Project Manager (m/f) Rural Energy Supply

Country of assignment and location

Afghanistan, Kabul

Project / Field of activity

Long, dark evenings are a daily reality in most Afghan villages. Only about one in every six rural inhabitants is connected to the electricity grid, and power is usually produced at high cost using outdated diesel generators. Even then, electricity is frequently only available for a few hours at a time at fluctuating voltages. GTZs energy programme is addressing these problems as part of the Afghan-French-German Energy Initiative (AFGEI). The programme aims to improve institutional and personnel capacities in rural energy supply at the national and provincial levels using renewable energies.

Responsibilities

As project manager, you will be responsible for performing challenging sector-specific, content-related and organisational tasks, and for advising the Afghan Government on shaping the policy framework for renewable energies and rural energy supply. Above all, you will provide judicious advice to the partner on developing and implementing the latter’s strategic orientation and position. To this end, you will support organisational development at the Ministry of Energy and Water and its subordinate departments, and advise on creating the required policy framework, including operator models and tariff structures. You will incorporate cross-cutting themes such as gender, the environment and poverty reduction in a sustainable manner. As well as managing an international team of experts in different locations, you will be responsible for the budget, and for pooling all activities and work results of the three existing components at the micro, meso and macro levels. Other tasks include reporting, results monitoring, and routinely reviewing the overall concept.

Qualifications

You have a degree in engineering, economics or political science and have many years of management experience in using renewable energies to promote rural energy supply. Ideally, you have already proved your development-policy skills and methodological expertise in your previous work on policy advice and organisational development in the Middle East. You combine enthusiasm with sensitivity, and your excellent mediation skills enable you to mitigate conflict and maintain balance. In this responsible managerial position, you are also expected to deal appropriately with special security requirements. You are fluent in German and English.

Duration

November 2009 - December 2010

Benefits offered

With an international remit and a multicultural working atmosphere, we are successful because we share knowledge across disciplinary frontiers. Your professional and personal development is important to us. Whether it is the multifacetted day-to-day challenges in one of our partner countries or the considerable scope for applying creativity in your work – there are plenty of good reasons to join our motivated team.

Notes

The position requires frequent trips to rural regions in Afghanistan. The tense security situation will significantly restrict the mobility of the successful candidate, and it is imperative that he/she complies with the security concept, and adapts his/her movements in a flexible manner, as required by the situation on site. The location is not suitable for accompanying family members.