Senior Rural Development Policy Support Adviser Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development
1. BACKGROUND:
MRRD’s ultimate goal is to reduce poverty in rural areas and to pave the way for other actors to complement its endeavors. For MRRD, poverty alleviation can only be pursued by tackling the complex causes of poverty in a holistic manner. The essence of rural development thus lies in partnerships, which will continue to be nurtured, cultivating a virtuous circle of development. In the complex landscape of rural Afghanistan, MRRD builds on its comparative advantage to address some of the causes of poverty.
Over the years, MRRD has demonstrated its capacity to address directly many rural communities’ needs through its national programmes: the Afghanistan Rural Enterprise Development Programme (AREDP), the National Area Based Development Programme (NABDP), the National Rural Access Programme (NRAP), the National Solidarity Programme (NSP), and the Rural Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Programme (RuWatSIP).
MRRD seeks to enable equitable development for all. Through the organisation of local level elections it has provided Afghans with an opportunity to decide their future. Through training it has built enormous social capital, transforming men and women in thousands of villages into responsible actors for their own development. As a result, rural people, who are at the heart of MRRD’s mission, have gained better access to markets and jobs, to education, health facilities and energy.
Based on these successes, MRRD has become an intrinsic element of the Government of Afghanistan’s inter-ministerial Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD) Cluster and Governance Cluster (GOC). This has resulted in most of the MRRD programmes becoming National Priority Programmes (NPPs) either in their entirety or as elements of other NPPs.
TERMS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Summary of Position:
MRRD is a well-established Ministry delivering a substantial portfolio. With the current focus on transition and transformation, MRRD seeks to strengthen its existing Policy Unit through the appointment of a Senior Rural Development Policy Support Adviser.
The Unit leads on policy development within MRRD and liaison with relevant stakeholders both within and outside the Ministry. External partners include other line ministries, Government departments and representatives of the international community. The role of the Policy Unit is to draw on lessons and issues arising from the different national programmes and develop rural development policies to further support the Ministry’s longer-term goal of poverty alleviation, influencing the implementation of current programmes and impacting upon the design of future interventions.
In addition, the Unit’s work seeks to promote horizontal and vertical co-ordination, including: ensuring co-ordination at sub-national level is balanced by cross-sectoral co-ordination at the centre; strengthening vertical relations between levels of government; driving more co-operative and inclusive relations between public and private actors and within government; and seeking to ensure policy development is aligned with policymaking in other line ministries, promoting evidence-based influencing to ensure rural development activities are mainstreamed and co-ordinated. In the longer term, the Unit will follow up and monitor the success of policy implementation, with a specific focus on achieving relevant and sustainable practice changes among key actors.
The Senior Rural Development Policy Support Adviser will support MRRD’s approach to rural development through active participation in meetings on policy and programme development and management, ensuring clearly defined lines of communication and dissemination of lesson learning are developed across all MRRD programmes. The incumbent will be a key adviser in the Office of the Minister and be the focal point for MRRD on all rural development policy issues.
The Adviser will assist in the development and dissemination of rural development policies and guidelines around current strategic priorities, ensuring their alignment with the broader political, social and economic themes of the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS), Agriculture and Rural Development Sector Strategy (ARDSS) and MRRD's Strategic Intent, and with the overall objectives of other key players such as other line ministries and the international donor community. In addition, the Adviser will contribute to the development, implementation and planning of activities pertaining to sub-national governance, regional co-operation, and other areas as appropriate.
MRRD is a well-established Ministry delivering a substantial portfolio. With the current focus on transition and transformation, MRRD seeks to strengthen its existing Policy Unit through the appointment of a Senior Rural Development Policy Support Adviser.
The Unit leads on policy development within MRRD and liaison with relevant stakeholders both within and outside the Ministry. External partners include other line ministries, Government departments and representatives of the international community. The role of the Policy Unit is to draw on lessons and issues arising from the different national programmes and develop rural development policies to further support the Ministry’s longer-term goal of poverty alleviation, influencing the implementation of current programmes and impacting upon the design of future interventions.
In addition, the Unit’s work seeks to promote horizontal and vertical co-ordination, including: ensuring co-ordination at sub-national level is balanced by cross-sectoral co-ordination at the centre; strengthening vertical relations between levels of government; driving more co-operative and inclusive relations between public and private actors and within government; and seeking to ensure policy development is aligned with policymaking in other line ministries, promoting evidence-based influencing to ensure rural development activities are mainstreamed and co-ordinated. In the longer term, the Unit will follow up and monitor the success of policy implementation, with a specific focus on achieving relevant and sustainable practice changes among key actors.
