Afghanistan: Head of Programmes

It is an unaccompanied position based in Kabul, Afghanistan with travels to the field and internationally.

Basic salary per annum: GBP 27503, with paid R& R in completion every 12 weeks, pension, insurance and modest accommodation.

Duration: 1 year (Renewable)

Direct Reports:

Provincial Programme Managers, Project Coordinators, Programme Manager/Coordinator – Humanitarian ,Disaster Risk Reduction & Resilience

Job Role Overview:

To lead, develop and manage the programme team to achieve the aspirations of ActionAid Afghanistan (AAA) CSP through effective coordination, consolidation, technical support and guidance by ensuring a cohesive team spirit and motivation to perform. He/she manages and ensures resource prioritisation and allocation, work plan coherence across 5 strategic program objectives and 15 change promises under AAAs CSP 2012-2017. This role is responsible for working with AAA partners and allies to foster long-term relationship to successfully deliver AAA programme strategy.

Key Accountabilities / Responsibilities:

Programme Unit Management:

· Provide leadership to the team and strategically direct the Programme Team towards achieving the objectives of the CSP of ActionAid Afghanistan.

· Ensure ActionAid Afghanistan’s programme activities are grounded, strongly inter linked, and consolidated at the national level.

· Ensure synergy of the five objectives of ActionAid Afghanistan’s CSP along with its fifteen country change promises.

· Provide directions to focal persons of the five objectives and fifteen country change promises to ensure effective coordination and impact.

· Hold regular Team Meetings to ensure smooth operation and ensure reports/plans are submitted by team members in time and reflections of the same are shared.

· Ensure very strong inter linkages of Policy / Advocacy work with Programmes and Projects of ActionAid Afghanistan.

· Ensure learning, alternative models and case study reports are documented by Program Team members.

· Coordinate generation of new concepts for proposals proactively and as per donor calls.

Strategic / Annual Planning and Program development and Implementation

· Provide leadership support and guidance in the development of strategic plans and budgets for program, policy, projects and Emergency, DRR & CCA teams

· Review and ensure alignment of program priorities, strategies and plans to the CSP and the broader ActionAid International strategies, plans and campaigns.

· Provide and coordinate country level input and participation in the international program processes, strategies and plans

· Develop / improve program plans using program, policy and project review findings

· Organize, lead, participate in, and report on Program Team meetings.

· Lead and coordinate Programme Led Funding Planning process

· Participate and take lead in the development and planning of alternative development models

· Coordinate and ensure the development of quarterly, half year and annual program work plans and budgets by all Program units and its submission as per desired quality standards.

· Conduct field level visits to program areas and units to provide support supervision, identify best practices / gaps and guide program implementation.

· Review and process program concepts and plans for further actions.

· Support the Country Director and the Senior Management Team to lead the development of both strategic and operational plans in accordance with Country Strategy Paper (CSP) and planning guidelines.

· Ensure Emergency Preparedness Guidelines are followed by the programme team and implemented.

· Ensure preparedness of LRPs to emergencies and have preparedness plans are in place as per ActionAid Afghanistan guidelines and documented.

· Mainstream Emergency Preparedness, DRR and Resilience in all programme activities.

· Integration of time bound projects with mainstream programmes of ActionAid Afghanistan.

· Ensure quality implementation of all projects of ActionAId Afghanistan.

Program Reviews, Monitoring, Evaluation, Program Learning and Reporting

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  Coordinate program, policy and project reviews and evaluation in line with PAMF (Peoples Action Monitoring Framework) and CSP Monitoring Framework in coordination with Organizational Effectiveness team.

  
  


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  Ensure quality and timely submission of quarterly and annual or required Programme and Project Performance Reports as per desired standards and guidelines.

  
  


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  Ensure compliance of approved programme and project plans.

  
  


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  Promote evidence-based learning and the agenda of advancing alternatives

  
  


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  Represent the organization / Unit in various programme-related knowledge sharing and learning forums, document and share feedback with the team

  
  


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  Track trends in contemporary development programming and programme management practices, document and provide advice/ recommendations on key developments to SMT/EMT

  
  

Policy Research and Policy Advocacy

· Lead the development of an advocacy strategy, advocacy plans and coordinate the regular documentation and sharing of the outcomes of advocacy.

· Identify key issues and key collaborators for advocacy work

· Conduct and report on pro-poor analysis of policies and programmes aimed at reforms that will have impact on the lives of the poor and excluded on a periodic basis.

· Initiate, direct and co-ordinate the programme activities relating to reforms and policies impacting on poverty

· Identify areas of critical concern and within the priorities of the CSP for research and advocacy work aimed at policy influencing, policy input and initiatives and policy measures on poverty issues.

