About the position:
The Country Manager (CM) ensures strong leadership of all staff and non-staff members of the AFV’s Country Team that builds team spirit, cohesion, motivation, commitment, performance and fulfillment of all functions. The CM is the official representative of AFV Afghanischer Frauenverein e.V. in Afghanistan. He practices a successful general management of the AFV Country Office and all project teams and guarantees the smooth running of AFV supported projects in Afghanistan implemented by AFV or its local partners in the field of humanitarian emergency response, health, education, WASH and shelter. The CM takes responsibility for proper coordination, planning, management, monitoring and reporting of all AFV financed activities countrywide and assures that all programs are implemented in accordance with AFV’s policies and complying with internal and contractual procedures as well as international and local applicable standards.
The incumbent assures the development of professional project and grant proposals as well as relevant ministry and donors’ reports. He is responsible to enhance and scale up the capacity of the different AFV project teams in regard of their strategical project planning, finance and budgeting, project implementation, procurement management and compliance, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting. The incumbent is a bridge to the different local communities and stakeholders and is facilitating the smooth running of all programs according to AFV, relevant ministry/local officials and donors’ standards and policies. The CM, in full consultation with AFV’s Management and Board members, is responsible for the overall program support operations (security, HR, procurement, logistics, communication and coordination). In every stage of program, the CM ensures that programs meet stated objectives, are in line with AFV’s principals, meet the needs of beneficiaries, and are implemented to the highest standards, on time, and within budget.
At the same time, the CM provides strategic leadership to AFV’s Programs, Operations, and Finance and is responsible for the strategic planning, the development of forecasts, risk management plans and the development of annual project implementation plans in close coordination with AFV’s Finance, Operations, and Program units.
The CM is reporting directly to the Managing Director and the Board of Directors of AFV Afghanischer Frauenverein e.V. in Germany; and is working under their supervision and guidance. He is the focal point person for all internal and external stakeholders and responsible for the overall management of AFV Afghanistan program and non-program portfolios. For this the incumbent is well-organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable working with diverse teams, implementing partners, NNGOs and INGOs, local authorities, and rural communities.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
The CM undertakes the following duties, while the list is not inclusive, additional responsibilities can be assigned as needed:
Strategic Planning and Leadership
- Leading, implementing and supervising successful humanitarian and sustainable relief programs in accordance with AFV, international NGO and donor standards, policies, rules and regulations.
- Assuring proper coordination, planning, management, monitoring and reporting of AFV financed program and project activities according to agreed objectives, contracts, project plans, log frames and budgets.
- Leading and instructing all AFV teams in conducting proper needs assessment, developing project concept notes, full proposals and project reports according to organization, donor and relevant ministry needs, formats, timelines and frequencies.
- Ensuring donor compliance and adherence to international and national NGO policies and guidelines as well as law, rules, and guidelines of the relevant Ministries and stakeholders.
- Acting as coach, mentor, motivator, and supervisor for all AFV Program units and partners in order to encourage each team to take positive actions and adapt full accountability for their assigned duties.
- Providing technical supervision and technical support to all program activities and projects.
- Acting successfully as trouble-shouter, wherever problems and challenges arise on program, finance or operational level. Conducting regular monitoring of projects through field and partner visits in Kabul and provinces.
- Supervising proper documentation, data collection, and data analysis for all running AFV programs and missions assuring an organization wide decision-making based on evidence.
- Developing an evaluation method to assess program strengths and weaknesses as well as AFV and partners team strengths and weaknesses in order to identify areas for improvement.
- Developing methods and standards in all fields of activities within the organization
- Contributing to the AFV general strategic planning in close coordination with AFV Afghanistan Program, Finance and Operations Management, AFV Germany Management and the Board.
- Supporting fundraising and the acquisition of new donors and partners, as well as the general further development of AFV Afghanistan in all relevant fields of its mission.
- Ensuring the staff security and staff’s safe working environment in the office and field in close coordination with AFV Operations team, AFV Germany Management and Board.
- Actively identifying and pursuing new opportunities for program growth and expansions, in coordination with the AFV’s Germany Management and the Borad.
- Assessing staffing requirements for programs and country office and supervising recruitment in coordination with HR unit.
Program Management and Implementation
- Managing project/program managers and officers in an interactive manner to oversee and guarantee the quality of project implementation, including making sure that resources are allocated appropriately and that controls are upheld at all levels.
- Actively monitoring projects to make sure that they are meeting all project documents' commitments to fulfill goals, stay on schedule, stay within budget, and meet and deliverables.
- Leading the program management team in identifying and diagnosing off-track projects early enough and actively figuring out workable solutions to address this.
- Assuring that all project changes, delays, or no-cost extensions are properly explained, justified, reported, and approved by donors.
- Ensuring operations in support of projects, in particular procurement and logistics are efficiently carried out.
Representation
- Representing AFV Afghanistan when liaising with local authorities and partners, NGOs, International Organizations, Donors and other stakeholders while assuring, that AFV is represented in the relevant NGO clusters inside Afghanistan and provide AFV contribution to these clusters in the areas of education, health, nutrition & food security, WASH and emergency aid program.
- Helping to build and maintain positive relations within the team and external parties like communities, stakeholders, NNGO and INGOs forums, Clusters, implementing partners, and relevant official events and meetings.
- Coordinating with the Senior Management Team to develop effective indicators and performance management frameworks.
- Maintaining good and professional relations with all relevant government entities and authorities, ensuring that AFV’s registration, work and project permits, taxes, and clearances are all up to date and enable effective program implementation in the country.
- Facilitating donors, AFV Germany delegation missions and others, as requested.
- Performing other tasks assigned by the Managing Director, Management and the Board.
Financial Management
- Through close collaboration with Head of Finance ensuring that all elements of the country office financial requirements are fully met, including ensuring timely and appropriate country level and project level budget preparation and monitoring.
- Ensuring overall audit compliance, financial transparency through supervision and direction of financial and administrative staff.
Reporting
- Reporting to the AFV Germany Management and Board on a regular basis, and weekly basis and according to project specifications.
Safety and Security
- Overall responsibility for the safety and security of all AFV’s country staff and assets.
- Ensuing that all country staff are adequately familiar with the AFV’s Security and Safety Policy and enforces compliance of all safety and security measures by all staff.
- Taking appropriate actions and lead in security risk situations for staff and beneficiaries.
Compliance
- Initiating and facilitating internal and external audits.
- Creating and maintaining an environment that prevents sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) of beneficiaries and staff, by clearly defining the standards of behaviour that are described in the AFV’s Child Protection, Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Harassment, and Code of Conduct policies.
- Assuring that all employees and implementing partners follow AFV's statute and that all AFV policies and standards, such as the HR policy, procurement policy, code of conduct, finance policy, gender policy, environment policy, and data protection policy, are respected and enforced consistently.
