Aga Khan Foundation, Afghanistan
Job Opportunities
Position Title
Duty Station
: Consultant for the Project Management Unit (PMU) Coordinator
: Kabul
Announcing Date : 04 October 2015
Closing Date : 25 October 2015
Vacancy Nr. : CS/KBL/09/15/044
The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is a group of international, private, nondenominational development agencies and institutions that seek to empower communities and individuals, usually in disadvantaged circumstances, to improve living conditions and opportunities.
The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) is part of AKDN and has been working in Afghanistan since 2002, with programs focused on Rural Development, Education and Health.
AKF is the lead agency of STAGES, a consortium of NGO and private sector partners that will work across 15 provinces of Afghanistan in a four year DFID funded project focused on girls’ education.
The Consortium is managed by a Project Management Unit (PMU), which is responsible for coordinating project implementation, managing of financial resources, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting.
AKF is seeking a consultant to fulfil the role of Project Coordinator for a period of three months with the possibility of an extension.
The consultant will analyse programming and produce high quality written communications that respond to strict UK-based donor requirements, articulate the successes and challenges of the project in this reporting, and contribute to internal learning processes with national Afghan staff and project partners.
The scope of work includes:

Ensuring good coordination and understanding between the 7 project partners in-country, project partner UK offices, AKF UK and the UK-based Fund Manager, including issues that might arise with monitoring and evaluation, project implementation, and standardization of project documents.

Working with different project teams (Technical, Monitoring and Evaluation, Financial) to ensure the appropriate donor compliance in aspects of project design and documentation.

Ensuring good communications and communication tools with internal and external stakeholders through the development of, standardized reporting for partner use, and training for reporting requirements for partners.
S/he will be based in Kabul, but with potential (limited) travel to the program areas.
Core Responsibilities & Duties:
1. Coordination: Coordinating planning and preparation with relevant staff (Technical, Financial and Monitoring and Evaluation teams); Coordinating the production of high quality communication including donor and organizational reports and other informative project documents and briefings. Acting as liaison between the different units and partners for grant and donor-related issues.
2. Donor Compliance: Coordinating donor compliance in planning, implementing and reporting.
Providing guidance and quality control for the facilitation and planning of STAGES meetings and workshops, in consultation with PMU staff and partners.
3. Reporting: Ensuring timely submission of high quality donor reports; Together with the Project
Manager, consolidating data and information for these quarterly and annual reports.
4. Monitoring and Evaluation: Working with the Monitoring and Evaluation team to help to ensure compatibility between monitoring/ database tools and the reporting requirements of the donor.
5. Communications: Ensuring delivery of high quality documents including communications, case studies, and briefs, coordinating communications with in-country project partners. Distributing

project materials and documents to project partners in an efficient manner. Working with project partners to build staff capacity to fulfill reporting requirements.
6. Administrative: Ensuring the smooth operation of the project through planning, organizing, and following up on project coordination meetings with partners, and engaging the various AKF departments for project and staffing demands, such as HR (hiring), administration (scheduling meetings), and procurement (delivering project requirements). Taking meeting minutes in technical and coordination meetings.
7. External Relationships: Manage relationships and monitor performance of a variety of external contractors, including monitoring compliance with contractual requirements, coordinating access requirements with project partners and reviewing and providing feedback on reports and other submissions.
Occasional Significant Duties:
1. Any other duties relevant to this position’s core responsibilities and duties as assigned by the supervisor.
2. Monitoring visits to field locations.
3. Mentoring and capacity building for local staff.
Job Requirements:
1. Advanced degree in education, development or related subjects
2. Demonstrated ability to respond effectively to deadlines and high pressure situations
3. Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English
4. Ability to critically analyze and provide constructive recommendations
5. High level of cultural adaptability and sensitivity, as well as experience living in difficult environments with limited mobility
6. Demonstrated ability to streamline and manage internal and external reporting systems and communications
7. Ability to work and communicate effectively within a mixed Afghan and international team
8. Ability to use initiative, be self-directed and work with limited supervision
9. Experience working with multiple partners.
10. Ability to synthesize and process information from multiple sources.
Application:
Please apply through our Career Centre: http://www.akdn.org/careers
Only short listed candidates will be contacted for further assessment.
Aga Khan Foundation – Afghanistan is an equal opportunities employer. Women are encouraged to apply.
Aga Khan Foundation – Afghanistan recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to the safeguarding of children from abuse.
Applications for this position will be reviewed on a rolling basis and an offer may be made to a qualified candidate before the application deadline.