Swedish Committee for Afghanistan is looking for

Head of Reporting and Planning Unit

Posted atKabul Management Office, Kabul, Afghanistan

Background
Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA) is non-governmental, non-profit, membership based and value driven organization established in 1980 with a mission of empowering individuals, communities and local organizations, primarily in rural areas and with particular focus on women, girls, boys and vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities so that they may participate fully in society and influence their own development. SCA is achieving this by working closely with communities, local and national civil society organizations and relevant levels of government.

Our Vision is: an Afghanistan free from poverty, violence and discrimination, where human rights are respected and all live in dignity, enjoy equal opportunity and social justice.

SCA’s 6000 staff are currently implementing substantial development programmes in Health, Education, Disability and Rural Development across 14 provinces. Main contributors to SCA budget are Sida, World Bank and increasingly, private contributions and donations.SCA strategic plan 2014-2017 focuses on rural communities, women, children and persons with disabilities and it has been built upon our previous successes and competencies in providing services in areas where the Government of Afghanistan continues to face serious capacity shortfalls. Service delivery, capacity building, gender mainstreaming and right based approach are the key building blocks of the new organizational strategy.

SCA has two management offices, in Stockholm and in Kabul, and five regional offices. The Grants, Reporting and Planning unit is located in the Kabul Management Office, and this position is based in Kabul with occasional travel to other offices.

Reporting and Planning Unit

The Reporting and Planning Unit has overall responsibility for the planning and reporting functions across SCA, and for coordinating and overseeing donor engagement and grant management in Afghanistan.

Scope of Work

The Head of Reporting and Planningreports to the Country Director Afghanistan and to the Secretary General and works closely with the Country Director Sweden.

The unit is structured along three major areas of responsibility:

To provide overall management of ongoing and potential funding/donor relationships in Afghanistan, in close collaboration with the Programme Operation Department at Kabul Management Office and the Aid Coordination Unit at Stockholm Management Office. This is achieved by maintaining a database of potential donors and funding partners, developing guidelines, tools and internal competence in the area of proposal development, and in general supporting quality proposal development and project design, and undertaking regular follow-up with potential donors.

To design and coordinate organisational planning processes, including strategic and annual plan development. The unit also manages and ensures the quality of internal reporting, and leads internal competence development in areas of planning, project cycle management, and donor reporting.

To ensure quality and compliance with Government of Afghanistan and donor regulations, contracts, and policies in SCAs reporting and assigned contract management. This involves leading the reporting to the Government of Afghanistan and to donors and funding partners. The unit is also responsible for reviewing new contracts to ensure compliance/alignment with SCA policies and procedures in Afghanistan.

Responsibilities

Overall responsible for ensuring that appropriate systems, tools and skills are in place with regards to:

  • Donor engagement
  • Project Development and Proposal Writing,
  • Organisational Planning Cycles
  • Donor-compliant outcome-level reporting
  • Assume the overall responsibility for the development and follow-up of the unit’s budget
  • Coach and train staff in order to promote internal competence and technical skills within Planning, proposal writing and reporting.
  • Promote SCA policy values, e.g. gender equality, political neutrality and non-discrimination

There exists considerable scope to shape the development and direction of the Reporting and Planning unit, and in the deployment of the unit staff within the teams.

Entry Requirements

Qualifications

  • Academic degree, at master’s level,in relevant field. In exceptional cases, a bachelors’ degree with extensive experience and skills might be considered.
  • In-depth knowledge of planning methods and approaches (in particular participatory methodologies).
  • A solid understanding of rights-based development theory and approaches.
  • Excellent command of spoken and written English.

Experience

  • Minimumfive years of relevant work experience at senior level positions in grant management and planning within a development context.
  • Successful track-record of project development, writing or reviewing project proposals and donor reports.
  • Proven experience coordinating Results-Based planning and other strategic planning approaches
  • Demonstrated work experience in team management, including financial and administrative management of a unit or department.
  • Demonstrated work experience of capacity development of local staff.
  • Demonstrated experience of mainstreaming cross-cutting issues, e.g. gender, human rights, civil society and environment, into planning processes
  • Demonstrated team-building capabilities and strong organisational, interpersonal and negotiation skills, in particular in cross-cultural contexts.

Desirable

•In-depth understanding of standards formulated by SCA’s main donors (Sida, WB, EC)

•Practical facilitating and training experience

•Experience from work in conflict/post-conflict areas, Muslim countries, multicultural environments

•Command of Swedish, Pashtu and/or Dari

Others

  • Proven ability to prioritise, delegate, handle multiple tasks and meet deadlines
  • Ability to take initiatives, innovate and pursue work proactively
  • Willingness to assume responsibility and
  • Ability and willingness to travel to project offices within Afghanistan and adjust to difficult and basic living conditions

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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/November 2015

Last date for application: 9 June 2015

Apply from (Lediga jobb) or (Vacancies)

Download a 1-page letter explaining why you are interested in and suited for this position and your CV (no more than 2 pages) in English.