The Senior Rural Development Policy Support Adviser will support MRRD’s approach to rural development through active participation in meetings on policy and programme development and management, ensuring clearly defined lines of communication and dissemination of lesson learning are developed across all MRRD programmes. The incumbent will be a key adviser in the Office of the Minister and be the focal point for MRRD on all rural development policy issues.
The Adviser will assist in the development and dissemination of rural development policies and guidelines around current strategic priorities, ensuring their alignment with the broader political, social and economic themes of the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS), Agriculture and Rural Development Sector Strategy (ARDSS) and MRRD's Strategic Intent, and with the overall objectives of other key players such as other line ministries and the international donor community. In addition, the Adviser will contribute to the development, implementation and planning of activities pertaining to sub-national governance, regional co-operation, and other areas as appropriate.
A. III. Specific Roles/ Responsibilities Expected
Based in Kabul, the Adviser will report to the Office of the Minister and be under the supervision of the H.E. the Minister or his immediate designate, serving as focal point on all rural development policy issues within MRRD. The incumbent will:
• Lead the strengthening of the Policy Unit in MRRD, establishing an annual plan and tools for policy development;
• Build the capacity, guide and provide support to the Policy Unit (as a direct counterpart) to undertake policy research, development and advocacy;
• Support the development of a conceptual framework that depicts a holistic approach to rural development and respective strategies incorporating the goals and objectives of the flagship programmes of the Government of Afghanistan;
• Assist in the research, development and dissemination of rural development policy documents, strategies and guidelines around current strategic priorities, including;
o Policy development around the sectors that are important to MRRD, and;
o Policy development around broader political, social and economic themes of ANDS, ARDSS, and MRRD’s Strategic Intent;
• Assist in the articulation of rural development policy to donors and other partners;
• Assist in the design and delivery of an expansion of policy making capacity across MRRD departments;
• Support the implementation of MRRD’s Strategic Intent, assisting in reviewing and updating the document as needed;
• Support the Afghanistan Institute of Rural Development in defining research priorities, based on the Policy Unit’s needs;
• In partnership with the Monitoring Department, develop a monitoring framework and monitor policy implementation;
• Undertake other advisory functions as required by the Minister.
Deliverables:
• An annualised action plan for the Policy Unit, with clearly identified tools for policy development;
• A conceptual framework drafted for approval, comprising a Government-wide, holistic approach to rural development;
• An identified programme of support and training for Policy Unit personnel, leading to a measurable increase in Policy Unit capacity to undertake policy research, development, presentation, dissemination and advocacy within the Ministry and externally;
• Externally verifiable improvements in the quality of policy research and the number of policy papers produced by the Policy Unit.
• Monthly written progress and results reporting.
B. IV. Time Schedule:
The assignment is expected to start in June 2012 for a period of six (6) continuous months, with the possibility of an extension by mutual agreement with both parties and on the same contractual terms.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Academic Qualifications
• A postgraduate degree in social sciences, rural development Studies, policy development, or a closely related field.
Work Experience
• A minimum of 7 years’ relevant professional working experience, including evidence of having led at senior level on drafting policy documents and work in the policy sphere in a rural development context. Regional experience will be an advantage.
Technical Skills
• Strong working knowledge of database and Microsoft Office software.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Evidence of strong negotiation skills and of the ability to influence others at senior level.
• Ability to work well in a multi-cultural team environment and to act both responsively and proactively to ensure effective implementation of MRRD policies and programmes.
• Extensive experience in co-operation and capacity development with government counterparts.
• Knowledge of Dari and Pashto would be an asset.
VI. Duty Station and Reporting Requirements
Duty Station: The duty station shall be the Policy Unit office located within the MRRD Compound in Darul Aman, Kabul, Afghanistan.
Reporting Requirements: The consultant will report to the Office of the Minister on all work-related issues.
Notice of revision:
These terms of reference may be revised subject to operational needs.
Submission Guideline:
Interested international candidates with the required qualifications and experience should submit their applications electronically through vacancies.nabdp@mrrd.gov.af
While submitting your applications please mention the Title of the position plus Vacancy Number in the subject of the e-mail; please do NOT submit any other supporting documentation or educational certificates with your application. If you are short listed you will be asked to submit electronic copies of your educational certificates and if you are invited to written test you will be required to present the original certificates.
Applications will not be accepted after the closing date of the position. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for written test
Note: In the interests of open and fair competition and a merit based selection process applicants are advised that lobbying for a position , whether by the applicant or by any person acting on his or her behalf, shall result in the immediate disqualification of the candidate from further consideration. Applicants are strongly advised to inform potential supporters of this restriction which shall be strictly enforced.
