Job Profile: Civil Adviser Education Programme Provincial Reconstruction Team Helmand, Afghanistan Reference number: DK-35299-2007/-W
Background Short background: The population in the Helmand province has one of the lowest literacy rates in Afghanistan. Not least the very low female literacy rate is an indication of the importance of added emphasis on education in the province. At the same time development in many other fields will benefit from and depend on the widening of opportunities for learning in the Helmand province. This is true for economic progress and employment, preventive health care, as well as political development and dialogue. In tandem with Denmark’s military efforts in the Helmand province, there is a wish for a special Danish supportive effort in the Education sector in the province. In the division of labour between donor agencies in the Helmand province, in particular DFID and USAID, support to education is an area in which Denmark will have a key position.
Purpose of memo: This memo describes the main tasks involved in the position and the qualifications desired in candidates for the job.
Expected composition of the selection committee: Applicants for the position will be selected for interview by the Danish authorities who will also be represented at the job interview. Mercuri Urval will participate in the process of appointment by conducting personality tests and test interviews with the selected candidates.
The programme The programme in short: The Afghan Government has the lead in the education sector. Countrywide national policies are decided by the Ministry of Education (MOE) in Kabul. Hence these will also apply to the Helmand province, for example regarding teacher training, curricula, textbooks, norms for school construction, and financial, administrative and HR procedures. National education programmes such as EQUIP are implemented by MOE, and the Helmand province receives its share of it. In the province Helmand the Department of Education is the governmental local lead agency and counterpart for Denmark in the education sector.
In mid-2007 it was agreed with the Minister of Education that Danish support in the Helmand province, within the overall framework of the National Education Strategic Plan, will give particular attention to: I. Construction and rehabilitation of educational building facilities, including schools and a Teacher Training Centre II. Enhancing the capacity of the Provincial Department of Education III. Assistance for the operationalisation of MOE’s planning for education sector development in the province.
While school construction from the beginning will be a major aspect of Danish support to educational sector development in the Helmand province, this, as well as the other areas of particular attention, may need to be adjusted to changing circumstances during the course of implementation. This will be more clearly defined in a coming strategy for Danish involvement in development in the Helmand province.
In 2007 9 million DKK in designated funds will be at the disposal for investment in the education sector in the Helmand province. In the following years this may increase substantially. Danish funding for Afghanistan’s National Education Strategic Plan would, moreover, include financing for the strengthening of the staffing capacities at decentralised levels, and hence also at the Department of Education in the Helmand Province. Similarly, projects financed by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but implemented by the Danish Military in the Helmand province, may provide support in the area of education, for example local production of school furniture and improvement of the physical protection of the Department of Education in Lashkar Gah.
To support progress in the above endeavour Denmark will recruit a Civil Adviser with relevant experience in the education sector to work from the site of the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in the provincial capital Lashkar Gah in the Helmand province.
The position Title: Civil Adviser
Place of work: The Civil Adviser will be stationed at the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) site in Lashkar Gah.
Terms of employment: 1 year with possibility for extension. Attractive salary. Accommodation and protection will be provided; travel expenses will be covered. After every six weeks work the Civil Advisor will have two weeks rest and recreation at disposal.
Special conditions of the function: The PRT is an enclosed, high security camp with basic living conditions. Frequent travels both in-province and to Kabul is to be expected. Transportation outside of camp is in armoured cars and with security escort.
Area of responsibility/tasks of the Civil Adviser: • Liaise closely with the relevant Afghan authorities in Kabul and Helmand following the key planning documents such as the Afghan National Development Strategy, the Afghanistan Compact, National Education Strategic Plan for Afghanistan, and Strategic Plan for Education in Helmand. • Cooperate with relevant international and local development organisations, for example, World Bank, DFID, USAID and Swedish Committee for Afghanistan. • Advance Danish support in the Education Sector with the point of departure in the areas stipulated above under ‘Background’, and help make relevant adjustments over time in agreement with Afghan and Danish authorities. • Assist Afghan counterparts in Kabul and Helmand, on the basis of the relevant strategies, in the designing of projects and programmes that can be financed not only by Denmark, but also by the Afghan Government and other donors. • Work closely with and report to Denmark’s General Civil Adviser in the PRT in Lashkar Gah, Helmand, as well as the Embassy of Denmark in Kabul that approves Danish funded development projects in Helmand. • Stand in for Denmark’s General Civil Adviser when the latter is out of the PRT. This includes representing Denmark in Helmand Executive Group in the PRT. • Develop constructive working relations with relevant UK colleagues in the PRT (for example Governance Adviser, Quick Impact Projects Manager). • Produce regular short and concise reports on the progress and challenges faced in the execution of the tasks to the Afghan authorities and the Danish Embassy. • Facilitate provision of information for the media to inform about Danish support for development work in Helmand, Assist Danish and other journalists visiting the PRT and who wish to learn about the education sector work.
Requirements profile/qualifications Requirements and expectations concerning the candidates’ formal qualifications: • Relevant educational and practical background • Experience from work in or with the education sector • Experience from working abroad, preferably in a post-conflict situation.
Requirements and expectations concerning the personal qualities of the candidates • Cultural openness and proven ability to analyse and understand complex local structures and conflicts • Ability to live and work in a camp that is dominated by the military and to endure a certain constant level of threat • Ability to clearly express and present thoughts, plans for projects and programmes orally as well as in written form with an eye to both detail and the overall context. • Ability to network and establish relations in complex environments • Result-oriented with considerable work capacity.
Appointment procedures How do you apply? .
Reference number DK-35299-2007/-W should be stated in the application.
Applications should be sent to Mercuri Urval A/S at , alternatively to the office address: Philip Heymans Allé 5, DK 2900 Hellerup, Denmark, fax: +45 39 45 65 65.
Deadline for applications: 21st August 2007 at a.m. Danish time.
Preliminary interviews and personal evaluation: Week 36.
Language test: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decided that all candidates called in for interview – except for those to whom the relevant language is mother tongue – shall be language tested in Denmark in the working language of the duty station in question (English).
