ACBAR

Mission East is an international relief and development organisation founded in Denmark. We work to create hope, dignity and new beginnings. Every day and when crisis strikes.
We work closely with local communities in some of the world's most vulnerable, dangerous and hard-to-reach areas. We go the extra mile to reach the people who are most often overlooked. With our work, we restore their dignity, strengthen their resilience and promote justice, for the benefit of both people and our planet.
Mission East is active in 10 countries: Afghanistan, Armenia, Lebanon, Nepal, Nigeria, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Chad and Ukraine. Here, we and our local partners support the most vulnerable people in lifting them out of crises, poverty and marginalisation. 

Visit our home page to know more about our work.

You can also read this to get insight in how it is to work at Mission East; and you can find us on Linkedin.

Role purpose:

Lead country Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL) Department, overseeing and managing all ongoing FSL activities under various donor-funded projects, ensuring high technical quality, project management and on time implementation and capacity development. In addition, she/he will be involved in programme strategy and proposals development and other resource generation, monitoring and reporting, including the mainstreaming of GBV and Protection into FSL activities. The FSL Manager will be the main focal point to externally represent ME on FSL related matters.  

Key Working Relationships (horizontal & vertical): 

FSL Program Manager will directly report to the CD and will supervise the FSL Officers and Assistants, project teams, private sector coordinator. Close working relationship will be maintained with, other Program Managers, MEAL team, and the support departments.  

Scope of Role: 

The FSL Program Manager is responsible to report activities and information to the CD in line with the ME country strategies, vision, mission and values and/or as per donor required standards. She/He is responsible to manage FSL activities and provide technical support to FSL team in the ME programme provinces and conduct regular field visits.  She/He needs to support in scaling up approaches and innovation and will be responsible for capturing lessons learnt in FSL program through the crafting of case studies and anecdotal reports. 

Key Tasks and Responsibilities:

Programme Development: 

• Lead in developing ME Afghanistan FSL approach ensuring that it fits with ME’s wider programme goals of reducing vulnerability and building resilience. 

• To provide technical expertise on FSL-related concept notes and proposals including budgeting and developing of technical designs in line with the accepted international/local standards.   

• With a focus on job creation and self-sufficiency, lead the strategic design and implementation of gender-balanced livelihoods and economic empowerment programmes aimed at strengthening resilience and promoting inclusive participation in market systems. 

• Develop and maintain sustained partnerships and alliances with donors, community, line ministries, and UN clusters at regional and national level. Map out important stakeholders and participate in various meetings to learn and share experiences of MEED work.  

• Support CD in building profile of ME. In collaboration with colleagues, identify new funding sources and support generating concept notes and proposals. 

 Quality Program Implementation: 

• Lead in rolling out and implementing the FSL activities according to project commitments and standards, including initiation of kick-off meetings on FSL activities, ensuring that all staff and other stakeholders are aware and engaged in project implementation.  

• Conduct market systems and value chain analyses, and lead business development initiatives supporting entrepreneurship, MSMEs, producer groups, and women-led enterprises. 

• Oversee programme budgets ensuring activities are implemented in line with the approved budget, proactively identify financial risk that may affect implementation, work closely with the CD, COFO and finance to support budget monitoring and control. 

• Oversee programme procurement by initiating and coordinating requests aligned with budgets, workplans, and timelines, while tracking progress with Procurement, Logistics, and Finance teams, managing risks or delays, and ensuring compliance with organisational, donor, and MOU requirements. 

• Conduct periodical technical monitoring of project sites, to ensure the activities are within the required designs, quality and standards.  

• Build capacities of the FSL teams for quality implementation of the activities and scale up newly introduced approaches and innovations, etc.  

• Facilitate and/or conduct trainings and other learning events for FSL teams, FSL-related committees, CDC members on related activities. 

• Provide technical assistance and backstopping to FLS Programme Officers involved in implementing FSL activities. 

• Manage recruitment, supervision and performance appraisal of FSL staff. 

• Line manage FSL team members located in Badakhshan, Takhar and Kunduz. 

Networking / Coordination: 

• Participate in the FSAC Cluster and working group, and other FSL related meetings held on regional level. 

• Coordinate with other teams (Humanitarian and Emergency, Climate Change & DRR, Civil Society Organization, WASH, Protection and Business Management) towards a well-coordinated integrated approach in the target communities especially related to cross cutting issues (PWDs, GBV, ect). 

• Work in close collaboration with other senior colleagues, especially with HQ-PM, MEAL Coordinator, Regional Operation Manager in maintaining programme quality standards and gender mainstreaming. 

