MISSION
Solidarités International is an international humanitarian organization which provides aid and assistance to victims of war or natural disaster. For over 30 years the association has focused on meeting three vital needs - water, food and shelter - by carrying out emergency programmes followed by longer-term reconstruction projects. Whilst fully respecting the assisted populations’ customs and culture, Solidarités International’s programmes are implemented through the joint expertise of around 180 expatriates and 1500 local managerial staff and employees. Solidarités International is currently present in Africa (Central African Republic, South Sudan, Kenya, Somalia, Mali, Niger, Mauritania, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast), in Asia (Afghanistan, Thailand, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Pakistan), in the Middle East (Syria and Lebanon) and in Haiti.
Solidarités International has been present in Afghanistan for more than 30 years and has never ceased to work in the country, adapting its intervention to the changing needs of beneficiaries (from emergency relief to reconstruction to development) throughout the different historical contexts: the Soviet Union occupation (1979 – 1989), the Civil War (1989 – 1996), the Taliban Regime (1996 – 2001) and the U.S.-led international operation (2001 up to present).
Solidarités International's programmes in the in the Kabul Informal Settlements (KIS) focus on:
- food distributions;
- increasing the total quantity of safe water available, through water purification and the improvement of the equipment at water points and storage facilities;
- upgrading and managing latrines, building bathrooms and areas dedicated to laundry, and facilitating the treatment of solid and liquid waste;
- raising the population’s awareness of good hygiene practices, through hygiene promotion sessions and the distribution of hygiene kits.
In order to respond to the increasing number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugee-returnees in the KIS (over 30,000 people according to recent estimates), Solidarités International has since 2010 been implementing a programme focusing on food aid and vocational training.
Goal/purpose:
The Deputy Country Director (DCD) for Programmes is a new leadership position and will play a role in developing and taking forward SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL’s strategy in Afghanistan by ensuring coherence between all programme activities, overseeing the quality of project implementation and communicating programme mission to external actors. The DCD will work closely with the Country Director who will be the overall representative and who oversees the management of all support services including, finance, admin, HR, logistics and security. The intention is to streamline management responsibilities and ensure an integrated approach to programming and communication
MAIN TASKS
Programme Leadership
- Deputise for the Country Director in their absence and as required
Strategic Programming Development
- With the Country Director, guide the implementation of the country programme strategic plan
- Develop a strategic programming consistent with the SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL’s policies and population’s needs and in collaboration with the CD, staff and HQ
- Define a plan of action for putting the programme strategy in place
- Analyse the humanitarian context and needs, collect information from external sources and programme staff
- Identify humanitarian needs, brief the mission team, design potential responses within the country strategy and propose new geographic and sectorial activities and interventions based on the context evolution
- Coordinate the development of projects and the drafting of proposals to donors
Programme Management
- Oversee programme implementation in consultation with the field and technical coordinators in accordance with the project proposals
- Ensure objectives are met within the required time frames and budgets. Where necessary ensure preventative and corrective action is taken
- Support the field and technical coordinators in all aspects of finance, administrative, human resource and logistics management
- Manage a comprehensive activity plan for the programmes
- Work with the relevant Sector Managers to ensure the integration of beneficiary participation and accountability in programme activities
- In collaboration with finance and operations, contribute to the development and periodic reforecasting of the annual operating budget.
- Participate in relevant national and local meetings with government officials, contractors, other NGOs, etc., reporting back as applicable to CD, staff, field coordinators and HQ
Quality Management
- Ensure the programmes are implemented in line with donor proposals and requirements and in accordance with SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL, donor, country and international standards and guidelines
- Prepare and implement policies, procedures and guidelines, as appropriate and with the relevant staff, so as to enhance the smooth running of the programmes through standardised procedures and improved support
- Follow the direction of the relevant advisors at HQ regarding quality, strategy and technical guidelines.
- Ensure integration and synergy of SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL programming at coordination and base level through promotion of regular coordination meetings and information sharing between field and coordination offices
- Ensure that programme monitoring systems are in place (indicators, plans, data gathering and processing tools, etc.)
- Initiate and supervise design and development of WaSH, Food Security and Emergency programmes in Afghanistan
- Enhance the mission’s profile among relevant stakeholders: donors, national and local government partners, international and national NGOs, etc.
- Represent the mission at NGO, interagency and governmental meetings
Human Resources Management
- Support and manage the field and technical coordinators, including direct supervision and development
- Ensure a smooth communication and work between the field coordinators and the technical coordinators
- Ensure that they respect SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL’s internal regulation and code of conduct
- Provide support and guidance to all programme staff on operational management of programmes
- In collaboration with the HR department determine staffing requirements, participate in the selection of national and international programme staff at coordinator level, identify needs of training and develop training plans for programme staff
- Initiate and lead programme workshops if necessary
- Set up training sessions in light of operational requirements
PROFILE
Education:
- Master or equivalent in Humanitarian Affairs/Development and in Project Management required. Training in WASH / Food Security a plus
Experience:
- Significant experience in humanitarian and emergency/early recovery program management with at least 5-year humanitarian work in developing or emergency context and 2-year humanitarian experience in a senior management / coordination role
- Experience in Cluster approach
Technical skills and knowledge:
- Advanced knowledge of donors’ guidelines/procedures
- Good knowledge sector thematic (Emergency, Food Security and Wash)
- Proven experience in proposal writing and budget development
- Experience in assessing needs
- Detailed knowledge of donors (BPRM, ECHO, UN agencies etc)
- Knowledge of WASH and/or Food Security
- Successful experience in expatriate team management and the management of multisectorial programmes
Transferable skills:
Languages:
- Excellent written and spoken English language skills
- English mandatory, French and/or Arabic an asset
Other desirable qualities:
- Demonstrated ability for rapid analysis of very complex issues, strong decision-making, and translation of programmatic priorities into operational strategies.
- Very strong computer skills (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook)
- Willingness to travel extensively to visit field sites and endure basic living conditions when travelling to these field sites
- Ability to work well in unstable security environments, and under intense administrative and programmatic pressures
STATUS
Salaried post: According to experience from 1440 euros gross per month, plus 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly, and a monthly Per Diem of 500 USD. Solidarités International will cover accommodation and travel expenses from the expatriate’s home country to the site of the assignment.
- Social and medical cover: Expatriates benefit from an insurance package which reimburses 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.
- Vacation: During the assignment, a system of alternation between work and time off is implemented at the rate of one break every three months. For a one-year assignment, the expatriate will have a 7-day break during the 3rd and the 9th month (with 500 euros allocated by Solidarités). He or she will also be entitled to go back to his or her home country for a 14-day period after six months spent on the mission (Solidarités will cover travel costs).
DURATION
12 months
Beginning : ASAP
CONTACT
Pauline Cartery
How to apply:
Please send your CV and Cover Letter
