I - PRESENTATION OF THE ASSOCIATION
Mission d’Aide au Developpement des Economies Rurales – Afghanistan (MADERA) is a French non-profit, non-governmental organization, founded in 1988 with the purpose of improving the quality of life of the people of Afghanistan and fostering the conditions necessary for peace. Its actions are oriented towards empowering rural communities by building their capacities and supporting their initiative, with the aim of giving them greater control over their own development. MADERA implements these activities in 6 provinces: 4 provinces in Eastern Afghanistan (Laghman, Kunar, Nuristan, and Nangarhar), 1 province in Central Afghanistan (Hazarajat region, Wardak province) and 1 in Western Afghanistan (Ghor).
For more detailed information: www.madera-asso.org
II – ABOUT THE PROJECT FOR SUPPORTING RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Farmers, herders and orchard owners in Behsud I district and northern parts of Behsud II district of Wardak province have received support over the years under rural rehabilitation and development projects but are still recovering from the impact of severe drought over the past decade. Many require further support to improve their quality of life. In order to secure successful community development in future, it is necessary for these communities to become empowered and actively involved in local development. Since August 2010, through this long-term project, MADERA attempts to change its approach with local communities. During the last decade, development actions focused on top-down approaches. Today, the stakeholders’ game is deeply unbalanced. The adoption of an approach based on the active participation of communities in the construction of their development goals is the common basis of the two activities carried out in this project: the construction of collective action around farming innovation, and the sustainable regeneration of rain-fed lands (lalmi).
The results highlighted after a participatory rural appraisal show that the concerns of households are manifold. Agriculture has been selected as entry point for innovative actions, since individual and focus group discussions, highlighted three main issues: seeds availability, land tenure and access and work organization. Special attention is given to the strengthening of local governance by the communities themselves and to the district authorities’ participation to the process of decision-making.
The second objective of the project is to accompany the communities to design a long-term land and resources use plan. Designed in collaboration with a rangeland management expert and with the communities, test plots respond to 2 objectives: arousing communities’ interest in protecting pastures by suggesting rehabilitation solutions, and selecting local or exotic species adapted to climate and soil conditions in order to replant the most degraded pasture area.
This project aims to show that it is possible to use local physical and institutional resources to build a sustainable economy based on livestock and agriculture, relying on reasoned and dynamic management of village territories by communities themselves.
.III - PROJECT MANAGER MAIN RESPONSABILITIES
Objectives and Responsibilities Based in Wardak province with regular visits to Kabul, the Project Manager (PM) oversees the implementation of the project in the targeted areas. He/she plans and leads the project, ensuring that activities are consistent with MADERA’s overall objectives and specific objectives for the region, and that they are carried out in an efficient and timely manner. The PM is also responsible for preparing reports, addressing any issues, and adjusting activities accordingly.
Main Duties The Project Manager will be more specifically in charge of the following missions:
Management of fenced-off and opened trials o Regularly visit and analyse the technical results of the previous and on-going experimentation, and compile, check and analyse data collected at field level o Supervise the mobilization process of targeted communities o Manage and follow-up the experimentations o Assess the general condition of pasture and evaluate present livestock Participative management of territories o Prepare and implement the management plan of village territories taking into account the social, economic and environmental factors o Continue the participative mapping exercise Formulate recommendations to strengthening national and provincial land and pasture management policies o Recommendations concerning the legal framework and national guidelines o Strengthen the link with national land and agricultural institutions o Develop tools and methods with agricultural public services to make farmers’ land rights secure Contribute to designing the second phase of the project in accordance with previous recommendations and new results: o Pursue discussions with the donor MISEREOR in close collaboration with the Operation Director and the Country Director o Set up a new action plan and a new work plan Participate in building pastoralists’ network Finalize the first phase of SPLD approach and prepare the second one o Identify innovative practices and promote intercommunity exchanges o Facilitate intercommunity exchanges over these practices o Organize field visits linked with the agricultural calendar between surrounding villages and analyse the results of these field visits o Work with communities to reach consensus on development priorities o Assist communities to prepare community development plans To the overall management of the project o Planning, supervision and monitoring of activities o Budget management and financial planning o Preparing reports: internal reports, donor reports, and local authorities’ reports o Development, in coordination with the Monitoring and Evaluation department, of appropriate tools and documents to follow-up, monitor and evaluate the core indicators of the project o Providing technical assistance and training to national staff o Launching and supervision of all necessary procurements
Internal relationships The PM works under the direct supervision of the Operations Director; they decide priorities while planning activities and related means together; the PM reports achievements and difficulties encountered. He/she works in close collaboration with the Provincial Coordinator who is responsible for coordination of activities in Wardak province. He/she works in close coordination at field level with the provincial team and the technical Madera staff (Agriculture TL, Rangeland activities TL, etc). He/she coordinates with the Monitoring and Evaluation department for all related issues and with the Grant Manager for reporting purposes and donors’ relations; He/she takes great care to apply and respect MADERA’s procedures including security rules working in partnerships with finance, logistic and human resources departments.
External relationships For all project components, the PM liaises and strengthens cooperation with local authorities and ministry representatives as well as with all other stakeholders (including other NGOs) involved in rural development in the project area.
IV. QUALIFICATIONS
- Masters degree or equivalent professional experience in the fields of rural sociology, rural economy, rural development and/or agronomy… with a complementary education in livestock or pastoralism.
- At least 3 years of professional experience in participatory research project
- Ability to manage a project including implementation of strategies, managing human resources, logistics, budgets and evaluation.
- Experience in implementing participatory appraisal activities.
- Ability to work in a multicultural environment and in an Islamic context.
- Willingness to live and work in remote areas and in an unstable environment.
- Fluent in English (spoken, written and read). Dari or Farsi would be highly appreciated.
- Knowledge of the Central Asia ecological environment and Afghanistan will be an asset
V. Conditions of employment Fixed term salaried contract – 6 months renewable, extension possible according to the starting-up of the new project Remuneration: 24 000 € - 30 000 € annual according to experience + distance allowance Rest and Recreation benefits Housing at subsidized cost Medical insurance and repatriation insurance
POSITION TO BE FILLED THE 15 OF JUNE 2013 Based in Behsud, Wardak province
How to apply:
Applications, in English, should include a CV, photo, cover letter and three references. Applications should be submitted to: recrutement@madera.asso.fr Marion Léonetti MADERA, 3, rue Roubo, 75011 Paris, France Tel: + 33 (0)1 43 70 50 07 Fax: + 33 (0)1 43 70 60 07
