Terms of reference
About AKFC
Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) is an international development organization and registered charity that concentrates on a number of specific development challenges in health, education, rural development and civil society. AKFC partners with communities, businesses, and governments to find innovative, lasting solutions to global challenges. Working in Africa and Asia, we invest in local institutions and systems that anchor progress over the long term. In Canada, AKFC mobilizes funding and expertise, and promotes awareness of global issues. In all of our work, advancing gender equality, inclusion and pluralism are key objectives and approaches. AKFC is an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network, one of the world’s most comprehensive development organizations. Since 1980, AKFC has helped millions of women and men unlock their own potential to build a better life.
Position Summary
AKFC is seeking an experienced Program Manager to oversee the overall grant management of the Foundations for Health and Empowerment (F4HE) program that is co-funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and AKFC. The Program Manager will provide oversight, leadership, and coordination support to all F4HE implementing partners to ensure the project is implemented on time, on budget, achieving all intended project outcomes, and remaining compliant to all donor requirements. The Program Manager will work closely with AKFC, the F4HE Regional Team, AKF’s Global Partnerships Team and Global Program Team, and various AKDN implementing agencies in each of the F4HE countries.
F4HE (2020-2027) is active in five countries (Afghanistan, India, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan and Tajikistan). With a budget of $67.3 million (GAC: $49 million, AKFC: $18.3 million), F4HE aims to improve the health and wellbeing, and enhance the equitable development and empowerment, of women, girls, their families, and their communities. F4HE is comprised of four components: Foundations for Health (F4H), Foundations for Children (F4C), Advancing Gender Equality through Civil Society (AGECS), and Advancing Canadian Champions for Development (ACCD). F4HE is executed by the Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) and implemented by Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) units in each country, in partnership with Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS), Aga Khan Education Services (AKES), Aga Khan University (AKU), and University of Central Asia (UCA), and in close collaboration with local government, communities and civil society organizations (CSOs).
The Program Manager for F4HE will be based in Canada (Ottawa, Ontario), with travel of up to 30% per year to project countries. Support is provided for relocation to Ottawa if necessary.
The Program Manager will report to the Senior Manager, Programs and Partnerships.
The starting salary range for this position is between $80,000 and $87,000 per year, alongside a competitive benefits package.
Responsibilities
- Act as focal point for the F4HE grant and provide overall guidance, oversight, quality control and coordination for the project.
- Build relationships and maintain coordinated communications with AKFC, the F4HE Regional Team, AKF’s Global Partnerships Team and Global Program Team, AKF country units, AKDN implementing agencies and other local partners.
- Be responsible and accountable for all F4HE reporting and donor compliance requirements, including the preparation and submission of annual work plans, quarterly and annual technical and financial reports, and other deliverables as stipulated in the F4HE Grant Agreement.
- Analyze project performance on output and outcome indicators and other results-based management (RBM) and monitoring and evaluation benchmarks, and recommend and implement procedural changes to improve operations to meet objectives.
- Ensure integration of gender equality considerations in all aspect of program design, implementation and management.
- Collaborate with AKFC, AKF country units’ finance teams and the F4HE Regional Finance Manager to ensure timely and quality financial reports are produced and shared with AKFC.
- Analyze, synthesize, and articulate the lessons, challenges, and risks emerging from the project, working with the F4HE Regional Team, AKF country units, and AKDN partners to integrate these into project planning and implementation.
- Support the F4HE Regional Team in the implementation of the project’s Learning Agenda to inform and improve policy and practices in health, early childhood development, and gender equality both nationally and within the region.
- Coordinate the planning and execution of regional events and workshops together with the F4HE Regional Team, AKF country units, and local administration teams.
- Ensure AKF country units and AKDN agencies are supported and provided with information to engage GAC counterparts at their country level and connect these efforts with AKFC in Ottawa for coordination and consistency.
- Organize F4HE governance meetings, including for the Project Oversight Committee, the Project Steering Committee, and the Sub-Project Steering Committees.
- Prepare briefing notes, summaries, background papers and program analysis for a variety of audiences as needed and assigned.
Qualifications & Experience
- Master’s degree in a relevant discipline, such as international development.
- Minimum of five to seven (5-7) years of experience in a program and grant management role, preferably including at least two (2) years in a position based in a developing country.
- Exceptional written and oral communication skills in English.
- Experience working on grant management or program management on international development projects funded by institutional donors, including experience meeting donor criteria in reporting, work planning, RBM, and monitoring and evaluation.
- Experience working on large-scale projects funded by GAC. Knowledge of, and experience with, results-based management, preferably for GAC programming.
- Knowledge of key concepts in gender equality and women’s empowerment and experience with integrating and implementing these concepts in programs.
- Knowledge of, and experience with, financial management, preferably for GAC programming.
- Demonstrated capacity to respect and safeguard vulnerable populations.
- Ability to work irregular hours in order to accommodate the needs of the project and the overseas project teams.
- Ability to travel up to 30% of time per year to F4HE countries.
Essential Skills & Attributes
- Ability to work well in teams and particularly teams that span across multiple geographies and time zones.
- Capacity to work independently, take initiative and manage a variety of activities simultaneously while meeting strict reporting deadlines and keeping colleagues and senior managers well informed.
- Ability to facilitate collaborative and participatory processes with partners and stakeholders.
- Superb analytical, organizational, negotiation and problem-solving skills. Proven interpersonal and communication skills in diverse and cross-cultural settings.
- Demonstrated ability to transfer knowledge through training, capacity building and mentoring.
- Ability to work in challenging contexts with patience, perseverance, and flexibility.
- Demonstrated intercultural competence and ability to adapt professional skills to fit local conditions and constraints.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Please note that applicants must be eligible to work in Canada, and should confirm their eligibility in the cover letter.
AKFC is committed to advancing gender equality and inclusion through our programming and operations in Canada and overseas. AKFC requires all employees and consultants to review and abide by the AKFC Gender Equality Policy.
AKFC recognizes the importance of safeguarding and is committed to ensuring it manages a wide range of risks such that beneficiaries, staff, other associates, and the organization as a whole are kept safe from harm. All employees and consultants must respect the AKF Code of Conduct and Safeguarding Policy.
AKFC welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.
