Country Programme Manager Afghanistan

Purpose

The purpose of the Afghanistan Country Manager is to achieve Norwegian Red Cross humanitarian, enabling objectives and organizational objectives, as per NorCross International Strategy and relevant Asia Regional Framework, at country level through strategic partnership management, results-based project management and risk management.

Strategic responsibilities

• Follows up and strengthen the partnership with the Afghan Red Crescent National Society (ARCS) through partnership management, project development and management in line with established project agreements and project plans.
• Represents Norwegian Red Cross in-country, coordinate strategically and programmatically with RCRC Movement partners, particularly ICRC and contributes to complementary RCM roles and responsibilities in country.
• Manages country office in accordance with Norwegian Red Cross leadership development framework, NorCross financial routines and established in-country security.

Operational responsibilities

• Develops annual country plan of action and follows up on progress through regular meetings and reporting for Afghanistan.
• Follows up and supports the strategic and operational cooperation with the Afghan Red Crescent in accordance with the Partnership Agreement and NorCross partnership process
• Ensures annual joint operational planning and complementary implementation with ICRC (and other Movement partners as applicable) under the umbrella of Inclusive Response Approach collaboration
• Safeguards project agreements and plans and follows up on risk assessments for all in-country initiatives for Afghanistan.
• Organizes needs assessments and develops fundable proposals for Afghanistan.
• Ensures that Norwegian Red Cross-supported programmes in Afghanistan comply with technical standards and thematic frameworks.
• Consistently monitors planned and unplanned effects of all projects supported by the Norwegian Red Cross in Afghanistan and reports on progress through tertiary and yearly reports and complies with established deadlines.
• Ensures reliable data and information collection from all projects in accordance with Norwegian Red Cross results framework.
• Ensures accountability in line with Norwegian Red Cross Accountability Matrix and Partnership Calendar. This includes contribution to the annual budget process, mid-term budget review, and timely submission of cash requests / working advances.
• Supports financial and overall risk management, including annual audit process and proper handling of financial irregularities, in line with established rules and regulations.
• Engages the Afghanistan country team by providing clear expectations manifested in individual work plans, linked to annual Plan of Action, and follows up through expressing positive expectations and holding each other accountable.
• Ensures that Field Security Rules and Regulations of Norwegian Red Cross for Afghanistan are understood, and oversees their compliance.
• Promotes good collaboration between country office and regional office to ensure use of available technical expertise and standards.
• Acquires fluency in the understanding and of Norwegian Red Cross work processes and digital tools.
• Establishes relationships with internal stakeholders – RCRC Movement partners and manages regular meetings with donors to obtain support for unfunded humanitarian projects.
• Acts as spokesperson for country developments relates to Afghanistan upon delegation from the Regional Representative and supports Norwegian Red Cross’ humanitarian diplomacy objectives, including by identifying opportunities in line with global priorities.
• Contributes to the operationalization of global strategic agreements with the ICRC and the IFRC in the country.
• Supports in-country RCRC coordination mechanisms conducive to better efficiency and greater humanitarian impact.

Collaboration

• Engages with the Deputy regional representative and Regional Finance Manager at Regional Office, to ensure consistent accountability towards Norwegian Red Cross rules and regulations, guidelines and deadlines.
• Engages with the regional technical delegates; including the Finance Development delegate, and others to ensure continued and sustained high quality programme support to ARCS.
• Through established channels and structures, ensures regular communication with colleagues in the Asia Regional Team, and as per need, with Programme Support Team, Finance and Grants Unit and International Human Resources Unit (NO).
• Facilitates and plans for country visits by colleagues from regional and national offices.
• Liaises with National Office (HQ) Security advisor in accordance with rules and regulations.

Mission specific responsibilities

• Further articulate and operationalize NorCross strategic ambitions in support of the provision of quality and timely primary and secondary healthcare and community-based, in Afghanistan through the ARCS
• Operationalize the CSSA agreement under the IRA with ICRC in Afghanistan.
• Close collaborations and coordination on (IFRC) Agenda of Renewal/New Ways of Working (NWoW) for Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS).
• Design and implement the NorCross supported programmes and align and expand further the Afghanistan portfolio in line with NorCross 2021-2023 and new 2023-26 International Strategy and the Asia Regional Framework

Qualifications

Formal Competence

• University Degree (preferably health and/or international relations)
• Solid professional experience in health focussed programmes on complex & security environments /conflict settings

Personal qualifications, skills and knowledge

Skills and knowledge

• Track record of managing multi-cultural humanitarian teams and programmes in complex humanitarian setting
• Proven ability to implement health programmes in challenging contexts
• Proven ability in remote management
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Excellent inter-personal skills with internal as well as external stakeholders
• Track record of successfull donor applications, planning, monitoring and reporting on humanitarian projects with measurable results.
• Fluency in English required
• Working proficiency of regional languages is an asset

Personal Qualifications

• Ability to establish inter-personal, trust-based relationships
• Agility, adaptability and able to deal with confine environment
• Ability to negotiate, influence and gain acceptance
• Ability to communicate effectively
• Ability to work towards achieving objectives and results
• Ability to be critical thinking & solution oriented
• Ability to collaborate well with others and support others in the pursuit of team goals
• Ability to create a stable and re-assuring work atmosphere
• Ability to create team cohesion, coordination and integration
• Ability to contribute strategically to expansion of portfolio

How to apply

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https://303030.webcruiter.no/Main/Recruit/Public/4697120004?link_source_id=0