Location: Afghanistan (Kabul) Closing date: 06 Apr 2007
Job Description Background Danish support to educational development in Afghanistan in 2007-2008 will be designed to assist the Government in the implementation of the new “National Strategic Plan for Education (NSPE) in Afghanistan” a five year sector strategy 1385 – 1389 (2006 – 2010). The programme document for the majority of Danish education support in 2007-08 is still being drafted and will need further work and consultation with the Ministry of Education (MoE) to ensure full alignment with the NSPE. The NSPE is an important integral part of the Afghanistan National Development Strategy and Afghanistan Compact and designed to meet the MDG education goals in 2020. The NSPE is divided into eight broadly defined programmes, each with its own specifications of objectives, strategies and budget requirements.
The Danish support in 2007-08 is defined as a continuation and further development of programme activities initiated during the period December 2003 – March 2007. The basic strategic approach is to assist the Government in the development and implementation of reform processes and activities relating to three essential and complementary programmatic areas, prioritised for Danish support in the joint programme review of October 2006. These include 1) general education; 2) curriculum development (including development and production of learning materials); and 3) education administration reform. While the overall Danish support addresses the longer-term development needs, it is also recognised that there are many urgent demands that need to be addressed in the short term. It is necessary, therefore, to continue to follow a parallel two-track approach in the provision of educational services to seek to meet both of these demands To ensure government ownership Danish funding for the prioritised programmes will be channelled through public administration structures for incorporation into the national education budget. This will draw upon the experience gained during the course of the previous period of support.
The Danish support presently includes, long and short term, international technical assistance to build capacity in the MoE in the fields of 1) education policy, 2) financial management 3) institutional reform and restructuring, 4) planning, designing, production and distribution of textbooks. In addition to this, national technical assistance is provided in the area of financial management, education legislation, and education information management system. As a result of MoE’s NSPE and further prioritisation exercises Danish technical support, aligned with the NSPE, will need to be further fine-tuned to ensure that it is focused and results in maximal impact on institutional capacity development.
Besides the direct budget support to the Ministry of Education Denmark seeks to ensure that synergies are created between the support to the education sector and other focus areas for Danish support to Afghanistan, e.g. with the Danish support to reintegration of returnees from neighbouring countries, with provision of civilian development activities in provinces where Denmark forms part of PRTs, or with the support to Afghan NGOs.
Increased institutional capacity in the MoE management and administration is seen as a prerequisite for attracting more donors to the sector and in particular for assuring donors of adequate administration and management of their support if they channel their funds through the governmental structures. One condition for this to happen safely is the roll out of Ministry of Finance’s computerised financial management system, which can handle all payments in relation to support given to MoE, can account for the funds, and can report to the donors on the use of the funds. The next step is to establish a similar capacity at the level of MoE in order for the actual implementation of activities to be properly monitored and accounted for. For this purpose, a Grant Management Unit (GMU) has been established in the Ministry of Education, which will work closely with the finance and administration and technical line departments of the MoE.
MoE has recently established the GMU, and is now in the process of staffing the unit with national staff and technical assistance. Initially the development of basic procedures for meeting Afghan and donor monitoring and reporting requirements will be a key priority. Till now Danish support to the MoE has been directed by a Programme Management Manual designed by Danida and for management of Danish grants only. It is expected that this Danida Programme Management Manual over time will be aligned with the MoE procedures and systems for programme implementation and financial management.
Responsible to The Programme Manager is responsible to the Embassy of Denmark to Afghanistan
Assignment The Programme Manager will in relation to the Danish support and in close consultation with the Sr. Adviser on Administration, Finance and Management in charge of the GMU:
Qualifications: * A university degree or equivalent in Programme Management, Financial Management, or Public Administration, International Development * A minimum of 5 years working experience preferably from/in developing countries, preferably in Afghanistan or the region, and at least 2 years of experience similar to the present job description. * Excellent communication skills and the ability to work and cooperate in an interdisciplinary and multi-cultural environment, where national ownership and securing the programme’s technical goals are the primary objectives. * Fluency in written and oral English. Knowledge of Dari and/or Pashtu will be an advantage. * Good computer skills and familiarity with accountancy packages.
Conditions of Work * The Programme Manager will be working in the Grant Management Unit in Ministry of Education * Employment as per MoE working hours (6 days a week (44 hours), 1 day weekend) * Contract is for two years and will be signed with the Danish Embassy * Salary paid by Danish Embassy as an all-inclusive lump sum * Salary to be based on experience, previous salary and qualifications
Vacancies Contact Embassy of Denmark to Afghanistan Danish Embassy Kabul
Kindly apply electronically to this post by referring in e-mail subject line to: job reference code/your name
Reference Code: RW_6ZGBTP-62
