About the mission
Desired start date: 01/12/2024
Duration of the mission: 1 year
Location: Kabul
SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL (SI) is an international humanitarian aid association which, since more than 40 years, has been providing assistance to populations affected by armed conflicts and natural disasters by meeting their basic needs for food, water and shelter. Particularly committed to the fight against diseases linked to unsafe water, the leading cause of death in the world, SI’s interventions provide expertise in the field of access to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene promotion, but also in the essential area of food security and livelihoods. Present in 26 countries, the SI teams – 3200 people in total, made up of expatriates, national staff, permanent staff at HQ, and a few volunteers – intervene with professionalism and commitment while respecting cultural norms.
SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL has resumed its programs in Afghanistan in December 2021 and has initially established a presence in Bamyan, Kapisa, Wardak and Kabul provinces. As of today, activities are implemented in Bamyan, Nimroz, Farah provinces as well as in Kabul. Operational bases are in Zaranj (capital of Nimroz Province) and Bamyan, capital of Bamyan Province. Following a scale up over the course of 2023, the team is now made of 130 national and 10 international employees with an annual budget of around 5,5 M EUR. SI currently implements integrated FSL and WASH programs and aims at scaling them up in 2025.
There are currently 3 grants under implementation:
- BHA: in Bamyan and Nimroz, focusing on WASH and FSL with a MPCA components allowing cash distribution further to shock (returnees in Kabul, Flood affected population in other intervention areas); this project is in consortium (Mercy Corps and MEDAIR), MEDAIR being the lead). one top up under finalization.
- ECHO: currently a top up focusing only in Nimroz and Farah provinces after a first year of activities in Bamyan and Kapisa. This project is mainly focusing on wash activities, including the usual package (wash facilities, Hygiene promotion, acces to water through wells).
- CDCS: covering Wash and FSL sectors in Farah province, top up under finalization.
Forecast for end of 2024 are AHF through the NFI and shelter cluster further to a previous project funded by AHF in winterization. Wash and FSL cluster are as well targetted. For 2025, the main stake will be first to keep the current positionning with CDCS, AHF, BHA and ECHO (existing main donors) with new funding, as well as new on going positioning with INTPA in consortium (one CN already submitted).
GENERAL OBJECTIVES
In close collaboration with the Country Director (CD), the DCD’s prime objectives are to provide leadership and management of the strategic programming, overseeing the strengthening of SI’s programme development, quality and accountability. The DCD ensures the internal coherence between program activities and is responsible for ensuring that programs are driven by needs, based on evidence, adaptable to contextual changes and conflict sensitive, monitored closely and resourced appropriately.
ISSUES AND SPECIFIC CHALLENGES
One of the challenges of the DCD Program would be to ensure high quality program and timely implementation of projects amidst tight deadlines. Continued capacity building of the Program and MEAL teams in coordination and bases will be key to success. Approvals on technical designs for infrastructure related projects can tend to be a lengthy process and requires several discussions with authorities, which could hamper the speed of implementation. Currently, the focus of the mission is on timely implementation of activities of on-going projects and develop new proposals for 2025 & beyond. The position holder will require high levels of flexibility, strategic thinking and adaptability to factor the dynamism of the Afghanistan context for humanitairan-development nexus programming.
PRIORITIES ON THE 2-3 FIRST MONTHS
- Ensure needs assessment reports are finalized
- Proposal Development with the support of Grants Manager and other Program team
- Roll-out SOPs and Processes to improve Program quality
DIPLOMAS
- License or Master degree in humanitarian field and related topics
EXPERIENCE
- Minimum 5 years experience in the humanitarian sector
- 2 years experience on similar positions
TECHNICAL SKILLS
- WASH/ FSL/ DRR/IWRM background or experience is mandatory
- Multisectoral Programming (Humanitarian-Development nexus Programming expeirence is desirable)
- Proposal Development
TRANSVERSAL SKILLS
- Donors and Cluster technical/sectorial engagement
- External coordination with Partners and platforms – Technical leadership
- Management of National and Expat staff
LANGUAGES
- English mandatory
- Dari/Pashtoo will be an asset
A SALARIED POSITION
According to experience, starting from EUR 3080 gross per month (2800 base salary + 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly) and a monthly Per Diem of USD 600.
SI also covers accommodation costs and travel expenses between the expatriate’s country of origin and the place of assignment.
Breaks: During the assignment, a system of alternation between work and time off is implemented at the rate of 7 working days every two months (with a USD 850 break allowance, allocated by Sl). To these breaks periods, SI grants one (1) additional rest day per month worked.
Insurance package: Expatriates benefit from an insurance package which refunds all healthcare expenses (including medical and surgical expenses, dental care and ophthalmological expenses, repatriation) and a welfare system including war risks. Essential vaccination and antimalarial treatment costs are refunded.
LIVING CONDITIONS
Office and Guest House conditions: Guest houses and offices are in two separate building within the same campound. Offices are fully equiped, guest house are equipped with nice bedrooms having individual bathrooms. Common spaces are the kitchen, terrasses, one salon and one dining room. TV installed, and gym equipment in the basement of the guest house. each building is equiped with hibernation room.
Internet and telephone network: internet connection OK, 4 G globally available without issue in Kabul.
Restaurant & social life: no restaurant validated currenty due to security volatility but possible to order for delivery with a good diversity.
Social life is possible in other NGO guest houses (or SI guest house as well) with a limited number of people gathering and UN couponds.
one supermarket located 5 min from the SI coumpound is validated for shopping. possibility to eat the food of the cook for lunch and dinner during the working days.
Security constraints : Limited possibility of movement in Kabul: guest houses of other NGOs, UN Campounds, one supermarket because of volatility of the context.
Limited movement as well in cities were the bases are located (Bamyan and Zaranj) but acces to the field possible.
Security level is 3 in Kabul, there is no movement by foot allowed outside the campound and movement by car described as above.
Due to these conditions, the rotation cycle is one RnR each 2 months.
Winter temperatures in Kabul are negative (untill minus 15 °c) and around 30 °c in summer. Maximum of 45 ° in Nimroz during summer and minimum below – 15°C in Bamyan where heating system is necessary around 6 months / year (located at 2500 meters above see level).
Living conditions in the field are often harsher (limited access to electricity, harsher weather conditions, isolation, etc.) and acces to the field is possible in the frame of the movement plans.
Do you recognize yourself in this description? If yes, please send us your CV and cover letter!
Please note that CV-only applications will not be considered, and that the vacancy may close before the deadline.
Thank you for your understanding.
To learn more about Sl: www.solidarites.org
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Solidarités International (SI) is determined to prevent and fight all type of abuse – all act of exploitation, abuse and/or sexual harassment (SEAH) against members of beneficiary communities or collaborators, fraud, corruption, violation of persons and/or property, funding of activities harmful to human rights – that could be perpetrated in the frame of its interventions. SI implements a zero-tolerance policy regarding acts of abuse, notably acts of SEAH.
Solidarités International is an equitable employer committed to find all forms of discrimination. SI will ever ask for any remuneration to take part in a recruitment process.