Agency for Rehabilitation Assistance & Development of Afghanistan (ARADA) is an Afghan developmental, non-governmental, non-profit and non-political organization which promotes and provides development and humanitarian services to the people of Afghanistan, in particular to the country’s rural population. ARADA was established in 1992 by a group of experienced, professional and dedicated social workers with a mission to provide emergency aid and humanitarian assistance to the Afghan refugees through different refugee’s camps in Pakistan. In 2006, ARADA secured its legitimacy and has been legally registered with the ministry of economy of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

ARADA now operates solely in Afghanistan and over the years it has transformed itself into the one of Afghanistan’s foremost development NGOs, although it continues to respond to natural and conflict-related emergencies in the country, to reach the most disadvantaged groups in Afghan society often under very difficult circumstances. Among those with whom ARADA assists are: Vulnerable and poor families, male/females, the unemployed and the uneducated, returning refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), disaster affected communities as well as a variety of community-based organizations. The organization is committed to providing assistance, support, and hope to the people in Afghanistan, and to serving the country’s most vulnerable citizens. ARADA, works to assist and contribute towards the improvement of social and economic conditions of Afghans and also works to promote sustainable development and economic growth in the region through the empowerment of local communities and creating a better future.

Job Summary

Reporting directly to the Deputy Director Program, the jobholder is responsible and accountable for the overall management and implementation of education programme, development, new partnership initiation, development and management, programme budgeting, budgetary and financial management, programme and financial reporting, human resources management, and administrative trouble shooting and support within the region. Technical programme management and implementation responsibilities include developing project plans, budgets and implementation plans, managing the accomplishment of targeted results and indicators, oversee programme budgets and accounts to ensure adherence to approved budget and work plans, undertaking routine budget monitoring and budget revisions, leading in the definition of M&E plans and indicators, monitoring and supervising sub recipient partners, preparing timely and high quality programme and financial reports, and taking initiatives and actions to ensure that programme implementation is in compliance with all ARADA and donor requirements, rules and regulations. In addition, the manager will ensure effective representation liaison between ARADA and other INGOs, CSOs, Local Authorities and visiting donors and stakeholders at the local and regional level to promote extensive participation and complementarity of ARADA programme and activities. The manager is also responsible for providing technical assistance and appropriate monitoring and evaluation in emergency responses.

Duties and Responsibilities

Programme Management Implementation:

• Lead the preparation and implementation of the programme based work plans, M&E indicators in accordance with ARADA and donor guidelines to ensure and guarantee effective programme activities delivery.
• Monitor and oversee the day to day implementation of the programmes and projects to ensure compliance with the agreed work plans and that programme objectives and targets are being realised in line with the funding proposals.
• Lead the expansion and understanding of ARADA working principles and approaches (partnerships, child participations, child rights programming etc) throughout the programme and follow up to ensure that these approaches are effectively implemented.
• Ensure that all staff, partners and stakeholders implementing ARADA projects have clear understanding of ARADA mission, vision and values, goals, priorities and policies and that these are reflected in programme implementation.
• Conduct regular programme review meetings with the relevant partners and stakeholders to enhance information sharing and improve efficiency and effectiveness of programme implementation and operations.
• Initiate and develop alternative mechanisms for optimal implementation, management, monitoring and evaluation of programme activities.
• Maintain high standard of transparency and accountability in the course of programme implementation while ensuring integrity and timeliness of activities implementation in meeting programme objectives, compliance with donors & ARADA policies.
• Provision of regular operations and implementation updates on programme progress and challenges to allow for timely interventions and corrective actions by management.
• Ensure the timely reviews and adjustments for the programme operational and implementation plans and budgets as may be required from time to time.

Programme Initiation and Development:

• Work closely with the Education Advisor, Education Coordinators in the design and development of new funding proposals and concepts by providing information and technical inputs to the plans, budgets and M&E indicators, including requests for existing project extensions as may be necessary.
• Take lead in undertaking participatory assessments, surveys and planning new projects and initiatives as may be appropriate including conducting relevant research, proposal writing and programme documentations.
• Support the development of the projects’ monitoring and evaluations systems and indicators in collaboration with the DM&E Manager and Specialist in order to accurately, timely and regularly measure the results and impact of ARADA interventions from programme delivery.
• Contribute to the development and revision of ARADA strategy, action plans and priorities in planning for future programme by participating in child rights situational analysis, providing inputs and feedback on the country programme strategy and thematic programme plans.

