National Manager, Education- (ECW) Project

POSITION OBJECTIVE

AKF (Afghanistan) has been selected as a grant agent of Education Cannot Wait (ECW) to implement its Multi- Year Resilience Programme (MYRP) in Afghanistan. AKF is the lead agency responsible for managing a consortium of four NGO partners working in eight provinces of Afghanistan. The consortium will implement the MYRP with a budget of $15 million in seed funding, to expand community-based education with a focus on equity and inclusion. The project is currently in its first phase and will run until the end of 2024, while the second phase is expected to provide another 3 years of support.

The consortium is managed by a Kabul-based Project Management Unit (PMU) within AKF, led by the National Manager, Education (ECW) who will manage the PMU team made up of a National Coordinator, Technical Advisor, and MERL Coordinator. The National Manager, Education (ECW) will be responsible for coordinating project deliverables with consortium partners and AKF (Afg) Education team. monitoring and evaluation, reporting, supporting partner’s understanding of compliance requirements, and representing the consortium in education working groups and forums. In collaboration with consortium partners, the PMU will maintain strategic relationships with education stakeholders and a cohesive and organized approach to achieve project goals.

The scope of work includes:

• Maintain strong relationships across consortium members and AKF (Afg) Education team to deliver quality education for children and young people in marginalized communities of Afghanistan, in-line with donor requirements, standards, and policies.
• Provide overall strategic leadership to achieve project objectives and manage implementation with project partners.
• Develop and maintain relationships with donors, consortium partners, and other key education stakeholders including representing the consortium in external meetings, forums, and working groups at national and international level.
• Oversight of relevant monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning efforts, including high-quality reporting, effective knowledge management, and dissemination of evidence-based best practices and research findings.
• Support oversight of financial, auditing, and compliance matters.

S/he will be based in Kabul (partial remote work options are available) with potential travel to ECW project areas (pending security).

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Leadership: Provide strategic and operational leadership for the PMU and executive support to the Steering Committee; and Coordinate project planning, reviews, evaluation activities, and project implementation activities with PMU team members, consortium partners, and other key stakeholders.
• Quality Oversight and Compliance: Periodically review monitoring tools and systems to support implementation of all aspects of the project including operations, financial management, monitoring, and reporting; Develop strategies to improve data and reporting quality and verification of data; Coordinate with consortium partners on program and financial monitoring visits / audits / field visits from the donor / external firms; Build partner’s understanding of compliance requirements by sharing donor policies and providing capacity building, as necessary.
• Knowledge Management: Work closely with PMU MERL Coordinator and partners to manage the monitoring, research, evaluation, and learning components of the project including contracting and oversight of external researcher for project baseline / endline evaluation and third-party monitoring as per donor/project requirements; and Support PMU MERL Coordinator to maintain organized and updated electronic records.
• Strategic Communications: Represent the consortium and build constructive relationships with education stakeholders when engaging in education policy and strategic planning dialogue and disseminating communications materials with the national education cluster and relevant national and international forums/events; and oversee the development of communication materials, articulating project achievements, impact, research findings, case studies, best practices, and lessons learned.
• Staff Management and Development: Recruit PMU staff, as necessary; Identify their professional development needs and assess their annual performance; Maintain clear communication with PMU staff, especially PMU Coordinator who will be the backstop for the PMU Manager; and Support PMU staff, as necessary, to ensure they understand their roles/responsibilities.
• Coordination and Facilitation: Maintain regular contact with AKF Global, National, and Regional Teams, donors, MoE, and consortium partners to ensure their understanding of key project issues; Organize monthly and ad hoc meetings with partners, to coordinate project activities, program adaptations, events, research studies, and trainings; and Facilitate discussions among partners to share project progress, lessons learned, best practices, key achievements, and mitigation strategies in response to implementation challenges.
• Reporting and Documentation: Coordinate with consortium partners, PMU Coordinator, and AKF (Afg) regional teams to develop high-quality and timely submission of project reports, workplans, log frame, and other required documents to the donor and/or the MoE; and Work closely with above stakeholders to monitor project progress (including identifying implementation challenges and changes to the context) and negotiate with donors to approve consortium’s requests for adapting activities and revising budgets, targets, timelines, or other project documents.
• Fund Mobilization: Lead / support the development and submission of proposals / concept notes (in coordination with AKF’s National / Global Partnerships Unit and consortium partners) to mobilize funds to continue support for project beneficiaries beyond the first phase and expand community-based education programming.
• To carry out responsibilities of the role in a way which reflects AKF’s commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults in accordance with the Safeguarding Policy and Child Safeguarding Policy.
• To report any suspicions or actual violations of the Safeguarding Policy and and/or Child Safeguarding Policy as per the given training.

OCCASIONAL SIGNIFICANT DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Answer ad hoc requests and report/present project progress to AKF Global/National Office, MoE, and other education stakeholders.
• Provide input on program approaches, training packages, and tools to ensure alignment with project objectives/scope.

DECISION-MAKING & AUTHORITY

• All project areas (after consulting partners if decision impacts them): Administration, HR, Finance, Technical, and Programmatic.

JOB SPECIFICATION

• Advanced degree in Education, Development, Humanities, Project Management, or related field or PMP certification; and a minimum of 5 years’ experience managing development programs / projects.
• Extensive experience implementing multi-lateral development projects in challenging environments, particularly in conflict and post-conflict contexts.
• Demonstrated ability to manage reporting systems that meet requirements of international donors / funding agencies (experience with ECW / USAID reporting and compliance requirements is preferred).
• Ability to delegate tasks to a diverse team and respond effectively to tight deadlines and high-pressure situations.

REQUIRED CORE COMPETENCIES

• High level of cultural adaptability and sensitivity and ability to cope with a challenging security situation.
• Ability to work and communicate effectively within a diverse project team consisting of local and international staff.
• Ability to effectively respond to and manage expectations from a variety of stakeholders.
• Diplomatic, flexible, and facilitative leadership skills with a good sense of humor.
• Excellent written and spoken communications skills in English.
• Demonstrated skills in strategic and program planning, coordination, and adaptation.

How to apply

APPLICATION

Interested applicants should submit their CV along with a cover letter through our career center http://www.akdn.org/careersno later than 21 December 2022.

Important Notes:

• Please quote the Vacancy Number as the Subject of the e-mail when applying.
• No supporting documents (e.g., diplomas, recommendation letters, identification card(s) etc.) are required at this stage.
• Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for further assessment.

Aga Khan Foundation Afghanistan recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to equal opportunity and safeguarding of children, beneficiaries, partners, community members and employees in accordance with AKF(Afg)’s safeguarding policy.

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Your details and information shared on this advertisement shall remain confidential.