Send Message
Information resource on donors activities
in the Kyrgyz Republic

Vacancies

Manager, Project Management Unit (PMU)

Agency: AKF
Deadline: 12 January 2025 г.

Start Date: February 2025

Report to: 

  • Direct: CEO, AKF Kyrgyz Republic
  • Dotted Line: Senior Programme Officer AKF UK.

Technical Advisory: AP Executive Director 

Location: Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic

Base: The position is seconded to Accelerate Prosperity and will be based at the office of AP Kyrgyzstan.

Travel: 50% of the time in the project implementation countries of Central Asia (Tajikistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan (Turkmenistan will be based on a feasibility study).

The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) brings together human, financial, and technical resources to address some of the challenges faced by the poorest communities in the world. With an emphasis on women and girls, AKF invests in human potential, expanding opportunities and improving quality of life. AKF was established in the Kyrgyz Republic to support sustainable socio-economic development in mountain communities by building partnerships. AKF aspires to improve the quality of life and self-reliance of young people and women in the Kyrgyz Republic through inclusive and innovative community-driven solutions, constant learning, and integrity.

Accelerate Prosperity (AP) is a global initiative of the Aga Khan Development Network(AKDN) in Central and South Asia which offers creative financial solutions as well as pre and post-investment technical assistance to help grow early-stage businesses, startups, and innovative ideas. AP with the vision for an inclusive and prosperous society powered by entrepreneurs, intends to inspire rising entrepreneurs in emerging regions to grow new markets, create sustainable employment, and strengthen communities. AP program is mandated to facilitate the creation of sustainable and commercially viable Small and Growing Businesses (SGBs) in priority sectors of Agribusiness, ICT, Education and ECD, Textiles, Hospitality, Green Growth, and Health.  

Background

AKF and AP have secured funding from the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) funding, supplemented by AKDN’s own contributions, to fund the “Central Asian Green Inclusive Growth Fund (GIG)”, comprised of two components, leveraging activities and initiatives from each of components:

Component 1: Central Asia Green Inclusive Growth Fund’s SME Investment Finance Facility (GIG-IFF)

The objective of Component 1 is to increase access of startups and small and growing businesses (SGBs) to diversified investment through an established GIG Investment Finance Facility and other investors via intermediate outputs of:

  • GIG Investment Finance Facility established for Central Asia
  • Increased pool of investment-ready startups/SGBs available for financing from the GIG Investment Finance Facility and other investors

Increased availability of data-driven documented learning and evidence about innovative investments in women-led and green startups/SGBs

Component 2: Central Asia Green Inclusive Growth Fund’s Business Development Services (GIG-BDS) - The overall objective of Component 2 is to foster green and inclusive entrepreneurship sector to support Central Asia in its transition toward a green and inclusive economy that tackles inequality while supporting economic diversification covering all Central Asian countries, namely Tajikistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan (Turkmenistan will be based on outcomes of initial feasibility study).

The specific objective of this Component is that entrepreneurs achieve improved competitiveness and success in starting, maintaining, and growing profitable, innovative, and green startups, and small and growing businesses (SGBs). GIG-BDS will achieve this through:

  • Innovative startups/SGBs supported through tailored training and advisory services in priority sectors
  • Blended digital platform (Virtual Accelerate) upgraded and expanded
  • Startups/SGBs supported raising investments, promoting market linkages, and trade
  • Increased availability of documented learning and evidence about women-led, people living with disabilities-led, and green entrepreneurship and trade

The creation of new start-up enterprises, the growth of small businesses, and a focus on youth, women, and people with disabilities-led ventures will be critical. GIG-BDS aims to contribute to positive trends in Gross National Income, and Gender Development Index scores and contribute to relevant Sustainable Development goals.

AKF Kyrgyz Republic is actively looking for a PMU Manager who shall be responsible for the management of the recently awarded multi-country action “Central Asia Green Inclusive Growth Initiative” which will be implemented in Tajikistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan (and Turkmenistan, pending outcome of the feasibility study). We are seeking a highly motivated individual who is passionate about promoting entrepreneurship in Central Asia and has the required project management experience, specifically in FCDO-funded projects, to be able to facilitate the implementation of a complex four-country action in liaison with country-specific implementation teams. The successful candidate is expected to actively contribute to shaping the PMU and effectively meet all reporting and compliance requirements of the action in liaison with country-specific programme and finance teams of the Aga Khan Foundation and Accelerate Prosperity country, regional, and global teams. The PMU Manager will be responsible for oversight and management of three PMU team members, namely the Finance Manager, the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) Manager, and the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Manager.

This action is planned to be leveraged for possible funding from other donors and investors for Central Asia and may be added to the structure of the programme, also under management and oversight of the existing PMU role as additional tasks on donor deliverables and project management. Restructuring will be explored as relevant to expanded responsibilities.

