Afghanistan: Technical Director-Gender and Youth--Afghanistan

Counterpart International helps people build better lives and more durable futures, community by community. We equip individuals, organizations and communities-our counterparts- to become solution creators in their own families, communities, regions and countries. We work with them in some of the world’s most challenging places to tackle social, economic, environmental, health and governance issues that threaten their lives and undermine their futures.
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SUMMARY:
Counterpart International is currently seeking a Gender Expert – Manager. This is a full time position based in Kabul, Afghanistan. This position will report to Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) and to the Chief of Party (COP).
Counterpart is currently implementing, a USAID funded, Afghan Civic Engagement Program (ACEP). The goal of ACEP is to promote civil society and media engagement that enables Afghan citizens to influence policy, monitor government accountability, and serve as advocates for political reform. The program aims to achieve this goal through the following five program areas: (1) regular CSO engagement with government; (2) increase CSO and media thematic expertise in democracy and governance; (3) expand civic engagement; (4) improve access to independent news and public affairs information; and (5) increase CSO organizational capacity.
In close collaboration with the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP), and under the supervision of the Chief of Party (CoP) the Technical Director for Gender and Youth, will ensure that both ACEP technical components are mainstreamed across the program. S/he will provide leadership and technical guidance to ACEP staff, its grantees, and other partners to ensure the ACEP contributes to the realization of greater levels of gender equity an youth integration in Afghanistan. S/he will work with Afghan civil society, particularly women/youth-led organizations, movements and other relevant stakeholders not only in country but also regionally, to facilitate the successful functioning of the Emerging Civil Society Leaders (ECSL) Alumni Network, and its engagement on national youth strategy formulation for its implementation through Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs. The Technical Director will provide leadership and technical guidance to ensure program activities, methodologies, and approaches are responsive to the differing needs and interests of youth, men and women. S/he will provide overall leadership to and management of the Gender ad Youth Department and work in close collaboration with other units of the ACEP to ensure that the ACEP goal, objectives, and program targets are successfully achieved. As a member of the ACEP senior management team, the Technical Director will contribute to the overall management of the ACEP and ensuring the realization of programmatic outcomes. This position is open to international candidates only.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Under the supervision of the COP and in close collaboration with the DCOP programs and the Counterpart Headquarters Team, the Technical Director for Youth and Gender:
• Design and implement policies and procedures as appropriate to the ACEP that support women’s empowerment and gender equity in Afghanistan.
• In close collaboration with the DCoP of programs support and guide ACEP staff, partners and grantees to mainstream gender across their activities.
• Work with CSOs to promote the importance of gender equality and the elevation of women’s status in Afghan society as a key to creating positive change.
• Develop the commitment to and capacity of civil society organizations to advocate for women’s rights and to mainstream gender throughout their activities as is appropriate.
• Contribute to the development of activities directly related to a strong media and civil society through a focus on gender.
• Work with the senior management team to ensure the ACEP realizes it programming outcomes and in a gender aware manner.
• Design and document the ACEP gender strategy in collaboration with other members of the Programs Departments, ACEP staff members, and the HQ gender expert.
• Responsible for drafting and finalizing the ACEP Gender Department annual work plans as they support ACEP goal and objectives and the gender strategies in close collaboration with the ACEP management team and ensure that activities are meeting the timelines and targets intended.
• Work with the M&E team to ensure that M&E indicators and results reporting is gender sensitive.
• Coordinate with the HQ gender expert to support the monitoring and reporting on gender issues, challenges and successes during the course of the program.
• Working closely with the ACEP team, ensure that youth are included into all aspects of planned activities being implemented by ACEP.
• Invest in strengthening and mentorship of Emerging Civil Society Leaders (ECSL) and broaden youth political participation.
• Lead the youth department, mentoring subordinates and coordinating across sections and partners accordingly.
• Establish the ECSLs Alumni Network to expand the Emerging Leaders’ relations and networking among different civil society and youth groups. This Network will enable youth to participate in influencing policies, monitoring government accountability and advocating for political reforms on provincial and national levels.
• Facilitate ECSL engagement in national youth strategy formulation and implementation through Department of Youth at the Ministry of Information and Culture.
• Increase understanding among youth-led CSOs of the important roles that youth play in the future of the country. Create more recognition and ownership of youth contributions to providing solutions to social challenges.
• Engage youth-led CSOs with formal and informal institutions that are influential to effectively contribute to decision-making processes.
• Build CSOs capacity to enable youth to participate in influencing policies, monitoring government accountability and advocating for political reforms on provincial and national levels.
• Oversee designing and delivering of trainings for key partner CSOs on youth-related topics; provide follow up technical assistance as needed. Lead and work closely with sub-national and national partner’s CSOs, to enhance their understanding of youth issues, tools, and techniques with the long-term goal of having strong “change agents “in key partner organizations who are committed to promoting youth within the key partner organizations as a long term process.
• Work with the M&E and Communications teams to draft and edit gender and youth program reports for ACEP reporting purposes as well as for promotional purposes as requested.
• Promote knowledge sharing throughout the ACEP program by leveraging internal technology (Yammer), strengthening links between the various departments, linking up with other Youth-Gender Managers/Specialists at ACEP and improving integration of lessons learned among departments in the program.
• Responsible for leading and managing the ACEP Gender and Youth Department and providing technical and managerial leadership to the department Managers and Officers.
• Plan, manage and report on the Youth and Gender Department budget and its usage.
• Supervision and training of the Gender officers reporting directly to this position.
• Contribute to staff recruitment and capacity development as it applies to ensuring youth inclusion and gender is mainstreamed throughout the program.
• Network and conduct focused outreach and coordination with government, donors, and other civil society organizations on youth-related issues, participating in relevant committees and advisory groups.
• Contribute to the development of annual work plans, performance monitoring systems and tools, and writing of progress, quarterly and final program reports. Identify and, as requested, write impact stories on youth-related issues for USAID
• Providing managerial support across the program as may be needed.
RequirementsRequired:
• a minimum of 12 years related experience in gender programming with a specific focus on civil society strengthening.
• Master’s degree and oversight of large and/or multiple programs; or combination of education and experience.
• Responsible for ongoing management of existing program(s).
• Perform program assessments and design, may supervise field and HQ program staff, provide technical input, monitoring and evaluation, proposal writing, and fiscal oversight.
• Experience working to develop and implement programming that empowers women to participate in civil society and the public dialogue in conflict-affected countries.
• Ability to work well in a team environment and individually with limited supervision.
• Recent work experience in Afghanistan preferred and a thorough understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the country particularly as these relate to the functional guidelines for gender in Afghanistan such as the NAPWA, UN Resolution 1325, and the CEDAW.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, oral and written communications skills.
• Excellent public speaking and fluency in English; knowledge of a local language such as Pashto, Dari, etc., is preferred but not required.
BEHAVIORAL COMPETENCIES:
• Collaboration: Develops and maintains strong and cooperative relationships with others in the organization and across all functional areas to ensure that we achieve the best results for our programs.
• Communication: Communicates effectively individually and in groups.
• Client Focus: Considers donor and beneficiaries needs first while balancing the organizations needs and processes.
• Leadership & Influence: Takes responsibility for creating a positive work environment.
• Results Oriented: Able to develop effective solutions despite ambiguity.
• Attention to Detail: Understand how details impact the larger outcome and acts tactically to connect the two.