Budgeting and Financial Management

• The jobholder is responsible for the programme budgetary controls and overall financial management at the programme levels including maintaining oversights of programme budgets and expenses. This responsibility includes;
• Development of programme and project budgets including the cash transfer plans to guarantee availability of funds for programme implementation at all levels.
• Responsible for monitoring and revising as necessary project budgets and ensuring that funds are used optimally and accounted for in accordance to the funding contracts and agreements.
• Undertaking monthly budget monitoring in order to ensure accuracy of financial reports, manage budget variances, explain variances and propose measures for managing the variances.
• On quarterly basis, review all programme budgets to ensure that budgets are revised and rephrase timely and spent within donor’s budgets and expenditure guidelines and no-cost extensions/cost extensions are timely requested for.
• Ensure that all financial policies and regulations relating to cash flow management, expenditure controls, cash management, accounting information, advances management as put in place for the management and control of funds are followed by the staff and partners in implementing the different programme activities.
• Support partners and staff in making decisions regarding budget allocations and utilizations and alerting management to any financial mismanagement which may arise in the course of programme implementation.

Programme and Financial Reporting:

• Responsible and accountable for the preparation of timely and high quality progress and end of project narrative and financial reports which are in accordance to the donor reporting schedule and formats.
• Review all programme financial reports ensuring that donor guidelines have been followed and high standard met, prior to submission to management.
• Organise and facilitate quarterly follow ups and progress review meetings to address key performance issues from the reports.
• Preparation of the project close out reports indicating follow up actions on closed projects and manage the transfers of project deliverables such as documents, files, equipment’s and materials.

Project Monitoring, Reporting and Documentation:

• Oversee the project monitoring to ensure information and reporting systems fulfil needs of ARADA, communities, partners, host government, donors and other stakeholders, in line with standards.
• Working in collaboration with the M&E Specialist, the thematic advisors, and the M&E manager to ensure that the project has developed and implemented M&E plans, and that programme teams are capturing outcomes/results for Total Reach data, as well as statistics on tracer studies on youths who have benefitted from Non formal vocational education programs on which the project is building for use in proposal development and institutional learning.
• Lead the process of developing project baselines and evaluations ToRs, 3 months before the date of effective implementation.
• Regularly monitor project activities with the frequency and tools as reflected in the M&E plans
• Monitor and follow up the Project Partner’s on the activities implemented to ensure that they are in line with the project design and planned project activities.
• Provide backup and direct technical support to all staffs and partners.
• Support proper documentation of Project activities conducted –case studies, best practices and Compile and submit regular progress reports on the planned implementation activities to Line Manager.
• Facilitate effective monitoring, evaluation, documentation and reporting in line with agreed project targets and standards:
• Establish a functional project level M&E system and utilize information from the M&E database;
• Manage project information, documentation processes, and ensure effective communication of the program/project results.
• Provide monthly reports (progress against planned activities, expense against estimated budget) of project activities to the Regional Area Manager as per agreed schedule.
• Prepare semi-annual and annual reports of project interventions (both financial and narrative (progress against delivery of goal, outcome outputs and achievement of outcomes)) to the donors, districts as per agreed schedule.
• Ensure appropriate filing and availability of documentation required for internal and external communications, accountability, audits, evaluation purposes and reporting
• Supervise on-going program assessments, evaluation and operational research studies, and take lead in utilizing the recommendations to improve programming.
• Document vital project documents including fund summary, project proposal, M&E plan, monthly, semi-annual and annual reports, reports on activities implemented (approved concept, activity report and attendance lists).

Job Requirements

Required Qualifications, Experience, Skills & Abilities

Competencies are important in order for the employee and the organisation to deliver desired results.

Common professional competencies for this position:

• Bachelors/Masters’ Degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies other relevant field.
• At least 10 years’ experience of Project Management within an international or national NGO and a strong track record of developing and inspiring teams to achieve outstanding results.
• Skills and abilities:
• Sound knowledge and understanding of financial management, including preparation of budgets, financial reports and ongoing monitoring of expenditure.
• Experience in implementing Education in Emergencies (EiE) projects in conflict affected areas. Prior experience of managing education projects in southern region highly desirable.
• Proficiency in report writing skills.
• Proven knowledge on community-based education, accelerated learning, education in emergencies, psychosocial support and life skills, and child rights based programming in Afghanistan.
• Experience in delivering training to teachers, social workers and community mobilisers. 
• Proven knowledge and experience of monitoring and evaluation.
• Experiences attending external meetings e.g. cluster meetings, meetings with donors.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and capacity to deal with different rural communities, ability to take initiatives, and pursue work proactively without being intensively supervised.
• A flexible approach to working and willingness to work as part of a team.
• Good supervisory, leadership, analytical and troubleshooting skills.
• ICT Skills including skills in using the Microsoft Office Package.
• Fluency in English, Dari and Pashto, written and spoken;
• Fluency in Pashto (reading, writing, speaking) is mandatory.

Interested candidates are requested to send their applications along with copies of their CVs and cover letter (NOT Educational and Work Certificates), to the attention of Human Resources Department to the following address or email us on (admin@arada-af.org). also Kindly mention the position name and vacancy no for which you are applying.