Programme Manager - Integrated Programming for Afghanistan

Programme Manager - Integrated Programming for Afghanistan

Unit: Programmes Unit

Job Title: Programme Manager – Integrated Programming (Afghanistan)

Contract Duration: Twelve months with probability of extension

Start Date: 1 May 2023

Location: Kabul & Mazar-e-Sharif

Reporting to: Head of Programmes

 

People In Need (PIN) Afghanistan

PIN is a Czech, non-governmental, non-profit organisation, founded on the ideals of humanism, freedom, equality and solidarity. Human dignity and freedom are fundamental values and we believe that people anywhere in the world should have the right to make decisions about their own lives and share the rights expressed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

People in Need’s Afghanistan country programme started in November 2001, providing emergency food distribution in mountainous areas of the central highlands. 20 years later, the programme has visibly grown and diversified, but continues to promote PIN’s core values: envisioning a world where people are free to make decisions about their lives; a world where people are not restricted by an un-free society, poverty, lack of education or discrimination. Today, we work along the humanitarian and development spectrum, providing immediate aid supporting the most vulnerable in Afghanistan to find long-term solutions to the challenges they face.

 

Background

PIN Afghanistan’s three strategic objectives are (1) Agency driven, transformative, humanitarian assistance; (2) Making markets work for crisis affected and marginalised communities; and, (3) Harnessing decent, productive and inclusive livelihoods. Under the current evolving context, the CP is focusing efforts under strategic priority 1 and in particular supporting people to have (1) enough to eat, (2) a safe and secure living space that supports their health and well-being, (3) the basic items needed to stay safe and warm, and (4) access to education when the normal structures are no longer available to them.

Purpose of the Role

The purpose of the role will be to deliver assigned multisectoral integrated programme results to time and budget, ensuring cohesion across sectors necessary to achieve the benefits available from integrated programming. The Programme Manager will have ultimate responsible for programme delivery including programme team management, programme management and controls, technical direction and quality assurance, compliance, donor management, and coordination and representation in areas of responsibility. Through high quality programming and strategic engagement, the role will build PIN’s reputation as a partner of choice for complex integrated multisector programming.

 

Responsibilities

Programme Management

  • Donor and stakeholder management
  • Programme establishment, including programme governance arrangements, escalation procedures, controls and data and results management systems and recruitment of remaining programme team positions.
  • Proper planning of programme and workstream activities taking account of dependencies, risks and available resources, identifying critical pathways and adjusting sequencing and plans to maintain programme cohesion.
  • Risk and issue management ensuring timely and appropriate escalation from the field to programme level, and up to senior management, documenting actions and decisions to resolve issues that have contractual implications.
  • Timely and accurate data and information management in line with PIN data protection standards and archiving protocols, enabling proper results tracking, accurate reporting and audit readiness.
  • Budget management including effective budget monitoring, forecasting and regular communication with responsible budget-line holders and finance team to ensure appropriate spend rates, effective utilisation and VfM.
  • Be responsible for and manage the programme logframe, monitoring assumptions and need for adaptations.
  • With the MEAL Manager, develop an appropriate MEAL Plan that will enable timely monitoring of progress against intended results, unintended benefits and negative impacts of programme delivery, ensuring programme delivery.
  • Monitor programme delivery against commitments, quality standards and assessment findings, making evidence informed programme adaptations to make sure the programme remains relevant to supported persons’ needs and situation, and effective in its approach to delivery.
  • Lead the development of programme products as committed in the proposal and grant agreement, and high quality, timely reports presenting programme progress to the donor and the key stakeholders.
  • Ensure programme compliance with PIN policies, SOPs, programme, MEAL, CFRM, financial, logistics and operational systems and procedures ensuring proper information sharing, documentation and archiving.
  • Proactive communication and coordination with PIN access and safety team, raising issues and working with them closely to maintain access, a permissible operating environment and assure safety of the programme team.

