DACAAR (Danish Committee for Aid to Afghan Refu...

DACAAR (Danish Committee for Aid to Afghan Refugees) has implemented rural rehabilitation and development projects in Afghanistan since 1989 and is recruiting a Chief of Strategy & Policy to guide the strategic direction of DACAAR, develop programme related policy and provide management back-stopping. General responsibilities • With reference to DACAAR’s Director you will as Chief of Strategy and Policy be responsible for guiding the strategic direction of DACAAR’s programmes and programme-related policy. • In close collaboration with programme staff you will develop and formulate a strategic approach to DACAAR’s work across its programme areas in Afghanistan ensuring alignment with local needs and quality standards whilst seeking to maximise opportunities with key donors. • As requested by DACAAR’s Director you will network, negotiate and co-ordinate with national, regional and local government offices, private sector organisations, CBOs, NGOs and donors. • You will collaborate, and provide input on programme strategy, technical and non-technical issues across sectors. • You are expected to effectively represent DACAAR as a credible, long time trusted and reliable development partner in Afghanistan.• Furthermore, you will lead a process of gradual transfer of activities to Afghan institutions and private sector. • The DACAAR Grants and Monitoring Unit will support you in performing the tasks. TasksMore specifically, the responsibilities will include, but not necessarily be limited to:Strategy development and networking • Contribute to the discussion of DACAAR’s future vision and strategic direction and advise the Director on future strategic directions for DACAAR’s programmes • Ensure learning processes takes place across the organisation and best practices are used in planning of the future programmes for the benefit of stakeholders• Assist the Director in advocacy initiatives, research and policy development and ensure that  where possible, synergy between DACAAR and other agencies is taken into consideration• Develop policy briefs and statements for DACAAR on key issues as requested by the Director and ensure projects/ programme evaluations are disseminated and/or further developed into learning and policy products • Support the implementation of gender policy and gender mainstreaming across DACAAR • Contribute to improving synergy of cross cutting issues into DACAAR’s planning • Ensure the establishment of  a positive working relationship across programmes and other support teams • Keep abreast of current debates and future directions in development policy and practice particularly aid financing, delivery mechanisms and guide cost-benefit analysis of programme implementation in DACAAR• Represent DACAAR by participating in national level cluster co-ordination meetings (WASH, Emergency Shelter, Food Security and Agriculture, Humanitarian country team, IDP task force etc.)Coordination and Management• Ensure, in close collaboration with programme managers, that programmes develop in line with DACAAR’s Programme Framework******• Lead the process of revising DACAAR’s Programme Framework******• Co-ordinate and support the Director and programme managers in donor liaison, fundraising and in proposal development• Administer timely preparation of proposals and reports to donors and government as well as DACAAR’s periodical reports • Supervise DACAAR’s Grants and Monitoring Unit and ensure contractual compliance and socio-economic impact studies takes place in line with policy, geographic and sector priorities. This includes supporting the efforts of programme staff in ensuring quality of implementation. • Assist the Director in co-ordinating and overseeing the administration and financial management, annual work-plans, implementation schedules, annual reports and contract management• Work to maximise the impact of DACAAR’s work through innovative community focused programmingQualifications & requirements • An educational background in a relevant field • Extensive experience with international development assistance, in particular with community-based, rural development programmes• Skills and experience in policy development and advocacy, particularly in respect to government and international agencies • Skills and experience in strategy development • Skills and experience in monitoring, evaluation and research • Experience of public information work, including media engagement• Solid understanding of gender issues and significant experience in implementing gender-related programming in the field• Cultural sensitivity and adaptability• Work experience from and knowledge about Islamic culture in general and Afghanistan in particular is an advantage • Fluency in written and spoken English; knowledge of Dari/Pashto an advantageDACAAR welcomes applications from both women and men. Further information about the positionPlease contact • Dorthe Egebech Warnaars, Programme Coordinator, Tel: +******, e-mail: ****** or• Arif Qaraeen, Director, Tel: +93 (0) ******, e-mail: ****** 
Please note that applications are not to be sent to Ms. Warnaars, nor to Mr. Qaraeen. We only accept applications sent via our on-line system on www.drc.dk under Vacancies/Current Vacancies/Chief of Rural Development Programme. Applications sent directly to the above contacts will NOT be taken into consideration.A copy of DACAAR’s latest annual report and more information about DACAAR is available on www.dacaar.org.ConditionsDuty station: Kabul, Afghanistan. The work will require travelling in rural areas in Afghanistan, subject to the security situation. Kabul is classified as a non-family duty station.Contract: One year (with possibilities for extension), with the Danish Refugee Council (on behalf of DACAAR). Salary and conditions in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates (please refer to www.drc.dk under Vacancies). The position will be placed at level B2.Availability: As soon as possibleApplication and CV Only motivated applications that address the stipulated duties and meet the required qualifications, sent together with a CV, will be considered. “CV-only applications” will not be considered. We only accept applications sent via our on-line system on www.drc.dk under Vacancies/Current Vacancies/Chief of Strategy and Policy. Please remember to include a letter of application and your CV.Please send your application, in English and marked “DACAAR Chief of SP”, no later than Tuesday 15. December, 2009.Interviews are planned to take place in Copenhagen in week 1 or 2, 2010.