Closing date

01 May 2024

Programme Manager for Disability and Inclusion; Mission East

Vacancy re-advertised 

You may be our new Program Manager for Disability and Inclusion (D&I) in Tajikistan!

Mission East Emergency and Development (MEED) is an international relief and development organization working in crisis-affected countries in the former Soviet Union, the Middle East, Asia and Africa. We deliver emergency relief during disasters as well as long-term development assistance.

Since the end of the civil war in 1997, MEED has helped thousands of people in Tajikistan’s rural communities with clean water and latrines, livelihoods training and help to better prepare for disasters. In addition, MEED strives to contribute to a world in which persons with disabilities fully exercise their rights. Our vision is an inclusive society, where all persons participate equally in the cultural, social, political and economic environment and no one is left behind. In Tajikistan, persons with disabilities living in poverty are amongst the most excluded groups in society. They are all at the centre of our work and they drive the change.

In this role you will be responsible for providing the necessary support, oversight and technical guidance to ensure successful implementation of programmatic activities related to social inclusion of disabled people into local and national development processes in Tajikistan. In close collaboration with the Country Director/Regional Director as well as HQ-based programs teams, and provide high-quality management of MEED’s Disability and Inclusion portfolio to ensure that MEED programs are accessible to and inclusive of persons with disabilities and are meeting all planned targets and deliverables in a timely, cost-effective and sustainable manner. You report directly to the Country Director/ Regional Director and is mandated to coordinate and implement all disability and inclusion activities and help to determine related strategic priorities for Mission East in Tajikistan.

YOU WILL:

Program Implementation: 

Provide overall technical and program guidance for the Disability and Inclusion Program ensuring compliance with both donor and Mission East policies, procedures and guidelines; Work with program teams to monitor and update project management tools including spending plans, work plans, Work Books, procurement plans, MEAL plans etc. for the successful and timely implementation of activities; Provide support with regards to program’s budget to ensure activities and spending are aligned; Maintain and implement a strong monitoring, evaluation and accountability plan, including systematic data collection, adherence to reporting mechanisms, and analysis to inform programming, reporting, fundraising and advocacy; Guide/assist in the orientation of the program team before starting their work and/or placements with partner organizations; Monitor and evaluate the work of the Program Team members, partner organizations and other actors involved in the project; Accompany and support external evaluations and visits by the MEED senior management, HQ staff and other visitors to project areas; Initiate and facilitate meeting/workshops between all MEED partners to open up opportunities for mutual lesson learning and unified progression for the future;  Share information about the project and lessons learned through networks and other civil society organizations (national and international); Organize MEED annual workshops/roundtables in particular when topics cover disability and inclusion issues pertinent to the project;  Work together with the Quality, Accountability and Compliance Manager to manage communication activities, prepare regular case stories/ success stories, media reports to disseminate information for internal/ external communication, mass media, and raise awareness of disability; Develop the progress of the projects, and provide monthly/annual reports of activities and results; Create ‘lessons learned’ documents, at the end of project, to share with partners, civil society and governmental institutions; Act as a champion for disability issues within MEED, creating a database of resources on effective policies and responding to periodic requests for information; 

Representation / Networking: 

Attend relevant coordination sessions such as meetings and working groups; Forge connections with counterparts including INGO, Local NGO, governmental, UN, donor, and other non-governmental stakeholders; Initiate and build relationships with disability Institutions including national and regional Rehabilitation Center (s), Hospitals, Research Center and Academia in order to advocate for disability inclusion and to initiate partnerships and linkages with partner organizations/CSO(s) implementing Disability Programmes at grassroots level or interested in disability mainstreaming. 

Monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) / information management: 

Support MEAL team to develop Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning plan; Gather and disseminate relevant information regarding disability mainstreaming; Support MEAL teams to document best practices and lessons learned; Based on a collation and analysis of learnings from MEED’s long track record in disability and inclusion programming, particularly its Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) model, (i) coordinate learning sessions and working groups; to bring the government agencies and partner organizations / CSO (s) together in learning platforms; (ii) lead the planning and implementation of comprehensive trainings and workshops for MEED Tajikistan staff and partners on working with and for youths and children/persons with disabilities (iii) advise and support government agencies and development organizations / CSO (s) on making their programmes inclusive and to build awareness of human rights-based approaches; Guide and advise MEED on how to be “fit for purpose” and how to create an enabling environment where persons with disabilities are included across all programmes; 

Innovation and Program Development

Prepare the Strategic Outlook, Annual Work Plans and Estimated Budget for Disability and Inclusion programme in Tajikistan; Drawing upon MEED’s unique CBR model, designs and/or facilitates the development of localized solutions (based on identified issues and bottlenecks) together with the partners, government and other key stakeholders and having Youths and Children/ Persons with Disabilities (C/PwDs) at the core of the process; Identifies, analyzes, leads and supports new traditional and non-traditional disability and inclusion program opportunities; Builds and/or strengthens relationships with representatives of current and potential donors; Manage proposal process start to finish in conjunction and guidance with CD/RD and HQ Teams, ensuring MEED and donor standards and requirements are met.

YOU HAVE: 

  • Relevant university degree or higher education, preferably in Social work, Human rights, International Relations and/or development, or (business) management
  • Minimum of 7 years of proven experience managing programs, preferably as Program Manager or similar role in the field of international development, social protection, disability and inclusion, rights-based work, etc. in Tajikistan
  • Proven experience in disability rights, and disability mainstreaming and good knowledge of the disability and inclusion/social protection sector in Tajikistan
  • Demonstrable experience of working with local civil society actors (preferably in Tajikistan) on organisational/local partner development and capacity-building
  • Ability to build and facilitate strong working relationships with staff of government, non-governmental and other civil society actors and grassroots groups
  • Proven experience in contract management and monitoring and evaluation of projects supported by institutional donors
  • Experience in programme development, including social innovation design thinking applied to programmes/projects is preferred 
  •  Demonstrable leadership and management skills including change management and the ability to  prioritise, plan and delegate within a flexible working environment
  • Ability to take initiative, be pro-active, work self-motivated and independently
  • Strong interpersonal skills, communication skills (written and oral) and coaching skills
  • Ability and willingness to travel extensively within Tajikistan and occasionally to other countries
  • Fluency in English, Tajik and Russian languages with demonstrated working capability in spoken and written English.
  • Advanced computer skills (Word, Excel, Outlook)
  • Sympathy with Mission East’s Organisational Values - https://missioneast.org/en/our-values   

APPLICATION: 

You can apply your cover letter and CV to https://missioneast.bamboohr.com/careers/29 before 1 May 2024. 

The interview will be conducted on a rolling basis. For further information on MEED please take a look at our website: www.missioneast.org

  • All staff are required to sign MEED’s Code ofConduct and Child Safeguarding Commitment
  • MEED upholds high standards in all aspects of Safeguarding. In view ofthe nature ofthis role potentially requiring involvement with vulnerable individuals (including situations where there are potential imbalances of power), you will be required to provide a self-declaration and formal certificate of previous good conduct.
  • MEED upholds high standards in Counter Terrorism (COTER) and sanctions regulation compliance. In viewof this role’s potential travel to and remote involvement with our field offices, MEED will conduct a thorough pre-employment background check of successful candidates, including checking throughthe SDN sanctions lists.