Solidarités International
Desired start date: ASAP
Duration of the mission: 6 months
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 some twenty countries, the SI teams – 2500 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.
ABOUT THE MISSION
The organization has resumed its program in Afghanistan in December 2021 and has established a presence in Bamiyan, Kapisa, Wardak and Kabul provinces. It has launched exploratory missions in Nimroz and Farah provinces as well. In 2022, SI has implemented food security and WASH programs and aim at scaling them up in 2023, while beginning operations in Nimroz and Farah provinces. SI currently has 70 employees (4 international employees) with an annual budget of 2m euro. In 2023, this budget should around 6 million, while the team should grow to 150 employees.
In 2023, SI will scale up its food security and WASH programs in Afghanistan, with a particular focus on the South-West. This program will be emergency based, responding to future shocks, in particular future natural disasters and epidemics outbreaks (Cholera). SI will also aim at building community resilience, reinforcing access to WASH services and infrastructure, while developing livelihoods in rural areas.
In 2024, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL intents to maintain its operations in Kapisa, Bamyan, Nimroz, Farah and Kabul provinces, aiming at addressing the most vulnerable and shock-affected households in remote districts, shifting to longer term programming, linking basic needs and resilience strengthening. With the recent influx of Afghans returnees from Pakistan, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL will be delivering support at destination point, mainly in Kabul province. SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL will also continue to provide comprehensive solutions for WASH, FSL and winter assistance, working on covering immediate needs while strengthening the communities’ resilience.
GENERAL OBJECTIVE:
The Program Manager is in charge of implementing and achieving the objectives defined in the proposals.
He/she is in charge of supervising the operational teams allocated to his/her program.
He/she guarantees the proper execution and the quality of the implemented program and, if applicable, suggests adjustments or developments to ensure its relevance.
The Program Manager will manage the program team in his respective base. S/he will be under the direct management of the Field Coordinator of his base (Kabul-Kapisa, Bamyan or Nimroz), and under the functional management of the Program Coordinator.
PRIORITIES FOR THE FIRST 2/3 MONTHS:
- BHA and ECHO programs
- Specific priority for the PM cash distribution in charge of the MPCA under BHA funding to launch MPCA in Kabul: assessment, team management, implementation, reporting, positioning on mid term on this answer with the support of the DCD program
- Participate to the Recruitment / training of the Program Team at field base level
- Quality insurance
- Review and validate (internally and with communities) community-based identification and selection process
- With the support of the Field Coordinator, conduct the identification and selection process of the activities in the targeted areas
- Draft the APUIC for the programs under its management
- Ensure the transfer modality is still adapted to the context (cash vs. in-kind)
- Ensure that the planned activities are relevant and meet the needs and adapt the planning if needed
- Ensure with the support teams that supply processes linked to the programs under its responsibility are launched and followed up
- Participate in development of new project proposals (UNDP, Unicef, AHF)
RESPONSIBILITIES AND MAIN ACTIVITIES
- Implementation and operational monitoring.
- Project relevance, quality, and design
- Personnel management.
- Reporting / communication / representation.
YOUR PROFILE
Education
License or master’s degree related to humanitarian sector desirable – political sciences and Business Management accepted
Experience:
- At least one significant experience in as manager of humanitarian programs
- Experience with NGO
- At least 2 years of experience in project management
- Previous experience in implementing emergency project
- Previous experience in carrying out assessments
- Experience of working in tense security, volatile and emergency context
- Experience in team management
- Previous experience in Afghanistan is an asset
- Experience in delivering training and capacity building of staff.
- Experience in WASH or FSL would be a very strong asset.
Technical skills and knowledge:
Required
- Mastering of project cycle management, and project reporting.
- Knowledge in proposal design and writing
- Good Communication /coordination and representation skills in English
Desirable
- Knowledge of SI rules and procedures would be an asset
- Knowledge on WASH or Food Security (ex: indicators FCS, CSI, CARI assessment, etc.), livelihood (agriculture, livestock) and markets (surveys, monitoring) is a strong asset
- Skills on GIS and MEAL software (Kobo, XLS)
- Knowledge of donors’ requirements and compliance rules (BHA)
- Previous experience in Afghanistan is an asset
- Experience in delivering training and capacity building of staff.
- Experience in WASH or FSL would be a very strong asset.
SI WILL OFFER YOU:
A salaried position:
According to experience, starting from EUR 2310 gross per month (2100 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:
The security environment in Afghanistan remains tense, dynamic and volatile. While the risks associated with the conflict between the government and the armed opposition have significantly decreased since 15th of August 2022, third party armed groups (notably ISKP) continue to operate in certain provinces including Kabul and the possibility of the emergence of new opposition groups cannot be ignored. On the other hand, the country has always witnessed a certain level of criminality.
Living conditions are quite fair in Kabul, with possible access to all essential goods and services. The security situation can be tense, and travel is sometimes restricted, but it is possible to have a social life.
The security environment in Afghanistan remains tense, dynamic and volatile. While the risks associated with the conflict between the government and the armed opposition have disappeared with the victory of the opposition, third party armed groups (notably ISKP) continue to operate in certain provinces including Kabul and the possibility of the emergence of a new opposition cannot be ignored. On the other hand, the country has always witnessed a certain level of criminality, and among other threads, kidnapping, targeting nationals and expatriates have been regularly reported in the last decades.