Country Director – Afghanistan (International)

Mission

Geneva Call is a neutral and impartial non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting respect for international humanitarian norms in armed conflict and other situations of violence. Geneva Call’s mission is to ensure that armed groups and de facto authorities (AGDA) respect International Humanitarian Law and basic humanitarian principles in the areas where they fight or they control.

In Afghanistan, Geneva Call runs a multi-donor country program focusing on enhancing the protection of civilian population through humanitarian engagement with fighting parties and constituencies. The multipronged program encompasses direct and indirect humanitarian engagement, training, local advocacy, and mass-media awareness raising on humanitarian norms applicable in armed conflict.

Geneva Call consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. Geneva Call is an inclusive working environment for all its staff. Applications are particularly encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on the grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

Role

To provide vision and strategic direction to country program in Afghanistan. This includes the qualitative implementation of Geneva Call’s humanitarian response (humanitarian engagement, research, community-based approach), fundraising and representation.

Core responsibilities

Strategy and programme implementation

• Analysis the humanitarian and security situation in country and identify strategic opportunities for Geneva Call.
• Leads on development of humanitarian engagement country strategy driven by humanitarian principles and conflict sensitivity.
• Provide leadership, quality delivery, management, monitoring, evaluation and learning of the country program, against Geneva Call mulit-year strategy.
• Ensure sharing of learning with others and drawing on learning from across Geneva Call and externally, utilizes the results to inform program decisions and enhance institutional knowledge.

Safety management

• Ensure that Geneva Call’s Afghanistan country program is delivered in a safe and secure manner.
• Responsible for anticipating and managing risks that could threaten the safety of the staff, operational viability, and the organization’s reputation.
• Responsible for managing security in line with Geneva Call’s Policy.

Mission Management & Coordination

• Manages staff, budget, assets, and funding as per procedures and national requirements with cost efficiency.
• Ensures transparent and timely financial management respecting deadline and procedures.
• Ensures the mobilization of necessary resources (financial, logistics, HR) to implement the country programs and contribute to the growth of the mission.
• Identify human resources needs, recruit, and ensure induction.
• Overall development and supervision of country teams (including coaching and evaluating) in accordance with internal policies and procedures and national labour laws.
• Promotes and creates a culture to ensure knowledge sharing, innovation and capacity building and further professional development opportunities for all staff in appropriate fields.
• Communicate regularly with staff and promote positive conflict resolution.

Fundraising

• Develop and implement a country fundraising strategy that contributes to achieving the overall aim of Geneva Call in the field of humanitarian engagement for enhanced civilian protection.
• Ensures that Geneva Call’s work in Afghanistan is adequately funded.
• Build relationships of work and trust with external donors and proactively identify new donors in country and within the region.
• Approves all technical and financial proposals before submission to donors and ensures they are contextual and address specific needs.

Communications and advocacy

• Represents Geneva Call in Afghanistan and within the region.
• Works with internal and external audiences at the most senior level to influence and inform decision-makers and opinion leaders in country and within the international community in Afghanistan.
• Build alliances and networks within the humanitarian sector.

Main qualifications

Education and experience

• A relevant master is required.
• Knowledge of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) or International Human Right Law is an asset.
• Minimum 8 years equivalent work experience in managing multi donor humanitarian programs, including in managing teams of at least 20 people including expat.
• Experience of capacity building and mentoring, team leadership and management.
• Demonstrated skills and experience in security management.

Technical skills

• Striving for excellence: Focusing on reaching results while ensuring efficient processes.
• Collaborating: Involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback.
• Taking the lead: Taking ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: Listening and speaking effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values.

Languages

• Full professional proficiency in English.
• Professional proficiency in Pashto or Dari is an asset.

Personal skills

• Outstanding interpersonal skills with experience of negotiations with weapon-bearers and other high-level stakeholders.
• Ability to work under pressure, travel frequently in conflict-affected areas and to handle numerous tasks simultaneously.

Performance management

The employee will be accountable for the responsibilities and the competencies, in accordance with the GC Performance Management p. The following documents will be used for performance reviews:

• The Job Description
• The individual Work- and Professional Development Plan
• The Competency Framework

Conflict of interest

Any candidate affiliated to, or openly supporting, one or more interest groups opposed to the Foundation’s principles and values, or whose previous position could engender safety issues for co-workers at Appel de Genève / Geneva Call, will be excluded from this selection process.

Conditions

• Position : Country Director – Afghanistan
• Type of Contract: Fixed term contract (International position)
• Activity rate: 100%
• Work place: Kabul, Afghanistan (regular, extensive travel within the country up to 50% of the time)
• Preferred start date: as soon as possible