• To coordinate and pass on the security related information as well as to follow the security policies established by ME. 

• Engage with officials of line ministers and directorates, private sector actors, community leaders, and youth groups to foster enabling environments. 

Partnership and capacity building: - 

• Manage partnership with local organizations with support from Regional Operation Manager. 

• Ensure capacity building of local NGOs.  

Senior Management Team Contribution:  

• Support shaping programme strategy and aligning projects with ME’s priorities and donor guidelines. Ensure programmes meet quality standards.  

• Contributing to high-level decisions on risk, compliance, resource allocation, and overall organizational performance.  

• Represent ME to ministries donors, UN agencies, and partners. 

• Support resource generation efforts 
• Undertake any other wok assigned by CD.

 Miscellaneous:

• Comply with MEED policies and practices, especially with respect to PSEA, child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, and equality.
• Any other tasks assigned by line manager to achieve the objectives of position.

Qualifications required: 

• University Degree in Agriculture or Agriculture Economics, Business Management, Development, Natural Resource Management or relevant field. 

Experience required: 

• At least 7 years of proven previous experience with INGOs in livelihood, employment creation and food security. 

• Extensive experience in in rural development, particularly in northeastern Afghanistan, food security and livelihood, market systems development, private sector engagement, and inclusive economic growth approaches. 

• Minimum of 3 years in management roles, including team leadership, project oversight and participation in SMT activities.   

• Experience working with international NGOs or UN agencies  

• Experience in stakeholder engagement, partnership building, and negotiation skills with private sector, financial institutions, and market actors. 

Skills and Competencies required: 

• Excellent Managerial / Leadership skills, ability to make presentations and communication, maintain focus on objectives rather than problem details, and meet deadlines. 

• Clear understanding on programme cycle management, project monitoring and quality control skills.  

• Understanding of donor guidelines and regulations as well as international protocols and guidelines. 

• Ability of active listening, sensitivity towards team requirements.  

• Good computer skills (e.g. MS Office and Other Design softwares) 

• Demonstrable personal integrity and high standards of personal conduct. [ME upholds high standards in all aspects of PSEA, Safeguarding. In view of the nature of this role potentially requiring unsupervised access to children or vulnerable individuals (including situations where there are potential imbalances of power), you may be required to provide a certificate of good conduct.] 

• Strategic and analytical thinking and ability to perform under pressure. 

• Good training management, coordination and facilitation skills  

• Problem & conflict resolution skills 

• High sympathy to the social, political and cultural contexts.  

• Sound understanding on budget details, and ability to track utilisation.   

• Commitment towards ME vision, mission and values. 

• Understanding and skills for partnership development and management, disability inclusion and gender mainstreaming and women empowerment. 

Language requirements:  

• Excellent knowledge of Dari and English languages  

• Knowledge of Pashtu and Uzbek languages is desired  

Necessary Competencies: 

• Technical knowledge on FSL issues. Strong analytical skills, including assessments, feasibility studies, and market analyses. Ability to manage project, budget, teams. 

• Strategic thinking for livelihood and employment creation. 

• Excellent coordination & communication 

• Integrity and accountability 

Do you have proven experience in leading Food Security and Livelihoods program, overseeing and managing FSL activities under various donor-funded projects, ensuring high technical quality, project management and on time implementation and capacity development. Do you have experience in programme strategy and proposals development and other resource generation, monitoring and reporting, including the mainstreaming of GBV and Protection into FSL activities.  

If so, you may be our next team members as FSL PM in our regional offices in Badakhshan and Takhar.  you may apply via https://missioneast.bamboohr.com/careers/141?source=aWQ9MTk%3D

You can apply by clicking on "Apply for this job", filling in the form and uploading your CV and application. Remember to click on "Submit application" at the bottom of the page.
Mission East promotes equality and diversity. We encourage all qualified individuals to apply for this position, regardless of ethnic background, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, or religion. Please note that submission of applications to Mission East and the process followed thereafter are completely free of charge. If you are asked to make any payment in connection with your application and recruitment, please report the incident immediately to aam-af@missioneast.org. Appropriate and timely action will be taken to safeguard the integrity of our recruitment process.

Mission east has got zero tolerance for fraud, sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment or gender-based violence, and we conduct a thorough screening of our preferred candidate. We carry out reference checks and are members of the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, a network that shares all SEAH issues in relation to potential new hires.

https://missioneast.bamboohr.com/careers/141?source=aWQ9MTk%3D