Project Manager for Northern Rural Fund

About Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA)

Job Summary

The Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA) will be implementing the SCA Northern Rural Fund project (NRF) funded by the Embassy of Sweden / Sida. NRF will contribute to development of four to five districts in the Northern Provinces by responding to assistance proposals from CDCs. The development goal for the NRF is Strengthened rural civil society by means of community mobilization and short term financing and will follow principles similar to the National Solidarity Programme (NSP) and be complementary to it.
The project activities will be based on proposals from CDCs which will be selected for implementation. The projects may entail vocational training skills, repair and construction of buildings for education and health services, establishment and repair of water supply and sanitation structures, road improvements, rehabilitation of irrigation structures, and other social sector/collective purpose needs identified by the communities.
The NRF Project Manager for SCA is responsible for the direct and daily development and operation of the project; ensuring that the quality, goals and standards of work is according to the project design and contractual obligations of SCA. The NRF Project Manager will administer and manage the project by leading a team of key staff that will ensure recurring tasks, as well as innovative methods, are fulfilled and implemented that will build community capacity. Implementation of participatory processes in all aspect of the project will be the key to the successful implementation.
The NRF Project Manager is expected to be able to work independently, establish strong local support networks and to invent and improve local solutions for the problems if and when necessary. Good cooperation and capacity building at provincial and district level will be important with a focus on gender and local community participation.
The Manager has to be prepared to compile plans, budgets and reports at regular intervals and travel extensively in the field. The successful implementation of the project is measured on performance based criteria. The NRF Project Manager is reporting to the Head of Rural Development Programme at the SCA Kabul Management Office

Duties & Responsibilities

• To oversee and guide the implementation of the project according to the plan and SCA’s contractual obligations and the SCA policy, rules and regulations
• In close cooperation with the Rural Development Management Unit (RDMU) analyse and evaluate data and ensure achievements of objectives and / or take corrective actions when necessary to meet project objectives
• To regularly undertake field visits to monitor activities at district level
• To develop efficient and adequate management systems and routines to ensure high quality in performance
• Development of regular, participatory and documented staff meetings is expected
• Promote and initiate meetings between CDCs, government agencies, NGOs especially NSP facilitating partner and other actors at the provincial and district level
• To ensure timely reporting by all units in the project and that needed data for monthly and quarterly reports are available, compiled and reported to the RDMU
• To ensure the active involvement of project staff in the planning, implementation and evaluation of the project, including but not limited to, SCA work-plan and budget and annual donor report, also the incumbent will be responsible for preparation of the NRF inception report
• To ensure that important and relevant information about the project will be disseminated to local communities
• To give extra attention and promotion to female participation and training, both in regards to staff and at CDC level
• To actively evaluate the security situation at provincial and district level and implement strong adherence by staff on security regulations and precautions

Job Requirements

• University Graduate with an engineering or social science degree. Qualified female applicants will be preferred
• At least 5 years experience in a similar field (most preferably NSP) at senior level, with a well known NGO or UN agency, with project management familiarity
• To have a sound knowledge of administration, planning and budgeting and report writing
• To have a very good command in English, Dari and Pashto (spoken and written)
• To have a good supervisory, monitoring, leadership, analytical and trouble shooting skills
• Good computer skills in MS Word, Excel and Internet
• Documented familiarity of hands-on implementing development projects at community level and with community participation and mobilisation
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and capacity to deal with different rural communities with varied political/socio-economic and educational background Sound communication skills, to be honest, well mannered
• Familiarity with the northern region where the NRF activities are situated is an advantage
• Ready to work, live and travel in an intricate and strenuous environment
• To be an Afghan citizen

Submission Guideline

 Interested and qualified candidates should submit a SCA Job Application Form along with possible introduction letter and CV to the SCA HRM Unit in either Kabul, Ghazni, Kunduz, Wardak, Taloqan, Mazar-e-Sharif, Sar-e-Pul, Samangan, Laghman and Jalalabad or. The application form can be obtained from the gate at all these SCA offices as well as from the SCA website: www.swedishcommittee.org (vacancies section) and www.acbar.org (downloads section).
 To apply online please send your application/ CV to vacancies@sca.org.af
 Academic job documents is not needed with application, but will be requested if called for interview.
 Only short-listed candidates will be informed for written test and interview.

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