Director of Advocacy and Partnership Development (International)

About Sarey

Job Summary

Job Purpose and Role
The Director of Advocacy and Partnership Development, under direct steer and line management of Managing Director, and working closely with Directorate, is responsible for overall strategy and its execution vis-a-vis:
• strategic resource mobilization
• research and advocacy in support of Afghanaid’s programmatic priorities in community-based long term development and humanitarian response
• communications.

Duties & Responsibilities

Job Purpose and Role
The Director of Advocacy and Partnership Development, under direct steer and line management of Managing Director, and working closely with Directorate, is responsible for overall strategy and its execution vis-a-vis:
• strategic resource mobilization
• research and advocacy in support of Afghanaid’s programmatic priorities in community-based long term development and humanitarian response
• communications.
Specific Duties and Responsibilities
Advocacy, Influencing and Representation
• Working closely with Deputy Managing Director – Programme Operations, and Director Programme Quality, steer and manage programme advocacy and influencing work, at programme operational level, as part of the overall programme strategy; also support Managing Director in leading at national level advocacy and influencing work with strategic stakeholders
• Represent the programme/organization to the national civil society and other stakeholders to advocate for rights-based approaches to development and humanitarian work, and for effective role of the national civil society in influencing the agenda, pace and quality of reconstruction and development processes in the country
• To ensure effective visibility and positioning of Afghanaid programme through policy advocacy on strategic issues of importance and concern to Afghanaid
• Commissioning and/or undertaking research initiatives in collaboration with like minded organizations in line with Afghanaid’s strategic programmatic priorities (2010/15)
• Recommend, manage and drive selected partnerships and alliances based on the best fit for Afghanaid, due diligence assessments and added value
• Represent Afghanaid interests in various platforms that Afghanaid is an effective member of e.g. NGO and Humanitarian Reform Project, Food Security and Agriculture Cluster, Advocacy Working Group of ACBAR, Humanitarian Country Team, Agriculture Initiative of NGOs with MAIL, National Solidarity Programme, etc

Policy and Practice Research
• Working closely with the DMD (PO) and Director (PQ), take the lead in developing research strategy and agenda to support advocacy and influencing work
• Outsource and in-house lead research projects to develop evidence-based advocacy positions
• Ensure publication and dissemination of briefing and position papers based on evidence of Afghanaid’s grassroots programme work models

