*INVITATION TO SUBMIT PROPOSAL*

AusAID, the Australian Agency for International Development, manages the Australian Government’s official overseas aid program. AusAID assists developing countries to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development, in line with Australia’s national interest. Through the Australia-Indonesia Facility for Disaster Reduction (AIFDR), we are inviting researchers and community-based organizations to submit their proposals to bid for either of *two grants programs*:

1. *The AIFDR Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Research Grants Scheme; and *
2. *The **AIFDR **Community Grants Scheme*

*Thematic areas*

For the DRR Research Grants, AIFDR is seeking research proposals in the following areas:

a) reducing risk and vulnerability in urban areas;

b) integrating gender into disaster risk reduction;

c) developing incentives for disaster risk reduction, especially around risk financing;

d) developing new approaches and scientific tools/knowledge that may be useful for DRR;

e) developing enabling environment to strengthen institutional capacity;

f) developing linkages between climate change adaptation, environment and disaster risk reduction efforts

For the Community Grants Scheme, AIFDR is seeking proposals for activities in the following areas:

(a) application of local risk analysis, risk reduction and preparedness, especially around planning and contingency planning that links with community preparedness;

(b) reducing risk and vulnerability in urban areas;

(c) good practice in developing enabling factors and incentives for disaster risk reduction;

(d) linking public-private sector partnership or activities in disaster risk reduction;

(e) development of linkages between climate adaptation, environment and disaster risk reduction efforts;

(f) engagement and promotion of under-represented and the most vulnerable groups in disaster management (women, people with disabilities, older people, people living with HIV/AIDS, ethnic minorities)

The closing date for submission of proposals is *3:00pm (Jakarta Time) Friday, 22 October 2010*.

Proposals must comply with eligibility criteria outlined in the Grants Scheme Guidelines, and must be submitted in a format consistent with the Proposal Template provided. Both these documents, as well as other relevant information can be downloaded from the following site: http://www.aifdr. org.

Alternatively, requests for documentation and for any further information in relation to these schemes can be forwarded to: community.grants@ aifdr.org or research.grants@ aifdr.org.

AIFDR will conduct a workshop on preparing a proposal. Information on how to register and to attend this workshop is available in the AIFDR website.

Aga Khan Foundation
Position Title: National Engineering Manager
Report to: Rural Development Programme Director
Duty Station: National Program Office, Kabul
Announcing Date: September 5th 2010
Closing Date: September 20th 2010

Vacancy No: KBL/2010/070

Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) is a private international, nonprofit, and non-denominational development agency. It seeks sustainable solutions to long term problems of poverty, with special emphasis on the needs of rural communities in mountainous, coastal and other resource poor areas across the world. Concentrating its efforts in health, education, rural development and strengthening civil society sectors, AKF’s approach is based on long-term commitment that is maintained through political and social uncertainty.

Aga Khan Foundation, Afghanistan is part of a dynamic network of development agencies currently operating in over 30 countries across Central and South Asia and East and West Africa. AKF,A currently manages and implements the largest, multi-sectoral development programme within the network and has built a strong reputation with the Government of Afghanistan, donors and local partners in a number of technical fields. At present, it is seeking an exceptional individual to fill the position of National Engineering Manage  for its Program Office Kabul - Afghanistan.

*Main Duties and Responsibilities: *

· Providing overall supervision to the Unit Managers (Core Infrastructure, Rural Infrastructure, Water and Sanitation and Micro-Hydropower) at the AKF, A Central Engineering Department (CED) on a day to day basis. Furthermore, responsible for providing technical assistance to the field teams in programme planning, formulating standard procedures, and providing specific inputs to all engineering activities taking place in AKF, A programme areas.**

· Assisting National Rural Development Coordinator and other senior staff in formulating programme targets, monitoring and evaluation of the relevant field activities.* *

· Identifying the gaps in existing capacity of the AKF, A human resources (under national capacity development programme) and providing training, monitoring and contribute to the professional growth and
development of national engineering staff**

· Working closely with the AKF, A Resource Management Unit and field managers to develop new funding proposals and ensure timely implementation of the field activities in accordance with approved budget and within the timeframes required.**

· Providing overall management in the selection of appropriate technical option, quality control, performance, and impact of current and future prospective projects in the area of infrastructure development such as schools, clinics, roads, bridges, water supply and sanitation, and micro-hydropower* *

· Providing an oversight to the design, implementation and assessment of baseline and impact surveys for Watson programme in AKF, A target areas.**

· Participating in coordination with the National Rural Development Coordinator and other senior management staff, in programme advocacy issues with partners, INGOs and line ministry.**

· Representing AKF, A at government organized meetings and participating in development of AKF, A’s external relations. **

· Collecting, analyzing and synthesis of data gathered from the  field on infrastructure development activities**

· Acting as a resource on engineering programming issues for INGOs, line ministry and present and potential donors**

· Facilitating donor and other stakeholder evaluation and monitoring visits to the infrastructure projects in the regions**

· Participating in key AKDN strategic planning and budget preparation meetings related to infrastructure development.

· Any other tasks relevant to the core duties & responsibilities of this position, as assigned by his/her supervisor* *

* *

*Required Qualifications and Experience: *

· Recognized university degree in engineering (preferable civil or architecture) **

· Masters degree in Roads or Water and Sanitation or development studies is an advantage**

· 15 years of engineering experience out of which 7 in a managerial position.**

· Previous experience in multi project management.* *

· Previous experience in preparing/revising designs and estimations of different types of infrastructure (buildings, roads, bridges, MHPs and  Watson)**

· Previous experience with aid/development agency or INGO is an advantage**

· Previous experience in preparing work plans and detailed schedules, and lead implementation strictly on them.**

· Proven ability of managing engineering team to produce drawings, estimations and work plans of different structures**

· Proven ability of monitoring/managing construction teams implementing almost all kinds of rural infrastructure projects and provide them with necessary construction documents on time**

· Ability to determine the existing gaps within the current team and to suggest/conduct training courses to increase their technical capacity.

* *

*Application: * Applicants meeting the above requirements are requested to submit a cover letter along with their CV and the names of three references electronically to *Jobs.afghanistan@ akdn.org* <Jobs.afghanistan@ akdn.org> no later than *September 20th 2010. ***

Only short listed candidates will be interviewed. **