Aga Khan Foundation
The position
POSITION OBJECTIVE
AKF (Afghanistan) has been selected as a grant agent of Education Cannot Wait (ECW) to implement its Multi-Year Resilience Programme (MYRP) in Afghanistan. AKF is the lead agency responsible for managing a consortium of four NGO partners working in eight provinces of Afghanistan. The consortium will implement the MYRP with a budget of $15 million in seed funding, to expand community-based education with a focus on equity and inclusion. The project is currently in its first phase and will run until the end of 2024, while the second phase is expected to provide another 3 years of support.
The consortium is managed by a Kabul-based Project Management Unit (PMU) within AKF, led by the National Manager, Education (ECW) who will manage the PMU team made up of a National Coordinator, Technical Advisor, and MERL Coordinator. The National Manager, Education (ECW) will be responsible for coordinating project deliverables with consortium partners and AKF (Afg) Education team. monitoring and evaluation, reporting, supporting partner’s understanding of compliance requirements, and representing the consortium in education working groups and forums. In collaboration with consortium partners, the PMU will maintain strategic relationships with education stakeholders and a cohesive and organized approach to achieve project goals.
The scope of work includes:
- Maintain strong relationships across consortium members and AKF (Afg) Education team to deliver quality education for children and young people in marginalized communities of Afghanistan, in-line with donor requirements, standards, and policies.
- Provide overall strategic leadership to achieve project objectives and manage implementation with project partners.
- Develop and maintain relationships with donors, consortium partners, and other key education stakeholders including representing the consortium in external meetings, forums, and working groups at national and international level.
- Oversight of relevant monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning efforts, including high-quality reporting, effective knowledge management, and dissemination of evidence-based best practices and research findings.
- Support oversight of financial, auditing, and compliance matters.
The National Manager, Education will be based in Kabul (partial remote work options are available) with potential travel to ECW project areas (pending security).
JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Leadership: Provide strategic and operational leadership for the PMU and executive support to the Steering Committee; and Coordinate project planning, reviews, evaluation activities, and project implementation activities with PMU team members, consortium partners, and other key stakeholders.
- Quality Oversight and Compliance: Periodically review monitoring tools and systems to support implementation of all aspects of the project including operations, financial management, monitoring, and reporting; Develop strategies to improve data and reporting quality and verification of data; Coordinate with consortium partners on program and financial monitoring visits / audits / field visits from the donor / external firms; Build partner’s understanding of compliance requirements by sharing donor policies and providing capacity building, as necessary.
- Knowledge Management: Work closely with PMU MERL Coordinator and partners to manage the monitoring, research, evaluation, and learning components of the project including contracting and oversight of external researcher for project baseline / endline evaluation and third-party monitoring as per donor/project requirements; and Support PMU MERL Coordinator to maintain organized and updated electronic records.
The requirements
JOB SPECIFICATION
- Advanced degree in Education, Development, Humanities, Project Management, or related field or PMP certification; and a minimum of 5 years’ experience managing development programs / projects.
- Extensive experience implementing multi-lateral development projects in challenging environments, particularly in conflict and post-conflict contexts.
- Demonstrated ability to manage reporting systems that meet requirements of international donors / funding agencies (experience with ECW / USAID reporting and compliance requirements is preferred).
- Ability to delegate tasks to a diverse team and respond effectively to tight deadlines and high-pressure situations.
REQUIRED CORE COMPETENCIES
- High level of cultural adaptability and sensitivity and ability to cope with a challenging security situation.
- Ability to work and communicate effectively within a diverse project team consisting of local and international staff.
- Ability to effectively respond to and manage expectations from a variety of stakeholders.
- Diplomatic, flexible, and facilitative leadership skills with a good sense of humor.
- Excellent written and spoken communications skills in English.
- Demonstrated skills in strategic and program planning, coordination, and adaptation.
Sector
Social Development
About the Agency
The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), alongside its sister AKDN agencies, has implemented innovative, community-driven solutions to development challenges for over 50 years. It brings together human, financial and technical resources to address some of the challenges faced by the poorest and most marginalised communities in the world. Special emphasis is placed on investing in human potential, expanding opportunity and improving the overall quality of life, especially for women and girls. It works primarily in six areas: Agriculture and Food Security; Economic Inclusion; Education; Early Childhood Development; Health and Nutrition; and Civil Society.
Region
Central Asia
Location
Afghanistan
Salary
Salary and package to attract the best candidate
Job Expires
21-Dec-2022