Afganistan: Advisor - Watershed Management 

Jun 18, 2017 | Concern Worldwide
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Concern Worldwide works with the world's poorest people to transform their lives. It is an international humanitarian organisation dedicated to tackling poverty and suffering in the world’s poorest countries. It works in partnership with the very poorest people in these countries, directly enabling them to improve their lives, as well as using our knowledge and experience to influence decisions made at a local, national and international level that can significantly reduce extreme poverty. In 2015, we positively impacted the lives of 22.5 million people.

About the role:

This is a 12 month, new role with unaccompanied terms based in Taloqan, Taloqan City, Takhar Province, Afghanistan with frequent field visits to Badakhshan Province, Kabul and other consortium project locations in Ghor, Samagan, Sare-e-pul, Balkh and Jawzjan provinces depending on security clearances with a salary of Band 4 €35,981-€39,979.

You will report to the Head of Concern Afghanistan’s Programme Technical Support Unit (PTSU) with a line to the Concern Strengthening the Resilience of Afghanistan’s Vulnerable Communities Against Disasters (SRACAD) - Replication, Expansion and Deepening (READ) Programme Coordinator. There is no line management in this role. You will work closely with the Afghanistan Resilience Consortium (ARC) Manager, and the SRACAD-READ Project Managers from Afghan Aid, ActionAid, Save the Children and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as well as the Concern Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Advisor.

Your purpose:

To provide technical advice through training and on-site guidance to the Afghanistan Resilience Consortium (ARC) member organisations in the effective implementation of Participatory Integrated Watershed Development Projects under its SRACAD-READ Programme.

This position will include 50% on supporting the consortium partners on participatory integrated watershed management and the other 50% on supporting Concern’s Integrated Watershed Management activities under the Afghanistan Resilience Consortium project – SRACAD-READ.

You will be responsible for:

In close coordination with SRACAD-READ Project Coordinator (National), the Participatory Watershed Management Advisor will have the following duties and responsibilities:

Technical Assistance

  • Provide technical advice to staff of ARC member organisations, local authorities and communities on the concept and practice of Participatory Integrated Watersheds Management and Development for an effective implementation of watershed activities in SRACAD-READ programme areas
  • Investigate indigenous watershed practices in the target areas, and to develop methodologies that will improve and strengthen good practices
  • Improve the capacity of all ARC partner organizations through training in technical knowledge and extension skills related to participatory integrated watershed management including watershed development planning
  • Develop key messaging in cooperation with ARC partners’ ways to improve community awareness, participation and know-how on watershed issues
  • Train staff on how to form community based Watershed Associations and Watershed Management Committees using participatory approaches. Identify a pilot a micro- catchment area within an existing watershed site and develop a diversified treatment measures that both include vegetative and mechanical approaches
  • Lead in the development of participatory impact monitoring system to measure impact to watershed development parameters such as soil fertility, ground and surface water levels, vegetation rehabilitation, regrowth and crop yields, etc.
  • Liaise with government line ministries and authorities including International and or national NGOs operating within the   project area on water-related issues
  • Represent Concern and or the Consortium on Watershed Management or Natural Resource Management platform at the national level where relevant 
  • Formulate a long term programme for SRACAD-READ’s watershed activities that will help development of proposals to scale up watershed work in Afghanistan 
  • Liaise, provide necessary guidance and support to various technical persons (civil engineers, forestry specialists, veterinarians, constructors etc.) involved in implementation of the watershed activities
  • Develop a system of documenting watershed experiences in the programme area
  • Identify needs, provide support to and develop linkages with national and regional level knowledge centres/ research institutes to avail necessary technical support for effective implementation of the watershed projects. 

Donor Reporting

  • Support Concern SRACAD-READ Project coordinator in preparing annual report, interim and final narrative report as well as any updates as required by the Donor 
  • Support the Consortium Manager in preparing similar reports to the donor for the overall consortium project

Capacity Building of Concern Project team and Consortium members

  • Develop appropriate needs assessment tools to determine training needs of Concern and other consortium partners to address knowledge and skills gap in Participatory Integrated Watershed Management
  • Facilitate conduct of training for Concern and consortium partners to strengthen knowledge and skills in Participatory Integrated Watershed Management

Gender Equality 

  • Promote active involvement of women in watershed development activities such as trenching, terracing, planting, etc.   
  • Support voices of women to be heard and participation in decision making processes by being presented in watershed management committees and or associations
  • Ensure that women share the benefits of a developed watershed area  in an equitable manner

Other

  • Concern considers responding to emergencies as a non-negotiable mandate in its work. As such all Concern employees are required to participate in any emergency preparedness and response actions as per the requirement of the situation. The Participatory Integrated Watershed Management Advisor agrees to take on such additional responsibilities as may be required by the management


Your skills and experience will include:

Essential:

Education, Qualifications & Experience Required:  

  • Third level qualification (Diploma/ Degree) in Agricultural Engineering or Social Sciences or relevant fields
  • At least three years relevant overseas experience in Participatory Integrated Watershed Management
  • Five years relevant programme and management experience in a development context
  • Practical experience in organising and working with Watershed Development Associations and Watershed Management Committees
  • Proven experience in community participatory processes and use of Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA)/Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) tools in developing watershed treatment plans
  • Proven experience in designing and facilitating integrated watershed management training courses including related subject matters

Desirable:

Education, Qualifications & Experience Required: 

  • Working with local NGOs
  • Knowledge of local language Dari (Farsi) is added advantage

Special Skills, Aptitude or Personality Requirements:

  • Empathy with organisational Vision, Mission, Goals and Objectives
  • Proven work experience in directly managing and implementing Watershed management projects
  • Proven skill set in providing technical guidance to staff and communities on various soil and water conservation and watershed treatment measures
  • Experience in monitoring and evaluation systems and techniques
  • Ability to work under pressure often to strict deadlines
  • Ability to identify problems and facilitate solutions
  • Methodical and thorough
  • Knowledge of computer applications i.e. Microsoft word and excel
  • Ability to motivate and develop skills of others
  • Analytical and problem solving skills
  • Ability to work both as part of a team & independently 
  • Cross cultural awareness and sensitivity (especially gender and ethnicity)
  • Tolerance and acceptance of diversity
  • Excellent communication skills in English both written and verbal   
  • Flexibility and willingness to live and work in difficult conditions involving physical hardships and little comfort.

CVs should be no more than 4 pages in length. 

Due to the urgency of this position, applications will be short listed on a regular basis and we may offer posts before the closing date.