Afghanistan: National Deputy Manager, Gender (For Afghan National only)

Vacancy No: IR/KBL/02/16/004

The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) is a private international, nonprofit, and non-denominational development agency. It seeks sustainable solutions to long-term problems of poverty, with special emphasis on the needs of rural communities in mountainous, coastal and other resource poor areas across the world. Concentrating its efforts in health, education, rural development and strengthening civil society sectors, AKF’s approach is based on a long-term commitment that is maintained despite political and social uncertainty.

The Aga Khan Foundation, Afghanistan (AKF (Afg)) is a member agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a dynamic network of development agencies currently operating in over 30 countries across Central and South Asia and East and West Africa. AKF (Afg) currently manages and implements the largest multi-sectoral development programme within the network and has built a strong reputation with the Government of Afghanistan, donors and local partners in a number of technical fields.

The AKDN is a group of international, private, non-denominational development agencies and institutions that seek to empower communities and individuals, usually in disadvantaged circumstances, to improve living conditions and opportunities. AKF (Afg) is part of AKDN and has been working in Afghanistan since 2002, with programs focused on Rural Development, Education and Health.

At present, it is seeking an exceptional individual to fill the position of National Deputy Manager, Gender at its Kabul Office.

Summary:
Under the general direction, supervision and guidance of the Senior Technical Adviser – Gender, the incumbent will be responsible for managing the implementation of all relevant projects, documentation and establishing collaborative partnerships and supporting the development of the AKF-A Gender Strategy. **

The incumbent of this position is responsible to support the development and promote the implementation of AKF Afghanistan’s Gender Policy through leadership on specific strategies to integrate gender equality into programming, operational and strategies policies.

More specifically, the Deputy Gender Manager (DGM) is responsible for working with the gender team in the province level in supporting the overall staff capacity on gender equality, encouraging cross learning within AKF on best practices in mainstreaming gender in programming and operations and leading an internal network of gender coordinators and focal points at AKF Afghanistan’s national and regional offices.

Core Responsibilities and Duties:

• Support and facilitate the development and implementation of an AKF-Afghanistan gender strategy in line with the Gender Equality (GE) policy and AKF-A’s strategic vision (2014 – 2018).


• Assume primary responsibility for daily management of relevant parts of gender programmes/projects across the country – both organizational and substantive matters – budgeting, planning and general monitoring of the project in close collaboration with Senior Technical Adviser – Gender


• ·Supporting the Senior Technical Advisor, the National Gender Coordinator (when appointed) and in close collaboration with P&P, develop annual gender equality action plans to guide the gender unit’s contribution to the GE policy.


• ·Support the Senior Technical Advisor and National Gender Coordinator in providing technical advice in the yearly plan of operations process and ensure that AKF’s gender policies and strategies are reflected in AKF’s detailed operational planning.


• ·In close collaboration with the Gender Coordinator, support the Senior Technical Advisor in developing, updating and implementing of a plan to strengthen the internal capacity of AKF Afghanistan to integrate gender


• · Provide technical guidance to operational departments (e.g Human Resources, Operations), to support the implementation of AKF’s Gender Policy in its internal operations.


• Support technical sectors to build their sector specific expertise for advancing gender equality in sector programming.


• Support the partnerships team, and programming teams at the national and regional level to design and implement multi-sector programs integrating gender


• Stimulate innovation and design of new initiatives for deepening the process of gender integration in the regions.


• Provide technical leadership and support to regional gender coordinators and gender focal points and mentorship of the National Gender coordinator


• Support the Evaluation, Research and Learning Unit as well as sector teams to develop systems for the collection and analysis of sex disaggregated quantitative and qualitative data. Provide technical assistance to staff in the development of gender-responsive indicators that are determined based on ground reality (gender analysis) against which results can be measured by both male and female.


• Liaise and network with INGOs, UN Agencies, Donors and Government Institutions on issues related to gender in line with a robust stakeholder analysis.


• In collaboration with the National Coordinator, develop systems to document best practices and successes on gender equality


• Take the lead in supporting the regional gender coordinators in the preparation of the YPOs and budgets; Support the STA- G in planning and preparing YPO and annual budget for the gender unit


• Preparing the learning and development action plan for gender unit with the cooperation of the STA-G


• Providing backstopping support to the regional gender coordinators through monthly/quarterly meetings


• Provide support to the regional gender coordinators in the implementation of project activities and ensure that project targets and grant objectives are met.


• Represent AKF-Afghanistan within ADKN for cross-agency learning on gender.


• To carry out the responsibilities of the role in a way this reflects AKF’s commitment to protecting children in accordance with the Child Safeguarding Policy.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

• Minimum of seven years of professional experience in promoting gender equality in an international development context.


• A Master degree in a field related to the responsibilities of this position or combination of a Bachelor and relevant professional training.


• Familiarity with key governing national and international documents that support gender mainstreaming in Afghanistan (NAPWA, EVAW, CEDAW, ANDS).


• Excellent interpersonal communication skills, particularly in a cross-cultural environment, and the ability to represent the organization at a mid management level.


• Strong written and oral communications skills including ability to write technical documents and give presentations; including the ability to communicate clearly, concisely and in a compelling manner to both individuals and groups, including the ability to adjust presentations to different audiences


• Proficiency in working with relevant MS Office applications.


• Minimum of 4 years experience in Project Cycle Management


• Knowledge of effective approaches to mainstreaming gender as relevant to the region, particularly in core areas of AKF


• Very strong analytical and drafting skills, the ability to meet deadlines and to produce concise, top-quality work at strategic and operational levels.


• Ability to establish and maintain effective and harmonious working relations in a multicultural environment.


• Trainer of trainer experience would be a significant asset.


• Proven strong leadership qualities, including the ability to motivate and persuade others


• Extremely flexible and creative with ability to cope with stressful situations & frustrations with limited resources


• Ability and willingness to travel to Afghanistan provincial capitals and rural areas.


• Fluent in written and spoken Dari and Pashto. Fluent English including the ability to draft clear, concise and high-quality documents in this language for both specialized and lay audiences.

How to apply:

Application: Applicants meeting the above requirements are requested to submit a cover letter along with their CV and the names of three references electronically to Jobs.afghanistan@akdn.org. No later than May 15, 2016 or submit hard copy to AKF, National Programme Office House No 41 Street No. 2, Qala-e-Fatullah, Kabul, Afghanistan

Important Note:

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and offer may be given to the selected candidate before the closing date.

Aga Khan Foundation – Afghanistan is an equal opportunities employer. Women are encouraged to apply.

Aga Khan Foundation – Afghanistan recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to the safeguarding of children from abuse.