Programme Development and Quality Advisor

War Child UK has a complex programme in Afghanistan, working on strengthening child protection systems across the country, and assisting the safe return of unaccompanied and separated minors forcibly returned to Afghanistan from Iran. We have ambitious plans to increase the scale, quality and sustainability of our programme. Our new Programme Development and Quality Advisor will lead the response to this challenge by leading on efforts to scale up our programme through a more diverse portfolio of funding in response to the growing humanitarian needs in the country as well as leading the safe and effective implementation of existing programmes. S/he will also take lead in improving the quality of our programming, grant management system and monitoring, evaluation, learning and accountability mechanisms. S/he will lead a team of technical advisors in country to ensure quality programmes.

Your role

An integral part of the Senior Management Team in country, the Programme Development and Quality Advisor will be responsible for ensuring good strategic leadership of the Afghanistan country office’s programme funding opportunities through maintaining existing portfolio and diversifying new funding opportunities. The role will also ensure quality, managing key risks and supporting the team to deliver programmatic goals. The role will also lead representation and coordination efforts among clusters, workings groups and tasks forces at national and sub-national levels. S/he will be responsible for strengthening relationship with in-country donors and INGOs for strategic funding opportunities.

40% Programme Development & External Representation

• Ensure strategic presence of WCUK in key humanitarian and development fora, working groups and clusters.
• Create and maintain an active relationship and network for WCUK with other technical protection, education and food security and livelihood counterparts.
• Capacity build and train the in-country team on programme development.
• Develop and cultivate strong partnerships with donors, UN agencies, national and international agencies (particularly in protection, education and food security and livelihood programming).
• Lead on all WCUK proposals and concept notes (coordinating assessments, narratives, budgets, technical sections) in close coordination with Head of Programme and Country Director
• Maintain a clear picture of donor calls, opportunities, country specific and regionally relevant response plans. Lead on the development of an in-country funding strategy.
• Coordinate closely with London programmes team members on new proposal opportunities, ensuring appropriate involvement from key staff.

60% Programme Quality

• Actively contribute to programme strategy development in the themes of Child protection, education and food security and livelihoods, ensuring cross cutting themes (Safeguarding, gender, disability and accountability) are integrated in programme design and implementation.
• Work closely with the SMT in country to ensure that the grant management system is effectively implemented.
• Work closely with the Finance team to ensure timely implementation of grants and monitor expenditure closely to reduce the risk of disallowable costs in line with minimum programme quality standards for WCUK in Afghanistan.
• Work in collaboration with the Head of Programme to coordinate the work of a multi-location and multi-skilled team, ensuring quality outcomes and collaboration within the team to achieve programme strategy.
• Lead the MEAL team to ensure on time monitoring, evaluation and learnings are captured on time and inform quality design and delivery.
• Lead a team of technical advisors (Child protection, education and food security and livelihood) and ensure the programme team and partners receive on time technical support.

These duties provide a framework for the role and should not be regarded as a definitive list. Other reasonable duties may be required consistent with the grade of the post.

You have

• Significant experience in successfully designing and delivering programmes in a complex and insecure environment.
• Strategic vision with knowledge of the funding environment and donor requirements.
• Proven experience in developing new partnerships. Particularly in building new networks, multi-agency consortia and high-quality local partnerships as well as government liaison.
• Proven experience of participating in the humanitarian coordination system.
• Proven experience of leading the proposal development process.
• Knowledge and experience of managing the programme and project cycle in complex multi-stakeholder programmes.
• Strong financial management skills.
• Strong technical knowledge and competencies in WCUK key thematic areas: child protection, education, MHPSS, child migration, protection and reintegration of unaccompanied minors.
• Proven leadership skills and the ability to motivate and inspire a diverse team.
• Previous experience of living and working in an insecure environment and the challenges this brings.
• Strong planning and organisational skills with the ability to make effective decisions.
• A working knowledge of the child protection needs and responses across Afghanistan.
• Committed to and have an understanding of safeguarding within the humanitarian and development sector.
• Fluency in English.
• Previous experience of working in Afghanistan is desirable.