Brief Project Description
The National Action Plan for the Women of Afghanistan (NAPWA) is a central component in the Afghan government’s effort to build upon the country’s progress and implement its commitments to women in an organized, systematic, coordinated, and sustainable way. It aims at bringing together under a coherent framework short and long term measures that Government and its partners will pursue to advance women’s status.

In the economic sector, although women are important contributors to household economy, this contribution mostly takes place within the household especially in the field of agriculture, livestock management and handicraft production, including carpet weaving. The cultural constraints on women’s movement, security concerns, limited availability of transport etc. restrict their access to work outside of the house, hence, limiting women’s access to information and technology, business services, financial services and marketing information.

To address this, The Afghan Government is committed to build women’s human capital as economic producers. Hence, affirmative action in the allocation of opportunities for education, skills development and employment will be adopted and implemented by the Government of Afghanistan. Particular attention will be paid to strengthening women’s involvement in and providing women with vocational skills that are needed in the immediate period to meet the demands of infrastructure development, agriculture and livestock production. A focus will also be paid to training women to work in the sector of rural enterprises, a priority source of growth and employment creation in the ANDS.

Under the supervision of the Programme Manager, the UNV Gender Mainstreaming and Capacity Building volunteer will build the capacity of the Afghan women’s movement through two strategic avenues:
1) in working with the Government of Afghanistan’s regional Department of Women’s Affairs (DOWAs) offices and their partners in 3 provinces to conceptualize and operationalize the National Action Plan for the Women of Afghanistan (NAPWA) at the sub-national level; and
2) in building the capacity of Afghan based NGOs for engagement in critical collaboration with government with respect to the implementation of government’s gender equity commitments.

Objectives of the assignment
1) Develop, pilot and institutionalize an effective operational strategy for implementing NAPWA at the sub-national level in the area of livelihood development for rural women;
2) Build the capacities of concerned DoWA staff in executing DoWA’s roles as catalyst, leader, enabler, capacity builder and monitor of gender mainstreaming and implementation of NAPWA in concerned provinces;
3) Develop in partnership with DoWA processes, skills and plans that will make the implementation of NAPWA an integral part of routine processes in provincial departments, NGOS and other organizations working in women’s economic empowerment;
4) Build the capacity of Afghan NGOs for effective advocacy, networking and lobbying with government on gender equity commitments;
5) Produce in partnership with stakeholders an effective NGO strategy for advocacy, networking and lobbying with government on gender issues linked to women’s rights as entrepreneurs, producers, and home based workers, based on the National Action Plan for the Women of Afghanistan (NAPWA) and the ANDS Gender Equity Cross Cutting Strategy (AGE-CCS);

Results/Expected Output
1) Produce a needs analysis report that highlights the key skills and competencies to be developed within DoWA and among NGOs. The analysis shall have clear recommendations and strategies for on the job development of skills and competencies, along with the technical and material resources required to build them;
2) Produce an effective operational strategy (that can be replicated) for implementing NAPWA at the sub-national level in the area of livelihood development for rural women. This should include identification of strategy approaches in order that DoWAs are able to take on the role of catalyst to lead, support and monitor gender mainstreaming at the local level;
3) Identify processes and mechanisms (committees, task forces, focal points etc) at the sub-regional level that have clear responsibilities and tasks for the purpose of having in place a pilot strategy with clear components, outputs, resource allocation, and roles of concerned stakeholders.
4) Determine/propose ways to operationalize the gender mainstreaming monitoring and evaluation and reporting system being developed by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MoWA) system;
5) Produce a concise analytical report on the piloting process leading to the development of handbook on sub-national implementation of NAPWA with a livelihood focus;
6) Technical assistance and capacity building package for NGOs is implemented and their outcomes monitored;
7) NGO strategy developed and in operation for effective advocacy, networking and lobbying to government on issues of gender equality and women’s economic participation (particularly their rights as entrepreneurs, producers, and home based workers);
8) NGO partners trained on networking, coordination and advocacy.

