Agriculture Development in Afghanistan

The objective of this transition project is to transfer organizational and individual functional capacity from externally funded programmes to the MAIL formal organizational structure. To accomplish this requires close coordination with a wide range of stakeholders, internal to MAIL’s technical and administrative structures (e.g., Human Resources, Finance) and other international donors supporting MAIL’s transition efforts. The project will focus on supporting the transition process of integrating the five EU-funded programmes into MAIL’s institutional organization, specifically:

• Assisting MAIL’s Deputy Minister for Technical Affairs Directorate assume policy and programme, technical, and administrative responsibilities of the EU-funded programmes

• Coordinating transition activities specific to the EU-funded agriculture programmes with MAIL and other donors,

• Assuring the regularity of all the transition programme in MAIL, and

• Advising the EU Delegation on specific technical matters related to structuring their budget support post-transition.

The structure and functioning of project management unit which will be in a position to assume the above-mentioned responsibilities should be proposed as an introduction to the expertise mobilized. This structure illustrated by an organigramme will take into consideration i) the external staff related to the five EU-funded agricultural programmes expected to be absorbed by the Project and than progressively transitioned to the MAIL Taskheel and ii) the expected need for National and International Technical Assistance. While the overall requirement for national and international expertise is left to the appreciation of the contractor, the following expertises is considered by the contracting authority and the Beneficiary (MAIL) as essential.

The Finance & Administration Advisor will be responsible for all administrative, contractual and financial aspects of projects implementation. In line with the MAIL and EU requirements, the Finance and Administration Advisor will ensure proper budget execution and related administrative implementation. He will directly report to the team leader as well as to MAIL Deputy Minister, Administration and Finance Office, MAIL Deputy Minister for technical Affairs and MoF representatives. Other responsibilities envisioned include, but is not necessarily limited to:

• Manage the Human Resources recruited under the projects;
• Facilitate the transitioning of project staff into the MAIL Taskheel;
• Adopt and progressively enforce MAIL Public Finance Management;
• Act as a resource person to international best practices on all aspects of project implementation for the resident teams;
• Provide advice and instructions on all aspects of project implementation as required;
• Act as the Impress Accounting Officer of the project;
• Install a sound computerized financial management system for the financial management of the MAIL;
• Management of project finances;
• Management of day-to-day administration of the project office;
• Responsible for financial management and to keep the accounts;
• Drawing of statement of accounts;
• Prepare tender dossiers, contracts and manage contracts; assist the accountants, auditors and financial experts in the contractual aspects of the procurement and grants dossiers;
• Reports preparation.