· Develop and lead the implementation of mechanisms to solicit ideas from the micro level work for the development of advocacy at the macro level while feeding macro level policy to inform our work at the micro level

· Contribute to policy briefs and media strategies that inform stakeholders about the policy positions of ActionAid and partners.

· Provide direction and support to policy / advocacy team and ensure their participation in all relevant direct programme activities.

· Ensure linkages from local, to Provincial, to National to International and vice versa.

Partnerships, Partnership Relationship management and Networking

· Support the Provincial Programme Managers and other programme staff to strengthen networks that ActionAid Afghanistan is collaborating with.

· Provide support to the networks for building of their capacity and building the capacity their member organisations.

· Develop and lead the implementation of mechanisms of collaboration with networks and other partners to conduct research and disseminate the findings on issues of common interest.

· Coordinate and report on ActionAid Afghanistan’s collaboration with government agencies in order to share information, experiences, influence them and/or build capacity

· Participate in identifying and initiating strategic networks and alliances

· Represent ActionAid Afghanistan and participate in network and alliance meetings, events and forums at national and international levels

· Ensure effective information flow and communication with other stakeholders including partners and international teams

· Initiate and nurture networks and alliances with academia, and research institutions

· Support the Provincial Programme Managers and other program staff to strengthen networks that ActionAid Afghanistan collaborating with.

· Ensure effective partnerships at all levels as per standard procedures and guidelines of the organization.

· Coordinate and support review of ActionAid Afghanistan partnerships in coordination with OE.

· Ensure follow up of partners after reviews and reflections.

Financial Management

· Review and initiate process of approval of program concepts and financial requests

· Review program expenditures from the Program team line staff to ensure conformity to FPPM

· Monitor and advise on program and project spending and variance reports

· Review and approve partner financial requests as per organizational process and procedures.

Human Resources Management

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  Set performance targets, monitor performance and appraise the line Program staff in line with the Human Resources Policy and other organizational policies and procedures

  
  


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  Motivate and provide feedback to the line program staff in line with the Human Resource Policy and other organizational policies and procedures

  
  


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  Conduct training needs analysis, and recommend relevant training for staff being line managed

  
  


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  Set up an enabling environment for staff performance, recognition and reward

  
  


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  Participate in the review of staff job descriptions, and setting of performance standards

  
  


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  Determine staff gaps within the program unit and initiate the recruitment process

  
  


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  Participate in staff selection and interviews

  
  


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  Organize and conduct induction of new staff (direct reports)

  
  


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  Appraise staff under probation and recommend for either confirmation, extension of probation period or non confirmation

  
  

Fundraising

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  Take lead in the identification of program funding gaps, priorities and opportunities and work with Head of Fundraising to ensure that the needs are reflected in fundraising plan of AAA

  
  


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  Participate and contribute to the development of funding concepts and proposals .

  
  


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  Take lead in writing program related section in the proposal and ensure that programme teams are engaged in the development of concept notes / proposals proactively or as required

  
  


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  Support the follow-up of funding proposals with donor agencies and partners

  
  

Program Risk Management and Legal Issues

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  Maintain and update a repertoire of laws applicable to the operations of the ActionAid Afghanistan programmes and apprise management of any potential risks relating to doing business and implementing the CSP

  
  


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  Conducts and communicates periodic program risk assessments and proposes mitigation actions to management

  
  

Person Specification:

Education & Certifications

Master’s degree in social sciences, Development studies or management from a recognized institution

* Training in;

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  Project planning and management

  
  


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  Human Rights Based Approach

  
  


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  Participatory approaches and methodologies

  
  


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  Governance, Civic empowerment and accountability

  
  


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  Monitoring and evaluation

  
  

Essential Experience

· At least 10 years minimum working experience in the social development field.

· At least 5 years experience in a senior position in the development sector in programme management, particularly in designing, setting up and coordinating monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment systems and processes

· In-depth understanding of programming issues and policy work at state, national and international levels.

· Understanding of gender issues in development and demonstrable commitment to promoting gender equality within the organisation and in programme work.

Essential Knowledge

· Strategic planning and management

· Poverty and Women Rights Analysis

· Human Rights Based Approach to Development

· Donor contract management

· Staff and partner capacity development

· Communication and public relations

· Resource Mobilization and Monitoring

· Networking and collaboration

· Governance

· Program reviews, monitoring and evaluation

Essential Skills

· People management skills

· Monitoring and Evaluation

· Facilitation skill on capacity development/strengthening

· Budgeting and Finance Management skills

· Program management skills

· Funding proposal development

· Activism skills

· Good communication skills

· Networking and stakeholder management skills

· Public Policy formulation, Policy Research, Analysis and Policy Advocacy