Responsibilities
The UNV volunteer will be responsible for the following activities:

Institutional Development and Capacity Development
• Develop a work plan and establish consensus of various parties involved including DoWAs and other provincial departments of other ministries
• Clarify roles and responsibilities of each agencies (GoA and NGOs/CSOs) involved in the process
• Establish a co-ordination and monitoring mechanism enabling DoWAs tracking progress/processes and report on the outputs
• Identify critical capacity gaps and skill development needs
• Ensure/impart trainings and other capacity building measures
• Draft an operational strategy and establish consensus of stakeholders involved
• Help develop and/or use of already existing indicators to monitor success and train staff of concerned departments in use of the indicators
• Give effect to the operational strategy and ensure monitoring of the effectiveness of the draft strategy from very close
• Facilitate quarterly co-ordination and monitoring meetings/workshops
• Assist DoWAs and other stakeholders prepare periodic progress reports and present to the monitoring meetings
• Assist preparation of joint quarterly report from the provinces and report to MoWA on the implementation of NAPWA and effectiveness of the operational strategy
• Record and document lessons learned and share good practices
• Revisit the draft strategy and bring necessary changes as per the experience and lessons learned
• Make recommendations for the up scaling of the implementation of NAPWA and the use of the strategy

Coordination and Networking
• Facilitate and lead in the creation of a strategy for assisting Afghan NGOs to strengthen coordination networks for critical collaboration with government on gender equity;
• Work with NGO partners in identifying aligned goals and formulating joint strategies for working towards attaining these;
• Facilitate the implementation and management of the NGO’s coordination networks and capacity building strategy;
• Provide technical assistance and capacity building to NGOs in implementing this strategy;
• Conduct capacity development workshops/information sessions for NGOs;
• Provide guidance and support in ensuring the long term sustainability of the established networks.

Advocacy
• To provide technical inputs on the development, implementation and strengthening of national and regional advocacy strategies around issues of gender equality and sustainable livelihoods;
• To manage and provide capacity development assistance to Afghan NGOs for implementing and monitoring the progress of the agreed strategy.

Other
• Coordinate activities with the Community Empowerment & Economic Developemnt (CEED) unit and report to the CEED Programme Manager for guidance and progress on her/his work
• Participate in initiatives of the CEED unit that are relevant and contributory to the development of her/his outputs
• As may be necessary carry out other reasonable tasks that are directly related to the development of capacities for the DoWAs

Promotion of Volunteerism
• As a UN volunteer, familiarize himself/herself with the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV publications and taking active part in UNV activities.
• Network with local voluntary organization(s) and build relations.
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.

Qualifications
• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent), preferably in, economics with gender or other related fields. A first level university degree with a combination of relevant academic qualifications and experience in gender mainstreaming may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree;
• Minimum five years of professional experience in social/economic development, gender mainstreaming and research in developing countries, with networking and coordination initiatives;
• Fluent English both written and spoken. 
• Local languages i.e. Dari and Pashto would be highly considered
• Experience in gender analysis research for promoting rural livelihoods development;
• Networking and coordination skills/experience;
• Experience in running advocacy campaigns on issues relating to gender equality and sustainable livelihoods;
• Experience in capacity building and training for skills knowledge transfer;
• Excellent knowledge and skills in gender mainstreaming;
• Experience in managing programmes related to gender equality and sustainable livelihoods;
• Experience of working in Afghanistan or in other post conflict countries (an asset);
• Commitment to working as part of a team;
• A self-starter that can work independently and takes initiative;
• Flexibility, adaptability and a good sense of humour;
• Excellent inter-personal and general communication skills;
• Ability to travel outside of Kabul.
• High level of proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Access. 

Conditions of Service
A 12-month contract; monthly volunteer living allowance (VLA) intended to cover housing, basic needs and utilities, equivalent to US$ 2,298 for single person, US$ 2,548 for person with one dependant, and US$ 2,748 for person with two or more recognized; settling-in-grant; life, health, and permanent disability insurance; return airfares; resettlement allowance of US$ 150 per month of satisfactory service.

Application
Please reply by email, enclosing a CV (Resume) and marking "SRE/Unifem/AFG" in the subject field of the message, to: volvacancy@unvolunteers.org

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Deadline:  7 December 2008