Head of Enterprise Development and Market Linkages (EDML)

About WEE-RDP/MRRD:

The Government of Afghanistan (GoIRA) launched the Women’s Economic Empowerment National Priority Program (WEE-NPP) on March 8th, 2017. The WEE-NPP forms the third pillar of the GoIRA’s Gender Strategy which is encompassed in the broader Afghanistan National Peace and Development Framework (ANPDF) – the country’s five-year development plan. The WEE-NPP aims to build poor women’s capacity to strengthen the economy of their households, communities, and the entire nation. It is structured as an umbrella program (rather than a stand-alone project/operation) that would operate through over a dozen line ministries (through ongoing or pipeline projects) and coordinated through a Program Coordination Office (PCO) in the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled (MOLSAMD).

The Mission of the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) is implementing the Women Economic Empowerment Program (WEE-RDP) to ensure the social, economic, and political well-beings of rural society, especially with the poor and vulnerable people, through the provision of basic services, strengthening local governance, and promoting sustainable livelihoods. MRRD accomplishes this mission through donor funded national programs (Citizen Charter, Sustainable Economy Growth and the Boarders Sustainable Development) defined as the MRRD pillars.

Women Economic Empowerment-Rural Development Project (WEE-RDP) is a flagship national initiative of the GoIRA and part of the Sustainable Economy Growth pillar of MRRD, which intends to increase social and economic empowerment of rural poor women in selected communities during a five year project. It would work in 5000 villages in all 34 provinces across Afghanistan in close collaboration with Citizen Charter (CC) and assuring convergence with other MRRD projects, NHLP project of MAIL, Access to Finance project (TUP) of World Bank, etc. The project will work closely work with Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) and other stakeholders from financial sector to promote access to finance in selected rural areas.

Job Description:

Duty and Responsibilities:

Mentor the EDML Development component staff, both at head quarter and provincial levels.
Carry out performance reviews of the EDML Component.
Provide technical advice related to EDML at various levels.
Coordinate with the Community Enterprise Development component, Access to Finance component, and Training unit on various issues in order to ensure smooth implementation of the Enterprise Development unit.
Participate in various meetings, both internal and external, to represent the EDML component.
Compile annual, quarterly, and monthly reports of the SME Development component.
Create strategies for partnerships with stakeholders and partners at various levels.
Provision of policy advisory services to the senior management of the program on     the issues concerning the EDML component.
Identify further areas of interventions and support within the assigned unit.
Establish and implement the Result Based Management system for the EDML component.
Ensure effective management of the EDML component focusing on quality control from       formulation to implementation stages.
Financial and programmatic monitoring and evaluation of the EDML component, identification of operational and financial problems and thus development of solutions.
 Identification of sources of information related to policy-driven issues.
Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt and linkages to the EDML component interventions.
Conduct, arrange, or facilitate exposure visits for targeted beneficiary’s countrywide and internationally.
Develop the capacity of head quarter and provincial EDML component staff by providing them with supervision and advise related to their work, on the job training, and off the job training.
Perform any other relevant assignment as required. 

Job Requirements:

Qualifications, skills & experiences required

Qualifications: A bachelor's degree in business administration, economics, commerce, social sciences or other related field with at least 7 years of relevant work experience or a master's degree in a similar field with at least 5 years of relevant professional work experience. The ideal candidate should have a demonstrated interest in rural development and should possess a sound understanding of development organizations’ general procedures.

Management skills: planning, organizing, prioritizing, time management, conflict management and a proven ability to manage staff and to contribute to their skills and capacity development

Communication skills: good communication skills, with fluency in Dari and English are required. The candidate should be able to draft reports and the write e-mails and letters in English. Pashto would be a further asset.

Computer/Technology skills: The applicant should be computer literate and should be well acquainted with MS Word, MS Excel, MS Power Point and MS Outlook. The applicant should also be able to browse and surf the internet and to use instant messaging

Competencies

Professional appearance;
Teamwork and good interpersonal skills: the candidate should be able to establish positive relations with people in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender-balance;
Ability to determine and to review priorities and to meet deadlines;
Ability to multi-task and to work under pressure;
Ability to work without direct supervision;
Willingness to travel to WEE-RDP targeted provinces in Afghanistan contingent upon normal security considerations

Submission Guideline:

Interested Afghans with the required qualifications and experience should submit their applications electronically through vacancies.hrcsd@mrrd.gov.af
While submitting your applications please mention the Title of the position plus Vacancy Number in the subject of the e-mail; please do NOT submit any other supporting documentation or educational certificates with your application. If you are short listed you will be asked to submit electronic copies of your educational certificates and if you are invited to written test you will be required to present the original certificates. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date of the position. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for written test Note: In the interests of open and fair competition and a merit based selection process applicants are advised that lobbying for a position , whether by the applicant or by any person acting on his or her behalf, shall result in the immediate disqualification of the candidate from further consideration. Applicants are strongly advised to inform potential supporters of this restriction which shall be strictly enforced.

Please don’t forget to type the Vacancy Announcement Number (1258/019/HRCSD/WEE-RDP/MRRD) in Subject while applying online. Application without vacancy number will not be accepted. 

The Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is highly committed to increase women’s participation in government sector therefore women are highly encouraged to apply.

Submission Email:

vacancies.hrcsd@mrrd.gov.af