Programme Development Officer

The position covers the following key areas of responsibility:

• Support and lead on the development of concept notes, expressions of interest, and proposals, including: developing timelines and checklists; coordinating technical input from across the organisation; writing high quality proposal narratives, budgets, LFAs, and budget narratives; and meeting internal and external deadlines in the process.
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of the situation in Afghanistan and the development and humanitarian needs of the communities in which Afghanaid works or seeks to work.
• Design projects which are responsive to beneficiary needs, drawing on data analysis skills.
• Represent the organisation at external fora and in meetings with partners and donors in an effort to promote the organisation, strengthen external relations and identify opportunities for funding and partnerships. In particular, actively participate in the UNOCHA cluster system and contribute to as well as internally integrate emerging best practice and evolving requirements.
• Interpret and apply donor requirements, and handover projects to the implementation team once approved, including analysis of donor stipulations.
• Develop sufficient understanding of Afghanaid’s technical expertise to contribute to project design across all of the organisation’s thematic areas (Basic Services, Strengthening Livelihoods, Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Adaptation, and Humanitarian Response).
• Identify funding opportunities through desk research and networking, and in consultation with the Director for PDRM, plan and update the pipeline for developing concepts and proposals.
• Contribute effectively to PDRM funding opportunity brainstorms and Go/No-Go decisions, departmental meetings and other internal meetings, as required.
• Contribute to a strategic approach to organisational funding through participation in the annual PDRM strategic retreat and the drafting and implementation of the PDRM Resource Mobilisation Plan.
• Design needs assessments and write reports for humanitarian and development proposal needs
• Participate in the engagement between the M&E unit and PDRM, supporting organisational learning initiatives and promoting the application of lessons learned and best practice.
• Contribute to organisational capacity through developing and facilitating trainings and workshops for Afghanaid staff, including in provincial offices.
• Coordinate with DPIQ and Finance to ensure donor reports are prepared and submitted in a timely manner.
• Carefully and critically review draft reports, ensure compliance and contractual obligations are met and pre-emptively raise concerns when quality or deadlines are not met.