Rural Development Manager - Aga Khan Foundation

Job Opportunities

Position Title: Rural Development Manager
Report to: Regional Programme Manager
Duty Station: Regional Offices AKF, A
Announcing Date: January 14, 2010
Closing Date: January 31, 2010
Vacancy No: KBL/2010/091

Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) is a private international, nonprofit, and non-denominational development agency. It seeks sustainable solutions to long term problems of poverty, with special emphasis on the needs of rural communities in mountainous, coastal and other resource poor areas across the world. Concentrating its efforts in health, education, rural development and strengthening civil society sectors, AKF’s approach is based on long-term commitment that is maintained through political and social uncertainty.

Aga Khan Foundation, Afghanistan is part of a dynamic network of development agencies currently operating in over 30 countries across Central and South Asia and East and West Africa. AKF,A currently manages and implements the largest, multi-sectoral development programme within the network and has built a strong reputation with the Government of Afghanistan, donors and local partners in a number of technical fields. At present, it is seeking an exceptional individual to fill the position of *Rural Development Manager*for its Regional Offices in Afghanistan.

Job Summary:
To manage program implementation in the region and to ensure successful, effective, efficient, and appropriate program delivery, and to provide guidance and input to learning processes and technical capacity building of program staff at all levels.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage and lead the implementation of Rural Development (RD) programme in the region
• Monitor and identify concerns / challenges of the regional programme progress, attitude, and approaches, and ensure that issues relevant to them are effectively and appropriately addressed.
• Manages the performance and developing the technical / managerial capacity of the sector teams through participatory processes and integrated approach in the implementation of programmes which promotes motivation, ownership and synergy
• Lead the regional annual planning process and evaluation, and proactively contribute to the overall country RD programme planning
• Coordinate with the ERLU team and the Programme Management Support Officer (PMSO) to attain timely and quality grant reporting, proposal development, and communication
• Lead institutional learning initiatives and efforts in attaining programme coherence and mutual learning which includes exchange and cross exposure activities with other regions
• Lead networking with other partner agencies, stakeholders, and other relevant external parties particularly in the region
• Proactively involved in identification of needs, opportunities and potential partners for strategic programme development at the regional and national levels.
• Represent the regional office management internally and externally
• Any other tasks relevant to the Core Responsibilities and Duties of this position, as assigned by the supervisor.
  

Required Qualifications and Experience:

• At least 5 years of related work experience in designing and directing programes, preferably in developing countries / post conflict context; including proven track record in :
  
  • Managing multi faceted / multi-donor programmes to promote an integrated approach to Rural Development Programme (RDP) development;
  • Building and maintaining collaborative relationships within the region and across AKF, stakeholders,
  • Developing capacity and team cohesiveness of programme staff
  • Working under pressure and meet tight deadlines;
  • Working with senior national/international RD professionals in a variety of contexts;
  • Providing overall technical support to RDP implementers in the region.
  • Delivering quality work independently and in teams
  • Successful adjustment to organizational, office, and local community culture
• Masters degree in relevant field(s)
• Proven strong leadership qualities, including high level of motivation
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, particularly in English.
• Self-motivated, pro-active, efficient, reliable, systematic, excellent attention to details, & creative.
• Familiarity in working with relevant MS Office applications.
• A working knowledge of Dari is highly desirable, but not essential.
  

Application:
Applicants meeting the above requirements are requested to submit a cover letter along with their CV and the names of three references electronically to Jobs.afghanistan@akdn.org
no later than January 31, 2010 or submit hard copy to AKF, National Programme Office House No 43 Main Road Wazir Akbar Khan Kabul Afghanistan.

Only short listed candidates will be invited for an interview.