
• Training Program Development
• Conflict-Affected Contexts
• Knowledge Sharing

Languages

English