Technical Direction and Quality Assurance

  • Consider contextual factors, dynamics and developments in all programming activities, design and delivery decisions, supporting conflict sensitivity, sustainability and relevance of support to affected persons.
  • Provide technical guidance to sector coordinators and wider programme team to ensure high quality programming in line with accepted sector best practice and standards; EIE, WASH, Food Security, CVA.
  • Ensure all programming complies with sphere and humanitarian principles and standards.
  • In coordination with MEAL Unit, design MEAL tools to support programme monitoring, effectiveness, relevance, results tracking and measurement.
  • Ensure high quality application of approaches to AAP, gender and social inclusion, protection mainstreaming and conflict sensitivity throughout all levels of programme delivery and at all stages of the project cycle.
  • Draw on PIN Knowledge, Learning and Development Advisors as appropriate and according to available budget.

Team Management

  • Line management of assigned programme sector coordinators and technical specialists, and leadership and oversight of the programme team.
  • Ensuring all programme team are aware of PIN Afghanistan policies and procedures, including their roles, responsibilities and obligations vis-à-vis finance, procurement, logistics, safety and access, as well as AAP, safeguarding, code of conduct, data protection, anticorruption and humanitarian principles.
  • Provision of coaching and mentoring support to programme team monitoring and nurturing potential, supporting growth in capacity to support high quality delivery and wider organisational capacity.
  • Proactive management of performance and performance issues in line with PIN national staff policy, escalating to senior management where appropriate and necessary.

Donor and stakeholder management

  • With support of Country Director, Deputy Country Director and Head of Programmes, establish and maintain constructive, respective yet principled relationships with De-facto Authorities in areas of operation in coordination with other PIN programmes and teams.
  • Build a partnership-based relationship with the donor, sharing information openly and honestly in a timely and appropriate manner, and effectively manage expectations.
  • Proactive and constructive coordination with other implementing partners working in programme operating areas to maximise benefits for supported persons and communities.
  • Effective representation at assigned Clusters and Working Groups, monitoring for new programming opportunities
  • Represent PIN with honesty and integrity at all times with all stakeholders, building the organisation's reputation as a principled, reliable, high quality and trusted implementing partner.


Person Specification

Experience & Technical Skills

  • At least 4 years programme management experience in the humanitarian and development sectors, ideally in one or more of the following technical areas: Education in Emergencies, WASH, Food Security, Market Systems Development, Cash Voucher Assistance.
  • Proven experience of delivering multisector, integrated programming in complex contexts.
  • Experience of delivering ECHO, UNDP or other major institutional donor-funded programmes.
  • Proven experience of working in complex and non-permissive contexts and environments.
  • Proven experience of leading, managing and capacitating large programme teams across multiple locations.
  • Demonstrated, applied understanding of AAP, protection mainstreaming, GESI and conflict sensitivity
  • Proven understanding of the humanitarian architecture
  • Excellent oral and written English skills, including ability to write persuasively.

Competencies

  • Logical and strategic thinker with attention detail.
  • Analytical thinking with ability to analyse and synthesise complex information to inform programme delivery.
  • Tenacious and resilient, with proven problem-solving ability.
  • Strong people management skills including managing in a supportive, empathetic and principled manner.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Willingness to go above and beyond and be part of team trying to build something bigger.
  • Excellent professional judgement and ability to work in a risk-informed manner.

Desirable

  • Accredited project or programme management qualification.
  • Previous experience of working in Afghanistan.


PIN offers:

  • Flexible and challenging working environment with room for personal growth.
  • Robust and thorough induction training (2 weeks).
  • HEAT training (unless the candidate has participated in one recently).
  • Starting salary, as per PIN salary scale, between 4,050-4,250 EUR gross depending on previous experience (subsistence and hardship allowance already included).
  • Reimbursement of flight tickets to the country of residence once every 6 months of work, PIN also provides 1000 USD allowance per flight for R&R trips (total of max two R&R flights per year, as the R&R is intended to be taken between the 6-month flights to the country of residence).
  • Reimbursement of costs of visas and vaccinations; assistance with visa application procedure.
  • Comprehensive travel insurance.
  • Medical helpdesk and psychological consultation available online.
  • 24 days of paid leave annually and 10 additional days of R&R leave per year.
  • Accommodation in PIN compound.

How to apply:

Are you interested in this position? Send us your CV and short cover letter in English via our application form. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis and the vacancy will be closed when filled.
People in Need staff are expected to perform job duties and responsibilities in accordance with People in Need’s Code of Conduct and key policies (available at: www.peopleinneed.cz/policies).