Afghanistan: Research and Donor Coordinator

Introduction

The Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU) is an independent, Afghanistan-based research institute. Its purpose is to inform and influence policy and practice through conducting high-quality research, to actively disseminate the results, and to promote a culture of research and learning. To achieve its mission AREU engages with policy makers, civil society, researchers and students to promote their use of AREU’s research and its library, to strengthen their research capacity, and to create opportunities for analysis, reflection and debate. AREU’s current major research areas include governance and political economy, natural resource management and sustainable livelihoods, social sector and protection, and gender. Information on AREU is available at www.areu.org.af.

Responsibilities

The Research and Donor Coordinator will report to the Deputy Director for Research regarding all research-related matters, and to the AREU Director regarding donor relations. S/he will support the overall management of the Research projects as requested by the Deputy Director. S/he will also be responsible for reporting and communicating with the donors.

Specific responsibilities will include:

• Supporting the Director in relation with donors;


• Ensuring compliance with donor requirements and timely submission of donor reports;


• Work closely with project managers to increase their engagement on forthcoming opportunities with AREU’s existing and potential Donors.


• In consultation with the Deputy Director for Research ( and other technical people in the research department), write core funding and project proposals; follow up discussions/meetings/proposals submitted and make sure that AREU complied of needed requirements and come up with high quality proposals;


• Conducting full inventory of all ongoing research projects – both core-funded and those funded by individual project donors and systematizing the submission of technical and financial reports;


• Coordinating independent researchers as required by the Deputy Director for Research, and ensuring the quality of draft research reports;


• Managing independent desk reviews and individual research projects as requested by the Deputy Director for Research.

Qualifications

Required:

· A Master Degree in the social sciences or a related discipline;

· Excellent organizational skills;

· Previous exposure to donors and familiarity with donor reporting requirements;

· Proposal and narrative report writing experience;

· Fluency in written and spoken English;

· Ability to work harmoniously and respectfully with people from different cultures;

· Excellent judgment and discretion; and

· Experience of working in an Islamic and/or conflict/post-conflict and/or South Asian or Central Asian context

· Computer skills, including word-­processing; e­mail; power-point; excel; internet searching; file-management (preferably MS Office)

Knowledge of Dari and/or Pashto, of Afghanistan and the aid community, and experience with administrative systems, is highly desirable.

Duration and benefits

· This is a 1 year permanent position, based in Kabul, but could be extendable.

· Annual and sick leave, as well as medical insurance is included in the benefits package.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Salary and benefits are competitive.