Job Description:

The PMU Manager will be responsible for programme and financial reporting to the donor and meeting compliance requirements of the Action, under the direct supervision of the Aga Khan Foundation Kyrgyz Republic and UK, and under close supervision by the executive management team of Accelerate Prosperity as the main implementing partner under the Action. She/He will play a pivotal liaison role with all internal and external stakeholders, spanning all work plans (WPs) and tasks of the Action and its implementation.

Main responsibilities shall include but are not limited to:

  • Monitoring the overall progress regarding milestones and deliverables;
  • Operationalization and timing of all activities in the project;
  • Acting as the center of communication between all internal and external stakeholders, including:
    • Prompt liaison with the coordination team from AKF KG/TJ and AKF UK for effective implementation of the Action.
    • Seek technical advice from the AP Executive Team on all project activities.
    • Assisting the design and implementation of all WPs and programme teams in all countries year after year.
  • Effectively execute MERL in liaison with PMU MERL Manager and implementation teams in all countries;
  • Effective financial control, budget utilization control, and financial risk mitigation, in liaison with the PMU Finance Manager and Finance Leads from all implementation teams;
  • Preparation and timely submission of narrative, financial, and all other reporting of all project deliverables in liaison with implementation teams and AKF UK;
  • Facilitate the organization of the launch of the project, kick-off, and project steering committee meetings (external and internal), and present annual progress review (programme and financial) as well as work plans and budget for subsequent years.
  • Effective and timely implementation of PMU-related activities in all countries, such as roundtables, forums, studies and surveys, visibility, and knowledge dissemination, documented learning, and evidence material, etc.
  • Identification and mitigation of any unanticipated project or external risks;
  • This role requires extensive travel across the region and will require flexibility around the travel arrangements.

Requirements:

  • Education
    • (Required) At least a Master/MBA in Project Management, Management, Development Administration, Planning, Entrepreneurship, or a relevant field from a reputed and recognized university.
    • (Preferable) Project Management Certification
  • Experience
    • (Required) Minimum 10 years of hands-on experience in project management, MERL, leading various national and regional projects with increasing levels of responsibility.
    • (Required) At least 5 years of experience in managing projects funded by donors.
    • (Preferable) Experience working in Central Asia
    • (Preferable) Experience in projects related to entrepreneurship, business development, SMEs, etc.
  • Technical Knowledge
    • Knowledge of grants management, donor relationships, reporting, and capacity building of country teams.
    • Excellent writing and reporting skills specifically for donor-funded projects. Experience with FCDO preferred.
    • Computer literate (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).
    • Mastery level knowledge of project management cycle.
    • Good understanding of mainstreaming Gender and Social Inclusion, Environment, and Safeguarding into projects.
  • Soft Skills
    • Excellent written and oral communication skills in English, and Russian is preferred. Other relevant local languages an asset (e.g., Kyrgyz, Uzbek, Tajik, Kazakh, Turkmen, etc.).
    • Self-organized and strong multi-stakeholder management skills.
    • Demonstrated high-level interpersonal and cross-cultural skills including the ability to influence, network, and build collaborative relationships internally and externally with sensitivity to cultural, ethnic, social, and political issues and a commitment to inclusivity.
    • Highly proactive and passionate about work.
    • Capable of producing high-quality results often within tight deadlines.
    • Ability to multi-task effectively and work under pressure.
    • Ability to distill and synthesize large volumes of data in short periods of time.
    • Intellectual curiosity and demonstrated record of professional development/growth.
    • Strong conflict management and problem-solving skills and the ability to work through complex financial models to determine the key assumptions, implicit caveats, and limitations.
    • Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with all levels of management in a multicultural environment. Promote and apply teamwork.

AKF offers a competitive remuneration package and a conducive working environment. We are an equal-opportunity employer - women are encouraged to apply.

Interested candidates should submit their cover letter, and CV with the subject line “Project Manager Unit Manager, FCDO” by 12 January 2025  to akf.hr.kg@akdn.org

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited for interviews.

“The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) is committed to safeguarding, which means it promotes respectful relations with and between all staff, associates, beneficiaries, and wider communities with whom it works, and takes all reasonable measures to prevent harm, including all forms of sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment (PSEAH), bullying, discrimination, harassment and abuse of power that may arise from contact with its staff, programmes or operations.

AKF also adheres to child safeguarding principles, as set out by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s), employment history, and any potential history of misconduct. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a full background check.

All employees of AKF are required to adhere to the organizational safeguarding standards and principles and at all times to act with dignity, and respect and to contribute to a safe environment free from any type of harassment, abuse, or discrimination.

For more information about AKDN, please visit www.akdn.org

For more information about AP, please visit www.accelerateprosperity.org