Afghanistan: Manager Grants, Program Health

Vacancy Nr: : IR/KBL/06/16/034

The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) is a non-denominational international development agency established in 1967 by His Highness the Aga Khan. Its mission is to develop and promote creative solutions to problems that impede social development, primarily in Asia and East Africa. Created as a private, non-profit foundation under Swiss law, it has branches and independent affiliates in 19 countries.

AKF seeks to provide sustainable solutions to long-term problems of poverty, hunger, illiteracy, and health. In Afghanistan, AKF works with rural communities in mountainous, remote or resource poor areas to improve quality of life in the areas of natural resource management, market development, governance, education and health.

The Aga Khan Foundation, Afghanistan (AKF (Afg)) is an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a group of international, private, non-denominational development agencies working to improve living conditions and opportunities for people in some of the poorest parts of the developing world. The Network’s organizations have individual mandates that range from the fields of health and education to architecture, rural development and promotion of private-sector enterprise and institutions that seek to empower communities and individuals, usually in disadvantaged circumstances, to improve living conditions and opportunities.

At present, it is seeking an exceptional individual to fill the position of Grants Manager, Health Program at its Kabul Office.

Position Objective:

Manage the resource mobilization and grant management process for Health Department, sectors in AKF and to other AKDN agencies including AKHS, AKUPA and FMIC, along with technical support as needed. The Grants Manager, is responsible for ensuring quality, consistency and coherence of the program managed by AKF Health and implemented by AKF and AKDN agencies, managing AKDN’s grant portfolio in the health sector, and ensuring the effective and efficient day to day implementation of the program under the overall guidance and supervision of the Director of the Health Program

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Grant Management and Donor Relations:

• Fulfil all grant management responsibilities for on-going and future grants/projects including supporting and overseeing the development of high quality progress reports, quality planning and implementation plans and performance monitoring frameworks, identifying implementation challenges and recommending solutions, incorporating, communicating and ensuring quality assurance and compliance in implementation; ensuring excellent lines of communication with donor representatives and cooperative relationships with partners as well as ensuring proper M&E and data collection;


• Monitor the progress of each project and sector/agency component and assist with the identification of issues which may affect the quality, time or cost and make consequent program adjustments; work with Health Director, other national directors and sector managers, agency heads, regional offices and AKF’s Finance Department to ensure donor and organizational compliance and successful resource mobilization;


• Ensure continuous communication and coordination among the health implanting partners under AKDN in Afghanistan for timely and quality reporting to donors and stakeholders, as well as for improvement in program implementation and increased impact;


• Foster productive relationships with key stakeholders including current and potential donor agencies, relevant ministries and government authorities, networks, working groups, policy forums, development partners and civil society organizations (externally) by participating in meetings and forums including donor meetings, government working/technical groups, and other pertinent external/internal events;


• Oversee the development of studies and communications materials for external audiences to document impact and lessons learned

Funding Opportunities and Program Development:

• Lead in researching potential funding avenues and deepen and broaden relations with health and program-based donors through informed policy dialogue around national and AKDN priorities and exploration of major program issues, lessons learned and articulation of achievements and impact;


• Lead resource mobilization process for AKDN’s Health Portfolio;


• Lead and/or contribute towards successful proposals and program development; provide strategic guidance and advice in-line with the AKDN Health Action Plan for Afghanistan regional;


• Represent AKF and Health Department at meetings and technical events at MoPH and other development partners

Financial Management:

• Oversee the monitoring of expenditure, budgeting, variance and preparation of financial reports; in conjunction with the AKF Finance Director and Health Director, review and revise the AKF/AKDN budget yearly, provide guidance to the Finance Manager of the health portfolio; and, update implementing partners (sectors and agencies) on compliance and track expenditure with requirements and timelines;


• Facilitate donor audit, evaluations and coordinate with the Donor office, when needed;


• Management of human and financial resources ensuring compliance required by the organization and donor.

Team Management:

• Manage and provide guidance to program coordinators to ensure successful implementation and reporting of programs, grants, and contracts;


• Ensure new and existing staff are aware of the grant conditions;


• Provide coaching, technical advice and other capacity building methodologies or inputs for staff and other partners involved in the program implementation.

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

Required Qualifications and Experience:

• Advance Degree in Public Health or equivalent areas;
  At least four years for experience in grant management and resource mobilization;


• Excellent written and verbal English skills;


• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word and Excel);


• Effective communication skills;


• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines;


• Ability to work in multicultural teams;


• Self-motivated, proactive, efficient, reliable and creative;


• Ability to work well independently and as part of a team;


• Willingness to live and work in a conflict and post-conflict zone;