National Coordinator – Rural Development

The Aga Khan Foundation, Afghanistan (AKF (Afg)) is an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a group of international, private, non-denominational development agencies working to improve living conditions and opportunities for people in some of the poorest parts of the developing world. The Network’s organizations have individual mandates that range from the fields of health and education to architecture, rural development and promotion of private-sector enterprise and institutions that seek to empower communities and individuals, usually in disadvantaged circumstances, to improve living conditions and opportunities.

The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) is a non-denominational international development agency established in 1967 by His Highness the Aga Khan. Its mission is to develop and promote creative solutions to problems that impede social development, primarily in Asia and East Africa. Created as a private, non-profit foundation under Swiss law, it has branches and independent affiliates in 19 countries.

AKF seeks to provide sustainable solutions to long-term problems of poverty, hunger, illiteracy, and ill health. In Afghanistan, AKF works with rural communities in mountainous, remote or resource poor areas to improve quality of life in the areas of natural resource management, market development, governance, education, and health.

POSITION OBJECTIVE
The primary objective of this position is to coordinate and manage the implementation of rural development initiatives across various sectors. The National Coordinator will ensure the integration of activities, monitor progress, and facilitate communication and collaboration among stakeholders, including regional teams, donors, and community groups.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Contribute to the development of project proposals, concept notes, and funding applications in line with the program’s strategic objectives.
• Support in establishing and implementing systems to monitor and track the progress of program activities (YPO’s) across all thematic areas, ensuring timely delivery of outputs.
• Promote effective integration and collaboration between the various units within the rural development programme, including agriculture and food security (AFS), economic inclusion (EI), community development (CD), and infrastructure.
• Prepare high-quality progress reports, annual reports, and other documentation required by stakeholders, including donors and government agencies.
• Develop and deliver presentations to donors, partners, and other stakeholders to communicate progress, challenges, and outcomes of the program.
• Liaise with regional coordinators to ensure consistency and alignment of activities across different geographic areas.
• Maintain regular communication with various stakeholders, provide updates, seek feedback, and ensure compliance with funding agreements.
• Conduct regular field visits to assess physical progress, gather feedback, and provide feedback to field teams.
• Ensure compliance with documentation and reporting requirements or AKF and the donors.
• Undertake any other responsibilities assigned by the supervisor.
• Advocate for gender inclusion and lead safeguarding efforts across all RD initiatives, ensuring a safe, equitable, and inclusive environment.
• To carry out the responsibilities of the role in a way which reflects AKF (Afg)’s commitment to safeguarding staff, beneficiaries and protecting children from harm and abuse in accordance with AKF (Afg)s Safeguarding policy.
• To report any suspicions or actual violations of the Safeguarding Policy and/or Child Safeguarding Policy as per the given training.

OCCASIONAL SIGNIFICANT DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Participate in periodic strategic planning sessions to review and adjust the program’s goals, priorities, and approaches based on emerging challenges, opportunities, and lessons learned.
• Coordinate with MERL staff in mid-term and end-of-project evaluations to assess the impact of program activities, identify areas for improvement, and document best practices for future programs.
• Represent the organization at various forums, conferences, and meetings to strengthen partnerships and share experiences.

DECISION-MAKING & AUTHORITY
• Coordination on Programme planning.
• Communication and representation.
• Programme implementation and quality assurance.
• Project budgets and resource allocation.

JOB SPECIFICATION
• Masters in Leadership and management, project management and related fields with 8 years of Experience of which at least 3 years at the coordinator level in the development sector.
• Experience in coordinating with multi-disciplinary teams across different geographic regions.
• Proven track record in proposal development, project coordination, progress tracking, and reporting.
• Experience in working with donor-funded projects and managing relationships with donors, government agencies, and other stakeholders.

REQUIRED CORE COMPETENCIES
• Strong understanding of rural development dynamics, including agriculture, natural resource management, economic inclusion, and infrastructure.
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and commitment to the mission and values of the organization.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and persuasively to different audiences.
• Expertise in project coordination methodologies, including communication, progress tracking and information management.
• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills, with the ability to build and maintain relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including donors, government agencies, and community organizations.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to assess challenges, identify solutions, and make informed decisions.