Job Summary: The Program Quality and Development Advisor will provide strategic guidance and technical support to ensure the quality, effectiveness, and sustainability of programs implemented by the humanitarian NGO in Afghanistan. The Advisor will work closely with program teams, partners, and stakeholders to enhance program design, monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) frameworks. The role involves supporting capacity building initiatives, facilitating learning processes, and promoting best practices to maximize impact and contribute to the organization's overall objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Program Quality Assurance:
   • Develop and implement systems for monitoring program quality and adherence to international standards, donor requirements, and organizational policies.
   • Conduct regular program reviews, assessments, and evaluations to identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement.
   • Provide technical guidance to program teams in the design, implementation, and evaluation of projects, ensuring alignment with humanitarian principles and best practices.
   • Support the integration of cross-cutting themes such as gender equality, protection, and inclusion into program strategies and activities.
2. Capacity Building and Training:
   • Identify training needs and develop capacity building plans for staff and partners in areas related to program quality, MEAL, and project management.
   • Facilitate workshops, trainings, and mentoring sessions to strengthen the skills and competencies of program teams and local partners.
   • Promote a culture of learning and knowledge sharing within the organization, ensuring lessons learned are documented and utilized for continuous improvement.
3. Program Development and Proposal Writing:
   • Provide technical input and support in the development of concept notes, proposals, and donor reports, ensuring alignment with programmatic objectives and donor requirements.
   • Contribute to the identification of new funding opportunities and the development of innovative program approaches to address emerging needs and challenges.
4. Internal Control Support:
   • Provide guidance and input to the internal control department on program quality, compliance, and risk management. This includes assisting with policy development, training, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, and quality assurance.
5. External Representation and Networking:
   • Represent the organization in relevant coordination forums, clusters, and working groups, fostering partnerships and collaboration with other NGOs, UN agencies, stakeholders, and donors.
   • Build strategic relationships with key stakeholders at the national and local levels to enhance program effectiveness, sustainability, and scalability.

key deliverables:
For a six-month duration, the tangible deliverables for the Program Quality and Development Advisor position would be as follows:

1. Program Quality Assurance:
   • Develop and implement a simplified Program Quality Monitoring System (PQMS) with key indicators and processes for monitoring program quality and compliance.
   • Conduct two comprehensive program reviews and assessments, with reports highlighting key findings and recommendations for improvement.
   • Develop and maintain a program quality dashboard to track key performance indicators (KPIs) and program quality metrics on a monthly basis.
2. Capacity Building and Training:
   • Develop a focused capacity building plan for staff and partners, including two training workshops and ongoing mentoring sessions.
   • Conduct two capacity building workshops for program teams and partners, focusing on areas such as program quality, MEAL, and project management.
   • Monitor and evaluate the impact of capacity building initiatives, and prepare a final report highlighting outcomes and lessons learned.
3. Program Development and Proposal Writing:
   • Provide technical input and support in the development of one concept note and one proposal, ensuring alignment with programmatic objectives and donor requirements.
   • Prepare and submit one donor report, ensuring accuracy and compliance with donor guidelines.
4. External Representation and Networking:
   • Represent the organization in two relevant coordination forums, clusters, or working groups, actively contributing to discussions and sharing best practices.
   • Establish and maintain strategic relationships with at least one key stakeholder at the national or local level, resulting in enhanced program effectiveness and scalability.
5. Knowledge Management and Learning:
   • Develop and implement a basic knowledge management strategy for capturing and disseminating lessons learned and best practices.
   • Prepare and publish one knowledge product, such as a case study or success story, showcasing the organization's impact and lessons learned.

These adjusted deliverables are designed to be achievable within a six-month timeframe while still contributing significantly to the organization's program quality and development objectives.