Research Specialist

About WEE-RDP/MRRD:

The Government of Afghanistan (GoIRA) launched the Women’s Economic Empowerment National Priority Program (WEE-NPP) on March 8th, 2017. The WEE-NPP forms the third pillar of the GoIRA’s Gender Strategy which is encompassed in the broader Afghanistan National Peace and Development Framework (ANPDF) – the country’s five-year development plan. The WEE-NPP aims to build poor women’s capacity to strengthen the economy of their households, communities, and the entire nation. It is structured as an umbrella program (rather than a stand-alone project/operation) that would operate through over a dozen line ministries (through ongoing or pipeline projects) and coordinated through a Program Coordination Office (PCO) in the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled (MOLSAMD).

The Mission of the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) is implementing the Women Economic Empowerment Program (WEE-RDP) to ensure the social, economic, and political well-beings of rural society, especially with the poor and vulnerable people, through the provision of basic services, strengthening local governance, and promoting sustainable livelihoods. MRRD accomplishes this mission through donor funded national programs (Citizen Charter, Sustainable Economy Growth and the Boarders Sustainable Development) defined as the MRRD pillars.

Women Economic Empowerment-Rural Development Project (WEE-RDP) is a flagship national initiative of the GoIRA and part of the Sustainable Economy Growth pillar of MRRD, which intends to increase social and economic empowerment of rural poor women in selected communities during a five-year project. It would work in 5000 villages in all 34 provinces across Afghanistan in close collaboration with Citizen Charter (CC) and assuring convergence with other MRRD projects, NHLP project of MAIL, Access to Finance project (TUP) of World Bank, etc. The project will work closely work with Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) and other stakeholders from financial sector to promote access to finance in selected rural areas.

SUMMARY OF DUTIES

The Research Services will serve as a source of information on value chains, eventually house several experts in key enterprise sectors, and manage national enterprise surveys.  The Research Services will act as a clearing house and contracting agency for technical experts that are requested from WEE-RDP clients around the country, and will supply advisory services on marketing strategy, engineering, standards, export preparedness, and any other technical expertise that a common interest group, producer association, or SME needs to succeed.

The Research Specialist will formulate and supervise the research service under ME&R unit, and the experts needed to staff the unit; be responsible for compiling a library of all value chain studies done by various donor and government organizations, generic investment plans for EGs, and manage WEE-RDP surveys and studies. Accumulating studies and data will be ongoing, but will shift from knowledge accumulation in the initial stage to being responsive to requests for assistance by either the research for provincial or regional studies, or technical services unit for enterprise based assistance.

Job Description:

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Establish plans and develop programs for the research considering the needs of WEE-RDP in key areas of concerns.
Manage and supervise the research of programs
Establish partnerships for knowledge sharing and research service exchange with other research and development institutions in and outside the country.
Plan and implement systematic assessments/evaluations of the WEE-RDP through quality research projects to help identify patterns of developments and gaps to improve the program’s performance.
Identify and develop work-plan and goals for establishing research and consultant/service provider databases;
Develop staffing plan for office based on data management needs, as well as needed resident technical and research capabilities;
Develop/establish service delivery mechanism to clients in the provinces, including request mechanism from provincial WEE-RDP staff, contracting arrangements for consultants/service providers, and establish assistance to be provided by provincial WEE-RDP staff;
Promote services of research through introductory seminars to all incoming WEE-RDP staff, making presentations to other GOA ministries and donors, and contributing success stories to the communications department on the positive impact of research   services to clients;
Ensure that data collection and dissemination systems are adequate to handle large number of research reports, and an extensive consultant database; develop policies and procedures for use of database information;
Design and Develop operating procedures for technical services provision with other units within WEE-RDP, including finance, procurement, M&E, A2F, CMID and EDML units and operations;
Establish tracking system to monitor the services provided, and financial benefit to the clients from  research  services;
Plan for eventual privatization of research section;
Periodically monitor service delivery in provinces to adjust mechanisms as needed;
Participate in policy discussions of WEE-RDP and provide research based policy advice
Launch/compile comparative studies of similar programs with that of WEE-RDP inside the country or in the region to benefit the program.
Other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:

KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE, QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Knowledge/Experience

5 years of experience in social and economic research and data intensive programs
Good management skills for staff, systems, and planning.
Ability to manage a diverse staff of national and international professionals, as well as administrative staff.
Must be able to work under pressure, pay attention to details, demonstrated initiative, be assertive yet diplomatic, dependable, and ability to get along well

Qualifications/Skills

Qualification: University degree in a related field (Statistics, development studies, economics/Business Administration) required. MA in related field will be preferred. Extensive knowledge of social research methodologies (quantitative and qualitative)
Excellent computer skills using SPSS, Excel (especially statistical functions), Word, Access, PowerPoint, Internet, and more importantly, data analysis computer programs.
Excellent communication, team working and problem-solving skill;
Fluency in written and spoken Pashto, Dari and English;

Abilities

Ability to work in a high pressure environment;
Ability to multi-task and work under pressure;
Ability to work independently and also as an effective team member;
Professionalism in appearance and demean our;
Willingness to enhance knowledge through training and personal initiative; and
Willingness and ability to travel to the Provinces in Afghanistan based on requirement.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

Reports to the Head of M&E, and is accountable to the Executive Director and senior management of WEE-RDP

Submission Guideline:

Interested Afghans with the required qualifications and experience should submit their applications electronically through vacancies.hrcsd@mrrd.gov.af
While submitting your applications please mention the Title of the position plus Vacancy Number in the subject of the e-mail; please do NOT submit any other supporting documentation or educational certificates with your application. If you are short listed you will be asked to submit electronic copies of your educational certificates and if you are invited to written test you will be required to present the original certificates. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date of the position. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for written test Note: In the interests of open and fair competition and a merit based selection process applicants are advised that lobbying for a position , whether by the applicant or by any person acting on his or her behalf, shall result in the immediate disqualification of the candidate from further consideration. Applicants are strongly advised to inform potential supporters of this restriction which shall be strictly enforced.

Please don’t forget to type the Vacancy Announcement Number (1294/019/HRCSD/WEE-RDP/MRRD) in Subject while applying online. Application without vacancy number will not be accepted. 

The Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is highly committed to increase women’s participation in government sector therefore women are highly encouraged to apply.

Submission Email:

vacancies.hrcsd@mrrd.gov.af