Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is looking for an experienced Head of Programme (HoP), based in our country office in Kabul with regular field trips.

 Context and background of DRC in Afghanistan

Three decades of conflict have left Afghanistan as one of the world’s poorest countries, despite modest progress reported in the health and education sector. According to the UNDP, life expectancy at birth is 44 years. Only 23 percent of the population enjoy access to safe water and 88 percent of Afghans do not have access to adequate sanitation. The country’s limited resources are further strained by the return of over five million refugees since the fall of the Taliban regime in late 2001, and by the large number of IDPs, who have been forced from their lands due to conflict and drought amongst other causes.

Promoting solutions for IDPs in accordance with internationally acceptable principles, including local integration as a possible solution alongside return, is challenging. Returnees represent nearly a quarter of Afghanistan’s population, yet more than 40% have not fully reintegrated, and almost half a million IDPs are also not integrated; given their inherent destabilizing potential, this represents a significant security concern.

DRC started its programme in Afghanistan in January 2011. The goal of DRC’s work is to promote durable solutions to refugee and displacement problems, on the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights. DRC works with the urban IDP case load but also with rural communities in Kabul province with a high return rate, as well as DRC provides logistic support to UNCHR across country. Sector wise activities are mainly focused on protection, livelihood, community mobilisation, emergency response and logistical support to UNHCR. DRC`s emerging activity portfolio requires a Head of Programme (HoP) to lead the programme expansion and ensure activity integration in line with the Organisation`s capacities and expertise.

Position`s overall objective

The HoP is responsible for ensuring quality implementation and coherence of the projects as per the country/regional strategy and donor contracts.

Line management and other team relations

The HoP will directly manage the Programme Managers/Advisors and will promote programme integration while at the same time will establish and lead an effective M&E system.

S/he will work closely with the Area Managers to ensure DRC`s programme implementation is consistently coordinated across the country.

The position requires a high degree of responsibility, flexibility and understanding of complex organisational charts including horizontal liaising with other key staff such as the Safety Advisor, the HoFA and the Logistics Manager.

S/he reports to the DRC Country Director.

Responsibilities and Tasks

Head of Programme:

• Integrate DRC programme sectors from assessment and throughout the implementation phases;
• Be a driving force in terms of developing DRC programme in Afghanistan;
• Actively support in developing the DRC country strategy;
• Lead on the drafting of project proposals, programme strategies, concept papers, reports, and addressing ad-hoc donor requests;
• Support in the development of engagement strategies to gradually increase humanitarian space for DRC in Afghanistan through quality programme implementation;
• Ensure a rights-based approach is used from the designing and throughout the implementation of DRC programmes;
• Ensure programme`s adherence to the DRC Programme Handbook.
• Assist the Country Director in the identification of fundraising opportunities and in the development of a donor relations` strategy;
• Assist the Country Director in the identification of potential local partnerships when appropriate;
• Ensure optimal use of financial resources in the programme and maintain overall responsibility for project budgets in coordination with the HoFA;
• Ensure optimal use of human resources in the programme, including promotion of team work and team spirit, and suggest adequate training for programme staff.

 
Monitoring, Evaluation & Accountability

• Guide the M&E team to develop an M&E framework aiming at capturing outputs, outcomes, impact and lessons learnt, and propose strategies, time frame and frequency for project data collection, including GMS regular updates;
• Guided by the DRC Programme Handbook, continuously monitor and suggest relevant accountability initiatives in the field as well as strengthening the effort to document the impact of DRC activities in the area;
• Participate in the development and update of the Afghanistan programme Results Contract;
• Assess existing and further develop procedures used for ensuring program quality.

Advocacy

• In coordination with the country director and other senior managers, position DRC with the objective to primarily influence displacement related policies;
• Support DRC in the identification and building of relationships with authorities and other relevant actors to create space for advocacy initiatives;
• Attend relevant forums/meetings related to advocacy with the objective to strengthen DRC’s position in the country;
• Assist on the development of an Afghanistan country advocacy framework.

Qualifications

• University degree in international relations, management, human rights, social science or related field;
• Minimum 5 years professional work experience within international humanitarian/development work;
• Good understanding of displacement issues of both internally displaced and refugees and related international standards/frameworks;
• Solid programme development experience;
• Extensive experience in representation and networking;
• Excellent analytical and strategic skills;
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to establish effective working relations with local staff and other stakeholders;
• Excellent negotiation, advocacy and communication skills;
• Professional fluency in written and spoken English;
• Knowledge of displacement issues and local context in Afghanistan is a clear asset.
• Ability to live and work in an insecure, isolated and changing environment.

We encourage all qualified candidates to apply, irrespective of age, nationality, race, gender or age.

Conditions

Availability: As soon as possible preferably November 2014.

Duty station: Kabul, Afghanistan with frequent trips to various field offices.

Contract: 12 months with the possibility of extension, subject to funding and performance.

Salary and other conditions in accordance with DRC’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates, which can be found on our website www.drc.dk under Vacancies. The position is placed at Level A7.

Further information           

You are welcome to contact the Country Director, Kate O’Rourke at +93 787 291 781 for additional information on the position. For general information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consultwww.drc.dk.

Application and CV

Only motivated applications that address the stipulated duties and meet the required qualifications sent together with a CV will be considered. Please provide references, but do not attach any written recommendations.

Please submit your application and CV in English and marked “Head of Programme – Afghanistan”, no later than 26 October 2014. CV-only applications will not be considered. Please note that applications are not to be sent to Ms. Kate O’Rourke. We only accept applications sent via our online recruitment system on www.drc.dk under Vacancies/Current vacancies/Programme Director – Afghanistan.

Problems with on-line application?

Please contact us at job@drc.dk, if you have questions to the application process or experience problems with your on-line application.