Capacity Development Advisor Swedish Committee for Afghanistan
Swedish Committee for Afghanistan is looking for Capacity Development Advisor Posted at Kabul Management Office, Kabul, Afghanistan
Background
Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA) is a non-governmental development organisation working to assist in the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan. Operations started in Afghanistan in 1982 on an emergency basis, which subsequently evolved into long-term development programmes. SCA today works in the sectors of Health, Education, Disability and Rural Development, with vulnerable groups in rural underserved areas as primary beneficiaries. With around 6 000 staff, SCA is one of the largest non-governmental organisations in the country. A management office in Kabul coordinates all operations, while programme activities are implemented from five provincial project offices and four field offices. Through its activities, SCA aims to fight poverty, support economic and social development and strengthen democratic development and gender equality & human rights.
SCA is a major Swedish NGO established in 1980 working with fundraising, information and advocacy alongside with the activities in Afghanistan. In Sweden SCA works as a membership association based on popular commitment and support, making effort to affect the public opinion by providing knowledgeable and reliable information about Afghanistan in order to increase sustainable cooperation and assistance in a spirit of solidarity.
Program Implementation Department (PID)
Programme Implementation Department (PID) is the department responsible for programme execution and simultaneous programme development. PID turns policy directives into programmatic actions. It ensures that SCA has effective programme management teams and implementation systems in place. It coordinates operational and technical skills efficiently so that plans are implemented and outputs and outcomes achieved within the framework of the SCA strategic plan. It ensures that technical, managerial and quality aspects are strengthened in programme implementation, and that management systems are established, coordinated and followed up, supporting all ongoing implementation. The PID works with internal synergies as well as external partnership and coordination within respective sectors. PID staff partakes in planning, proposal and reporting processes.
Scope of Work
SCA mission statement in addition to services delivery and advocacy also emphasizes institutional capacity development within its four programmatic areas of operations namely education, health, disability and rural development as a mean to contribute to sustainable development and target groups’ empowerment. In principle two main target groups are addressed, namely, village community groups and district/ provincial institutional authorities. Under the guidance of Director of Programme Implementation, the Capacity Development Advisor will have two main portfolios. 1) Work closely with PID and Heads of Programmes to translate the policy statements on capacity development into strategic direction for the remaining years of current Strategic Plan (2010-2013) and future SP development. 2) Assess and review the institutional capacity development approaches, methods and tools on implementation level (Project Offices) and refine and align the approaches and methods to the overall strategic direction. S/he also works closely with the Heads of Programmes and Project Managers and through transfer of own knowledge and skills builds the capacity of programme staff to be efficient in external capacity development. The position requires that s/he extensively travel to SCA Project/ Field Offices depending on security situation. S/he reports to the Director of Programme Implementation.
Entry Requirements
Qualifications:
- Academic degree at master’s level in development studies, policy or a technical field related to institutional capacity development Experience: - Minimum 5 years’ experience of development work with focus on organisational and institutional capacity development within an international NGO or UN agency - Experience of capacity development (institutional/individual) and documented knowledge of relevant tools/methods/techniques for enhancement of performance - Solid background in systems evaluations/reviews/assessments, preferably within the sector of organisational and institutional capacity development of both formal institutions/organisations as well as community organisations - Experience in a post-conflict environment and in Muslim countries is an advantage Others: - Strong team-building in a cross-cultural context - Commitment to rights-based approaches and gender equality - Knowledge of democratic governance principles and practices an asset - Ability to prioritise, handle multiple tasks and meet deadlines -Ability to travel frequently within Afghanistan and adjust to difficult and basic living conditions - Excellent command of written and spoken English - Knowledge of Dari or Pashtu a merit
Key Responsibilities
- Together with programmes, translate the policy statements on capacity development into strategic direction for the remaining years of current SP and future SP development. - Ensure that programmes are allocating sufficient resources to capacity development (competence development and institutional development) in yearly planning in alignment to strategic direction/ outcomes. - Training, advice and support programmes to align the capacity development interventions leading to sustainability and community empowerment. - Development of tools and methods to assess the institutional and organizational capacity needs of SCA supported community based institutions such as health shuras, education committees, Parent Teacher Associations, Community Development Councils, Disabled People Organisations, etc as well as training and capacity building activities related to the use of these tools/methods. - Development of tools and methods to assess the institutional and organizational capacity needs of counterpart provincial and district government authorities as well as training and capacity building activities related to the use of these tools/methods. - Guide and assist programmes to support and influence agendas of SCA supported community based institutions as well as government institutions to be more inclusive of priorities of women, children and people with disabilities (institutional capacity development for equality). - Promote interactive platforms for programmes to come together, discuss issues and forge complementing and where needed common capacity development approaches (synergies). - Monitor implementation (assessment and review)
Application information
Contract period: 2 years with an initial 6 months probationary period Conditions: Non family posting. SCA offers a competitive salary, free housing, insurances and other benefits. Duties to begin: October 2012 Last date for application: 26 August 2012
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