Youth Vocational Skills Portfolio Officer (Herat, Afghanistan)

Program/Department Summary

One of Mercy Corps strategic pillars is Youth Vocational Skills (YVS) and its general aim is to provide vulnerable young Afghan women and men (IDPs, Returnees and Host Community members), between the ages of 15-35 years old, training in a vocational skill that will help them generate an income and improve their quality of life after completing the training, either through self-employment or job placement in an existing business. Given the success of its YVS program model since 2011 in Helmand and in Kandahar since 2014, Mercy Corps currently implements its youth vocational skills’ program model in a total of 6 provinces (Kabul, Parwan, Kandahar, Helmand, Herat and Nangarhar) through three different but very similar programs: INVEST3 (Introducing New Vocational Educational Skills’ Training), ESIF (Employable Skilled and Inclusive Workforce) and TAALIM (Sustainable Reintegration and Alternatives to Irregular Migration of Vulnerable Afghans). Mercy Corps continues to actively seek future funding opportunities to expand the program model to more provinces in Afghanistan. The YVS Portfolio Officer is expected to contribute towards this vision. The Nova-INVEST (Introducing New Vocational Educational Skills’ Training) program is a vocational training and employment program funded by the BPRM to be implemented in the province of Kandahar and Herat in its fourth phase. INVEST is Mercy Corps’ flagship Technical Vocational and Educational Training (TVET) program running since 2011, focusing primarily on delivering technical vocational skills training for six months to vulnerable Afghans (IDPs, returnees and host community members from 15-40 years old, including youth and women) to increase their self or wage employment after training. The Nova-INVEST program will provide vocational training and an apprenticeship program to 4,000 participants in 2 provinces across 3 years, while working in close coordination with relevant government stakeholders, including the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MoLSA), Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation (MoRR), Ministry of Women’s Affair (MoWA), Ministry of Education (MoE), Governor’s Office, Community Development Councils (CDCs), District Development Councils (DDCs), Provincial Development Councils (PDCs), District Development Assemblies (DDAs), Shuras, community elders; partner INGOs/NGOs, private sector actors such as Chambers of Commerce and business/producer associations.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The Youth Vocational Skills (YVS) Portfolio Officer will be responsible for ensuring proper coordination between field and office activities. (YVS) Portfolio Officer will work with Program Officer, VTCs, Senior/Market Linkage Officers and Program Officer in Herat and Kandahar to ensure the implementation of the program quality. The position holder will also help and assist in the supervision and monitoring of the apprenticeship program of NOVA INVEST, its participants, the micro, small and medium businesses providing the apprenticeship opportunity, quality of the apprenticeship program (skill being learnt). The (YVS) Portfolio Officer reports directly to the Technical Lead and Provincial Manager who is based in Herat. He/she has no supervisory role. The (YVS) Portfolio Officer will be based in Herat. He/she will work closely with other relevant departments in Mercy Corps’ provincial office, such as MEL, Finance, HR, Operations, Procurement, Security to ensure proper program implementation according to policies and procedures. He/she will liaise with program participants, the community and private/government stakeholders accordingly as required. The position holder will be required to be in the field monitoring training quality at least 80% of her/his time. 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Provide support to Senior/Market Linkage Officer and VTCs Officers in all their activities.
• In coordination with Senior/Market Linkage Officer and VTCs Officers, write summary reports to be submitted to the Technical Lead and Provincial Manager documenting work carried out in the field.
• Ensure that the programme is constantly pursuing effective and innovative programme activities that are responsive to the needs of the target communities.
• Help to and develop BoQs and PRs and keep in process according to PI/ or requirement for the program.
• Support the VTC officers in reviewing the Bills of Quantity (BoQs) of training materials and supplies ensuring the correct specifications, amount and quality are reflected as per the requirements of the skill and class size, and by engaging with trainers and other provincial program staff.
• Coordinate and effectively interact with the Logistics and Administration departments and ensure that all duties and office management issues are accomplished.
• Assist with general program operations and VTCs activities;
• Liaise with and support key program staff to ensure that programs are running effectively and making best use of project resources;
• Monitor program activity to provide weekly overviews to the supervisor on progress, challenges and suggestions;
• Support the VTC Officers in the review of NOSS and curricula of final selection of skills.
• Regular monitoring that each class per training centre has the NOSS and curricula per skill being taught.
• Regular monitoring that each class per training centre has sufficient training materials/tools, of good quality during training throughout the training period.
• Assist in monitoring the apprenticeship program of NOVA-INVEST, its participants, the micro, small and medium businesses providing the apprenticeship opportunity, quality of the apprenticeship program (skills being learnt) as per the supervisor’s direction.
• Set and execute a personal workplan according to the tasks assigned by his/her supervisor ensuring to meet deadlines on time. Provide regular monitoring reports to his/her supervisor or upon demand.
• Organize and filter information accurately and consistently with set delivery standards. 
• Representation of the program within communities and government and private stakeholders.
• Support supervisor in report writing, translations, scanning and photocopying documents, filing documents in an organized manner (as required).
• Develop and keep updated assets lists received in the VTCs and ESCs.
• Develop and maintain an updated Excel Data Base (soft copy) of all enrolled program participants, drop outs and successful graduates disaggregated per age, gender, residency status (returnee, IDP, host community), skill, location, type of program (vocational training or apprenticeship), start date, end date, contact information, plus all other required fields determined by the program.
• Track programs documents in PM@MC Google Drive (GD), request the Program staff for missing documents and upload them into their corresponding folder in PM@MC program folders. Liaise with Risk and Compliance department accordingly.
• Maintain and update national TVET (AVI) platform with all pertinent information of graduates based on the requirements from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MoLSA) and/or TVETA.
• Assist with overall program development and future proposals for program follow-on activity;
• Work in close collaboration and coordination with related MC departments (Finance, Procurement, Administration, HR, Security, others) in benefit of the program.
• Adhere to and promote all MC’s HR, Administrative, Finance, Procurement and Security policies and procedures within the program.
• Any other tasks assigned by his/her supervisor in line with the role. 
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About Mercy Corps 

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. 
In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we collaborate to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

Country Summary 

Mercy Corps works in places of transition, where conflict, disaster, political upheaval, or economic collapse present opportunities to build a more secure, productive, and just communities. Providing emergency relief in times of crisis, we move quickly to help communities recover and build resilience to future shocks, and promote sustainable change by supporting community-led and market-driven initiatives. Recognizing both the great potential and the complex challenges faced by Afghanistan, since 1986 Mercy Corps has been implementing a range of humanitarian assistance and development programs tailored to the specific needs of the country and of those communities where we work. Mercy Corps has been working in Afghanistan continuously since 1986 with a large portfolio of programs addressing the promotion of sustainable licit livelihoods, agriculture development, youth vocational training, Renewable Energy and natural resource management; it has helped more than 2.5 million Afghans through these wide-ranges of community–based agriculture and economic development programs. Mercy Corps is working in Kabul, Kandahar, Helmand, Uruzgan, Herat, Takhar, Badakhshan, Parwan, Baghlan, Samangaan, Balkh and Nangarhar.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives. We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact. We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, colour, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.