NGO JOBS

Organization: Children in Crisis
Country: Afghanistan
Closing date: 14 Oct 2013

Reports To: Afghanistan Programme Manager (UK-based)

Contract Term: 12 months

Location: Kabul, Afghanistan

Salary: £ 28,000-35,000 per annum depending on experience

Other Benefits: Accommodation, return flight and insurance, rest and recuperation. The Programme and Organisational Advisor will have access to transport for work related activities, and, where possible, for personal use out of work. Please note that this is an unaccompanied position.

Background: Children in Crisis has been working on education and children protection projects to improve the well-being of children in Afghanistan for fifteen years. We have an established office of around 40 project staff headed by an Afghan Country Director.

For the past five years, Children in Crisis has been an implementing partner on the UNICEF-funded Social Work Coaching Project. Previously this was implemented in six provinces and is currently running in Kabul, Daikundi, Bamyan and Ghor. In addition to this child protection programme, Children in Crisis has a number of pending proposals for additional work in the field of Juvenile Justice and with internally displaced populations. Since Children in Crisis began working in Afghanistan in 1998 we have had a close relationship with the Ministry of Education and as in our other country programmes, CiC has maintained an education programme in Afghanistan. The focus of our work within education is on out of school children in Kabul. CiC runs five centres across the city to provide Accelerated Learning for children in addition to literacy and vocational classes for women in the community

Job Purpose: Children in Crisis are seeking to appoint an exceptional candidate to fulfil the role of Programme and Organisational Development Advisor for our Country Programme in Afghanistan. This candidate will join Children in Crisis Afghanistan at a critical time to ensure successful implementation of the Country Strategic Plan and to assist the team in looking forward to ensure CiC Afghanistan continues to make a positive impact on the lives of vulnerable children in a post-2014 Afghanistan.

The Programme and Organisational Development Advisor will be supervised by the UK Programme Manager for Afghanistan and will provide practical hands on day-to-day mentoring and support to the team in Afghanistan. The Advisor will work closely with the Country Director to ensure that the internal systems and organisational policies and procedures are in place to ensure the smooth and efficient running of the organisation. In addition the Advisor will assist the Country Director in building the profile of CiC in Afghanistan to enable the organisation to coordinate our efforts with other organisations, advocate effectively on children’s issues and ensure CiC Afghanistan is able to take advantage of funding opportunities as and when they arise. The current phase of our child protection programme is managed by an experienced member of the Afghan team who, for the first time, is taking responsibility for the management of this project without the assistance of an expatriate manger or technical advisor. The successful candidate will be responsible for providing advice on all aspects of the project cycle and will have a working knowledge of child protection programmes. The Advisor will be expected to provide support not only to this project manager, but also to the Education Manager and any additional new national Project Managers as and when they are recruited. The Advisor will support all Project Managers with their projects by providing specific support in relation to planning, reporting, liaison with donors, project and people management and monitoring and evaluation. 

Key Responsibilities

Organisational Development:

Work alongside the Country Director to ensure office systems and procedures are understood by all staff members and are being followed, specifically: staff handbook, finance procedures, security procedures and child protection policy.Ensure that the existing staff performance review system is embedded at all levels of the organisation.Work with the Country Director to review the internal communication mechanisms currently in place and suggest areas for improvement/restructure e.g. weekly team meetings, staff meetings.Work with the Country Director to conduct a review of the staffing structure in CiC Afghanistan, make recommendations for improvement and facilitated agreed changes where necessary.Conduct a progress review of the CiC Country Strategy for Afghanistan alongside the Country Director and UK Programme Manager.Work closely with the UK Programme Manager and Country Director to review future direction for CiC Afghanistan including potential for development of partnership with local NGOs or nationalisation of CiC Afghanistan.Alongside the Country Director, improve the external representation of CiC Afghanistan and develop an advocacy strategy for CiC Afghanistan with assistance from the UK Programme Manager.

Programme Support:

Undertake internal reviews of programmes as and when required.Provide specific support and strategic vision to Project Managers in: monitoring and evaluation, planning, report writing and project and people management.
Lead the design and development of new projects in line with CiC Afghanistan’s country strategy. Assist with recruitment and project start-up for new projects as they are developed.In collaboration with the Country Director, ensure that all projects are successfully implemented and completed according to programme documents including agreed plans and budget.Develop positive relationships with in-country donors to ensure continued funding for CiC Afghanistan’s education and child protection programming.Maintain effective communication and liaise regularly with CiC London on programme development and implementation.
Support the Project Managers and Country Director to produce both internal and external narrative and financial reports to a high standard, in a timely manner and in line with relevant targets and objectives.

Representation and Networking:

Maintain existing and establish new positive coordination and networking relationships with the government, donors and other national and international actors in the country.Ensure that relationships and formal agreements with the government are established, maintained and updated as appropriate.Represent CiC Afghanistan at various national level coordination meetings on child protection and education.Work with the Country Director and Programme team to ensure clear networking and representation responsibilities for each member of staff.

Person Specification:

Essential

At least eight years’ experience working for national or international NGOs, including experience directing and implementing education and child protection programs for children in post-conflict contexts.At least 3 years’ senior management experience in a developing/post-conflict setting. Excellent capacity building skills and experience of developing and delivering short training courses for colleagues.Proven organisational development experienceDemonstrated ability to support overall vision and leadership.Excellent working knowledge of children’s rights and participation and firm understanding of project/grant cycle managementExcellent interpersonal communication skills with an ability to recommend, negotiate and influence within a collaborative framework.Proven success in securing funding and managing grants from a range of international donors e.g. EU, DFID, Embassies, UN Agencies.Experience of working in Islamic Countries and/or cultures with strong conservative traditions Ability and confidence to work independently within a team of national staff members.Demonstrated initiative to analyse and resolve problems quickly, efficiently and effectively.A University Degree or recognised qualification in International Development, International Relations, Social Work or other relevant discipline.Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and internet research.Fluent written and spoken English.

Highly desirable

Experience of working in Afghanistan.Experience of working with interpreters and/or knowledge of Afghanistan’s two official languages: Dari and Pashtu.Experience of managing or being managed at a distance.

Child Protection Policy:

As a child-focused agency, Children in Crisis UK recognise the need to ensure that child protection awareness and strategies are developed and active in its UK and overseas programmes. To this end, CiC will require all successful candidates to sign its child protection policy and code of conduct and, where relevant, to agree to a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check.

How to apply:

Please note that this position is being re-advertised. Applicants who previously submitted their CVs need not reapply.

If you are interested in applying for this position, please submit a CV with a covering letter detailing why you should be considered for this position to: recruitment@childrenincrisis.org.

Please limit your CV to no more than 3 pages and your covering letter to no more than 2 pages.

The closing date for applications is 5pm on Monday 14th October.

We anticipate interviews to be held at the end of the week beginning Monday 14th October or at the start of the week beginning Monday 21st October.

Please note that Children in Crisis does not have the resources to respond to those applicants who are not shortlisted for interview.