Donors Contract Management and Fundraising
• Lead, coordinate, advice and oversee national fund raising efforts in Afghanistan and provide required support to Afghanaid’s support office the United Kingdom, including direct line management to relevant staff such as Trusts and Foundations Fundraiser
• Identify, explore and utilize new and additional resource opportunities for Afghanaid through a process of scanning and brokering new options, widening the net to new potential sources both in Afghanistan and beyond
• Support Programme Operations team through oversight and management of proposal preparation in response to Calls for Proposals (CfPs) as well as against unsolicited proposal opportunities
• Tracking of grant progress, spending, and audits; application of lessons learnt to strengthen and enhance risk anticipation and response.
• Establish and maintain existing relationships with key donors, multilateral organizations and key partners both within and outside Afghanistan
• Ensure that provincial offices with fundraising potential are assisted with the development of grant applications in alignment with Afghanaid’s strategy and agreed priorities
• Ensure capacity development of programme operations teams so that they understand the mandatory compliance requirements are fully met of the different donors as per the signed contracts with them
• Work closely with Managing Director, Deputy Managing Director (Programme Operations), Director (Programme Quality) and London office in implementing UK fundraising strategy and in meeting fund raising targets
• Maintaining relations with other development and humanitarian actors and the authorities so as to build strategic and operational level multi-stakeholder partnerships and to ensure effective coordination
• Maintaining an active database of external resource persons for engagement and outsourcing parts of programme development; overseeing development of TORs for outsourcing tasks including mid term reviews and end of the project evaluations, as well as overall management of donor contracts
Staff Learning and Development
• Strengthen the capacity of programme operations team for local fund-raising initiatives, in especial those related key donors
• With support and guidance from the HR Department, practice peoples management tools and approaches that facilitate effective performance management, including promotion of two-way feedback
• Mentoring and coaching of staff as appropriate, ensuring that the long term development goals of Afghanaid are not subordinated to short term programme needs
• In collaboration with APDD staff, set annual performance objectives, work plans and conduct periodic performance appraisals, including personal development plans
• Hold regular one-to-one line management meetings and/or telecoms with (distance) reportees, document the decisions and ensure agreed actions and decisions are followed through
Communication
• Development of a communications strategy to ensure the consistency of messages, content and design of publication materials produced by Afghanaid.
• Facilitate timely communication between the Head Office and provincial teams, as well as with external stakeholders including donors, other development and humanitarian actors working in the programme areas, and with various level of relevant public authorities
• Regularly communicate with the UK Office, on programme related issues, including but not limited to fundraising related issues and priorities
• Provide support to website management; ensure updated programme information, re-design of the website in close consultation with relevant stakeholders within organization, including London Office, identification and contract with a Kabul based qualified and professional web designing firm
• Ensure timely execution of visibility plans, as committed in the grant applications, with support provided by Deputy Managing Director (Programme Operations) and Director (Programme Quality) and produce effective, well-researched, versatile, issue-based documents on tight deadlines, for internal and external audiences such as monthly news letters, press releases on the launch of new initiatives both for the UK and Afghanistan audiences.
• Develop and maintain relationships and ensure engagement with media in programming areas; support Managing Director in maintaining strategic relationships with national and international media
• Increase visibility of Afghanaid’s work and achievements through producing appropriate approaches for wide audiences, for example, data and information profiles, anecdotes, case studies, visual conversation pieces, and analytical summaries.
Afghanaid Directorate
As a senior director of Afghanaid, the Director of Advocacy and Partnership Development is a member of the Afghanaid Directorate, the advisory body to the Managing Director that reviews and participates in all major management decisions. Members of the Directorate are expected to assume the corporate interests of Afghanaid and in this respect the Director of Advocacy and Partnership Development will be required to attend other internal strategic meetings and lead of issues of strategic import to the organisation.
Other
To perform any other related duties as required by the line manager.

Job Requirements

A Masters degree in international relations, governance, international development or other relevant fields from an internally reputable university is essential. You will bring at least 5 years of professional senior level experience in areas of resource mobilization and strategic partnership development, advocacy and international communications. You will have excellent English skills (verbal and written), and a proven ability to train and mentor staff and peers. For this position excellent interpersonal skills, with proven teamwork leadership and participation is of utmost importance. You will have solid hands-on experience in the development sector and in production of a wide array of highly analytical works, which include, but not limited to grant applications, research and briefing papers and communication materials. You will have an ability to utilize public relations to forge stronger constituency consensus.

The post requires ability to deal with challenging work situations and willingness to live and work in Kabul, with some traveling to Afghanaid work areas outside Kabul. You must have highly developed skills in effective communication (in English and preferably in Dari); computer literacy in Microsoft office; a solid understanding of both funding and policy environment in Afghanistan; be able to independently represent Afghanaid at various platforms and provide them leadership; lead the development of grant applications, with limited support provided from the programme operations team as well as promotional and communications material; mentoring and coaching national counterparts; and training senior management. You will be required to work with significant level of autonomy, take initiative, be able to meet tight deadlines and deliver high quality results against agreed priorities within the given timeframe. You must have respect for local culture and religion, be self motivated, be aware of your personal strengths and weaknesses and their impact on your work, and be able to manage stress.

Submission Guideline

Send us your covering letter defending your interest in the job together with your detailed CV at hrm@afghanaid.org.uk. You can download full job profile of the position from www.afghanaid.org.uk. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews. No telephone calls will be entertained. Interviews will be held over telephone and in Kabul within two weeks of the closing date.

Functional Area

Management

Countries

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