Afghanistan: Program Implementation Director
The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) is a non-denominational international development agency established in 1967 by His Highness the Aga Khan. Its mission is to develop and promote creative solutions to problems that impede social development, primarily in Asia and East Africa. Created as a private, non-profit foundation under Swiss law, it has branches and independent affiliates in 19 countries.
AKF seeks to provide sustainable solutions to long-term problems of poverty, hunger, illiteracy, and health. In Afghanistan, AKF works with rural communities in mountainous, remote or resource poor areas to improve quality of life in the areas of natural resource management, market development, governance, education and health.
The Aga Khan Foundation, Afghanistan (AKF (Afg)) is an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) www.akdn.org , a group of international, private, non-denominational development agencies working to improve living conditions and opportunities for people in some of the poorest parts of the developing world. The Network’s organizations have individual mandates that range from the fields of health and education to architecture, rural development and promotion of private-sector enterprise and institutions that seek to empower communities and individuals, usually in disadvantaged circumstances, to improve living conditions and opportunities.
Objective:
The Director Program Implementation (PID) ensures that AKF Afghanistan programs are implemented, following commitments made with donors, AKDN stakeholders, Government and non-government partners, and aligned with AKF Afghanistan, AKF and AKDN’s global vision and strategic objectives. The PID provides management and leadership in program implementation and resource utilization, to ensure timely implementation and optimum use of available resources in a results oriented way.
Consulting with the PDD (Program Development Director), the PID oversees program implementation, grant management and reporting. S/he must ensure that systems and people are in place to ensure the proper implementation and management of those projects and programs in line with AKF Afghanistan’s strategic plan, priorities, and focus areas.
The PID oversees project cycle management, and drives AKF Afghanistan’s yearly program planning around Operations, Human Resources, and Program (YPO).
S/he works closely with regional directors, sector heads, projects and regional program managers, government counterparts, project consortium and implementing partners, to jointly and collaboratively achieve our program objectives.
The PID identifies programming gaps, geographical, sector or budget-related, and works together with the PDD in filling these timely and coherently.
Key External Relationships for the PID:
Government counterparts in Kabul at field level.
AKDN Agencies key staff
AKF donor units and Geneva.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
Provide proper supervision and management for all direct reports and lead the establishment and functioning of a strong, effective and coordinated Program Implementation team including regional teams.
Oversee resource management (financial and human resources), grant management and reporting to ensure that AKF programs and projects are managed in a manner which achieves the program/project goals and contract requirements, in line with AKF Afg policies and procedures and demonstrate sound resource management.
Lead and enhance relationships and coordination between the AKF Afghanistan Program Implementation Department and other departments within AKF Afghanistan, Regional Directors, and implementing partners so that AKF Afghanistan use its resources effectively and maximize its impact on improving the quality of life of people.
The PID is a senior AKF Afghanistan representative in Afghanistan and as such is responsible for problem solving at a variety of levels. S/he will need to be able to analyze and resolve situations as they arise on a variety of subjects ranging from programming implementation decisions to issues related to coordination with project/program consortia and implementing partners.
Oversee and ensure the program implementation is standardized across different AKF Afg working regions and program components, including rationalized human resources, program interventions and targeted beneficiaries and implementation model, through developing standard implementation manual and operating procedures.
Oversee and ensure the program implementation assessment including progress against key program/project milestones and financial expenditures. Analyze and provide feedback on regular program financial and programmatic progress by conducting regular program progress reviews at the regional and national levels.
In close collaboration with the Program Development units ensures that the learnings and results are reflected into program modalities.
In close collaboration with Finance and Program Development ensures that the program financial analysis and gaps are identified and flagged for resource mobilization in a priority manner.
In close collaboration with the Program Development units, ensures that the findings from self-evaluation, monitoring and quality assurance are addressed and incorporated into program implementation.
Ensure that required technical support and clarifications are provided to the regional implementation units and avoid/resolve confusions around reporting relationship, roles and responsibilities among the departments and national and regional offices.
Ensure that a collaborative and knowledge sharing environment is created among the sectors and regions which 1. Promotes utilizing promising opportunities 2. Gains staff commitment.
Works closely with the HR team to ensure staff development and capacity building is streamlined and opportunities for staff to pursue their career development plans are enhanced.
To carry out the responsibilities of the role in a way which reflects AKF’s commitment to protecting children in accordance with the Child Safeguarding Policy.
Occasional Significant Duties:
The PID is a key member of the Country Office Senior Management Team.
S/he may be required to act as officer-in-charge when the CEO is out of the country.
Decision-Making & Authority
Management of PID program/project implementation and budget
Supervision and performance management of senior program staff
Required Qualifications and Experience:
Master’s Degree in related field;
5 years in senior management position in development field
Demonstrated leadership and interpersonal skills
Ability and interest to coach and develop staff
Demonstrated experience in managing and implement significant scope and multi-sectors development program/project
Experience with performance management
Knowledge and experience with financial management, demonstrated ability to manage a complex budget, donor compliance and reporting
Strong representation and negotiation skills
Experience in successfully managing institutional partnerships with national and international NGOs, collaborative relationships with communities, government and implementing partners
Demonstrated use of positive coping strategies in stressful environments
Demonstrated leadership and management skills in a very complex international setting
Demonstrated cross cultural communication skills
Extensive conceptual skills in development project cycle management
Ability to establish a learning culture within the organization.
Experience in emergency related activities
Fluent Dari and English.
Desired skills:
10 years in a senior management position in development field
Experience and skills in organizational change processes
Demonstrated experience with project implementation and management with range of international donors.
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