Project Officer

WDIO Background:

Watan Development and Initiative Organization is a non-governmental, nonprofit, non-partisan, and independent organization dedicated to empowering and uplifting communities through sustainable development, promoting social justice, and enhancing the well-being of individuals and families. Since its establishment in 2014, we have tirelessly worked towards poverty alleviation, economic empowerment, education and skill development, health and well-being, gender equality, women's empowerment, agriculture and livestock, and environmental sustainability. Our goal is to improve living conditions, provide quality education and essential skills to individuals, enhance community health and well-being, achieve gender equality, improve agricultural productivity, and promote environmental sustainability.

With a passionate team of over seven hundred individuals and a strong network of partners and supporters, we strive to bring about positive change by preserving and celebrating cultural diversity and heritage, fostering social cohesion, and promoting cross-cultural understanding and respect. We ensure program effectiveness and accountability through continuous monitoring, evaluation, and data-driven approaches. Our commitment to integrity, sustainability, accountability, innovation, empowerment, advocacy, and respect for diversity guides our efforts as we address pressing challenges such as poverty alleviation, education, healthcare, environmental conservation, women's empowerment, child welfare, and sustainable development.

Job Summary

The Project Officer reports to the WDIO Education Program Head/Education Specialist and is responsible for effectively implementing the project. The following items are the main responsibilities:

Main duties and responsibilities

Technical Duties

·       Build and maintain strong/excellent relations, Coordination, and Synergy with relevant governmental departments, especially PED and DED.

·       Prepare and ensure implementation of the project's monthly and weekly work plan

·       Ensure a strong technical relationship with program support units and support functions

·       Supervise the day-to-day progress and implementation process of the project

·       Ensure that each staff member in the field is on his/her duty and that the project is running actively in the province.

·       Understand and follow the WDIOs child protection and safeguarding policy, and ensure that awareness-raising on child protection, response, and incident reporting is occurring.

·       Ensure appropriate structures, internal and external standards, staffing, resources, and policies are adhered to.

·       Ensure a clear understanding of project assumptions by all project staff to aim at the effective and timely achievement of project goals, outcomes, and outputs.

·       Ensure that all terms and conditions agreed in the signed MoUs with the donor and MoE are adhered to throughout the life of the project

·       Ensure that all project activities meet core humanitarian and government standards.

·       Ensure that proper community development practices and “Do No Harm” practices are incorporated and upheld throughout the planning and implementation of the project.

·       Provide managerial guidance and support to the project staff to implement the project components timely and smooth.

·       In coordination with the WDIO Education Head/ Specialist, regularly monitor and evaluate the progress of the project

·       Build a team of highly committed and competent staff, ensuring cooperation and coordination among relevant staff within the Project.

·       Create a learning environment in which staff regularly reflect, learn from mistakes, and use lessons for personal growth, and revise work plans to improve ministry impact.

·       Effectively represent WDIO operations and mission when accompanying visitors, e.g., donor and/or Government representatives and other delegations to project sites

·       Ensure accurate quality narrative and financial reports are submitted promptly and according to donor requirements.

·       Work and meet deadlines of donors for financial reporting and share it with the sector lead on time

·       Track the performance of the project activities and outputs against expected results and adjust implementation processes to ensure the project is progressing towards the intended outcomes.

·       Analyze the impact of projects and promote learning by documenting best practices. Use this information to support decision-making processes.

·       Track project progress and expenditures against approved budgets, anticipate any deviations, and recommend and take action on relevant and required adjustments.

·       Track project risks to adjust and implement the existing contingency plan in a timely.

·       Travel regularly to all project sites to ensure proper implementation of project activities.

·       Create and present monthly summaries of projects’ activities and plans to WDIO leadership

·       Any other task assigned by the line manager

Personnel Management:

·       Coordinate and implement new employee project orientations and training.

·       Initiate and perform, with support from others, staff performance appraisals.

·       Identify staff capacity needs and undertake proactive on-the-job training to strengthen their capacity to deliver interventions.

Tasks of inter-organizational relations

·       Promote non-discrimination about ethnic, political, and religious backgrounds.

·       Participate in workshops, seminars & conferences organized by the education program/DONOR and PED.

Job Requirements

·       Minimum of 4 years of working experience in similar positions in Education Programs with national and international NGOs.

·       Bachelor’s Degree in Education, Social Science, and Psychology or Educational Management& Leadership (Master’s degree is preferred)

·       Required Languages – Excellent English, Pashto, and Dari reading, writing, and verbal skills,

·       Travel – The position will be based in the Provincial center with frequent travel to the districts.

·       Efficiency, result-oriented, and excellent management capabilities;

·       Capacity to perform effectively under pressure and harsh conditions; ability to handle confidential and politically sensitive issues responsibly and maturely;

·       Excellent capacity development and teamwork skills; cross-cultural and gender sensitivity;

·       Ability to travel throughout the country;

·       Respect the confidentiality of the organization;

·       Ability to use information technology effectively.

·       Good communication skills

·       Good knowledge in the Child education system in Afghanistan

·       Skill of implementing activities in coordination with the District Education Department, other Govt. officials, local elected bodies, NGOs, project experts, and concerned community members Employee must be self-motivated with the ability to work independently or in a team environment.

·       Organizational and time management skills are needed to ensure programs are completed by the scheduled time.

·       Ability to organize and conduct different seminars, and workshops for teacher and staff development.

·       Interpersonal skills needed to work with a variety of people throughout the organization.

·       Honest judgment for assessing staff performance and capacity building of staff for smooth implementation of the program.

Interested applicants could submit their CV and cover letter via the link below:

https://ee.kobotoolbox.org/single/30G7oXWX