The Aga Khan Foundation, Afghanistan (AKF (Afg)) is an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a group of international, private, non-denominational development agencies working to improve living conditions and opportunities for people in some of the poorest parts of the developing world. The Network’s organizations have individual mandates that range from the fields of health and education to architecture, rural development and promotion of private-sector enterprise and institutions that seek to empower communities and individuals, usually in disadvantaged circumstances, to improve living conditions and opportunities. 

The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) is a non-denominational international development agency established in 1967 by His Highness the Aga Khan. Its mission is to develop and promote creative solutions to problems that impede social development, primarily in Asia and East Africa. Created as a private, non-profit foundation under Swiss law, it has branches and independent affiliates in 19 countries. 

AKF seeks to provide sustainable solutions to long-term problems of poverty, hunger, illiteracy, and ill health. In Afghanistan, AKF works with rural communities in mountainous, remote or resource poor areas to improve quality of life in the areas of natural resource management, market development, governance, education, and health.

POSITION OBJECTIVE  
To strategically lead and innovate AKF’s Economic Inclusion (EI) initiatives by integrating cross-sectoral programs, driving the Future of Work and Youth Entrepreneurship initiatives and championing gender inclusion and safeguarding. The role aims to foster sustainable economic opportunities, enhance digital and entrepreneurial skills, and build impactful partnerships, ensuring the effective management and growth of AKF’s EI portfolio as an essential component of Rural development across targeted regions.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
•    Overall technical management responsibility for EI programs, including programme design, budgeting, work planning, quality assurance, and operational issues.
•    Integrate EI interventions across other thematic areas, such as Community Development, Agriculture and Food Security, climate resilience, Accelerate Prosperity, and the Infrastructure Initiative.
•    Lead youth and women entrepreneurship and business start-up initiatives, in coordination with Accelerate Prosperity and other components of Rural Development programs.
•    Build and oversee the Future of Work initiative, including employer engagement,  digital skills development, digital infrastructure, innovative work arrangements, and and promotion of Green Businesses.
•    Lead the initiatives for the project staff capacity building with the objective of improving the quality of programme implementation.
•    Oversee research to inform program design, including market systems analysis, value chain analysis, and labor market assessments.
•    Support in mobilizing resources for new and existing projects by developing high-quality funding proposals, partnerships building and donor management.
•    Build and maintain a broad network of external partnerships with line government departments, donors, private sector, and civil society organizations.
•    Support the development of learning and communication materials, such as project briefs and case studies.
•    Ensure compliance with documentation and reporting requirements or AKF and the donors.
•    Undertake any other responsibilities assigned by the supervisor.
•    Advocate for gender inclusion and lead safeguarding efforts across all EI initiatives, ensuring a safe, equitable, and inclusive environment.
•    To carry out the responsibilities of the role in a way which reflects AKF (Afg)'s commitment to safeguarding staff, beneficiaries and protecting children from harm and abuse in accordance with AKF (Afg)s Safeguarding policy.  
•    To report any suspicions or actual violations of the Safeguarding Policy and/or Child Safeguarding Policy as per the given training.

OCCASIONAL SIGNIFICANT DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
•    Attend and present at national and international conferences, forums, and workshops to showcase AKF’s economic inclusion work and share best practices.
•    Support or lead cross-regional projects that align with AKF’s broader economic inclusion strategy, ensuring consistency and knowledge sharing across regions.
•    Assist in developing and implementing response strategies for any emerging economic crises or challenges that may impact the EI portfolio.

DECISION-MAKING & AUTHORITY
•    Project design.
•    Programme implementation and quality assurance.
•    Staff Management.
•    Project budgets and resource management.

JOB SPECIFICATION
•    MBA or M.Sc in Economics with 15 years of Experience of which at least 5 years at the managerial level in development sector. Exposure of the private sector will be an additional advantage.
•    Extensive knowledge of Women’s economic empowerment programming.
•    Well-versed with Market systems development methods and approaches and value chain-based programming.
•    Extensive experience of designing and mentoring Start-ups, small enterprise development/ entrepreneurship promotion programmes.

REQUIRED CORE COMPETENCIES
•    Ability to set a clear vision and direction for economic inclusion initiatives, align them with organizational goals, and inspire teams to achieve high-impact outcomes.
•    Strong networking skills to build and maintain strategic partnerships across sectors, including government, private sector, civil society, and donor organizations.
•    Skilled in leading and mentoring diverse teams, fostering a collaborative work environment, and building capacity within the organization.
•    Capacity to drive innovation, particularly in integrating technology and digital solutions into programs, and the ability to adapt strategies to changing environments.
•    Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, to craft compelling narratives, influence policy, and advocate for economic inclusion initiatives.
•    An understanding of and respect for diverse cultural contexts, ensuring that programs are inclusive and culturally appropriate.

APPLICATION
Interested applicants should submit their CV along with a cover letter to Jobs.afghanistan@akdn.org no later than 03rd November 2024. 

Important Notes: 
•    Please quote the Vacancy Number as the Subject of the e-mail when applying. 
•    No supporting documents (e.g., diplomas, recommendation letters, identification card(s) etc.) are required at this stage. 
•    Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for further assessment.
•    Salary scale: Grade A based on NTA Salary scale. 
•    This position is only for advertising and to be available from January 2025.

The Aga Khan Foundation Afghanistan (AKF- Afg) promotes a transparent and equitable recruitment process. We reiterate that all services related to job applications, including processing, seminars, and training programs, are provided free of charge. 

Our official job announcements are posted on the ACBAR website (acbar.org/jobs). Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their applications through our designated email address: jobs.afghanistan@akdn.org. Please note that each job vacancy is assigned a unique identification number for your reference. After you submit your application, you will immediately receive an automatic confirmation acknowledging its receipt.

Aga Khan Foundation - Afghanistan (AKF- Afg) recruitment and selection process reflect our commitment to equal opportunity and protecting children and at-risk adults, beneficiaries, partners, community members and employees from safeguarding violations. We will do everything possible to ensure that only those who are suitable to work with children and at-risk adults are recruited to work for us. In the process of recruitment, selection and appointment AKF (Afg) implement a range of procedures and vetting checks including criminal records disclosures to ensure everyone associated with AKF (Afg) is kept free from harm and abuse is prevented.
 
Protection from Sexual Exploitation Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) is the responsibility of everyone, and all selected individuals will be required to comply with AKF (Afg)s Safeguarding Policy at all times. 

By sharing your cover letter and resume with AKF (Afg) in response to this job application, applicants consent AKF (Afg) to keep this information on file for Recruitment and Human Resources Management purposes.

Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

We request all job seekers to be attentive and report any instances of individuals or entities claiming to charge fees on behalf of AKF Afghanistan to AKFA.HR@akdn.org. Our commitment to ethical practices ensures that your career aspirations are supported without any financial burden during recruitment.