Capacity Building Specialist

ICMA (the International City/County Management Association) is a premier local government leadership and management organization founded in 1914. Its mission is to create excellence in local governance by advocating and developing the professional management of local government worldwide.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

The overall goal of IWMP is to expand and strengthen the capacity of the national government and community stakeholders to better manage water resources and to improve agricultural production and productivity. The program has four components:

•Governance and capacity building: To develop an enabling environment for sustainable, integrated water resources management
•Water supply management: To improve the resiliency and sustainability of the water supply for agriculture
•Water demand management: To improve efficiency and equitability of demand management in agricultural systems
•Technical and administrative support: To improve the ability of the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) to design, carry out, and monitor activities that further the IWMP goals. Though ICMA’s role falls under the first component, capacity building supports all four components.

JOB SUMMARY:

Manage the Capacity Building Team implementing Component I, including: planning capacity building work based on assessments; directing and supervising the work of a large change management staff, and training staff to meet the goals of the program at the MAIL ministry, DAILS and farmers levels; monitoring and reporting as needed to maintain program quality; and providing leadership as a member of the Capacity Building/Component 1 team.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

•Collaborate with program team to integrate capacity building strategy throughout the program.
•Assist in the implementation of all capacity-building activities.
•Lead the periodic capacity assessments of program partners (institutional and individual performance), working closely with the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist and technical specialists to integrate baseline progress assessments into capacity building plans, and develop strong communication channels to ensure effective transfer of knowledge and learnings from the program team to the larger organization.
•Provide significant input into the design a comprehensive capacity building approach and the overall plans that incorporate all the technical capacity building needs of MAIL/GFI and program partners.
•Oversee the implementation of Component 1 capacity building approach and activities for program partners in close coordination with the program team, ensuring that capacity building activities are integrated into interventions in a timely, systematic, and effective manner.
•Supervise the Component 1 Capacity Building Team (approximately 35 staff members), including staff development, work assignments, communications and staff accountability.
•Assist in the reporting of progress and providing input to M&E.
•Support the Capacity Building Director as a Capacity Building Unit Management Team Member.
•Other duties as may be assigned by the Capacity Building Director.

LEVEL AND PURPOSE OF CONTACTS:

The prime purpose of the contacts is to represent ICMA for successful implementation of the project. Primary contacts include partners Perini, AECOM, IESC, and Banyan, University of Nebraska-Omaha Center for Afghan Studies, the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock, and donor USAID.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience

•Bachelor’s Degree or higher in international development, public administration, or a related field.
•At least 5 years of progressively responsible international development experience (including management experience) in implementing large donor funded programs, including governmental capacity building at local and national levels, particularly in transitional, conflict, or post-conflict countries.
•Experience in supervising professional and technical staff.
•Experience planning and conducting training and coaching activities.
•Prior experience on projects with similar complexity in Afghanistan or other transitional, conflict or post-conflict countries.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

•Professional Fluency in English in speaking, reading, and writing required. Dari or Pashto proficiency desirable.
•Ability to interact regularly and professionally with senior host-government counterparts on policy and other strategic planning issues.
•Excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills.
•Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
•Knowledge of adult learning principals and experiential training.
•Demonstrated organizational skills and strong track record in meeting deliverables and deadlines.
•Demonstrated ethical management approach.

How to apply:

Email global@icma.org with job title as subject line.