WORLD NEIGHBORS
POSITION DESCRIPTION
POSITION TITLE:
REPORTS TO:
SUPERVISES:
STATUS:
DATE:
Program Associate WN Nepal
Regional Program Officer
NA
Full-time
July 2009
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Program Associate will lead the implementation of the WN SA strategic plan, through the provision of
effective support for holistic community development programs in a defined geographic area. Specifically,
this support will be related to the development of high quality, people-focused, community based programs
that build local capacity and enable communities to address their own development agendas. The Program
Associate will be required to lead on methodological development & action learning in holistic approaches,
provide technical and strategic support for colleagues and partners, ensure the effective integration of
gender and community capacity building aspects into all programs, coordinate and supervise a country-level
team, liaise closely with partner organizations, communities, government agencies and other relevant
stakeholders, as well as provide administrative and financial support to the programs. The Program
Associate reports to the Regional Program Officer.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Program Management
a) Be aware of WN strategic mission as articulated in “Growing the Dream” enabling its
mainstreaming and operationalization at the grassroots level programs in such a way that it
both maximizes impact and promotes WN’s goodwill and image
b) Have updated knowledge and information about government policies that directly impact on
program implementation and deliverables in particular WN program districts and priorities
c) Provide ideas and inputs to the program team for the designing and developing effective ways
of knowledge management as well as distance management in all WN program priority areas
d) Support the WN program team, Regional Program Officer and Program Coordinators, in
enabling all program related mandatory requirements and compliances – reporting,
budgeting, planning, documenting, auditing – are met and updated in a timely and regular
manner
e) Ensure integration of WN’s cross cutting components such as gender and capacity building
into all programs activities
f) Work together with other WN Program Associates in identifying best practices in program,
project and partnership development so as to incorporate these learnings in future program
designs and deliverables as well as in current program and project management cycle
g) Take forward program monitoring and evaluation processes in the field, identifying key
challenges, best practices, scaling up potential, gaps and “areas of improvement” for future
intervention
2. Partnership Management
a) Enable effective partnership management by having a complete and updated information on
WN partners and program deliverables (MoUs, Agreements, Plans & Budgets), their work
areas, concerns and key challenges through a system of regular interaction that includes field
visits, field visit documentation, interacting with local communities and listening to partners’
concerns, comments and capacity building needs
b) Provide support to WN program team in the process of program partners selection as well as
phase out, in different WN project related components including (baseline) data collection and
management, data analysis and review
c) Use the WN partnership guideline document (?) as a basis to support consistency and
coherence in partner management practices, deliverables and non negotiables across the
board
d) Provide advice to partners in program implementation, keeping track of the latest
development trends and plans, including that of the government and other organizations
working in similar priority areas
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e) Proactively extend support to other WN programs and partners using lessons learned and
best practices in currently managed one, wherever such inputs are identified and warranted
f) Ensure and facilitate effective capacity building processes of partners in all three WN’s
program areas: sustainable agriculture & rural livelihoods / SARL, community & reproductive
health / CRH, and community based natural resource management / CBNRM.
