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Programme Officer Aga Khan Foundation

The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) is part of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a group of private, international, non-denominational agencies founded by His Highness the Aga Khan. The Network's organisations have individual mandates that range from the fields of health and education to culture, rural development and the promotion of private-sector enterprise. AKDN is dedicated to improving living conditions and opportunities for the poor, without regard to faith, origin or gender.

The Position
Background

In 2005 AKF launched a rural development programme in Madagascar, specifically developing the rice sub-sector in Sofia Region. This programme has now been supported by the Aha Khan Foundation for five years. Over this time Programme de Soutien à la Région Sofia pour le développement rural integré (PSSDRI) has worked with just a little under 20,000 farming households and has helped to raise yields with farmers who have worked in the groups from a baseline of 1.5 tonnes a hectare to about 5 tonnes a hectare. This significant achievement has been driven by a programme team based in Antsohihy, Sofia Province who have worked hard to develop this programme and bring such opportunities to rural households.

In early 2010 a pilot Community Based Savings Group project was developed as a complement to the rice sub sector strategy although it also stands on its own as a valid development activity. In 2011 funding will be sought to expand this activity from the two Districts in which it is presently working to all Districts in Sofia Province.

Overall Objectives

The Programme Officer ensures programme quality and contract compliance and works to make sure that strategic objectives are met in a timely manner and are implemented in accordance with AKF's focus on quality and the principles of service.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

- Programme implementation: Oversee the programme on behalf of the Senior Programme Director to assure that all ongoing and new programmes are meeting the requirement of quality, impact and contract compliance per the 2011 - 2015 strategic plan and ongoing and new contracts.
- Fundraising: The Programme Officer is primarily responsible, under the direction of the Senior Programme Director, for raising funds locally and through AKF USA, UK, Canada and Headquarters in Geneva. The Programme Officer will assure that all ongoing programmes are adequately funded and that the pipeline is adequate to replace completed and soon to be completed contracts for programme work.
- External Programme Relationships: The Programme Officer will assist the senior Programme Director to manage all programme related external relationships in Madagascar. This will include, but not be limited to, locally resident donors, relevant government departments, local and international NGOs, academic and research institutions and others that may be deemed to have strategic importance over time.
- Community Based Savings Groups: The Programme Officer will overall supervise the Community Based Savings Group programme assuring its quality and service to beneficiaries. S/he is responsible for achieving stated goals, good and punctual management of the operational budget and assuring funding over time. S/he will mentor the senior programme team in Antsohihy so that they are familiar with the programme, its elements and its important connection and synergies with the rice sub sector.
- Reporting: The Programme Officer is responsible for all internal and donor reporting assuring that reporting timetables are known by all responsible staff and is responsible for the quality of reporting to donors, partners and internally within AKF.
- The Programme Officer is required, in late July and early August of every year, to develop a plan for the preparation of all materials required for the Programme Board Meetings in September, and subsequently the budget meetings later in the year in Geneva. S/he will manage, with the Programme Director, this operation with all responsible staff members, set deadlines and assure quality.
- The Programme officer will support the Monitoring and Evaluation team and their work on baseline surveys, ongoing monitoring and any other studies or survey work that may being undertaken by the team. The Programme Officer will assure that the team is properly resourced and trained and provided with the technical assistance necessary. This is not a reporting line.
- Assist other senior programme staff as directed by the Senior Programme Director on other activities as appropriate.

The Requirements

The successful candidate will have a post-graduate degree in development or other appropriate field. S/he should have a keen interest in Rural Development within the developing world and at least 3 years of professional experience. A good understanding of Market Development and Community Based Savings groups is an advantage. The successful candidate will be fluent in both French and English.

Required skills and experiences:

- Good interpersonal skills and experience and ability to work in multi-disciplinary and culturally diverse teams.
- Ability to work in a complex environment requiring significant communication skills and an ability to listen and understand.
- Knowledge of farming systems, education, capacity building and sustainable agriculture an advantage.
- Mature judgment combined with a proactive, energetic approach and ability to problem solve.
- Strong organizational and time management skills.
- Ability to and experience of working with a cross-section of partners including Government, I/NGOs, communities and international donors.
- Strong analytic and communication skills. The successful candidate will have an ability to write clearly and succinctly under time pressure and to make well organized verbal presentations.
- Flexible, quick-thinking with an ability to remain calm and positive in response to the challenges of travel and work.
How to apply
Qualified candidates are invited to apply at www.akdn.org/careers/2530353 before 11 April 2011.