Afghanistan: Livelihoods & Natural Resource Management Advisor
Country: Afghanistan
Closing date: 10 Oct 2013
Desired Profile:
The ideal candidate will have very strong livelihoods and NRM technical expertise and work experience in such programming, with a focus on sustainability, staff and local stakeholder capacity building. Experience should include field experience ideally in Afghanistan. Education should be to at least, degree level. Further, the ideal candidate will be someone accountable and responsible, able to work independently, but with an ability to build others’ capacity. This person should be able to communicate equally well with colleagues, beneficiaries and regional, national and international bodies. He / she will have an awareness of security and cultural concerns relevant to working in Afghanistan and the skills to operate successfully in this environment.
Background:
Mission East, founded in Denmark in 1991, is an international humanitarian organisation, working in Eastern Europe and Asia. The organisation’s activities in Afghanistan presently focus on village livelihood assistance through water and sanitation, hygiene and agriculture training, and community organization. Mission East Afghanistan currently employs approx. 200 full-time staff including 5 international staff. Mission East has eight offices in country, the largest being in Taloqan serving Takhar province.
Location / department: Taloqan, Takhar province Afghanistan,with regular travel to project sites in Takhar, Badakhshan and Baghlan provinces, and occasional travel to Kabul.
Length of contract:
12 months (with a possibility of extension), start as soon as possible. (While our preference is to fill the role with a longer term candidate, we are also willing to consider candidates who can start immediately, but may be available for less than 12 months)
Reports to: Country Director
Coordinates with: Province Managers and M&E and Programme Development Manager (ELU)
Receives reporting from: Provincial sector heads.
Position Type: This is an unaccompanied position.
Overall responsibility:
The Livelihoods & NRM Advisor will have a dynamic role comprising direct community interaction, as well as strategic planning and programme development. The overall responsibilities of the role are to:
- Provide strategic and operational direction to Mission East’s transition into the NRM sector, and more specifically watershed management
- Guide and oversee livelihoods assessments (needs, vulnerabilities, capacities) in the field
- Generate training materials relevant to ME livelihoods and NRM activities and conduct related ToTs for ME field staff
- Provide input and guidance to provincial sector heads in programme oversight and quality control.
Key tasks and responsibilities:
Programme Management
- With the Country Director and in consultation with the Provincial Managers, provide direction to Mission East livelihoods and NRM strategy in Afghanistan.
- Ensure that programme activities are implemented in a consultative, participatory, and gender sensitive way.
- Suggest and support in the implementation of changes in livelihoods and NRM programming based on the Evaluation & Learning Unit (ELU) findings related to beneficiary and stakeholder feedback.
Programme Development
- Based on an analysis of current and potential areas of operation, design a 3-5 year strategy and action plan for ME’s watershed management activities.
- Ensure that livelihoods projects meet qualitative objectives.
- Ensure that livelihoods / NRM elements are included in a logical manner in the new project proposals, when required.
- Critically analyse Mission East livelihoods programmes and strategy and either suggest changes to current projects or propose new activities after undertaking the necessary livelihoods needs assessments in the field.
People Management
- Conduct ToT for current and/or new staff on watershed management as per designed strategy.
- Provide technical guidance to project staff in the designing, planning, management and implementation of the livelihoods and NRM activities.
- Assist the ELU in designing and implementing surveys and assessments related to livelihood programming, when needed.
- Act as a change agent and knowledge resource, all livelihoods and NRM team members in their understanding of programme objectives and programme quality control. Provide training when needed.
- Lead in the updating and/or creation of relevant training materials for all implemented livelihood and NRM activities (Self-Help Groups, food security (kitchen gardening/greenhouses), income-generating activities such as beekeeping, poultry, food processing, producer groups and small enterprise development, watershed management etc.)
Coordination and Representation
- Coordination with Province Managers regarding sector needs and planning.
- Represent Mission East at provincial and national level, as required at the relevant fora, Cluster Group meetings, coordination networks etc.
- Working with local and national level authorities, when necessary, to ensure that Mission East’s programmes remain in conformity with Afghan law and in line with government policies and priorities.
Qualifications required:
Education should be to degree level or higher, preferably in the social sciences or development.
Experience required:
- Previous overseas experience in an international relief or development setting, preferably with a non-governmental organisation.
- Experience of working with host governments, their agents and national NGOs is an advantage.
- The candidate will have previous experience preparing proposal documents and budgets, preparing work plans, training staff, and monitoring/evaluating projects. This will include large projects for institutional donors.
- The candidate will have a proven track record in implementing the above mentioned projects, including significant staff management experience.
- The candidate will have demonstrated a good understanding of the needs of rural and urban communities in developing countries, and of appropriate ways of tackling these needs.
- Experience of working in Afghanistan / South Asia, and especially in sensitive security environments, would be highly desirable.
Competencies required:
- Technical competencies in the design of livelihoods, particularly rural livelihoods, food security, and NRM (and DRM) programming
- Solid drafting/reporting competencies (in good written English); native or near-native English language ability
- Collaborative work style with strong ability to co-ordinate and negotiate with stakeholders
- Problem solving and ability to perform under pressure (incl. meet deadlines)
- Culturally sensitive and high level of diplomacy and tact.
- Leadership; Ability to delegate, follow-up and supervise as well as support.
- Project, management, - monitoring and quality control.
- Understanding of donor guidelines and regulations as well as international protocols and guidelines
- Security awareness and management relevant to sensitive security environment
- Knowledge of Farsi and/or Dari would be an advantage
- Commitment to Mission East’s organisational values
How to apply:
You can apply for this position by filling in an application form on http://www.miseast.org/en/mission-east-organisation/vacancies.
Please ensure that all sections are fully answered as candidates will be initially screened using data submitted on the online form. Final closing date for this position is 10/10/2013