QUALIFIED FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY
Job Email id: Vacancies.nabdp(at)mrrd.gov.af
MRRD’s ultimate goal is to reduce poverty in rural areas and to pave the way for other actors to complement its endeavors. For MRRD, poverty alleviation can only be pursued by tackling the complex causes of poverty in a holistic manner. The essence of rural development thus lies in partnerships, which will continue to be nurtured, cultivating a virtuous circle of development. In the complex landscape of rural Afghanistan, MRRD builds on its comparative advantage to address some of the causes of poverty.
Over the years, MRRD has demonstrated its capacity to address directly many rural communities’ needs through its national programmes: the Afghanistan Rural Enterprise Development Programme (AREDP), the National Area Based Development Programme (NABDP), the National Rural Access Programme (NRAP), the National Solidarity Programme (NSP), and the Rural Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Programme (RuWatSIP).
MRRD seeks to enable equitable development for all. Through the organisation of local level elections it has provided Afghans with an opportunity to decide their future. Through training it has built enormous social capital, transforming men and women in thousands of villages into responsible actors for their own development. As a result, rural people, who are at the heart of MRRD’s mission, have gained better access to markets and jobs, to education, health facilities and energy.
Based on these successes, MRRD has become an intrinsic element of the Government of Afghanistan’s inter-ministerial Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD) Cluster and Governance Cluster (GOC). This has resulted in most of the MRRD programmes becoming National Priority Programmes (NPPs) either in their entirety or as elements of other NPPs.
TERMS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Summary of Position:
MRRD is a well-established Ministry delivering a substantial portfolio. With the current focus on transition and transformation, MRRD seeks to strengthen its existing Policy Unit through the appointment of a Senior Rural Development Policy Support Adviser.
The Unit leads on policy development within MRRD and liaison with relevant stakeholders both within and outside the Ministry. External partners include other line ministries, Government departments and representatives of the international community. The role of the Policy Unit is to draw on lessons and issues arising from the different national programmes and develop rural development policies to further support the Ministry’s longer-term goal of poverty alleviation, influencing the implementation of current programmes and impacting upon the design of future interventions.
In addition, the Unit’s work seeks to promote horizontal and vertical co-ordination, including: ensuring co-ordination at sub-national level is balanced by cross-sectoral co-ordination at the centre; strengthening vertical relations between levels of government; driving more co-operative and inclusive relations between public and private actors and within government; and seeking to ensure policy development is aligned with policymaking in other line ministries, promoting evidence-based influencing to ensure rural development activities are mainstreamed and co-ordinated. In the longer term, the Unit will follow up and monitor the success of policy implementation, with a specific focus on achieving relevant and sustainable practice changes among key actors.
The Senior Rural Development Policy Support Adviser will support MRRD’s approach to rural development through active participation in meetings on policy and programme development and management, ensuring clearly defined lines of communication and dissemination of lesson learning are developed across all MRRD programmes. The incumbent will be a key adviser in the Office of the Minister and be the focal point for MRRD on all rural development policy issues.
The Adviser will assist in the development and dissemination of rural development policies and guidelines around current strategic priorities, ensuring their alignment with the broader political, social and economic themes of the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS), Agriculture and Rural Development Sector Strategy (ARDSS) and MRRD's Strategic Intent, and with the overall objectives of other key players such as other line ministries and the international donor community. In addition, the Adviser will contribute to the development, implementation and planning of activities pertaining to sub-national governance, regional co-operation, and other areas as appropriate.
MRRD is a well-established Ministry delivering a substantial portfolio. With the current focus on transition and transformation, MRRD seeks to strengthen its existing Policy Unit through the appointment of a Senior Rural Development Policy Support Adviser.
The Unit leads on policy development within MRRD and liaison with relevant stakeholders both within and outside the Ministry. External partners include other line ministries, Government departments and representatives of the international community. The role of the Policy Unit is to draw on lessons and issues arising from the different national programmes and develop rural development policies to further support the Ministry’s longer-term goal of poverty alleviation, influencing the implementation of current programmes and impacting upon the design of future interventions.
In addition, the Unit’s work seeks to promote horizontal and vertical co-ordination, including: ensuring co-ordination at sub-national level is balanced by cross-sectoral co-ordination at the centre; strengthening vertical relations between levels of government; driving more co-operative and inclusive relations between public and private actors and within government; and seeking to ensure policy development is aligned with policymaking in other line ministries, promoting evidence-based influencing to ensure rural development activities are mainstreamed and co-ordinated. In the longer term, the Unit will follow up and monitor the success of policy implementation, with a specific focus on achieving relevant and sustainable practice changes among key actors.