g) Engage with partners respecting their skills and knowledge in a way that best develops their
local capacity for achieving project goals, while mainstreaming WN vision and values for
enabling future up scaling, duplication and maximizing impact
h) Provide grassroots level support to WN programs and if applicable, to WN projects using
holistic, people centred development approaches to end hunger, poverty and disease and
promote a healthy environment
3. Monitoring and Evaluation; Impact Assessment
a) Extend support to program team and to partners in the preparation of program plans, work
plans and budgets and ensure regular monitoring and review of achievements against these
b) Take a lead in the development of appropriate, community-based, multi-stakeholder holistic
monitoring and evaluation processes and impact indicators that partners can use and
promote effectively
c) Support and upgrade partner capacity in data analysis, information documentation as well as
designing and developing learning / advocacy materials
d) Ensure effective organization and coordination of partners meetings, workshops, training
activities and other forums in which to share challenges, outcomes and future strategies in
monitoring and evaluation
e) Set up systems and support for open flow of communication and of action research with
partners in selected sites to analyze and document program context, process, outcomes and
impact
f) Ensure synthesis and sharing of lessons across sites through documentation of field level
learning (such as case studies), review of programs and development of relevant learning
materials
4. Human Resource, Administration and Finance Management
a) Ensure timely completion of all HR related core tasks, both pertaining to self (such as timely
completion of performance evaluation) and to project / program related aspects (such as
providing feedback to other team members and to partners, as applicable)
b) Provide regular support and constructive feedback for peers, including other Program
Associates as required
c) Ensure close and effective coordination with non program staff, both the Regional Finance
Officer as well as Administration and Finance Officers, especially in relation to the setting and
monitoring of partners and program budget
d) Provide assistance in the development of program plans and budgets with partners together
with overseeing the timely dispersal of funds to them
e) Monitor the submission of program and financial reports from partners to WN as well as the
use of funds for program plans and priorities
f) Take a lead in the preparation of annual program reports and plans relating to the project and
its follow up as well as closure as per project phase out details
g) Ensure clear and consistent communication to and fro partners and senior program team
members including on issues of plan and budget
5. Corporate Accountability
a) Identify, build and promote effective ways of managing external stakeholder relations ranging
from donors, government, other civil society organizations, academia, and the community to
build organizational image while also identifying areas for potential collaboration and joint
action learning
b) Engage wider stakeholders, in particular the government and other civil society organizations,
in promoting and advocating pro poor policies using among others, ground based lessons
learned and best practices
c) Fully coordinate and be responsible for managing visits of stakeholders (external as well as
internal) to WN program and project sites
d) Represent WN in workshops, meetings, conferences in a way that best promotes WN profile,
credibility and sphere of influence, keeping the interests of the poorest and the most
marginalized in mind
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e) Develop and strategize promotion of multi stakeholder approaches that would contribute to
overall success of WN’s people centred, community based holistic methodologies of self
reliance and development
f) Be aware of potential and future stakeholders who WN could engage with in furthering its
mission sharing this information with relevant in – house stakeholders
g) Make recommendations to the Regional Program Officer on partner selection and processes of
partner phase-out
h) Maintain effective communication and working relations with key internal stakeholders
including the Regional Associate Vice President, Asia, and the Regional Program Officer
updating them, among others, about any program or project related strategic issues and
concerns
i) Work in close coordination with other peers, including Program Associate/s in India and
Indonesia for developing and providing necessary inputs in project management, proposals,
issues of advocacy and lobbying for policy influencing
ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
 As assigned by RPO or RA VP, ARO
MINIMUM SKILLS:
 Ability to manage and lead integrated rural program work in at least two of WN’s priority areas
 Strong skills in facilitation, coordination, communication and documentation
 Fluency in written and spoken local language along with proficiency in English
 Experience in developing multiple stakeholder, collaborative approaches to development problems
MINIMUM EDUCATION:
 Master’s Degree in related field
MINIMUM EXPERIENCE
 5 years experience direct field-level rural development particularly in WN priority areas: Community and
Organizational Capacity Building; Reproductive and Community Health; Sustainable Agriculture and Rural
Livelihoods; Community-based Natural Resource Management
PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS:
 five years’ experience working with development programs in either Africa, Asia or Latin America
 excellent interpersonal skills; able to work cooperatively and cross-culturally
 willing and able to travel for approximately 6 weeks per year
WORKING CONDITIONS:
 regular travel to sites in India and Nepal, including challenging rural conditions,
 regular and effective coordination with finance staff as well as other Program Associates
 requires taking initiative and being proactive in building communication links at a wider organizational
level, in cognizance of the new organizational strategy and structure
Note: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by an
employee in this position. These statements are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all
responsibilities, duties and skills required of this position.
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Employee name & signature
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Date
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Supervisor name & signature
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Regional Associate Vice President, name & signature
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