Afghanistan: Country Representative - Afghanistan

Job Title: Country Representative

Location: Afghanistan

Reports to: Regional Director, Asia

Summary of Responsibilities:

The Country Representative (CR) is responsible for overall management and development of Relief International’s (RI) country program in Afghanistan, ensuring that programming meets stated objectives and highest quality standards, is in line with RI’s philosophy and strategy and meets the needs of beneficiaries. The CR is also responsible for spotting and pursuing new program opportunities and identifying gaps in services.

Position Responsibilities and Duties:

Program Development

In close coordination with the regional and global PD teams and with the support of the Afghanistan Grants Manager (GM):

• Develop, in cooperation with other staff, short, medium and long-range strategic plans maintaining program focus in areas congruent with RI’s strategy


• Maintain effective communications with donors by tracking trends and anticipating the likelihood of funding opportunities


• Spot and aggressively pursue new opportunities for program growth and start-up including conducting full-scale assessments and concept note / proposal preparation, as well as budget preparation


• Assess other implementing organization’s activities using all available means to identify gap areas and overlap


• Identify and participate in forums and meetings for the NGO sector where a strategic benefit for the organization exists


• Negotiate contracts and agreements with donors ensuring both programmatic and financial requirements in conjunction with other RI senior staff


• Maintain effective communications with RI’s Regional Office (RO), regarding program development, funding agreements and staffing


• Identify, and where necessary, initiate and maintain program partnerships with external agencies


• Develop the Afghanistan Disaster Preparedness Plan

Program Management

In close coordination with the Deputy Country Director (DCD) who directly manages all programs, with the exception of the National Solidarity Program (NSP) and the Private Horticulture Support (PHS) program:

• Manage project implementation, including allocation of resources, work planning and ensuring that appropriate controls are maintained at all levels, by working with program managers


• Ensure that team members are effective and efficient and contribute the necessary work to ensure their programs are a success. Provide feedback to staff to ensure optimal performance.


• Ensure all programs are completed within time, on budget and achieve its objectives


• Provide adequate support to each program including but not limited to strategic vision, technical input and advice, and hands on support with assessments, reporting, budget follow-up and problem solving


• Monitor project implementation, communication and reporting both internally and externally


• Serve as a link between RI and all project counterparts through sector coordination


• Ensure overall audit compliance, financial transparency through supervision and direction of financial and administrative staff.

Personnel Management

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  Ensure the leadership of the SMT and ensure the management of national and expatriate staff; in that role ensure a participatory management style that empowers national staff

  
  


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  Directly supervise SMT members (DCD, GM, Finance Manager, HR Manager and Operations Manager) and all expatriate staff and provide regular evaluations

  
  


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  Assess international personnel requirements for all projects and programs within Afghanistan in conjunction with the SMT and participate in recruitment

  
  


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  Provide indoctrination briefings to all incoming expatriate staff covering RI goals and objectives, country and program background, vision and future plans, policies and procedures and security or delegate these topics

  
  


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  Ensure that the personnel policy, hiring, promotion, firing and determination of compensation levels of Afghan staff in accordance with local laws and practice

  
  

Safety and Security

The DCD is in charge of the Safety and Security management for all RI national staff and programs in Kabul and in the provinces. The CR is in charge of the safety and security management of expatriate staff, international consultants and visitors and serves as the security focal point with RI RO and HQ.

• In cooperation with the DCD, regularly review and update security policy and SOPs based on all available information


• Ensure that safety and security guidelines are complete, up-to-date and fully implemented


• Participate in relevant security coordination meetings


• Regularly report to HQ regarding safety and security


• Ensure the continued safety of all personnel and establish and implement emergency security evacuation plans as appropriate


• Brief all expat staff, international consultants and visitors about the local context and culture and introduce them to RI safety and security guidelines and policies

Reporting and Control

• Provide program reports and regular situation reports that are timely, meet information requirements and professionally written as needed by RI and as required by donors


• Evaluate and monitor all country programs to determine the extent to which they are meeting goals and determine action needed to improve achievements


• Ensure all programs are completed within time, on budget and achieve its objectives

External Representation

The CR and DCD will share the external representation and coordination responsibilities and will also appoint other SMT members to represent RI at specific meetings and forums.

• Maintain a suitable image for RI in Afghanistan and protect RI’s interest and assets


• Represent RI vis-à-vis the Afghan government and ensure RI follows the relevant laws including NGO law, labor law, tax law, procurement law and expatriate visa and work permit regulations; ensure regular government reporting and preparation of MOUs with authorities for each project


• Effective liaison with donor governments and other lead agency representatives


• Represent RI at high level and routine meetings with ACBAR, IOs, and sector meetings


• Initiate RI’s response to disasters and emergencies when appropriate


• Facilitate donor visits to project sites as appropriate

Financial Management

• Ensure that the Country Budget is updated and monitored


• Ensure that project budgets are adequately managed and that expenditures are closely monitored


• Ensure that cost share is adequately booked and monitored


• Ensure that the national office and sub-offices maintain complete, up to date and accurate financial records and that records are adequately reported and stored


• Ensure equitable allocation of shared national office operating costs to the various projects and donors as per an agreed formula


• Ensure the timely preparation and accuracy of financial reports by working with financial accounting staff as required by RI and donors

Operations Oversight

• Ensure that all procurement activity is performed in accordance with RI and donor rules and procedures and procurement activity is adequately documented


• Ensure that RI offices and assets are properly maintained and assets are used in accordance with RI and donor guidelines


• Ensure that accurate inventories are maintained


• Ensure that all new office and guesthouse rentals have adequate security assessments and clearance per RI rules

Other

• Act as the communication link between RI RO, HQ and the field. Direct all communications up or down, as appropriate.


• Maintain organizational consistency through maintenance of strong, positive relations with field teams and HQ.


• Undertake additional activities as required by the RD.

Minimal Requirements:

• Higher education degree from an accredited institution of higher education in a relevant field of study


• Minimum of 10 years of field program experience including at least 5 years of senior management experience

Employee RI

• Strong verbal and written skills as well as ability to multi-task effectively


• Experience living overseas and ability to adapt and work comfortably in culturally unfamiliar environments


• Dari and Pashto language ability is a plus


• Outstanding interpersonal skills, particularly when dealing with national staff and multi-cultural teams


• Solid programmatic, financial, and organizational planning skill


• Proven initiative and resourcefulness


• Excellent oral communication skills and writing ability


• Knowledge of USAID, ECHO, EC and DFID grantee regulations


• Demonstrated record in collaborating with local governments, rural communities, other NGOs, and United Nations organizations

We would like to share Relief International’s Values with you:

We uphold the Humanitarian Principles: humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and operational independence. We affirmatively engage the most vulnerable communities. We value:

• Inclusiveness


• Transparency and Accountability


• Agility and Innovation


• Collaboration


• Sustainability