The Senior Rural Development Policy Support Adviser will support MRRD’s approach to rural development through active participation in meetings on policy and programme development and management, ensuring clearly defined lines of communication and dissemination of lesson learning are developed across all MRRD programmes. The incumbent will be a key adviser in the Office of the Minister and be the focal point for MRRD on all rural development policy issues.
The Adviser will assist in the development and dissemination of rural development policies and guidelines around current strategic priorities, ensuring their alignment with the broader political, social and economic themes of the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS), Agriculture and Rural Development Sector Strategy (ARDSS) and MRRD's Strategic Intent, and with the overall objectives of other key players such as other line ministries and the international donor community. In addition, the Adviser will contribute to the development, implementation and planning of activities pertaining to sub-national governance, regional co-operation, and other areas as appropriate.
A. III. Specific Roles/ Responsibilities Expected
Based in Kabul, the Adviser will report to the Office of the Minister and be under the supervision of the H.E. the Minister or his immediate designate, serving as focal point on all rural development policy issues within MRRD. The incumbent will:
• Lead the strengthening of the Policy Unit in MRRD, establishing an annual plan and tools for policy development;
• Build the capacity, guide and provide support to the Policy Unit (as a direct counterpart) to undertake policy research, development and advocacy;
• Support the development of a conceptual framework that depicts a holistic approach to rural development and respective strategies incorporating the goals and objectives of the flagship programmes of the Government of Afghanistan;
• Assist in the research, development and dissemination of rural development policy documents, strategies and guidelines around current strategic priorities, including;
o Policy development around the sectors that are important to MRRD, and;
o Policy development around broader political, social and economic themes of ANDS, ARDSS, and MRRD’s Strategic Intent;
• Assist in the articulation of rural development policy to donors and other partners;
• Assist in the design and delivery of an expansion of policy making capacity across MRRD departments;
• Support the implementation of MRRD’s Strategic Intent, assisting in reviewing and updating the document as needed;
• Support the Afghanistan Institute of Rural Development in defining research priorities, based on the Policy Unit’s needs;
• In partnership with the Monitoring Department, develop a monitoring framework and monitor policy implementation;
• Undertake other advisory functions as required by the Minister.
Deliverables:
• An annualised action plan for the Policy Unit, with clearly identified tools for policy development;
• A conceptual framework drafted for approval, comprising a Government-wide, holistic approach to rural development;
• An identified programme of support and training for Policy Unit personnel, leading to a measurable increase in Policy Unit capacity to undertake policy research, development, presentation, dissemination and advocacy within the Ministry and externally;
• Externally verifiable improvements in the quality of policy research and the number of policy papers produced by the Policy Unit.
• Monthly written progress and results reporting.
B. IV. Time Schedule:
The assignment is expected to start in June 2012 for a period of six (6) continuous months, with the possibility of an extension by mutual agreement with both parties and on the same contractual terms.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Academic Qualifications
• A postgraduate degree in social sciences, rural development Studies, policy development, or a closely related field.
Work Experience
• A minimum of 7 years’ relevant professional working experience, including evidence of having led at senior level on drafting policy documents and work in the policy sphere in a rural development context. Regional experience will be an advantage.
Technical Skills
• Strong working knowledge of database and Microsoft Office software.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Evidence of strong negotiation skills and of the ability to influence others at senior level.
• Ability to work well in a multi-cultural team environment and to act both responsively and proactively to ensure effective implementation of MRRD policies and programmes.
• Extensive experience in co-operation and capacity development with government counterparts.
• Knowledge of Dari and Pashto would be an asset.
VI. Duty Station and Reporting Requirements
Duty Station: The duty station shall be the Policy Unit office located within the MRRD Compound in Darul Aman, Kabul, Afghanistan.
Reporting Requirements: The consultant will report to the Office of the Minister on all work-related issues.
Notice of revision:
These terms of reference may be revised subject to operational needs.
Submission Guideline:
Interested international candidates with the required qualifications and experience should submit their applications electronically through vacancies.nabdp@mrrd.gov.af
While submitting your applications please mention the Title of the position plus Vacancy Number in the subject of the e-mail; please do NOT submit any other supporting documentation or educational certificates with your application. If you are short listed you will be asked to submit electronic copies of your educational certificates and if you are invited to written test you will be required to present the original certificates.
Applications will not be accepted after the closing date of the position. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for written test
Note: In the interests of open and fair competition and a merit based selection process applicants are advised that lobbying for a position , whether by the applicant or by any person acting on his or her behalf, shall result in the immediate disqualification of the candidate from further consideration. Applicants are strongly advised to inform potential supporters of this restriction which shall be strictly enforced.
QUALIFIED FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY
Job Email id: Vacancies.nabdp(at)mrrd.gov.af
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