Operations Director (National Solidarity Program)

Job Description

Country: Afghanistan
Project:SECOND EMERGENCY NATIONAL SOLIDARITY PROJECT (NSPII)
Financing: World Bank
Abstract: CONSULTANCY SERVICES OF DIRECTOR OF OPERATION (DOO) FOR NSP
Sector: Consultants
Loan/Credit Number: IDA Grant No.: H261 AF; Project ID No.: PI02288
Contract/Bid Number: Reference No.: MRRD/CN/066; Request for Expressions of Interest
Deadline: 28 July 2008

The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Second Emergency National Solidarity Project, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consultant services.

The National Solidarity Program (NSP) is one of the Afghanistan government's major national priority programs managed by the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD). The NSP target is to reach every village in Afghanistan. The objective of the NSP is to empower rural communities to plan, manage, finance and monitor their own development program. The NSP aims to lay the foundations of community level good governance and support community-managed¬-sub-projects for reconstruction and development to improve the access of rural communities to social and productive infrastructures and services.

The Director of Operations is directly responsible for the outputs of the MRRD/NSP. In the frame of the approved Budget, the Yearly Work Plan with the manpower plan and the internal regulations, he/she has the competence to manage the staff and to commit expenses. He/she provides technical advice to the Executive Director (ED) and the ministry as and when required.

The Director of Operations will supervise the work of the management support departments and provides technical assistance for the implementation of the MRRD/NSP.

The management structure of the MRRD/NSP includes the following departments at central office: Human Resources Development and Training; Facilitating Partner Management; Management Information System; Financial Management; Field Operations; Procurement; Quality Control; General Administration and Logistics; Public Communications; Technical Support; Monitoring and Evaluation; District School Construction and Rehabilitation. Currently the MRRD/NSP also has regional and provincial offices to support their delivery of MRRD/NSP functions. The regional office plays a support role to a cluster of provincial offices that work closely with the Facilitating Partners (FPs) in facilitating the delivery of sub-projects. The provincial RRD offices also have specific MRRD/NSP-related functions such as the relations with CDCs, approval and monitoring of sub-projects.

Facilitating Partners are Afghan and International NGO contracted by MRRD, to support communities in the formation of Community Development Councils and the planning and implementation of their sub-projects. The Facilitating Partners also support the communities with capacity building in such areas as financial management and procurement, and district RRD teams in community mobilization and development of district development plans.

The DO will be directly responsible for the day to day management of the program on behalf of the ED to whom he reports.

The DO is responsible for (a) the day to day management of the MRRD/NSP, (b) strategic supervision of the contracted partners and MRRD structures responsible to implement NSP, (c) recruitment and training of the national staff (d) management and development of institutional relationships with the key stakeholders.

The DO will work closely with the relevant senior and executive staff of the MRRD to keep them regularly informed of program management and development initiatives and issues to ensure program support and to advise on general country and program development efforts.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND COMPETENCES IN PARTICULAR

Based on the Project document (NSP2), the DO has to prepare yearly work plans in close cooperation with the operational departments. After approval of the operational plans and budget it is the responsibility of the DO to ensure the correct implementation of the plans.

DAY TO DAY MANAGEMENT OF THE NSP INCLUDES:

- Supervision and orientation of the operational departments
- Promote efficient delivery of services
- Efficient processing of all data and the disbursement of block grants
- Supervise the recruitment and promote the integration and training of all national staff
- Support the ED and HRD in assessing training needs for national staff and conduct training
- Update and standardize working procedures
- Provide managerial support and mentoring to the international staff
- Monitor management progress, identify bottle=necks and recommend solutions
- Prepare progress reports as required
- Direct and liaise with the ED on all aspects of the NSP, as well as assisting in the overall management of the NSP when required by the ED
- Support the ED in preparing, conducting and follow-up planning workshops for the NSP

STRATEGIC SUPERVISION OF THE CONTRACTED PARTNERS:

- Supervision and compliance of the FP's with their contracts
- Organize technical support to the provincial offices and the FP's
- Co-operate with the respective operational departments to contribute to a cost efficient and quick approval of sub-projects and disbursement of block grants

MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF INSTITUTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS:
- Assist the ED in co-coordinating with the NSP donors
- Assist the ED in fund-raising efforts
- Support the NSP management in preparing, conducting and following up the meetings of the steering committee
- Contribute to the increase of the quality of sub-projects through training, improving technical standards and strengthening the linkages with the resource centers and projects both within and outside the country.

THE OPERATION'S COMMITTEE
The DO organizes and chairs an Operation Committee with the representation of all departments under the DO, with the participation of the ED or his deputy.
The Operation committee corroborates:
- Mutual information and co-ordination
- Review of the progress
- Present and decide on follow-up on pending issues
- Identify bottle-necks and operational issues

DECISION MAKING AUTHORITY
- The DO has the authority to sign commitments and contracts according to the internal Authority of Signatories.
- Considering the procurement rules of Go A and of World Bank, responsibility of bilateral donors, the DO is authorized to take all decisions necessary for the implementation of the program.
- He is particularly authorized to approve all expenditures in the frame of the accepted budget.
- In case he proposes expenditures not foreseen in the yearly budget/work plan, he submits proposals to the ED after consultation with the Head Finance Department.

Duty station: The NSPII Director of Operation will be located in Kabul NSP HQ.

Reporting to: NSP Executive Director

Qualifications: The incumbent will have as a minimum a post-graduate degree in program management, Development studies, community Development, Community Development, Engineering, Business administration or a closely related field.

Experience: A minimum of 10 years working experience is required, a significant portion of which should have been gained in program design, rural development and Project implementation. Excellent interpersonal, analytical and report writing skills are essential. Previous work experience in a similar post conflict/developing country in a similar position would be an advantage.

Other Skills: Fluency in English, knowledge of Dari and Pashto would be an asset. The use of the Microsoft Office applications is essential.

The National Solidarity Program for Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation & Development now invites eligible1 consultants to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested eligible candidates must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services and are invited to submit their CV (Curriculum Vitae), including employment records, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills, previous remunerations, etc.

A consultant will be selected in accordance with Section V Selection of Individual Consultants procedures set out in the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World Bank Borrowers May 2004.

Interested eligible consultants (See guidelines for eligibility requirements) may obtain further information at the address below during the office hours 08:30 am to 17:00 pm from Saturday to Thursday

Expressions of interest must be delivered to the address below by or sent bye-mail to the address below no later than July 28, 2008.

Further information on NSP may be obtained from the NSP website:

Any queries on the position may also be addressed to the below mentioned email address, latest 3 working days before the deadline for submission of applications.

Please Contact:
Wais Ahmad Barmak, Executive Director
National Solidarity Program, Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation & Development Tashiklat Street, Darnl Aman Road,
Kabul, Afghanistan
Tel: 00 93 799041533
E-mail: and copy to and .
Website: