Location: Afghanistan (Amu River Basin - Badakhshan & Takhar)
Closing date: 20 Feb 2008
Job Description

Background

The Upper Catchments Rehabilitation Project is a three years project with a total budget of 1.5 million Euro. It is part of a larger Amu River Basin Programme (ARBP), funded by the European Commission under the auspices of the Ministry of Irrigation, Agriculture and Livestock (MAIL) and the Ministry of Energy and Water (MEW) in the provinces of Badakhshan and Takhar. The proposed project will cover 11 districts in the Province of Badakhshan. The Upper Catchments Rehabilitation Project is a joint venture between Afghanaid and the Danish NGO DACAAR

Main Purpose

Under the overall management supervision of the Managing Director and the direct supervision of the Programme Director the incumbent will provide overall programme leadership to the Project Management Unit (PMU) staff and develop their capacity to ensure effective delivery of strategic goals, and will assist in the planning, implementation and management of the Upper Catchments Rehabilitation Project.

Specific duties include

* Prepare annual workplans, cash flow and budget follow-ups.
* Develop project implementation guidelines.
* Establish project management unit and take lead in recruitment of project staff
* Provide technical backstopping to the project staff in watershed management particularly in the areas of planning and implementing participatory resource management initiatives, development of operational and management plans.
* Determine the needs for consultant, draft terms of reference and commission consultancies on needs basis.
* Foster and sustain linkage and coordination mechanism between the project and Amu River Basin Program at various levels (district, provincial and central).
* Develop and commission baseline studies
* Develop and institute simple yet robust monitoring plan
* Prepare progress reports
* Ensure financial spendings are consistent with the workplan
* Assist in developing case studies, best practices
* Take active role in organizing dissemination workshops, seminars
* To perform any other related duties as required


PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

* Third level degree in relevant discipline (watershed management, forestry, irrigation or agriculture)
* Strong background in rural development
* Excellent knowledge of community development and social mobilisation
* Management experience in an international development NGO including 5 years minimum design and "hands on" implementation of development programmes
* Proven management ability and inter-personal skills – team player. Problem solving and leadership skills
* Proficiency in most common computer software including word processing, spreadsheets
* Ability to deal with difficult, often frustrating work situations
* A willingness to live, travel and work in isolated and possibly dangerous locations
* Able communicator as advocate and representative of the organisation
* Gender sensitivity
* Sensitivity to Islamic culture
* Commitment to support/develop the Afghan rural community
* Personal integrity and sense of humour
* Knowledge of personal strengths and weaknesses
* Ability to manage conflicting priorities in personal workload
* Knowledge of sustainability issues


Desirable

* Further qualifications in relevant subject
* Experience with field based research
* Previous work experience in Afghanistan
* Previous work experience in watershed management, social water management, natural resource management
* Working in a conflict area
* Management of a medium to large programme with a total staff team of more than 30 members.
* Proficiency with databases
* Familiarity with budgetary control systems including preparation of budgets
* Good listener

Vacancies Contact
recruitment@afghanaid.org.uk