Sr. Technical Specialist (Economic OVOP initiatives)

About LITACA/MRRD:

The project Livelihood Improvement in Tajik—Afghan Cross Border Areas (LITACA) is the first socio-economic development project between the Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Republic of Tajikistan executed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) —Tajikistan Office in Tajik side and the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) of the Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Afghan side. The project is funded by the Government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

LITACA II a 3 year initiative (2018 – 2020) to improve living standards and promote stability and security in the bordering provinces of Tajikistan and Afghanistan. This will be achieved by reducing poverty, supporting economic development and cross-border collaboration among the communities along the Tajik-Afghan border. More than 130,072people will directly benefit from LITACA project while the livelihoods of more than 1,823,828) people living in target bordering communities will be strengthened. The project will offer capacity development opportunities for the local governments, civil society and private sector organizations to sustainably manage local socio-economic development. As well, the project will offer investments for rehabilitating priority infrastructure initiatives and business development as a means of improving livelihoods of the target population, and thereby promoting stability and security in the region.

Job Description:

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of, and reporting to the Project Manager, the Economic Specialist undertakes following roles and responsibilities:

Establish community based networks, provide in-field support and develop a feedback system on alternative market oriented livelihoods activities, which will be implemented by the LITACA II project;
Verify respective needs for local capacity building and for strengthening community participation and local ownership of the priority framework, plan of action with focus on the succeeding phase of community based consultations, programme formulation;
Develop and implement methods and procedures for collecting required data and statistics;
Develop and maintain a technical data base system to monitor alternative livelihoods development and economic changes in the target areas;
Analyze factors which determine economic growth and advice on policies to increase economic activity, investment and new lines of production in target areas;
Forecast production and consumption of specific high value agricultural products and services based on the records of post-production, consumption and general agro-based economic conductions;
Examine statistical data of the exchange of the goods and services;
Formulate, and implement agro and non- agro -business activities which are relevant to residents in the six LITACA II targeted districts of Badakhshan, Takhar, Kunduz and Balkh provinces. Analyze data, and design project activities on alternative livelihoods, promoting self-reliance and livelihoods of beneficiaries of LITACA II
Develop and present appropriate gender sensitive business development plans to the identified farmer groups, cooperatives, agro and non-agro business enterprises, producer groups and SMEs;
Conduct capacity building and technical skills development programmes for designated LITACA II and respective PRRD staff in the data collections, socio-economic surveys, technical surveys and feasibility studies;
Liaise and coordinate with other project team members on the analyses of data, proposals and field activities;   
With the support of the team members, assess the status, constrains and needs of the overall/local institutional settings;
Provide technical inputs in the preparations of the project strategic directions and sustainability measures;
Advising agro and non-agro  products on cost and benefits of options;
Support in the assessment and selection of Agro and non-agro value chain in targeted areas
Advising government employers or trade unions of the economic implications of agricultural policy options, cross border economic collaboration.
Producing various numerical and non-numerical written reports;
Publish research outputs regularly and required;
Supplying information on agro and non-agro market trends to the communication team of MRRD and UNDP
Collection of key information regarding income, expense and timing of cash flows of rural businesses and agro and non-agro business to enable more effective and investment risk analysis by financial providers;
Performing any other activities as directed by the Project Manager; 

Reporting

The incumbent will report to project manager.

Core competencies and skills

Builds staff competence and creates an environment of creativity and innovation;
Builds and promotes effective teams;
Creates and promotes environment for open communications;
Shares knowledge across the organization and builds a culture of knowledge sharing and learning; 
Ability to prepare plan for organization or department and responsibility of managing financial, HR and technical fields.
Ability to prepare documents in the technical fields and to represent from it in related meetings
Ability to managing and liaison with outside of organization and project

Functional competencies

1. Job knowledge/technical expertise - In-depth knowledge of the subject matter:

Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines;
Manage changes to scope, cost and schedule of project work;
Serves as internal consultant in the area of expertise and shares knowledge with staff;
Continues to seek new and improved methods and systems for accomplishing the work of the unit;
Keeps abreast of the new developments in the area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to development him/herself professionally;
Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it;
Demonstrates comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the current guidelines and project management tools and utilizes these regularly in work assignments;
In-depth knowledge on development issues, counter narcotics and alternative livelihoods in particular;
Ability to advocate and provide policy advice related to an integrated approach to alternative livelihoods improvement;

Organizational learning and knowledge sharing - Developing tools and mechanisms:

Makes case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches;
Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms;
Develops and/or participates in the development of tools and mechanisms, including identifying new approaches to promote individual and organizational learning and knowledge sharing and informal mechanisms.
Cooperate in the design, preparation and implementation of periodic training events for Project staff and field support teams;

Promoting accountability and results-based management - Input to the development of standards and policies

Provides inputs to the development of organizational standards for accountability and results-based management;
Develops and applies tools and techniques in assessing the application of programme and/or administer the policies and procedures
Scanning the Project/Division/Department environment, both political and technical, and identifying best practices and lessons learned and applying them to area of assignment.

Impact of Results

The key results have a profound impact on the delivery of the Project outputs and the achievement of Project targets and will contribute to the overall impact of the Project as well as to the overall development effectiveness of MRRD/UNDP activities in the country.

Job Requirements:

Job Requirements:

Having at least Master’s or its equivalent degree with 5 years working experience or having Bachelor’s degree with 7 years relevant experience in economic modelling, poverty tracking, statistics, research and development planning;
Ability to lead a team of analysts and researchers is required;
Ability to compress complex data and analysis into briefs and presentations for decision makers;
Ability to plan and operate from a broad strategic perspective to tactical implementation, and to translate thoughts into actionable plans;
Professional experience in program or administrative management;
Demonstrated experience in results-monitoring and implementation of systems and tools in the area of RBM and monitoring and evaluation is a requirement;
Experience in working at the country level, preferably in post-conflict environments;
Proven experience in the design and delivery of capacity development activities;
Strong organizational skills
Experience of working in multi-cultural teams is a requirement;
Knowledge of high valued agricultural products and the private sector in Afghanistan is an asset;
Strong communication skills both written and verbal, demonstrated report writing skills;
Computer literacy – MS office applications, web-based management information systems;

Language Requirements:

Fluent written and spoken English
Excellent language proficiency in spoken and written Pashto and Dari.

The LITACA II/MRRD shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity under conditions of equality in its principles and subsidiary organ.

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 (1285/019/HRCSD/LITACA/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